I pretty much agree with your view. Monty has some good points ( and first-hand experience) but neverthless, a CEO taking a personal issue with one of his key players public is just a bad move. It seems un-informed and amateur by Messick. In my view, Jacobs response was pretty reasonable and certainly seemed intended as a resolver, not an escalator. Messick escalated, Jacobs shut him down.
As an AG racer who is a long way from the action, this issue confirms my positive opinion of Jacobs and raises a question mark about Messick.
... But.... Just a bit of a reality check here, and maybe it points towards the simple challenge of being a full time pro where your damned if you do, damned if you don't. But if you are struggling to just finish an IM in one piece under 12 hours in mid-July... what does that say about how likely you'll be competitive or what would chance with just 8 weeks of solid training leading up to it?
I think it sucks that he's struggling and maybe more important it points towards the reality that pros must show up and compete each year to earn a living, even if they are not in good form.
On the flip side, I think the validation is a good idea as it makes it more of a level playing field a little with those that need to race at least 2 IM's the previous 13 months just to qualify. If you lucky and time it well, you can however get 3000+ points prior ot October and be sitting in an even better position than guys racing Kona that still need to validate. So there is that.
However, thanks to the changes, this is the last year you'll be able to get that many points early in the Fall as a pro.
If they want the top pros to race, then they need to offer fewer points at Kona... or no points at Kona and other than past winners, everyone is "in the same boat" so to speak. Even better IMO, would be to make the top 3 at Kona AQ's, and a winner of any IM an AQ.
As an AG racer who is a long way from the action, this issue confirms my positive opinion of Jacobs and raises a question mark about Messick.
motoguy128 wrote:
I thought PJ had a lot of great points and I applaud him for taking a stand. The comment by IMCEO was uncalled for and ignores the realities of begin a pro. ... But.... Just a bit of a reality check here, and maybe it points towards the simple challenge of being a full time pro where your damned if you do, damned if you don't. But if you are struggling to just finish an IM in one piece under 12 hours in mid-July... what does that say about how likely you'll be competitive or what would chance with just 8 weeks of solid training leading up to it?
I think it sucks that he's struggling and maybe more important it points towards the reality that pros must show up and compete each year to earn a living, even if they are not in good form.
On the flip side, I think the validation is a good idea as it makes it more of a level playing field a little with those that need to race at least 2 IM's the previous 13 months just to qualify. If you lucky and time it well, you can however get 3000+ points prior ot October and be sitting in an even better position than guys racing Kona that still need to validate. So there is that.
However, thanks to the changes, this is the last year you'll be able to get that many points early in the Fall as a pro.
If they want the top pros to race, then they need to offer fewer points at Kona... or no points at Kona and other than past winners, everyone is "in the same boat" so to speak. Even better IMO, would be to make the top 3 at Kona AQ's, and a winner of any IM an AQ.