MACCA - maybe the best ever Triathlete?

Inspiration comes in many forms in my sporting pursuits. When I really need some juice to get going I will hit you tube and look for something. Usually that is in the form of a really good boxing match. This blog won't be about that but for those sports fan reading, I recommend you do a You Tube search on these key words "Ward, Gotti, Round 9, HBO". And yes, Ward is the same Ward The Fighter movie is about. That round is quite possibly the greatest round of boxing ever. Better than Hearns vs Sugar Ray; better than Ali vs. Foreman; Better than Holyfield vs. Bowe; it's an epic battle of 2 warriors.

Which brings me to this blog. MACCA is a champ and a big boxing fan. I was listening to some interviews on them trusty podcasts this week about his meticulous preparation, his focus on how to beat the 'threats' and his views on the history of the sport.

Yesterday Inside Triathlon magazine listed their top 15 triathletes of all time. Sadly, they forgot Peter Reid who is frankly, LEGEND. But included were the greats; Simon Whitfield, Simon Lessing, Hamish Carter, Mark Allen and Dave Scott, Crowie and Macca to name a few. It got me thinking top 3, which got me thinking can anyway claim to be ON TOP ahead of Mark Allen?? Is that possible? Mark won ITU World's, Nice (when Nice mattered) and Kona 6 times. He won everything! But here is my argument that MACCA sits a top Allen as The Best.

Depth of competition.

Lets face it, Allen was beating Hellreigel, Kiru and co. His most famous win was Dave Scott on Dave's best day; but, his competition in Kona was only 3 to 5 deep. His competition in ITU was only really 10 deep. The sport was new, he was the best, and proved it every weekend. Macca on the other hand? Like Allen MACCA is an ITU world Champion and Kona Champion and winner of key prestigous races around the world like Roth , IM Germany, Wildflower. But Macca's competition is STIFF! When he was ITU world champ he was beating 20 deep competition then Australia screwed him and he missed out on the Sydney Olympics and a new star was born; Simon Whitfield! So MACCA turns to long course, gives the finger to the Australian federation and kicks ass for 10 years. At first Kona beat him year in and year out just like Allen, just like a boxer in a real war, to only conquer it in 2007. He repeats in 2010. What is different though is depth in Kona vs. when Allen raced. 15 deep every year in Kona. 15 guys each year can win that race now vs. 3 to 5 in the 90's when Allen raced it.

How good is MACCA? 2010 proved in the 15 minutes of the video below that when the boxer gets hit and punished and pushed to the limit, THE BEST fight like THE BEST and win.

Now, what would be the dream "match". The big "fight" in Kona terms? Remember that guy I mentioned Simon Whitfield? Yeah, I would love to see the Kona lava fields with his leg speed...then maybe a new blog can be written.....-:) But, being Canadian I sure am glad his focus in London 2012!

I vote MACCA the best ever (till 2012 or 2013 anyway) and 2010 we finally had a Kona finish worthy of big time "best round" racing!

Thoughts and debate are welcome!

And thanks Macca...I might just get in the pool this spring-:)

My thoughts re: SI Lance report.

Today Sports Illustrated and the editorial team that broke the Alex Rodriquez "drug" story published investigative journalism report on Lance Armstrong.

Click here to read the SI report

At work I was asked today what I thought, here is what I think:

I don't give a shit!

I wrote a blog about Lance in July 2010 (see side bar link to the right) and want to explain a bit more now, when the press is hot and the apparent noose on Mr. Armstrong is tightening.

I am pragmatic about dope in pro sports, it's big money and people do it. I used to get upset that cycling was always on the front pages of dope in sport and stepped away for 3 years but I reconciled a few things:

First, cycling tests the most and therefore, gets busted the most.

Second, it is sports entertainment and beautiful entertainment it is. If you think I am whacked, ask yourself this:

• "how is it that an offensive lineman can run sub 5 second 40 and be 6'6" and 350lbs? How is it no one is ever busted in the NFL? How is it the biggest drug in the NBA is pot? I mean, look at that 19 year old 6'10" 260lbs forward who is just so dominant?"

If you are a fan of pro sport and NO ONE is getting caught in the sport you watch, ask why. FIFA's last drug positive of any noteirity was Maradona for cocaine. Please, these are superior athletes making more $$$ than baseball players and not one positive? Really, remember when baseball was squeeky clean? Um, Bonds/McGuire/Canseco/Clemens etc. were the stars.

These two points coupled with knowing I myself am drug free less a whole lot of Merlot, allow me to get on my bike with a clear conscious and train and race in the sport I absolutely love.

Third, and most importantly to the Lance question itself, the I don't give a shit part comes from a more personal place, from a place that really says to me - I just don't care if he was doped! In fact, if drugs allowed him to win and that winning in turn allowed Lance to do his foundation and write his book, then I care even less about the dope question.

Why? When you have a parent reading Lance's "Its not about the bike" in your arms knowing sooner, rather than later, we can't share that moment together and that parent gains inspiration from turning those pages, then dope up I say. I owe Lance a thanks for that moment in time, I will never forget it, it is a cherished memory for me of my mom.

If Lance was clean, clean, clean that memory doesn't change one bit. It doesn't have anymore value to it if he was clean.

Does that memory make doping ok in sport; absolutely not. I just don't give a shit if Lance doped.
Lance is bigger than his sport for all the right reasons; his foundation, his inspiration for millions, his influence in government's backing of cancer research etc. The test of a man is not how much money or fame, the test is what you do with it!

Perhaps you will argue, The test is actually HOW you gained the money and fame before what you did with it...as in, doing right as a consequence of doing wrong does not make a right. VERY VALID, I just don't give a shit because of point #3 above.

Ride safe, please ride clean, just don't ask if you want the straight goods from me on the subject of LA!