“My performance in Hawaii was diabolical. I definitely went to Hawaii pretty cocky, I really thought I could win. But mate, I was exposed out there. I learned a valuable lesson which is that Hawaii doesn’t know any names. It doesn’t care who you are or what you’ve done”
Commet after his third title in a row at IMOZ.
Now did that serve as lesson and who would bet against him in Hawaii this year ?
I’m betting on Tim DeBoom.
Macca is saying the right things but I really don’t think he has learned from his mistakes. Macca races hard from February to October every year trying to stay in peak shape. This is not possible by anyone, add a new baby and all the travel he has planned and he is facing another spectacular meltdown in Hawaii. Take a look at his schedule on his website 15-16 races consistently up to Hawaii. Including many very tough races that require a lot of recovery. What is he thinking? Macca,take a HUGE mid-season break, rest & recover then build to Hawaii.
Not to be cynical, but I am sick and tired of him babbling his mouth about this and that. Don’t get me wrong, Macca is a preu gifted athlete and makes any race that he is in exciting, but he just needs to shut up about Hawaii already.
I do not mean to bash macca, but he talks too much.
I agree. When Deboom, Reid, VanLierde, are asked about Hawaii It usually sounds something like this. “Hawaii is such a tough race, everybody is here and a lot can happen…we shall see” Macca, repeat this a dozen times.
Um, aren’t pro athletes paid to be visible, whether by winning races or talking to the press. He obviously wants to do well in Hawaii, is that so bad?? Is that any different from a university student wanting to ace their MCAT?
My thought…
Yes. Again, my take is that Macca is full of excuses. He’s good. Really good. Can he win hawaii, I think so…But Hawaii is a different deal the best are there. ONe NEEDS to recognize that the level of talent at HAwaii is huge. Can someone fill me in on who else blabs on and on like Macca? I can’t name anyone off hand. Certainly not Reid or DeBoom for that matter…
What got me was last year, I read somewhere that Macca was talking about setting the course a blaze, when the year before, he DNF’d.
Cockyness can be cool and fun in this sport, but performance ultimatly stands out in the end.
Pro’s athlete’s are paid to perform. What good is it to your credibility as a pro if you talk and do not deliver. Everyone wants to do well in HAwaii. Macca is no different. He is just racing against huge talent and I think he realizes this now. It would be nice to see or hear him commend the talent of the Pro field and give the other athlete’s props before blaming it on “Hawaii” and the conditions.
“The rules are, there aint no rules.”
Fran
Here we go again on the “keep your mouth shut” bandwagon. Must we?
I completely disagree with you on this one. Why try to turn him into somebody else? That’s his personality. The last thing I want is for everyone to sound the same: overly humble, praising their fellow competitors, downplaying their chances. Yuck. Boring. It’s not as if whether someone talks smack or not has any actual bearing on their performance.
When I hear an interview with an athlete, I want to hear honesty. I don’t want to hear some prepared response that’s politically correct. It’s so refreshing when an athlete will actually let you in a little bit and tell you what they’re thinking.
Macca is saying the right things but I really don’t think he has learned from his mistakes. Macca races hard from February to October every year trying to stay in peak shape. This is not possible by anyone, add a new baby and all the travel he has planned and he is facing another spectacular meltdown in Hawaii. Take a look at his schedule on his website 15-16 races consistently up to Hawaii. Including many very tough races that require a lot of recovery. What is he thinking? Macca,take a HUGE mid-season break, rest & recover then build to Hawaii.
Sounds like he might be taking your advice:
Macca: Hawaii is a monkey on my back that I just need to get over. I always seem to be flying in April. Even in my short course career I used to win in Moloolaba and World Cup races in April … but you’ve got to be ready in October and that’s one thing I’ve got to look at this year and rectify what’s happening in Hawaii ‘cos it’s very disappointing. I just have to make sure I’m rested in the middle of the year. Short course guys just love to race but I think you have to back off in mid season if you want to have a good race in Hawaii.
Pro athletes are not paid to perform. They are paid to promote their sponsors’ products, and that means being visible in the press. They can be visible to the press through performing well, usually that is the best way of being recognised, but pros can also be visible by having a personality. I reference Anna Kournikova as a prime example. In Macca’s case, he is both talented, performs well, and has a personality.
Also, when Macca had a complete meltdown at Hawaii, I don’t think you can attribute that to his competition. More like he didn’t handle Hawaii conditions well.
Right on! There is nothing more boring than listening to Deboom and Reid blather on about how “the competition is so tough” and “I was lucky that so and so didnt have his “A” game today etc.” It all sounds like they took Kevin Costners tips from Bull Durham as the gospel of interviews. Guys like Macca and Larsen at least add some color to the fray. So what if they dont win(yet) at least they give you something to read and have big enough balls to put themselves out there. I have hung out with Macca and he doesnt pull any punches with anyone. If you mention another athlete in an upcoming race. Macca will give you his honest opinion. " I’ll stay with him on the swim, smash him on the bike, ride 4 minutes out of him and then we will see if he has a 28 min 10k in him!" Until Ironman he was almost always right. I hope he doesnt change now.
I went to school at Syracuse and was a huge basketball fan. I remember Pearl Washington giving interviews back then and saying things like " if our next opponent is smart they will play a zone defense. Nobody can guard me man on man and since the game is televised I would hate to have some poor kids family watching while I drop a double nickle on their boy"
It just makes sports more fun and I am sure it raises the level of the other guys games as well. Nobody wants to see their opponents trash talk come true.
OK, I was going to say that in my last post. It’s just the way that he is. No changing him. It is his personality. He was born this way. He is a confident athlete. He tore up shorter course and Half Iron distances for a while. And dominated Australia back to back. Of course he’s confident. No changing him. Honestly, I root and for and respect everyone out there doing IM’s and Kona. This includes MAcca. but the field he races against is so freaking talented and in my opinion the one tends to underestimate that talent. Maybe now things have changed. I really hope the best for the guy.
I do not mean to bash macca, but he talks too much.
I wondered when I read that if Macca was just saying the “right thing” or if he has learned his lesson? Time will tell. I would love to see someone get away on the bike and make Reid & DeBoom really run. I wonder how fast they could go if they really needed to “run”? I can envision them working together to run down Macca then having a Scott/Allen like dual to the finish. Now that would be worth watching! But, if it did happen, NBC would only mention it. They would not show it! 
I agree that some of the responses are to “cookbook”. I am a fan of Reid…but he sounds like Mark Allen when he talks about IM-Hawaii. Power from the island gods, etc. Give me a break. I can understand not giving to much away prior to the race. But I would like to hear what they thought they could do going into the race, and how that actually played out - all this after the race.
If I remember right in that same interview he goes on to acknowledge that he needs to scale back his racing between April and October to build up for Ironman Hawaii. His interview reads like he is saying the right things, but it would make for a great race if he is doing the things he says.
My $ is on a straight up duel between Reid & DeBoom that resembles the Allen & Scott duel we are all so fond of.
Exactly what I was looking for - thanks for posting this jaylew
Macca: Hawaii is a monkey on my back that I just need to get over. I always seem to be flying in April. Even in my short course career I used to win in Moloolaba and World Cup races in April … but you’ve got to be ready in October and that’s one thing I’ve got to look at this year and rectify what’s happening in Hawaii ‘cos it’s very disappointing. I just have to make sure I’m rested in the middle of the year. Short course guys just love to race but I think you have to back off in mid season if you want to have a good race in Hawaii.
“I just have to make sure I’m rested in the middle of the year”
Macca’s Schedule after winning Ironman Asutralia
5-1 Wildflower, 5-23 1/2 Ironman Florida, 6-6 Escape from Alcatraz, 6-13 Blackwater Eagleman, 6-27 German Tri Champs, 7-4 Quelle Roth Challenge, 8-22 1/2 Ironman U.K., 9-12 L.A. Tri, 10-9 Tinley’s Dirty Adventures, 10-16 Hawaii.
Good luck.
“Can someone fill me in on who else blabs on and on like Macca? I can’t name anyone off hand.”
Greg Welch was pretty cocky in his day, especially considering he was racing against Mark Allen. I remember one interview that went something like this (paraphrasing):
“I like Mark Allen. I have a lot of respect for the guy, but he has one big problem…ME!”
Haim