Nikko LoCastro intimidating a PDGA official at European Open '22

[BillFleming]

I've been noticing a trend on social media, including here. Nikko did NOT get DQ'd for excessive time. No matter what anyone thinks about the 30 second rule...that is NOT why he was DQ'd.

His rudeness to the tournament official was the start of it....

Per Competition Manual 1.12.H, video evidence may be used to evaluate and investigate player misconduct. The video of the incident captured by the Disc Golf Network, in part, served as evidence here.

Competition Manual 3.03 reads, in part:

"All players must adhere to a professional standard of sporting ethics, courtesy, and integrity while participating in a PDGA-sanctioned event and when commenting to the media. Conduct that violates this standard is subject to courtesy violations called by players (see 812, Courtesy), penalties issued by the Tournament Director, and any further disciplinary action deemed appropriate by the PDGA.

If a player violates the above standard, the Tournament Director may opt, in their sole discretion, to issue a tournament warning for a first offense (except as specified in 3.03.C). Otherwise, the Tournament Director will immediately disqualify the player. Actions that violate this standard include, but are not limited to . . . [o]vert rudeness or threatening behavior to anyone present." CM 3.03.A and B.

Even his rudeness, etc might have only gotten him a warning...it was his actions AFTERWARDS that got him DQ'd.

Additionally, when approached by Jeff Jacquart, PDGA Director of Competition, for further information on the incident, Mr. Locastro refused to cooperate or even discuss the matter. Competition Manual 3.03.B.8 states that "[o]bstruction of, or failure or refusal to cooperate with, any investigation by an official into the player's conduct or the conduct of another player" also constitutes player misconduct.

The full thing is at https://www.pdga.com/announcements/...locastros-disqualification-2022-european-open.

So, let's get past the excessive time issue. Nikko seems to have an anger issue...watch videos of other tournaments he is in. If he had just walked away after being told of the rules violation, he'd still be playing. He could have appealed the rules decision after the round if he wanted to. But, no, he had to get in the face of the tournament official and then refuse to cooperate with the investigation.

 

[ChrisWoj]

If he had just walked away after being told of the rules violation, he'd still be playing.

There's a good Nikko is slow-they'd all still be playing joke in there somewhere...

I can't find it.

 

[CaptainAnhyzer]

If he had just walked away after being told of the rules violation, he'd still be playing. He could have appealed the rules decision after the round if he wanted to. But, no, he had to get in the face of the tournament official and then refuse to cooperate with the investigation.

THIS IS EXACTLY, IT.

His reaction to a one stroke penalty sent him down the wrong path.
Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[ballgolfconvert]

I've been noticing a trend on social media, including here. Nikko did NOT get DQ'd for excessive time. No matter what anyone thinks about the 30 second rule...that is NOT why he was DQ'd.

His rudeness to the tournament official was the start of it....



Even his rudeness, etc might have only gotten him a warning...it was his actions AFTERWARDS that got him DQ'd.



The full thing is at https://www.pdga.com/announcements/...locastros-disqualification-2022-european-open.

So, let's get past the excessive time issue. Nikko seems to have an anger issue...watch videos of other tournaments he is in. If he had just walked away after being told of the rules violation, he'd still be playing. He could have appealed the rules decision after the round if he wanted to. But, no, he had to get in the face of the tournament official and then refuse to cooperate with the investigation.

No excusing his rudeness, but the way it went all down added to the situation. a warning that you are actually being timed is warranted when the situation occurs, lest you have things like this happen. Had that happened i would not be defending Nikko at all.

The fact that no one here can recognize this tells you all need to know about the game you guys play at. if you are playing for fun and such these nuances are not important, but when you are competing in the top echelons of your sport, they become very important.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

* waits for rules update to specifically call out "Nikko-like behavior" *

I got nothing against Nikko, and the few times I talked to him, he genuinely seemed like a nice guy. He just needs to check his behavior and/or reaction.

Many athletes who've exhibited a pattern of certain repeated behaviors are often described as "playing with passion," as if their antics come part and parcel with their play, or that behaving within societal norms would somehow limit their game.

Don't tell me Magic Johnson, Peyton Manning, Paul McBeth, Paige Peirce ... aren't passionate about their sport or competing to win. Probably a better arguement to say there are few people who's passion actually burns hotter. But when questionable calls don't go their way, you don't see them trying to intimidate officials for making the call (although, I guess that's what head coaches are for, in team sports... ).

I'm not gonna pretend MLB managers haven't gotten in Umps' faces or licked dirt at them since before I started watching baseball, but...

Perhaps we need to work on civility,as a people/society.

*Realizes this ain't utopia*

 

[ballgolfconvert]

I violate this rule? You know this how exactly?

Ahh yes baseless accusations from someone who does not play disc golf.

Because you are human and forget discs, dropped a towel, have to pee, face indecision at times, distractions, etc. if you have played disc golf for any decent length of time you have exceeded 30 seconds to throw. You say it is a penalty every time, one that you never call on yourself. I say it's not a penalty in itself, and that other conditions need to be present before it becomes one.

 

[The Mickstar]

From Gateway Disc Sports' Facebook page...

"Gateway Disc Sports does not condone the actions and behavior of our mixed bag sponsored player Nikko Locastro at the European open yesterday. Effective immediately Nikkos's contract with GDS will be suspended until a full investigation surrounding the incident can be conducted. We apologize for any damage his actions may have caused for the European Open, its organizers and sponsors, the PDGA, the DGPT, and the sport of disc golf as a whole.

Gateway Disc Sports is a small business that employs dozens of people and supports thousands of courses, clubs, players, and events. We ask the disc golf community to not hold our brand, distributors, supporters, or affiliates accountable for the actions of one individual player."

 

[Nova P]

I'm not gonna pretend MLB managers haven't gotten in Umps' faces or licked dirt at them since before I started watching baseball, but...

Honestly, MLB managers doing their thing feels like ritualized combat to me, like a long-standing tradition intended to prevent real violence. They know the umpire will not change a call or change their pitch-calling pattern, but they run out there and perform a big display of opprobrium so that the fans know that the manager cares, and so that his players know he cares, and so on. Then he is ejected from the game as a ritual sacrifice, and the game continues, and tensions decrease a little bit now that the ritual of anger has been done and a manager has been sacrificed to tradition.

 

[Rastnav]

A few things, all of them just my opinion:

- He wasn't DQed for being rude or even confrontational. Even he had let an F bomb go at the official, I doubt he would have been DQed. I don't know how these kinds of things have been historically adjudicated, so I'll fully admit to being off base if I'm wrong, but given that it was a discretionary penalty, I don't think the would have DQed someone, even Nikko, for a short verbal only interaction.

- I believe the DQ was warranted based on Nikko's use of physical confrontation that implied he was inviting a fight. The only sport that I can think of where you can get that close to an official for that long without getting an additional penalty is baseball.

- The fact that the rules state a hard limit of 30 seconds does not, solely by its existence, justify a call of of excessive time. There are rules as written and rules as applied. It is anathema to the spirit of sporting fairness to apply rules in a manner that is arbitrary. Any rule is necessarily under specified. This is doubly true in the cases where there are no uniformly trained officials responsible for making all calls.

- Conversely, once you have been given a warning, that is your notification that the strict limit may apply. You don't need to then be further reminded that you are subject to penalty.

- Doubling the allowed time to throw is so far past the alloted time that, combined with the previous warning, there is really no argument that Nikko was somehow unfairly treated in the application of the penalty.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

Honestly, MLB managers doing their thing feels like ritualized combat to me, like a long-standing tradition intended to prevent real violence. They know the umpire will not change a call or change their pitch-calling pattern, but they run out there and perform a big display of opprobrium so that the fans know that the manager cares, and so that his players know he cares, and so on. Then he is ejected from the game as a ritual sacrifice, and the game continues, and tensions decrease a little bit now that the ritual of anger has been done and a manager has been sacrificed to tradition.

Completely agree. I shouldn't draw the parallel to baseball basketball. In baseball, it's more ritual/tradition than anything. No one ever expects anything physical. Game ejection serves as a catharsis.

My real point is we can't give people a pass on inappropriate behavior by rebranding it "playing with passion." Playing with passion is not an excuse for behaving like a jack@ss.

 

[Nova P]

My real point is we can't give people a pass on inappropriate behavior by rebranding it "playing with passion." Playing with passion is not an excuse for behaving like a jack@ss.

Agreed. I just wanted to show off my three credit hours of that freshman anthropology class. =D

 

[Meillo]

A few things, all of them just my opinion:

- He wasn't DQed for being rude or even confrontational. [...]

If it is only your opinion, you shouldn't let it look like a fact, because your opinion does not match the facts.

Quoting the PDGA statement:

For all these reasons, Petri Anttiroiko, Tournament Director for the 2022 European Open has concluded that Mr. Locastro's actions were overtly rude and threatening toward the PDGA marshal observing his card. Therefore, Nikko Locastro has been disqualified from the European Open.

https://www.pdga.com/announcements/...locastros-disqualification-2022-european-open

 

[EarthRocker]

Honestly, MLB managers doing their thing feels like ritualized combat to me, like a long-standing tradition intended to prevent real violence. They know the umpire will not change a call or change their pitch-calling pattern, but they run out there and perform a big display of opprobrium so that the fans know that the manager cares, and so that his players know he cares, and so on. Then he is ejected from the game as a ritual sacrifice, and the game continues, and tensions decrease a little bit now that the ritual of anger has been done and a manager has been sacrificed to tradition.

This is great. And pretty much exactly right. Some managers turned that kind of tantrum into an art form, too. (Looking at you, Earl Weaver.)

With the added detail that it is hoped the offending official might give the offended coach a close call later on. Get 'em leaning that way, anyhow, or at least wondering internally if it's really worth it to get bathed in Red Man Spittle more than once in an evening.

 

[txmxer]

There is a reason I said Nikko is very emotional. All the players are passionate.

Then there are those who's emotions are unchecked like Nikko and of course, the Rage Machine!

 

[Doofenshmirtz]

We don't know all the facts as to why he lost his cool in such an unacceptable way or why he was challenging the ruling, but we should before we come to any complete judgement.

You are absolutely right which is why everyone should be backing this official for enforcing the rules and the TD for the DQ unless and until some facts come to light that justifies the douchebaggery from Nikko that was caught on camera.

 

[Spectacledbear]

Rabble,rabble,rabble -> pitchforks

 

[BogeyNoMore]

*sharpens tines on pitchfork*


< believes in being well-prepared

 

[Jukeshoe]

This is great. And pretty much exactly right. Some managers turned that kind of tantrum into an art form, too. (Looking at you, Earl Weaver.)

With the added detail that it is hoped the offending official might give the offended coach a close call later on. Get 'em leaning that way, anyhow, or at least wondering internally if it's really worth it to get bathed in Red Man Spittle more than once in an evening.

 

[davetherocketguy]

Because you are human and forget discs, dropped a towel, have to pee, face indecision at times, distractions, etc. if you have played disc golf for any decent length of time you have exceeded 30 seconds to throw. You say it is a penalty every time, one that you never call on yourself. I say it's not a penalty in itself, and that other conditions need to be present before it becomes one.

PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY COME PLAY ONE OF MY TOURNEYS OR LEAGUES

 

[elmexdela]

PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY COME PLAY ONE OF MY TOURNEYS OR LEAGUES

once yall fix up jones park