From TR Foley in todays ballbag: I don't know Thomas Gilman's values, but I did hear his words. For the second time since June he's shown himself to be a hateful and immature representative of Iowa and USA Wrestling. His chest-thumping, profanity-laced rant against Doug Schwab, Kevin Dresser, and his own fans was disrespectful to those he attacked and those in attendance. For a member of the national team to act in this way is disgraceful.
But Gilman got it from somewhere. What's important to recognize is that we, as a nation, are seeing an increase in the validity of hateful rhetoric like Gilman's -- the rejection of "others" as anything other than a mortal enemy. He is surrounded by a culture that increasingly seeks to normalize these voices of rage-filled anxiety. A fear of "otherness" is growing.
And yet responsibility for Gilman's actions are his own to bear. He seems to suffer from a tribe-centric type of personality disorder, emboldening him to not see the hatefulness in calling a Japanese opponent by a racial slur. It's the same mentality witnessed on Wednesday night in which he flailed and stammered his way through a demeaning assault on honorable men based solely on the fact they to no longer wear the colors of his community. The loyalty to the black and gold being greater than his respect for fellow combatants.
Gilman won't move past this most recent public disgrace, because he's displayed no signs of humbleness, or a path to growth. He'll wear this behavior around his neck for as long as he's a member of the community; another tragic tale of self-obsession and immaturity. The boy who won some medals, but a man who lost all respect.
Just posting what he said, didnt link so as not to give him the clicks.
But Gilman got it from somewhere. What's important to recognize is that we, as a nation, are seeing an increase in the validity of hateful rhetoric like Gilman's -- the rejection of "others" as anything other than a mortal enemy. He is surrounded by a culture that increasingly seeks to normalize these voices of rage-filled anxiety. A fear of "otherness" is growing.
And yet responsibility for Gilman's actions are his own to bear. He seems to suffer from a tribe-centric type of personality disorder, emboldening him to not see the hatefulness in calling a Japanese opponent by a racial slur. It's the same mentality witnessed on Wednesday night in which he flailed and stammered his way through a demeaning assault on honorable men based solely on the fact they to no longer wear the colors of his community. The loyalty to the black and gold being greater than his respect for fellow combatants.
Gilman won't move past this most recent public disgrace, because he's displayed no signs of humbleness, or a path to growth. He'll wear this behavior around his neck for as long as he's a member of the community; another tragic tale of self-obsession and immaturity. The boy who won some medals, but a man who lost all respect.
Just posting what he said, didnt link so as not to give him the clicks.
