Nikko LoCastro intimidating a PDGA official at European Open '22

[BogeyNoMore]

I am not defending Nikko and I am not criticizing the tour official for doing his job.
Nikko's behavior was inexcusable and the tour official acted professionally.

Having said that…
I hope and recommend that the PDGA and DGPT investigate not only Nikko's mis-behavior, but also what could possibly be done in the future to avoid a repeat (from the next hothead with a touring card).
When a problem occurs, a good troubleshooter/engineer looks at the mechanism of the failure and how to fix that, but also looks to prevent the next occurrence.
In other words, investigate the the failure, the consequences and the mechanism of failure with an eye to prevention.
Maybe the answer ends up being that all was done that could be done, but they need to look at this as a way to learn from the past to see if it could be prevented from happening again.

Nobody wins from things like this.

I get your point: when any system fails, it's wise to look at ways to prevent the failure mode. I won't say you can't improve things, but I really think this was all on Nikko.

From what I've read in this thread:
Nikko received a warning earlier in the round, and this 2nd time violation was over a minute. The gentleman who approached Nikko was, professional, polite, and respectful. Nikko acted like a pissed off bully.

Perhaps DQ/suspension is how you fix the system. We'll never know how many potential instances never occur, because this incident motivated hot heads to keep a handle on their behavior, rather than act like a horses @ss.

 

[nothinbuttree]

Not sure how the PDGA could prevent Nikko from being Nikko.

DQ is a start. Will see what the rest of the season holds.

I think the sport will be thinking hard about what kind of message it wants to be sending here with whatever (if any) additional punishment is meted out. Do they want to be seen as professional and clean or rough and tumble? Not saying either is right or wrong, but I think the PDGA (and does the DGPT have a say in reality?) will give it serious thought.

Let's not understate the severity of simply being DQ'ed. He traveled a long way to be there, and was playing quite well. Wasn't gonna catch the MCs but could have contended for a podium finish in a major. Also, he has lost one, possibly more, sponsorship (Gateway is pending), so this is more than a hand slap. I'm not for ruining someone's career for a moment of weakness, but he does need to demonstrate that this will not happen again. No way to do that of course without actually being given that chance.

So many pros in other sports do SO much worse things, often times getting what, a 15 yard penalty or tossed from a game? Hopefully PDGA flexes its muscles but does so in a way to show a little humanity in the process.

 

[dashiellx]

In the rebroadcast of the incident shown at the beginning of today's MPO round on DGN, the official can be heard saying that Nikko took over one minute and also that he had been warned before.

Is there a link? Sorry. It's late and I'm lazy

 

[oddjob]

"I'm not for ruining someone's career for a moment of weakness,"

You realize he has a history of this ****, right? Stop acting like this is a one off.

 

[Hampstead]

I'd say a suspension for the rest of the season and two years probation is more than fair.

 

[txmxer]

I'd say a suspension for the rest of the season and two years probation is more than fair.

Agreed. Maybe some mandatory anger management courses??? Honestly I think he might need to be medicated to manage his issues.

I'll throw out another angle on this--kind of addressed before, but not really. Let's say the PDGA let's this slide (it does no appear they will, but for discussion purposes). How you going to get volunteers to work tournaments if they start letting people act like that? I think if the official had not been willing to walk away, it would have become physical. In other non-tournament videos I've heard him talk in a similar manner.

In my experience, you talk like that enough, someone is going to take you up on the offer. I suspect that's probably happened, so its more than just tough talk.

 

[nothinbuttree]

"I'm not for ruining someone's career for a moment of weakness,"

You realize he has a history of this ****, right? Stop acting like this is a one off.

Kicking a bag and intimidating an official are totally different, though I am aware of his history. Many pages on this forum have been devoted to his attitude and pace of play. The PDGA could have done things in the past if it was overly concerned. I think the PDGA's response to this event will be very interesting. As far as I know, he has never been formally disciplined for any outburst in the past (I could be wrong). Again, this turns into what message does the PDGA want to send.

I do think 2 years is rough, that could essentially be career ending. With no sponsorship opportunities, he could be close to that already, I don't think prize money for a 1020-1030 rated player will earn anyone a living.

A rest of the season suspension would be fair, IMHO. Whatever the punishment, it is clear he brought it on himself. Hope he can learn from this and get his life in order.

 

[Hampstead]

Getting "his life in order" is really the most important thing at this point.

 

[dashiellx]

Getting "his life in order" is really the most important thing at this point.

We all gotta at some point. It takes some longer than others. I don't think I had my act together until I was 25.

 

[Hampstead]

We all gotta at some point. It takes some longer than others. I don't think I had my act together until I was 25.

I'm thankful my growing pains didn't happen before the public eye.

 

[roblee]

Disciplinary Process documents are under the "More" tab at the top of the PDGA home page where the process is presented in detail. There is a list of active disciplinary actions. Intimidation is listed as one of the most serious actions & classified as Class A. The official Standard sanction is 2 year suspension. This can be more or less depending on circumstances. The Policy is to be consistent when determining sanctions. There were 2 Class A's in 2020: 2 yr & 3 yr suspensions. There are 3 Class A's in 2021: 7 yr & 2 yr suspensions & a 1 yr probation (the only sanction less than the Standard). Two Class A suspensions in 2022: 10 yr & 2 yr. Public documents give no details of the offense. The Disciplinary Committee investigates & sends recommendations to the Board for approval. Nikko's average annual winnings since 2008 are about $26K so a 2 year suspension could be equal to a $52K fine.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

You must be new here...




Anyone got a good BBQ recipe to share?...

Join Date: Jul 2021
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How'd ya guess?

Also, I guess I'll just leave this here..

 

[GMcAtee]

I wonder if Nikko has ever been in a fight? He approaches the guy to get argumentative and invades his personal space. Fight or Flight should kick in for the official at this point. Nikko then places his hands behind his back while facing the official exposing every sensitive area (face, balls, gut, knees) that the official can use to easily drop him.

Just not a smart guy. In the past I've seen trust funds mentioned. If he is a trust fund kid, that explains a ton. He should stick to staring contests and never confront someone again. He's going to cross a guy that knows what he's doing some day.

I also recommend not going into an Indiana mall with mass shooting plans (or most places in Indiana). Highly likely your plans will end early and you'll get exterminated (as we've seen recently) saving taxpayers a ton of money prosecuting and feeding the mass shooter in jail. I tried to explain the gun situation / training in Indiana to Big Jerm on his facebook rant about gun control while he was broken down on the highway in rural Indiana. Good thing these guys can throw a disc well!

 

[itsRudy]

I used to greatly enjoy McEnroe's meltdowns back in the day in tennis, but the guy had the benefit of being mostly correct in hindsight.

 

[Central Scrutinizer]

I think a ban for the rest of this season, plus probation after that, is the logical conclusion. Like many have said here, you've got to support the people around him who ARE following the rules AND are acting professional, players and officials alike.

If he's smart, he can use this time to address his mental health issues. I'm all for closing doors but opening windows, and encouraging people with mental health issues to find and get good help.

Being on the pro tour is a privilege, though, and by allowing him to act like a 4-year-old whenever there's some adversity puts a strain on everybody else around him. It's not right for the officials and volunteers who are there to keep things sane, and also for the players who do follow the rules and are trying to make a living at this honestly (which is the vast majority of them). I know that when my soon-to-be 7th grade son acts a little less than his age in our little Disc Golf world it sometimes even affects my next putt. I can imagine it's way worse with the kind of money and prestige on the line that elite players face. This can't be tolerated there.

Parenting tip for those of you in my shoes: I recently gave a courtesy violation and a stroke to my 13-year-old in just a casual round and he's behaved himself quite well ever since...

 

[Monocacy]

Parenting tip for those of you in my shoes: I recently gave a courtesy violation and a stroke to my 13-year-old in just a casual round and he's behaved himself quite well ever since...

Heh. Yeah I had to DQ my younger son at a swim meet. Coaches put him in a breaststroke race before he had learned to do the kick even remotely close to legally. He was not surprised to see Dad the stroke & turn judge walking over after the race.

Would have been nicer if one of the other judges had done the deed, but oh well.

 

[ThrowaEnvy]

Heh. Yeah I had to DQ my younger son at a swim meet. Coaches put him in a breaststroke race before he had learned to do the kick even remotely close to legally. He was not surprised to see Dad the stroke & turn judge walking over after the race.

Would have been nicer if one of the other judges had done the deed, but oh well.

So there's a wrong way to swim? Weird haha. Makes sense but it never occurred to me.

 

[Monocacy]

So there's a wrong way to swim? Weird haha. Makes sense but it never occurred to me.

For casual swimming anything that keeps you breathing air is just fine.

 

[dashiellx]

Heh. Yeah I had to DQ my younger son at a swim meet. Coaches put him in a breaststroke race before he had learned to do the kick even remotely close to legally. He was not surprised to see Dad the stroke & turn judge walking over after the race.

Would have been nicer if one of the other judges had done the deed, but oh well.

My son turn his head look during his first backstroke race, he was in the lead with only a few strokes to go. Luckily I was only one of the time keepers.

 

[dashiellx]

I used to greatly enjoy McEnroe's meltdowns back in the day in tennis, but the guy had the benefit of being mostly correct in hindsight.

McEnroe was never threatening, the I can recall. He was insulting, but never approached a judge with anything but disbelief.