Bravado in Sports Today

While riding the trainer the other day I was watching a documentary called, “When We Were Kings,” about the Ali vs Foreman fight in Africa. I couldn’t get enough of Ali and all his trash talk and bravado. It was fascinating to watch. Then I wondered why I despise that type of behavior in today’s athletes. I much more prefer a humble champion to a loud mouth. I read an article about Ali on his 65th birthday and the author pointed out that we love Ali because his trash talk always done with a wink, while today’s athletes seem to take themselves so seriously and don’t have any class.

I guess this is why I don’t think very highly of Macca and Stadler after their behavior in Kona. They take themselves way too seriously. I’m very new to this sport so I don’t know the elites very well, but I hope someone with some class whips them both in Kona this year.

I saw the same documentary and had the same thoughts about his trash talking. Ali was a very humorous guy. It seems that every time they showed Ali giving an interview, everyone around Ali (reporters, trainers, and sometimes even his opponents) had a smile on their face. When most of today’s athletes trash talk, it’s usually done with a lack of humor. The notable exception among todays athletes, in my opinion, is Charles Barkley. He is a funny guy, and his humor is pretty reminiscent of Ali.

There are some really classy triathletes. In particular, I think Natasha Baddman is one class act. I think of the interview she gave in the '06 Ironman telecast where she was asked why she smiles so much when she is competing. Her answer is that she is fulfilled and full of joy because she competes, and that she wants to share that feeling with everyone. And when she finished, she was so upbeat, it was hard to tell that she wasn’t the winner. She has a great attitude.

I think a difference is the athlete. On one hand you have Ali, fighting for heavyweight champion…

On the other, you have a tight end, playing in a regular season football game for a team that’s 4 - 4, who gets a sack and celebrates like he just won the football equivalent of the heavyweight championship.

You also get a mediocre NBA player sinking a 3-pointer in the first quarter, who automatically raises one finger and pumps his chest.

Their is bravado backed up by action (Ali) and there is bravado backed up by nothing but arrogance.

That’s one reason I thought Macca’s trash talk was lame. He just lost at the World Championships and was proclaiming himself to be the best.

People feel in love with Ali only after his career was winding down.
During his day, he was viewed as a draft dodging, loud mouth, American coward.
But always very well respected in the ring. The same will happen with Pete Rose. Time will allow people to forgive and forget, buy his great performances on the diamond will remain. My guess is he will be put in the Hall of Fame the very year he passes.
In sports, you’ve got to overlook the trash talk and look for results in their particular arena.

Great movie/documentary! Saw it years ago. I completely agree with you - Ali had a certain something that today’s athletes don’t seem to have. I’m trying to rack my brain if I can think of a current athletle that has that same image who can pull it off like he could. Hmm…

Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?

During his day, he was viewed as a draft dodging, loud mouth, American coward
**
I don’t think Ali was viewed that way outside the US…sounds more like a description of a certain mr bush to me…

Shaq is a funny guy too and I like him more and more as he gets further away from Kobe Bryant.

My favorite Shaq quote ever: “I’m like the Pythagorean Theorem…can’t nobody figure me out.”

“On the other, you have a tight end, playing in a regular season football game for a team that’s 4 - 4, who gets a sack”

If a tight end gets a sack, he shouldn’t be celebrating, the only quaterback on the field is his own.

that guy would get his a$$ kicked by his own team (and high fives from the opponent)

If a tight end gets a sack, he shouldn’t be celebrating, the only quaterback on the field is his own.


Oops, defensive end is better.

Everyone has their own opinion , and you stated your’s and I can respect it.

However, I have looked up to Ali since the moment I saw him fight in the 70’s.

Trash talking is great for any sport today including triathlon. There is nothing wrong with having the balls to make boasts about what " you are going to do" in a race or season , or call out a rival athlete and try and live up to “your” huge claims.

I do it all the time. Sometimes I live up to my claims and sometimes I don’t , but anyone that has raced me head to head will tell you that I have not only the roar , but the heart of a lion . Now I’m no Pro, but when a guy like Ali or Macca does it , it’s really special.

Long live Macca , Ali , Stadler, T.O , Bonds etc…

Silent types like Cam Brown and Deboom may be as talented ?, but are kind of boring…

Really? TO and Bonds on that list? Neither one of them are a champion.

One led the league in dropped passes this season and they other has been a long suspected cheater and there is no proof he failed a drug test.

I don’t put those guys in the company of the others you list. Bravado is one thing. When you game is more about your act than your actual performance it’s something entirely different.

I kind of agree with you , and I don’t put T.O and Bonds on the same level as Macca or Stadler.

I do think that T.O and Bonds however talk the talk great and have the raw talent to be one of " THE GREATS".

Your right though, both are not champions yet, though Bonds is the home run king in my book.

I guess it’s a matter of who one likes?

When you make claims that you’re going to beat someone and you get beat what do you do? Do you continue to say your the best, or do you graciously give the person who beat you their due? Macca got beat in the World Championships of his sport and five minutes later he is declaring himself the best in the world. At least wait a week, or a month even before you start making such claims. I respect athletes that know how to win and lose with class.

I guess what interests me most about an athlete is their performance on the field and not off the field. If an athlete is going to talk smack off the field they better at least back it up, and back it up when it matters most.

How about Ali trash talking a stewardess during his glory days. While preparing for takeoff, the stewardess instructed Ali to buckle his seatbelt. He responded “Superman don’t need no seatbelt!” to which the stewardess replied “And Superman don’t need no plane either”. Ali buckled up.

Brian

Huge Bjorn Borg fan in his day, said little yet accomplished a lot. However, McEnroe’s mouth did make tennis entertaining and backed it up with great performance.

Yeh , I guess what entertains you in sport doesn’t neceserally entertain someone else. Like I said , I can see where your coming from.

Let me ask you this though, Don’t you think Macca is the best triathlete in the world even though he didn’t win the world championship? I think he is , and I think Deboom , Reid , and Lessing are better than the world champion too, and Reid is retired.

Congrats to Normann for winning , but he’s not the best triathlete in the world.

Also, the guy who commented on Mcenroe and Borg hit the nail on the head.
Mcenroe’s mouth is why I watch Tennis today…

Don’t you think Macca is the best triathlete in the world even though he didn’t win the world championship?

No. It may seem odd but I would say the winner of the world championship is the best triathlete. That’s why they race instead of determining it on paper. Who performs the best on a given day is the champion and Macca will have to wait at least until next year to make that claim.

I’m very new to the sport and am not as knowledgable on the various pedigrees of the pros. All I know for sure is that Kona is the World Championship race and Stadler won so he at least is the best in the World for last year – he’s earned that title. You’ve got to perform when it counts the most or it’s very difficult to call yourself the best. In every sport if you never win the big game it leaves a little blemish on your legacy, no matter how well you did in the regular season, and raises some doubt about your ranking versus past and future athletes. That’s just the way it is.

I can’t argue with that.

The only thing I can say in my opinion is that Macca is so much more entertaining than guy’s like Deboom and Brown, and that with trash talking , you either love or hate it.