What Happened to DeBoom and Macka?

Triathlon Forum
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I don’t know Macca personally am I am sure that he is a good guy. I’m not arguing against him personally or morally. I am just making a point. Well I remember reading an article perhaps in duathlon.com or inside triathlon where Macca refered to todays field of competitors as “wussies”. It cought my eye! For someone to make statements like that after a DNF at his first attempt in Hawaii was weak to say the least. Also, in previous interviews that I’ve read, I recall Macca boasting about the pace that he’ll set for the rest of the field on the bike and how he’ll make everyone blow-up. I even read something about how he has no regard for the so called “Gods” of Kona.

What I admire about him is his profound confidence and determination. This is obviously in his nature. He’s obviously earned his right to boast. The point I’m trying to make is not that he’s not a good guy or any less talented than the other racers. But if you talk the talk, be prepared to walk the walk.

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Can’t argue with the Donovan statement.

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I agree 100%.

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I’m an american and I love Macca. I was staying at the King Kam and got to meet a bunch of the Aussie contingent and they were a blast. After the race they refused to let me buy a round of beer and kept my glass full all night. Great people. Macca adds a little fire to the sport. He goes hell for broke and tells you he’s going to do that before the race. Isn’t that what we americans love? So what he didn’t have a great race, I was out there and saw him stuggling to the finish line, just like everybody else. Made me like him even more. That’s whats great about Ironman, you really never know whats going to happen out there on any day, especially at Hawaii. Now I can go around and brag to everyone that I out run splitted the great Macca by 15 minutes at the Hawaii Ironman. What other sport could that happen in???

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Anyone who thinks Macca’s birth country has anything to do with this conversation is having a conversation with themselves!

Get off the Aussie-centric BS and the American’s slamming Macca BS. Nobody gives a flying leap whether he is from OZ, or USA, or the moon. That has absolutely nothing to do with SOME people’s criticism of him. In case you hadn’t noticed exactly zero Americans were on the podium this year. I for one could care less. I root for the guy/gal that inspires me, simple as that. So while some of you are defending Macca because he is an Aussie, other’s are criticizing because of what he said he would do, but failed to do. Do you see the disconnect in this?

Macca talks and when his walk doesn’t match his talk I THINK IT IS QUITE FAIR TO CRITICIZE. Not saying he sucks, or is a poor athlete, or anything else, but I will say he DID NOT perform to the level that HE HIMSELF predicted he would. Simple really.

Why aren’t we criticizing Larsen, or Luc, or DeBoom??? Because they kept quiet. They didn’t say they would do something that they then failed to do.

Oh and this also has absolutely nothing to do with anyone’s IM abilities on this board. Nothing at all.

It is all very simple. Macca said. Macca didn’t do. Criticism earned. That’s it. Come back to earth and realize this.

If Larsen or Luc or DeBoom had made claims they didn’t back up they would be earning the criticism just as Macca has. Country of origin, irrelevant. In fact, I quite clearly recall Larsen getting similar treatment a few years ago on this site for the same reason and OH MY GOSH Larsen is an American being criticized by Americans. Imagine that.

Reality please. That’s all I’m asking.

If you are interested here are a few quotes from Macca in November 2003 Triathlete magazine.

'I’m going to get out of the water and I’m going to have a quick transition; I’m going to set my tempo. That puts me in front from the beginning."

“I won’t be waiting for packs or looking to sit in. If I’m in the front group, then I’m going to get out and set a solid tempo…”

“If I run 2:50 in Hawaii, it will win me the race.”

“People are sitting back and they’re content to win with these 8:30s and 8:36s.”

Just a recent sample. You don’t have to be American to see that Macca’s crystal ball was a little cloudy.

Justin - A Luke Bell fan. That guy deserves some kudos.

This post is in reply to many of the posts above, not specifically the previous post/poster.

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a 2:50 run would have got Macca a solid second. But it might have made for a more dramatic ending.

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I’m just glad we’ve all found something to fight about besides Campy v. Shimano.

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Refer to the next thread about the new drafting rule. For those who did not see the video from Ironmanlive.com it was quite clear that the rule changed allowed for the group so stay much closer together. With Larsen sick and not mounting a 4:22 charge, I can easily see how Macca, Leder, Lieto, Helrigel, Zack and the lot (the helicopter shot I saw early on had no less than 20 guys all in a big zig zag) did not want to attempt to brigde the gap to the leader and try to put time on a group that collectively would come in comfortably in 4:35-4:40. Yeah sure they spread out some after the turnaround, but can you ever remember when no pro men recieved a drafting penalty and came in 15 strong to T2. It was a glorified longer verson of ITU race.

I’m a little surprised Macca cracked given he did not have to work as hard on the bike b/c if you told me it was going to be a footrace with all the players starting within 3 minutes of each other, he’d be at the top of my list to win. Refer back to Roth; that may have taken something out of Leder and Macca that stayed with them. I doubt Macca will put out that kind of effort again before Hawaii. For the nay sayers, just you wait. When it all comes together for him he will flirt with 8:00. It took Mark Allen 6 times before he started winning. Macca is just learning and it is unfortunate his comments are being read into b/c he’s a hell of a guy and great for the sport. Change the rule back to 10 meters back and 3 to the side, give us a healthly Larsen that will go 4:20 and see what happens.

Congrat’s to Reid/Bowden, DeBoom get well soon, Stadler thank you for manning up and trying to race it the way it is suppose to be raced even if it cost you the race.

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Thanks, Justin. Finally, a voice of reason. How I was able to stick with this thread long enough to read your contribution, I’ll never know. Now, if I just had that kind of endurance in a triathlon, I’d talk smack too. Er, I mean, I’d be confident too. :slight_smile: