By Clint Lien
Oct. 9, 2007 -- I guess I can’t really write about the pro scene without first addressing the topic that’s on everybody’s lips – Stadler versus McCormack versus Al Sultan, the Sequel. Not since the second Ali/Frazier fight have I heard this much smack talk.
No need to repeat all the dirt. It’s been well documented. I personally find the business unsavoury but I concede it does add a level of interest that’s hard to resist.
My grandfather used to say “It doesn’t matter what a fella says, it’s what he does that counts.”
All three men have done enough to count. No matter who takes it this year it won’t take away from that fact.
I recall the days of the Scott/Allen battles. While it was rumoured that the men were not the best of friends it was neither confirmed or denied by either of them publicly.
Those guys had grace and while it no doubt increases interest in the sport, Ironman would continue to thrive with a little more sportsmanship coming from all the camps.
But I must confess I do like the basic honesty of it.
“Do you think you can win this thing?”
“Yes I do.”
So many athletes these days seem to lack the confidence to get up there and say, “I’ve done the work. I’ve got the skills I think I’m going to win.”
Of course it doesn’t always mean saying you’ll win. Sometimes it just means you have the courage to say what you think is true.
And there’s nothing wrong with a little arrogance. My old mentor, Jeff Tambor said if you didn’t have some arrogance in your character you’d better stick with the safe jobs.
Being a world champion Ironman is not a safe job.
Earlier today I had coffee with Linsey Corbin and Lance Watson. Watson is coaching Corbin and told me he thought she would surprise a lot of people out there.
I asked her what she thought. She blushed and said, “I hold no illusions. I’m not going to win.” There was a pause. Then she continued, “I’ll be off the pack after the swim. I’ll catch a bunch of them on the bike and run myself into the top ten.”
Now that’s what I’m talking about. Nothing about anyone else, just a quiet confidence in her own abilities. I’m gonna cheer like hell for that gal.
Kai Baumgartner, whose 3athlon website is the goto place for the sport in Germany, and is fast friends with both Faris and Normann, felt that a lot of the chatter was just that, chatter – contrived indignation to get people talking.
I’ve never exchanged a word with Normann in my life but I sure could see Macca stirring things up just to throw the other cats off their game.
Talking with Faris after last years race, he seemed genuinely upset by the whole affair and if I’m to believe what I’ve read in the press lately, has wisely decided to simply walk away from the business and just let his performance do the talking. Smart move.
Whatever their motives, come Saturday morning the multi sport eyes of the world will be focused on those three men – and Tim DeBoom will slip by all three of them.