TC on TV tonight.
This might bring it to the home page
any guesses how much the 60mins payment may be $5k -$10 or higher .....any one ?
Udo that amount, probably was only 2 weeks of addiction and not alot of sleep....?
Nasty stuff, seen many good people go so far down hill on that shit.
Well it was all very interesting and worked up expertly for maximum emotional impact but the bottom line is that it was a story better not told. The sub-text overwhelms anything that was actually said and the take away message for the most vulnerable is that Tom Carroll could achieve what he did while being a drug addict. Do we really need to have that message broadcast yet again? Andy Irons, Michael Peterson and the multitude of lesser achieving addicts who have populated surfing for more than a generation have already made it clear that a subset of individuals are constitutionally capable of surfing at a high level while addicted and in that context it is not too much of a stretch for those on the way up to start thinking that being addicted to strong stimulants may actually be an advantage.
'it is not too much of a stretch for those on the way up to start thinking that being addicted to strong stimulants may actually be an advantage.'
There are 2 eras of surfing. BC, AC. Before coke/speed/ice after coke/speed/ice. AC is incredible, legends appear everywhere. Guys that BC wouldn't go over the edge of a two footer, become tow chargers from hell. MMA legends, boxing all stars. Champeen, elite athletes. Grand prix, black beast drivers, rock stars, golf pros, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc. Nostrils flared and dripping, Fuck you sneer masters.
Liz Hayes is hilarious. 'OMG... every day!!!' That logie winning look of shock horror. Get real, try every few hours.
Gee really, did he really use drugs? And wow, hardly anyone knew? Gee whiz, what a breakthrough revelation, well golleeee, whadya know.
He's back!
Not much was really said on 60 minutes, s'pose I will have to buy the book they're launching just now. That Nick Carrol is pretty intense hey, the gorilla and the monkey.
blindboy wrote:I really don't see any value in publicising the fact that a small minority of addicts are successful in their chosen field, it sends the completely the wrong message to those similarly vulnerable. The hard truth is that most addicts struggle to maintain a reasonable life and the majority do significant damage to themselves and those around them.
I didn't see the 60 Minutes gig so can't comment on that, yet I just read the book. There's absolutely no glamorising off his addictions in there, his behaviour is undignified, confusing, and even at times pathetic. If we were to believe the Tom Carroll media persona - that he of course helped to create - his behaviour was wholly unbecoming of a world champion.
A forty-plus year old man, with grown up kids and a serious life, still going on eccy binges? Then cocaine? Then ice? It's a whole 'nother view of the TC projected through the media. I admire the honesty but it's also very sad.
@stu repost that in 5yrs ..just change the TC to parko.........
what went down with the cooly kids around 1999- 2005 ....so similar.
hey UDO I can tell ya straight up that the coolie kids did not even come close to TC.......TC was allowed to get away with a lot ,because he became a closet user..really sad....but he can now be an example of someone who is fighting and winning against his addictions......
as for uplifts garble.....no idea......now the ASP has drug testing ya have to be on ya straight game..!!
The issue is not the drug use. Some people are vulnerable for whatever reasons. The issue is choosing to publicise it. Over-coming addiction might be an achievement but it should never over shadow the fact that they became addicted in the first place. Focusing on his achievements and the fact that he has overcome his addiction massively distorts the reality of most addicts....but I wish him luck, that journey never ends.
brutus wrote:....but he can now be an example of someone who is fighting and winning against his addictions....
Absolutely MC, there's the whole redemption thing with Tom. He's gone through it and got past it (hopefully), but jeez, right there in the thick of his addiction it was pretty desperate behaviour. Takes a lot of guts to talk about it.
I watched 60 minutes and it confuses me to why would someone of that level would make it public.
Like Ive mentioned before the human race as a whole are all addicts, no matter what they do. But hard drugs hurt to many love ones, maybe that is why TC felt so hollow..?
NC eventually found out that poor Mum dabbled in amphetamines, so I suppose its all good for TC.
My Dad hunted, I hunted, My Mum cooked dinner for us, now I cook dinner for us..?
Shaun's gonna buy the book now, Maybe sales were down and this interveiew will make people read TC life of addiction, good sales pitch.
blindboy wrote:Over-coming addiction might be an achievement but it should never over shadow the fact that they became addicted in the first place.
Not too sure what this means BB?
Udo care to elaborate on the cooly kids?
I wont be buying the book wheely, Seen the usual 60 minute replays on channel 9 in the morning, Carl Stefanivawhatever congratulated TC afterwards, for what I don't know.
Uplift is pretty much right, I think from what I could decipher anyway. Amphetamine use was running rampant in big wave circles, but the younger guys are a lot cleaner now.
The ice deal with TC did surprise me. I thought that gig was for the lawyers and advertising gurus. What is a bore is that surfing cops another black eye, at what seems like a chance for someone to apologise for their behavior whilst unwell. Kongs comments disappointed me a while back, virtually blaming the sport for his issues and demanding drug testing at every turn. Nothing like making your 12 yr old daughter urinate in front of a stranger, genitals in full view, to watch a sample being produced. I always supported the testing of performance enhancing drugs, the 80's era of anabolics caused many casualties, also like the weird shit used on gymnasts to slow their onset of puberty . Recreational drugs ive always thought are no one elses business. I still think the worst drug ever is alcohol, nothing like choking on vomit, pissing your pants and spending 24hrs nursing the inflammation of your organs from the toxic crap. 'oh, i was so blind i could not remember a thing' awesome night out, at leat the eccys you might enjoy something (no, i havent tried any pills/potions). Where do we go? the full muslim pure body pure mind? its really working for them, all peace and tranquility. I guess im lucky that i grew up in a drug free, no booze, religious environment. Where the stress manifested in domestic violence. I love the fact im paying for the hordes of sugar/fat addicted fat pricks roaming the earth, paying for their lap band surgeries, heart attacks, etc, so fat their joints cant support them. Drugs, always a ratings bonanza. Where is the middle line, a balanced, realistic way in we can deal with stress, enjoy social activities, challenge thinking in some ways? i ask the wise gurus of the surf world, cause im not seeing any leaders, managers and parents in my sphere pulling off this gift of life with any dignity. Most are are walking fucking disgrace, the Palmers, the double chin Roxons, the crazy and totally off the wall mad monk. Seems like religon can effectively replace free thinking. The other religon is the workplace, all fluoro, alarms and beeps, lifejackets and helmets, drug testing and every other life intrusion one can think of, I suppose thats where the herd is going
What I mean Stu is that recovering doesn't make up for going there in the first place and the shame of having become an addict should outweigh the pride in having beaten the addiction.This is usually where celebrity addiction/recovery stories fail miserably though the 60 Minutes piece was less guilty in that way than most.
Blindboy, I've only met one person in my entire fucken life who is not addicted to some drug/stimulant, or under some religious form of delusion. Add the eating disorders/obesity crowd. I reckon your livin in a glasshouse.............................I could be wrong of course! Its a big mouse trap out there, just a game of winners and losers.
I plead guilty to caffeine! The issue is that some substances or belief systems do a lot more damage than others. I am quite happy that my addiction does no harm to me or anyone else. I'm not trying to take the moral high ground here, just making the point that the 60 Minute piece sends a really bad message to some vulnerable people.
Surfing media long glamorised the big 'revelation', the boat 'trips' were famous. Wordy has it that even seasoned snow boarders abandoned ship. What a team, 'Storm Riders'... the White Squall. Surfing media loves all that shit. 'Psycho Ward threw up on everyone!' Anyone thats surfed for a while ends up running headlong into the truth. The ASP is just a small part of 'professional' surfing. But no doubt they have much more expensive, thorough and efficient drug testing than other pro sports where use is rampant brutless.
You have to feel for poor Elizabeth Hayes. Even though she is a seasoned, hardened reporter, the look of sheer horror and bewilderment that swept across her face as she battled and struggled to come to terms with the hard hitting, shocking 'truth'... 'OMG every day!!!' And the camera crew mercilessly zoomed in on the poor woman for what seemed like an enternity as she bravely fought to digest the shocking 'revelations'. She deserves an award.
Surfing media long glamorised the big 'revelation', the boat 'trips' were famous. Wordy has it that even seasoned snow boarders abandoned ship. What a team, 'Storm Riders'... the White Squall. Surfing media loves all that shit. 'Psycho Ward threw up on everyone!' Anyone thats surfed for a while ends up running headlong into the truth. The ASP is just a small part of 'professional' surfing. But no doubt they have much more expensive, thorough and efficient drug testing than other pro sports where use is rampant brutless.
You have to feel for poor Elizabeth Hayes. Even though she is a seasoned, hardened reporter, the look of sheer horror and bewilderment that swept across her face as she battled and struggled to come to terms with the hard hitting, shocking 'truth'... 'OMG every day!!!' And the camera crew mercilessly zoomed in on the poor woman for what seemed like an eternity as she bravely fought to digest the shocking 'revelations'. She deserves an award.
I see your point.
We are all potentially vulnerable. Imagine if you tallied all the bad messages you get in a 60 minutes show. Advertising for example. It makes an art of the mixed message.
As for coffee, the turks had a wonderful time of it in the 16/17th century, The slaves loved the stuff for a while, and got it all rolling industry wise a bit later in the Caribbean and other places. Its just timing and politics, but the ice issue is a worry and its prevalence is concerning. pro choice and all, even i reckon its garbage.
Imagine finding a 44 gallon of anything else that floats your boat, youd be stoked. a 44 of this stuff you couldn't chuck it quick enough.
Especially Walter White's shit.
guys,a biography has been written ...and there is an honest revealing look at someone who is a high profile Athlete ,that was world champion,who became an Ice addict....
the truth is sad,and hopefully this story will have a positive affect on an addict.....and that's the bottom line...its not about you saints on here ,but about people who have addictions and how they deal with them....
realizing you are an addict,and how ya deal with it is paramount in your recovery...TC's story is about being honest to yaself........"I am an Addict!" now where to...its al about giving hope...
Lots of underlying weirdness about the TC story. I have been scratching my head as to the "AHA moment". That being the lineage or correlation that his mum may have shown a propensity to amphetamines so that therefore made the rationale of TC's issue understandable? Even with opened eyes I find that a stretch.
Pipe masters after his sister was tragically killed. Surfed with reckless abandon. Driven by pure emotion....perhaps.. but now perhaps not... a real bloody shame.
I know his partner Mary. And if there is woman I know that wouldn't suffer that crap its her.
Here's hoping he keeps it on the rails. He's got the responsibility of family... Nothing greater IMO.
Brutus being honest to yourself might be essential, telling your story to the world is not. I haven't read the bio so I can't comment on that but consider sitting in front of the 60 Minutes piece with your teenage son or daughter who are keen surfers. You have always told them that to keep suring they need to be moderate, not saints, just sensible. What do you say now? Here is a guy with a 20 year serious drug problem who has been World Champion twice, continues to surf huge waves and has made a fortune as well. If you think there is some positive message in that, sorry I can't see it. The only place that story needs to be heard is in a rehab unit with people who need to know there is a way out and even there, given the resources and support at his finger tips it is of doubtful use.
TCs mothers medical history had some amphetamine addiction ? would this be from doctor presbscribed pep pills which they handed out in the 60s for busy mothers to get through their day ?
or was street speed available back then ?
free ride puts some serious questions to nick carroll....re tommy and drugs on realsurf. forum.
put up the link someone.
Woah, Steve! Be interesting to see how NC responds to those questions. I spoke to Nick yesterday and will have the result of that online this arvo. A few of those points are covered.
Yeah didn't see 60 minutes and won't buy the book, but it's the marketing of surfing itself that makes you wonder, take the Billabong CT comp "in memory of Andy Irons" bit like athletics running a world comp recognising say Ben Johnson, I don't think so until we can get the message across and that all this shit is bad, nothing I repeat nothing will change!!
BB,understanding what hope is to an addict is whats relevent here
there is a moment when an addict finally has a moment of clarity and understands that there are people like themselves and that no matter what pedestal society puts athletes etc....on, we are al vunerable human beings...
Maybe the Program is to inspire hope in other addicts or to put other potential users off,by telling the whole damn sad truth about TC's life??
on a lighter note ; nick carroll after watching himself on the 60 mins episode,,
' I didn't know my head was made [chiseled] from a block of wood'
nick those wam charts are still looking superb for your wed telos trip...enjoy.
The SMH site is promising us Tom Carroll talking about his ice addiction on 60 Minutes tonight. Now I have great sympathy for people who struggle with addiction but rather less for celebrities who want to tell the world about their problems for a handsome fee.......which I hope in this case is being donated to a suitably worthy cause.
I really don't see any value in publicising the fact that a small minority of addicts are successful in their chosen field, it sends the completely the wrong message to those similarly vulnerable. The hard truth is that most addicts struggle to maintain a reasonable life and the majority do significant damage to themselves and those around them. The pretence that there is some sort of benefit in an addicted ex-World Champion warning against addiction, is only that. The real message, as wrong as it is clear, is that addiction is not a barrier to success. In fairness I will watch it and hopefully be able to retract at least some of this afterwards.