Current Events > HS sprinter who's shattering records doesn't like 'White Lightning' namename

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https://www.si.com/olympics/2019/06/05/matthew-boling-high-school-sprint-phenom-white-lightning-nickname

High school sprinter Matthew Boling has become somewhat of a household name in recent weeks after a series of viral race videos, but there's a certain part of the newfound fame that irks him.

Many of the headlines and comments that accompanied his viral clips included the nickname "White Lightning" since he is Caucasian. When asked what he'd like his nickname to be in a radio interview, Boling responded "Matt."

I cringed when that White Lightning thing started, Bolings father, Mark, told the Washington Post. Were very hopeful that will die an early death.

I dont care or notice, but people bring it up a bunch, like on Instagram, Matt Boling told the Post about how his skin color affects how people view him. But I dont really care.

Boling recently made headlines when he ran a wind-aided 100-meter dash in 9.98 seconds. He followed that up by setting an all-conditions national high school record by with a wind-legal 10.13 in the 100 at the Texas Class 6A state championship. He also ran a 44.74 in the 4x400-meter relay to help his team erase a deficit and win. Boling also competed in the long jump and won with a leap of 25 feet, 2 inches.

NBC Sports' Ato Boldon acknowledged that Boling's skin color is going to result in more notice from a mass audience.

Of course its going to get him extra attention, for the same reason Tiger Woods, when he showed up, got a lot of extra attention, Boldon said. I get it. Anybody who ignores that is being disingenuous. For me, your skin color might get you attention. That gets you to the party. The question is, can you dance? And this kid can dance. Once you see him, the color of his skin is immediately going to be the last thing you think about.

Do you think the kid has a point? Do you think it's unfair that people are fixating on his race just because he's a white kid dominating in an event that's usually won by African American and Caribbean athletes?
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Sounds like white lightning can't stand the heat.

Get it, because lightning is energy and hot, but also he does sprints and those races are called heats, hahaha I hate myself for these puns.
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we should call him Burst Stream of Destruction instead.
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gunplagirl posted...

Sounds like white lightning can't stand the heat.

Get it, because lightning is energy and hot, but also he does sprints and those races are called heats, hahaha I hate myself for these puns.

Booooo, get off the stage!

*throws tomato*
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I don't like it either. A former neighbor's house got hit by lightning when I was looking out the window one time and it startled the fuck out of me, but it wasn't white. It was like a light blue color.
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He may not like it, but it should be expected. Tiger Woods is a household name largely due to his race. This is a similar situation.
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The_Thinker posted...

He may not like it, but it should be expected. Tiger Woods is a household name largely due to his race. This is a similar situation.

That's true, and the article says it, but there's no way announcers could get away with calling Tiger something like "Black Magic."
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There are superheroes named Black Lightning and Black Panther.
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The Admiral posted...

I dont care or notice, but people bring it up a bunch, like on Instagram, Matt Boling told the Post about how his skin color affects how people view him. But I dont really care.

sounds like he doesnt care. why do you guys?
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spudger posted...

The Admiral posted...

I dont care or notice, but people bring it up a bunch, like on Instagram, Matt Boling told the Post about how his skin color affects how people view him. But I dont really care.

sounds like he doesnt care. why do you guys?

Because the article is about how he does care and doesn't like that his nickname is based around his race.
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Meh. You can't choose which nicknames stick and which don't. It ain't a racist/homophobic/sexist nickname so I don't see why he'd care.

That being said, because he doesn't wish to be called "White Lightning," I wouldn't call him that if I ever met him.
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Phantom_Nook posted...

we should call him Burst Stream of Destruction instead.

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They should call him The Mauve Avenger
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pikachupwnage posted...

Phantom_Nook posted...

we should call him Burst Stream of Destruction instead.

LMAO

kuwab0 posted...

They should call him The Mauve Avenger

I can't believe we called the kid the Mauve Avenger
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Imagine getting offended at the word "White", and not knowing that the nickname is because lightning is white in color
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Phantom_Nook posted...

we should call him Burst Stream of Destruction instead.

I get it lol
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if he was smart he'd embrace it. not a lot of prolific white runners and he could make millions marketing this.
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Puglia77 posted...

Imagine getting offended at the word "White", and not knowing that the nickname is because lightning is white in color

Ugh it's like you literally didn't even read post #5 >:/
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKbGnzmidsw" data-time="
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The Admiral posted...

The_Thinker posted...

He may not like it, but it should be expected. Tiger Woods is a household name largely due to his race. This is a similar situation.

That's true, and the article says it, but there's no way announcers could get away with calling Tiger something like "Black Magic."

Tiger Woods is Asian too tho
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16-BITTER posted...

My first thought was moonshine.

Same here

Puglia77 posted...

Imagine getting offended at the word "White", and not knowing that the nickname is because lightning is white in color

That's... That's not where that term comes from
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