You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Home Front: Culture Wars
African-American Olympian boycotts opening ceremonies because he wasn't chosen to carry flag
2018-02-11

Lurid coin toss update.
[Wash Times] The honor of which American athlete would carry the American flag for Team USA at the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics came down to a coin flip today in Pyeongchang. And the athlete on the losing end of that flip is not pleased.

Speed skater Shani Davis decided to not participate in today’s ceremonies after he lost the flip to luger Erin Hamlin.

Davis took to Twitter and evoked African American history month in his commentary on the events.
I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event. @TeamUSA dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer. No problem. I can wait until 2022. #BlackHistoryMonth2018#PyeongChang2018pic.twitter.com/dsmTtNkhJs

‐ Shani Davis (@ShaniDavis) February 8, 2018

Hamlin, a woman, is white. According to AFP, US Olympic committee defends their method in selecting the flag-bearer:

Well in Davis' defense, there was that issue with the coin.
Posted by:Besoeker

#13  That coin was racist!!!

Wasn't it proven (at least in some circles...) not so long ago that gravity is racist?
Posted by: CrazyFool   2018-02-11 17:33  

#12  It is my understanding that he agreed to the coin toss and began bitching after he lost.

Bye-bye Wheaties endorsement. And others.
Posted by: Anomalous Sources   2018-02-11 15:26  

#11  It's too bad, really. Speed skating is about the only Olympic skating event I consider to be a true sport: you win or lose based solely on speed. Other skating events like figure skating, ice dancing, etc. are based on subjective "style" points.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia   2018-02-11 13:35  

#10  I pity da foo
Posted by: newc   2018-02-11 13:00  

#9  Did the American speed skater refuse to participate in the opening ceremony because of the coin toss or because everyone thought Shani was a girl's name?
Posted by: SteveS   2018-02-11 12:07  

#8  That coin was racist!!!
Posted by: gorb   2018-02-11 11:58  

#7  And...we should be feeling what exactly?
Posted by: Cesare   2018-02-11 11:20  

#6  Whaaaa... shut the fuck up and go home. Stupid liberal.
Posted by: DarthVader   2018-02-11 09:42  

#5  This guy knew there was a coin toss to win just like Hillary knew there was an Electoral College. Both Liberal cry babies.
Posted by: Flilet Omeremble3846   2018-02-11 07:31  

#4  Put him on a plane...now.
Posted by: Betty Hatfield5124   2018-02-11 06:20  

#3  "I'm a role model for African-American kids".
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2018-02-11 04:22  

#2  Shani Davis can get back on a plane for all I care. I predict a speed-skating flop from this whiner.
Posted by: DooDahMan   2018-02-11 03:29  

#1  Petulant, entitlement rant illustrates Ms. Hamlin was indeed the right choice.
Posted by: Besoeker   2018-02-11 03:00  

00:00