This Mottram guy is a cocky SOB.........

UHMMMM......... wrote:

This Mottram guy is a cocky SOB......

TRUE

UHMMMM......... wrote:

Guarantee this guy won't heard of in 3 or 4 years.

He is just a flash in the pan white boy whose had a few decent races.

FALSE! He's been running great for several years. He's just gotten even better lately. And he's young and will remain great for many more.

UHMMMM......... wrote:

I hope that Willis guy kicks the sh@t out of this dude in Commowealth Games. I will laugh my a$$ off !!

I guess I agree. Willis did take him down, and Mottram seemed to act like Willis had no right to challenge and beat him. Well Craig, you are not the ONLY fast white boy out there. Willis and Webb can run with you and even beat you at the mile for sure. SO DEAL WITH IT!

Best result of the weekend was seeing Mottram getting beaten. I really want to like this guy but he is just sooo annoying. He is so full of himself. You are a great runner Craig but could do with eating some spoons of humble pie.

Mottram was running his 2nd event, What has Willis done in the 5k? Exactly. Don't mistake confidence for cockiness.

I think mottram is cool. Whats wrong with thinking you're good when you are? It's not like he doesn't deliver, hes gone 12:52 or something and beaten a lot of africans. I think hes really good for the sport. Willis is awesome too though.

He's Australian and they're all cocky bastards! It is part of their charm!

Mottram is a fantastic runner and I think is due respect because he'll turn up and race anyone over many different distances. I think he's doing the World Cross after the Commenwealths.

Compare Mottram to every sprinter in the World and he looks positively shy!!

It's rare that I would call an elite guy an a$$clown but that's what I think of Mottram now. His big mouth routine is tired and it is great that he got his butt kicked. I'm all for entertaining and flamboyant superstars but not when they think "entertainment" means talking crap about another hard working and talented guy.

Mottram is good enough that he should let his feet do the talking but instead he's a bitch ass megaphone mouth. I predict he will see improvement in his times during his career but that the WC bronze will be his highest WC/Oly placing.

UHMMMM......... wrote:

Guarantee this guy won't heard of in 3 or 4 years.

He is just a flash in the pan white boy whose had a few decent races.

I hope that Willis guy kicks the sh@t out of this dude in Commowealth Games. I will laugh my a$$ off !!

I guarantee Mottram will be around in 3-4 years. By the way, nobody runs a 12:50 something 5K by accident.

Mottram is personable and smart and gregarious and quotable and, this loss to Willis aside, has accomplished enormous things in the last couple of years. Of COURSE there would be a letsrun thread criticizing him.

Yes Mottram is very cocky, that's why I like him.

Makes a big change from all that "The Africans are unbeatable" attitude that pervades American and European distance running.

The three greatest distance runners of our generation: Haile Gebrsellasie, Paul Tergat, and Kenenisa Bekele never act like they couldn't be beaten. I agree Mottram is a talented runner but his ego seems to be bigger than his talent level. I enjoy watching and hearing when Nick Willis runs well and surprised he was able to hit a personal best in the Mile in January. After the Commonwealth games I hope he takes a break and slash his 1500m/Mile personal best later in the summer.

Vipam wrote:

The three greatest distance runners of our generation: Haile Gebrsellasie, Paul Tergat, and Kenenisa Bekele never act like they couldn't be beaten. I agree Mottram is a talented runner but his ego seems to be bigger than his talent level. I enjoy watching and hearing when Nick Willis runs well and surprised he was able to hit a personal best in the Mile in January. After the Commonwealth games I hope he takes a break and slash his 1500m/Mile personal best later in the summer.

I don't see how you can not include El Guerrouj among the three greatest, but the same can be said for him. Humble.

when you read the article Mottram actually gives willis a lot of credit. besides the quote on the front page he said (about willis) “He’s a super-fit and talented runner, he’s very good. He’s one of the top guys in the world and we always knew it was going to be hard.” I also think its pretty funny how all these people posting about mottram being a cocky SOB are probably the same guys that loved Pre for having the same attitude about racing.

when you read the article Mottram actually gives willis a lot of credit. besides the quote on the front page he said (about willis) “He’s a super-fit and talented runner, he’s very good. He’s one of the top guys in the world and we always knew it was going to be hard.” I also think its pretty funny how all these people posting about mottram being a cocky SOB are probably the same guys that loved Pre for having the same attitude about racing.

Different personalities to be sure.

I would also speculate that distance running in Western countries needs someone of Mottram's personality much more so than one of Geb et al. There is an overwhelming belief in North America and Europe that somehow that Africans are superior, and will forever be so, regardless of what we do. Having someone like Mottram, who is very vocal about his self-confidence and how he can beat the Africans sets a good example for younger runners who might consequently be less afraid to challenge the Africans in international races. Being humble and gracious is nice, but it doesn't always inspire confidence.

Mottram was cocky but he also did give Nick Willis a lot of respect and praise as well after the race in the report I read. He just wants to win and is not afraid to say so and this is just normal for a top level competitor.

I was not born when Pre was around but I think that Pre was a similar sort of character from what I have read.

You have different personalities in running, that is one the reasons why the sport is so interesting to follow.

Different personalities to be sure.

I would also speculate that distance running in Western countries needs someone of Mottram's personality much more so than one of Geb et al. There is an overwhelming belief in North America and Europe that somehow that Africans are superior, and will forever be so, regardless of what we do. Having someone like Mottram, who is very vocal about his self-confidence and how he can beat the Africans sets a good example for younger runners who might consequently be less afraid to challenge the Africans in international races. Being humble and gracious is nice, but it doesn't always inspire confidence.

Did you guys even read the article? He's not really bashing Willis. In fact, he gives him a lot of praise. In the context of the quotes below, Mottram does not come across as cocky or a bastard.

In any case, Mottram is clearly the better... good for him for being brave enough to admit it.

"No-one ever likes to come second. But you can't always win everything. I thought I ran solid, but it was a frustrating way to get beaten in the home straight. But look at the positive side - it was good for New Zealand running.

"He's a super-fit and talented runner, he's very good. He�s one of the top guys in the world and we always knew it was going to be hard.

"I knew I was in trouble from the gun because he went straight behind me and usually he sits a fair way back in the field. We had a plan, hoped I would be able to get a gap and him sit in the middle of the field, but he was right on it. I suppose we half expected it because it was going to be a two-man race as soon as we both lined-up in it. I suppose I made a good race it by making it fast, but I still would have liked to won it."

Vipam,

Personally, I think Mottram's mouth is good for the sport. If he says something brash and it makes the news, people watch to see if he'll back it up. It worked for Cassius Clay (later Muhammed Ali), Joe Namath, and it seems to have worked for Mottram. While I find it a bit snotty, I can't disagree with the result.

a miler wrote:

Different personalities to be sure.

I would also speculate that distance running in Western countries needs someone of Mottram's personality much more so than one of Geb et al. There is an overwhelming belief in North America and Europe that somehow that Africans are superior, and will forever be so, regardless of what we do. Having someone like Mottram, who is very vocal about his self-confidence and how he can beat the Africans sets a good example for younger runners who might consequently be less afraid to challenge the Africans in international races. Being humble and gracious is nice, but it doesn't always inspire confidence.

Great observation. I think its refreshing to see a non-African vocalize his confidence in competing against the very best, and also backing it up in the races.