That just shows how small our industry is. One of the top pros in our sport can stand up in front of an internationally represented crowd of core fans and industry bigwigs and act like a foul-mouthed three year old, and it doesn't really affect his status. When actors or major sports stars do it, they show up in the headlines, their status gets a lot of negative attention, and in turn they lose portions of their fan base causing viewership relative to their sport or movies to drop! With skiing its little more than a blip on the radar, unless its like Bode Miller drinking the night before his Olympic run (which was retarded, by the way, i don't care what "statement" he was trying to make).
A true pro should act the part. A true pro has every right to refuse a picture or autograph--thats the basic right to privacy! But when it comes time to stand up and represent yourself and your sponsors, you should have the wherewithal to refrain from swearing, wait your turn to hold the mic, and not be so drunk that you slur your words and can't stand up straight. You can still have a few drinks and tokes to take the edge off! Plus you'll be in better shape for the after party.
Some professionals understand this concept and act accordingly. Others do not. The way you react as a fan can have some affect. Under our wonderful capitalist system the way you vote is with your dollars. If a pro does something you have a problem with, don't buy his products. Don't ride his pro model, don't drink his soda, don't bite his style, don't talk him up at the next house party; don't support him. Simple as that. Eventually, if the pro is delinquent enough, and turns off enough people, he will no longer have the support necessary to keep him in the spotlight. And then he can act however he wants, 'cuz nobody will be watching.
Accordingly, if someone does something you think demonstrates their personal merits and moral fiber, support them. Buy their shit. I once saw Dumont help an old man joey who had crashed while fumbling his way through the park. Dumont could have been like the thirty other kids in there and laughed at the dude and skid by his yardsale. Instead he was the bigger person and helped the guy out. I thought that was pretty cool. Now I ride Salomon.
If a pro acts a fool and fans don't react by removing support, then Mr. Bishop's statement will only become more true. Tanner's sponsors don't care how he acts cuz thats part of his image. His fans support it--with the styles they emulate and the products they buy. If Tanner acts this way, in the sponsor's eyes it only makes him more marketable--I mean come on, everyone acts that way right? Why shouldn't Tanner?
This attitude is the slippery slope upon which negative stereotypes about our sport are formed. This is why ski pipe has failed to reach the Olympic level. This is why X-games ski-pipe gets less air time than snowmobile cross. This is why ski patrol automatically thinks I have done something bad when I ski by wearing twin tips.
To me, when it all comes down to it, a true pro is someone who not only has amazing skills--which Tanner undeniably possesses--but also has the personality and social maturity to back it up. Someone asks them to speak, they give an intelligent, relevant response.
I love watching Tanner ski. He's sick! When it comes to hearing Tanner speak, and observing Tanner's actions when he's not skiing, I'd say he has a ways to go. I think Tanner is aware of this. He once said in an interview, "Skiing is the easy part." I think, in his particular case, this is 100% true, especially with regards to his behavior as a true professional. Only time will tell.
