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The guy might remember doing certain things, things that took the reflexes of a cat, and if those tools aren't
still there, and he's still trying those certain things, well, one could see a guy getting into trouble.
I remember an article in Life magazine, yeah, yeah I know, on Muhammad Ali when he was in his prime.
Late teens, early twenties. They timed his speed hitting a piece of bulsa wood. A light would blink, he would jab
the stick.
Effing guy was like the quickest they ever recorded.
One wonders what The Greatest had, reflex wise, in his 30s, and how much Father Time, and Sister Bellringer, take from you at the big 3 0.
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Try walking up to James and asking him, see what happens.
McDonald's or white balance?
In my first post in this thread I did not insult anyone. Someone took it as an insult when it was not directed toward them. It was directed toward how this sport seems to treats anyone who doesn't toe the line.
I know my opinion that people like GuyB and Mr. Johnson should be able to ask questions that piss off riders/officials/Feld/DC/me/you without repercussions is an unpopular one. I just didn't think the attack would come from the direction that it did.
As for what would happen if I asked James or any other rider a bad question? I suspect I would never be allowed to ask another. That is my entire point, thanks for highlighting it for me.
I surrender. Maybe Luongo has it right.
Shit, there is nobody in the 40 years I've been living this sport that has made me think, "did he f&^%# really just do that, at that speed, with that style?" like he has over and over again throughout his career. And, I seriously doubt anyone after him will. He is the reason the sport looks like what it does today. I'm not sure why he doesn't ride off into the sunset with his millions, but for him to hit the deck like he has in recent years and keep on keeping on, just reaffirms how much he loves racing his dirt sickle.
In my opinion, James can come into a season prepared, unprepared, fuck, he could come in 350lbs and I would be pumped to see him on the line. I'm not sure where all the hatred comes from, but for the most part I guess it's just a sign of the times. If greatness is down on their luck or struggling that's a great time to kick them so I can feel better about myself. I read it all day on our Facebook page and scratch my head at the lack of respect for this mans accomplishments and contribution to the sport he obvious loves. It's absolutely sickening.
Why the heck would any journalist ask a legend, why they came in unprepared while they're going through the worst time of their lives. Maybe if he was putting around in 14th, finishing races with lackluster results and taking a paycheck, but that's not what he's doing. Trust me, if that's the reason he is having a year like he's having, he has paid for it in full. I ask the questions I want answers to and that simply is not one of them.
I hope this reads how I meant it. Typing on a mobile device is rough on here.
Let me give you one example, and some extra insight.
In the post-race press conference, there was a local reporter who was questioning Dungey as to why he'd gotten second so many times. He ran through Ryan's entire list of second-place finishes (which is substantial) at Hangtown, and asked why he'd never won here.
Ryan did mention that he'd won at every other track except Hangtown.
Afterward, the guy made a point of coming over to talk to Ryan and mentioned that there was no disrespect intended. I chimed in that I'd asked Ryan plenty of questions that probably came out the wrong way. Ryan laughed.
In the 13-14 years that I've been doing moto stuff full-time, I've also probably asked James more than a few questions that were uncomfortable for him to answer. With the exception of a time or two (where I chalked it up more to bad timing than anything else), I don't think he's ever shut me down on answering anything. The only one I can really think of was a time way back when he was riding 125s for Kawasaki, when he was out riding at Elsinore with J-Bone (who was still his mechanic at the time), and that he just wanted to have a fun day of riding.
There are plenty of ways to ask questions to get the answers you're looking for. You can throw softballs. You can throw hardballs. I try not to ask them in a way that's out-and-out dickish, which is what some people seem to want to see.
The thing is, you can always ask questions...if you can get access to a rider. Most of the time it's no problem, unless they're pissed at their performance, or injured (or both). Last year at Hangtown, Kenny was pretty scarce when he was dealing with his back injury. Afterwards, I got a chance to catch up with him to find out what was going on.
Also, whether you get an honest answer (see Cooper Webb at the Vegas pre-race press conference regarding his wrist injury) is up to the rider...and also sometimes the timing. I talked with Cooper about it again at Hangtown, and got a very different answer from the one that he gave in Vegas. Apparently he didn't want to share injury info the day before he was trying to wrap up a championship.
Heck, we asked Bud Feldkamp what the attendance was at the first USGP a few years ago, and he said 15,000. That might have been the case if they counted Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and made everyone there go through the turnstyles five or six times each.
I'm not trying to start some big holy war here. No one has gotten clipped. (Though when someone with one post comes in and tells you to watch out because you might get clipped, it's pretty apparent that he's a former customer.) But when someone keeps repeatedly telling you how things should work, or that you'll get blackballed, or have credentials pulled...and none of those things have ever happened to me or any journali...er, sports reporter that I know of, it becomes a little frustrating.
Remember the force is strong with the keyboard warriors here.... :-)
If they are losing they don't say a lot!
We're not there to tear down riders, get the dirt, ask them if they use PED's or talk about their away from the track problems. Personally, my goals are to be around my passion at the highest level, use my knowledge and love for the game to report on the racing, hopefully promote the sport and if all goes well make a couple bucks while I'm at it. The last goal has proven to be the toughest one, but the first one keeps me going.
Like Gibby said, I too have never seen a journalist get threatened with a ban for chasing a hard hitting story or asking hard hitting questions. Although, I don't think the hard hitting stuff is at the top of everyone's to do list either. Could this sport use some hard hitting journalism? Yeah, for sure. But, until we get a little bigger and have mainstream media with no real love for the game covering us , that's probably not going to happen as often as the guys demanding it want. Or the guys on Vital demanding it all the time can do it themselves I guess.
I have an idea, though. If every person that has started a "MX/SX Journalists are Pussies" thread gets together and starts their own news website, you'll be well staffed. That way if the "you'll get banned for hard hitting journalism" theory is true, you will have plenty of other like-minded staff to bring in off the bench.
Pit Row
There are a few ways MX is amateur hour, the relationship between journos and the tempertantrum-Y riders is one of them.
You think we'll ever see post race press conferences again?
I think for a professional rider / public figure to be able to hide from the press after a loss or poor performance is a luxury. One your not afforded in other popular professional sports... UFC springs to mind as a stark example and their losses are much more personal. F1 post race conferences are often colourful and have created some of the most iconic sound bites of the sport (just watch Senna).
I think post race press conferences would be great to get a sense of rivalries. Like to see post race interactions between Roczen and Dungey after Hangtown would be awesome to get fans stoked for next weeks race.
I loved that well known Des Nations one where Everts called out Stewie and said RC would have given him a real race. That stuff is great for fans.
Niche sports are supported by niche markets, including media outlets. Without Feld/FIM requiring riders to answer the hard balls, the hard balls will go unanswered (or the insidious "off the record".). We are all frustrated by the force field surrounding riders, but moto journalists do not create that barrier, they are a victim of it.
With limited free time and no required press conferences, riders and teams are free to select when and who they speak with. Access depends on trust, something difficult to build but easy to dismantle. GuyB isn't a poor journalist; he's a guy who understands his environment.
This isn't some Dick and Tom local racing yet it usually feels that way.
Until they find out what was in Milsaps locker, we will agree that there are no Investigative Reporter/Journalists in moto.
All I have ever heard from Moto journalists is fluff.
Also, how do "journalists" in moto gain access to the riders. Press conferences are free access to all? All access during race day for credentialed journalists? Or are all journalist vest wearing photographers? is it easy to not get a vest and be left out in the cold as a photographer?
The funny thing about all this is that this entire topic begins with questioning why someone hasn't asked JS7 why he started the season in the condition the OP opines he was in. The real question to be answered is why is JS7 having the difficulties he is.
Only once.
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