Well, you and the other guy clearly haven't been paying attention all along.
Tom has never been on camera pre or post run and looked serious. He is cheesing every time, regardless of his position. In fact, watch his best results and wins. He literally scoffs and laughs at the judges because he doesn't usually think he skied all that well. He even does shit like walks right over to who he thought should've won and tells them that. Say what you want about how he's "not pushing himself", but the guy doesn't pout, throw a fit when he fucks up, and he doesn't storm out of the corral after a bad run or a low ball score like literally half of the dudes that compete.
Yes. Other people have better scores than Tom this competition season. For my money, McRae can toss a flawless, stylish, unique, and technical run any time out. However, Schlopy is crash prone big time, and so is Gus—not to mention his 3-4 year fairly disappointing comp results (for a guy that has some of the most technical jump/rail tricks out of anyone).
I really, and truly don't think it would be ridiculous to make the judgment call to give the nod to Tom, despite his trailing in the points. He's the most experienced, he's won the biggest contests, and still pound for pound, Tom's best runs trump other's.
He's had some uncharacteristic consistency issues, no question, but I think you have to be batshit to really believe he is no longer capable of putting together a run good enough to beat anyone. There's some common ground in Tom's runs that haven't quite got the job done, and it's probably the best problem to have, and one that is also simultaneously one of his biggest advantages—he goes really fucking big. I can think of three comps where he was in the middle of putting together a first place run when on his sw r dub 10, he fucking boosts, has to open up slightly because he takes it 110', and bends at the waist and punches the ground. Euro X, Dew Tour, and Grand Prix.
I'm not saying Tom is the no-brainer pick, they could easily go with the points, or overall impression on the season (I'd guess McRae on that criteria....although fuck. Joss Christensen looked really fucking good. And, goddamnit Lyman could be the next people's champ, he's too smooth....FUCK! Picking this team must be a terrible job....), but I think sending Tom is totally defendable, and given the nature of the "coach's discretionary pick" I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.
