Judging Kokubo By His Cover

[Mulboyne]

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Snowboarder Kazuhiro Kokubo has come under for what the media are calling his slovenly appearance when he arrived in Vancouver. He was told by the JOC not to attend the welcome party at the Olympic village. As the video above shows, he wasn't best pleased and his unapologetic apology has drawn more criticism.

[Behan]

What do they expect from a snowboarder? They should just be happy if they don't find any THC in a urine test.

[Mike Oxlong]

Why? That's a proven connection to a gold medal!

Ross! Ross! Ross!

[Behan]

Passive smoke at a party.

[Mike Oxlong]

Right, and Slick Willy never inhaled...

[wuchan]

He is from hokkaido, cut him some slack. The last time I went riding up there the locals were pretty much throwing bags of green at me. Shit grows wild up there, it's not the best but it's free.

[BO-SENSEI]

Who does he think he is? Shaun White? He has not achieved what White has achieved, until then, know your role.

[Mike Oxlong]

He is from hokkaido, cut him some slack. The last time I went riding up there the locals were pretty much throwing bags of green at me. Shit grows wild up there, it's not the best but it's free.

I'll let you know when my flight arrives...

[IkemenTommy]

I'm sure Kokubo was devastated that he couldn't join the warm kool-aid party with the rest of the dorks.

[TennoChinko]

I'm surprised the Japanese Olympic Committee did not issue orders for Kokubo to cut his hair to "regulation length" ... as well as hire a team of "minders" to ensure female Japanese Olympians do not "fraternize" with any foreign men.

[Mulboyne]

I'm sure some people were upset by Kokubo but I can't help thinking the press is making a meal of it. I saw one article suggesting that the foreign media were also disappointed at Kokubo's "disrespect" but all the articles referenced were simply reporting the fuss in Japan.

Professor Naoki Ogi, a regular talking head, has complained about the reaction (Japanese). He points out that of someone had simply taken Kokubo aside at the airport and told him to tuck his shirt in and straighten his tie then everything would have been sorted. As it is, he says banning the player from the Olympic village opening ceremony and crucifying him in public seem like the actions of a totalitarian state.

[TennoChinko]

It looks like some Japanese versions of the account have been touched with a bit of spin favoring the Japanese Olympic organizers. Some accounts in Japan have claimed that rather than Kokubo being banned by Japanese organizers from attending the Opening Ceremonies, that he himself purposely skipped the ceremonies himself.

Here is one example:

http://www.fnn-news.com/en/news/headlines/articles/CONN00171745.html

Japanese snowboarder Kazuhiro Kokubo apologized at a news conference after skipping the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics in response to an uproar over his attire.

[Behan]

I'm surprised the Japanese Olympic Committee did not ...hire a team of "minders" to ensure female Japanese Olympians do not "fraternize" with any foreign men.

Would those be un-comfort girls?

[Mulboyne]

[Dragonette]

..Part of me wants him to win a gold now as an "up yours" to the criticism he has been getting but you know that all the press will do is make him into the nation's favourite sporting bad boy which has a vacancy now that Asashoryu has gone.

Me, too, and if he does, I hope he dis's them all back, and immediately relocates to NY.
OMG this is Soo TIJ!
I can just picture all the obaasans clucking and waahing away in distaste, all the while wishing that... (feel free to fill in the rest with your most perverted imaginings).

[Yokohammer]

In defense of the establishment, if Kokubo does grab a gold, or even a silver, it will sort of legitimize the "you can behave any way you like as long as you win" mindset and pave the way for legions of arrogant young fucks with a total disregard for common courtesy and social protocol.

It's bad enough as it is. Personally I hope he loses.

[Greji]

In defense of the establishment, if Kokubo does grab a gold, or even a silver, it will sort of legitimize the "you can behave any way you like as long as you win" mindset and pave the way for legions of arrogant young fucks with a total disregard for common courtesy and social protocol.

It's bad enough as it is. Personally I hope he loses.

When you look at the precedents that have been set at such events like the coming of age ceremonies in recent years, I think you see that Y-Hammer's got a good point here. A small number of numskulls have turned the Seijinshiki into a Cos-play brawl to the point where they have been completely canceled by some towns and cities and definitely ruined them for other youth. Whether Kokubo did this purposely is probably not the point. The more important point is how could have handled it better as the Prof said. Just pulling him aside and telling him would have done wonders. But, whether he meant to do it or not, the have elevated Kokubo to legend status and now they've got every sports non-conformist around Japan, saying "How Cool" and wanting to be the next one to look "s-wave and de-boner" at a major event.

Note: Nette just wants him to come to NY, so she can do him. She's got this sportsman hang-up and likes to collect the complete set:p

[Iraira]

Nothing for Kokubo in the half-pipe.....

[Greji]

Nothing for Kokubo in the half-pipe.....

He finished 8th and another J-boarder was 9th. After the qualifying rounds. the 3rd J-entry was last seen winking a Koreans, while hanging around the public loo at the main gate. Not the best of showings.....

Having said all of that, nobody was going to beat Shaun White, who came with in a point and a fraction of a perfect score on his last run, after he had already won the event with his previous point score...

[Dragonette]

Note: Nette just wants him to come to NY, so she can do him. She's got this sportsman hang-up and likes to collect the complete set:p

No, no collections for me; controlling one is hard enough - but it's always comforting to have a backup supply handy. Anyway, he's young, healthy-looking, and otoko-rashii enough to keep away from my make-up, henna, and high-heel boots (I think...)
On second thought, such rare J-specimens are fast becoming National Treasures. Maybe I should try to corner the market before they disappear altogether?

[Mulboyne]

Kokubo arrives back home with his shirt tucked in.

[BO-SENSEI]

Why are you upset? Its not like you lost on the world stage, it was just another snowboarding competition.