One of the many flaws with the ASP World Tour is the lack of objectivity when it comes to event coverage. A large reason for this is the ASP’s poor financial situation, which forces them to give individual event sponsors a heavy influence over major contest decisions. This frustration may have led to Hawaiian pro surfer Freddy Patacchia’s outburst during his post-heat interview at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Patacchia was fined $1,000 by the ASP for heavily criticizing the beach commentating at the event, because he felt the commentators were giving his first-round opponent, Rip Curl team rider Owen Wright, too much favoritism.
Patacchia, who defeated both Wright and Drew Courtney in the contest’s opening heat to advance to the third round of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, let loose in his post-heat interview. “I was pretty pissed off out there. The commentators are just talking about (Wright) non-stop,” said Patacchia. “They’re not talking about Drew Courtney out there. It’s kind of like, you know, defeating us out there before we even paddle out. I think they’ve got (Wright’s) testicles so far up their mouths that this is bullsh*t.”
In addition to being fined $1,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, the ASP also asked Patacchia to take down a disparaging comment on his Twatter page, threatening to fine him an additional $1,000 if he didn’t take the comment down. Patacchia complied, and posted an explanation. “Was asked to delete my last Tweet. Wouldn't want to pay another $1000 so i did,” wrote Patacchia. “You know who is being a you know what.”
Patacchia further explained his comments on his personal website, InSurfNews.com. “The post-heat interview today was kind of a heat-of-the-moment thing. I was sitting out there pretty pissed off about the people that were up in the booth,” said Patacchia. “We could hear everything they were saying. Instead of giving out scores, they were kind of hyping up Owen. I didn’t really hear much about myself or Drew Courtney. So we were just kind of Sideshow Bob in that whole heat, it seemed like.
“For the most part, I don’t really mind if they want to do that online, but over the loudspeaker when we need to hear our scores, that’s what I want to hear,” continued Patacchia. “I want to hear what my opponent has, what I have, what I need, how much time is left. In the downtime sure, talk about the three of us. I think they should talk about us evenly throughout the match. It just seemed kind of one-sided. I was out there splashing water, and I was thinking about it too much in the heat. I was thinking about the interview after as well, just going, ‘I’m going to win this heat, so I can say what I want to say to everyone that I think needs to hear it.’ I don’t think people should read into it too much. I have nothing against Owen. He’s a great surfer, great kid, possibly future World Champion. I just think sometimes we need people up in the booth, over the loud commentary, that are a little more educated about all three surfers in the heat.”
Concerns about the ASP World Tour’s broadcast objectivity are nothing new, especially since the companies that sponsor each event currently make all commentator personnel decisions. Kelly Slater frequently mentioned this as one of his many gripes with the ASP, when he was spearheading a rebel Dream Tour last year. The ASP is fully aware of this problem, and even addressed it last October when they announced the establishment of a committee to oversee all webcasts. The committee hopes to eventually create one website for all events. Until that goal is reached, it remains likely that heavily biased webcast and beach commentating will continue, drawing the ire of viewers and competitors alike.
