Cavendish

Croxted Avenger

Funny how nobody points the fnger at the interviewer asking stupid questions a la Gary Newbond and trying to felicitate a reaction. It seems we want achingly banal questions and equally blandola answers like Shearer, Owen and most other prominent media trained 'personalities'.

simon_e

chewa wrote:

Can you imagine a non cyclist watching that wee bit.? Put anyone off watching the sport.

If they're that easily put off they are never going to grasp the enormity of an event like the TdF, they should stick to monosyllabic football chants.

I too thought Cav was grumpy, but it was mildly comical. He's young and very keen, he (rightly or wrongly) thought Monday's stage had his name on it, I'm not suprised he was less than chuffed. I didn't think Matt's finish-line questions were exactly the most charming interview technique I've heard.

Perhaps we should ask British Cycling to groom some gracious, eloquent losers instead of those annoying competitive types dead set on winning. The kid is what he is, take it or leave it.

Anyone who contrasts Cavendish with Robbie 'Motormouth' McEwen's supposedly sweet demeanour in front of a microphone hasn't seen the Pocket Rocket in full voice.

pat1cp

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/ ... src=sports

This is obviously made by our friends over the water, but, compare Will Friskhorn to The Wee Stumpy Manx Man. I'm sure Will was just as dissapointed and probably more tired than Cav was :!: :!:

idaviesmoore

S'not High Road no more.... it's Columbia. I know 'cos I bought a HighRoad shirt and now it's changed. Do I get me money back? :shock: My fault for todying up to the corporate dream. I just wanted to be like Cav though.........

RichN95.

pat1cp wrote:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=207187&cl=8706422&ch=430915&src=sports

This is obviously made by our friends over the water, but, compare Will Friskhorn to The Wee Stumpy Manx Man. I'm sure Will was just as dissapointed and probably more tired than Cav was :!: :!:

Why would Friskhorn be disappointed? His best result prior to yesterday was 2nd in the Tour of Missouri. He's just had the biggest day of his career, people now know who he is. He's delighted - and rightly so.

Cav on the other was tipped to win yesterday, and never got the chance.

Finjim

As others have probably said the fact that he was tired and annoyed at the way things went is not really an excuse for that kind of attitude. Loads of top sportsman get asked annoying questions after a defeat or poor performance and manage to retain some manners and give a quick media friendly soundbite or two. If not just out of courtesy to fans and supporters back home.

I quite like the fact that he has the winners attitude but there's still no need to act like a kid who's taking his ball home because he's losing, especially as the tour is one of the only times millions of UK viewers will ever watch cycling and probably the first time many of them have ever heard of Cav.

He can't expect coverage / support from the UK media and fans if he treats them like that.

stage_fright

Chewa:

I suppose the difference is you and I don't get paid for being interviewed after a days work. He has a responsibility to his sponsors (and ultimately us as consumers) and being interviewed is part of his "job"

I pictured some poor team PR person sinking to the floor in despair with their head in their hands at that interview. Sponsors etc want air time - and in time maybe Cav will learn to stop, tug his zip fully up and turn to the camera so all logos etc are visible, and mention the team name and key sponsors at least one in his replies.

Doesn't always make for the most exciting interview sadly - but is how the game is played at the top level these days.

Moomaloid

Get off his back for goodness sake!

leguape

Croxted Avenger wrote:

Funny how nobody points the fnger at the interviewer asking stupid questions a la Gary Newbond and trying to felicitate a reaction. It seems we want achingly banal questions and equally blandola answers like Shearer, Owen and most other prominent media trained 'personalities'.

Didn't Cav do an interview with Rendell before the tour, and has almost certainly said it before, that taking part in the big Tours is about learning and stepping up to the level? I'm fairly certain he did, just can't remember where. If so, then Rendell's question is entirely legitimate.

thamacdaddy

I really don't get what the big fuss is about here you bunch of old women!!!!

I want him to have a little arrogance it works well for you in life and bar his post race interviews after a hard day he interviews just fine. Check him out after the track championships or even the interview he did the other day before stage 2 of the live racing on ITV4. Yeah they were recorded but his answers didn't come across as the devil in disguise that you guys are painting him out to be.

If he truely was that graceless and arrogant he wouldn't be there claiming that he wants to finish the tour because its disrespectful to other riders, his team and sponsors and the tour to quit halfway through just because he wants to win in china. Everyone would expect him to leave but his intention is to see it all through as he knows how important the experience is in the biggest race of the year.

I would have thought after handing Greipel that Giro win you guys would have laid off his back a bit but typical british to bring down our own.

I don't think he has annoyed any in the peloton who all seem to respect what he can do and he has a decent mix of being slightly cocky and sensible enough to know he needs to work hard and doesn't believe the hype. Proud to have a decent Brit involved just a shame wiggins isn't in his lead out train as columbia have some pretty awesome riders for that.

I also don't agree with this whole "he should have stock answers" rubbish. I would rather know some guy is not happy with himself, his team etc and actually cares about the win than someone who is just turning up to take hom the pay and is totally ok with losing. Show some passion for what you do nothing wrong with that. Its not like he has come on screen and said something about all the fans being a bunch of losers. He was just angry at the loss and had some really stupid questions aimed at him by a moron ITV interviewer. How people can dispise him from so little baffles me.

DaveyL

+1. Matt Rendell can do so much better.

Tim Farr

Why is it that when someone is successful, like Cavendish, that the envious - and infinitely less able - take pleasure at insulting them? 'dumpty', 'ars', ignorant twonk', and worst of all 'wee stumpy manxman' are some of the insults thrown at Mark Cavendish on this thread. Of course these 'fans' always hide behind their often ridiculous nomme de plumes. You are sad people.

nick hanson

As has been said before, the Interviewer was trying to get a reaction,rather than asking something meaningfull.
I must admit,when Cav was being asked such daft questions as,"what did you learn?",
I was half expecting a rather blunt answer.
Look at a LOT of the greats,again,as has been said before & see their responses,when they've just been beaten.
On to todays,finish,anyone else think Schummacker tried very hard to dodge the drugs part of the question,re his altercation with the German police in January?

iainf72

Tim Farr wrote:

Why is it that when someone is successful, like Cavendish, that the envious - and infinitely less able - take pleasure at insulting them? 'dumpty', 'ars', ignorant twonk', and worst of all 'wee stumpy manxman' are some of the insults thrown at Mark Cavendish on this thread. Of course these 'fans' always hide behind their often ridiculous nomme de plumes. You are sad people.

I have formed an opinion, based on what I've read and seen on TV that I don't like Cavendish. There's nothing wrong with that. You may have decided you like him based on the same factoids.

At one point I said I didn't think he was that good a sprinter. I was wrong and I accept that. He's very very fast. I won't insult his speed now but he just rubs me up the wrong way. Heck, I rub people up the wrong way but it doesn't bother me. And I'm sure someone on the internet moaning about Mark doesn't really bother him.

Tim Farr

Iain72, 'at one point I didn't think he was a good sprinter', and he's world madison champion!! You must have very high standards. Anyway don't worry you've still got plenty to lash him with, I've had a little think and here's a few prompts - earning loads of dosh and being spoilt (that's the favourite), having a girlfriend or not having one, being an ex-ballroom dancer, not being able to do a track stand for more than 10 minutes or 10 hours, owning or if you like not owning a manx cat.

iainf72

Yeah, but track riding is a wierd minority sideshow

Can I just stick to he comes across badly in interviews and is always blaming someone else?

wasp707

Cav needs to deliver tomorrow to justify his "hot property" status after todays poor TT effort.

Jez mon

Obviously you don't know what he said today....that today was a sort of recovery ride for him, and that the only priority was to get inside the time limit.

He's a SPRINTER not a TTer. :roll:

chewa

Tim Farr wrote:

Why is it that when someone is successful, like Cavendish, that the envious - and infinitely less able - take pleasure at insulting them? 'dumpty', 'ars', ignorant twonk', and worst of all 'wee stumpy manxman' are some of the insults thrown at Mark Cavendish on this thread. Of course these 'fans' always hide behind their often ridiculous nomme de plumes. You are sad people.

I'll have to admit I don't like Cavendish's attitude. I admire his fitness and talent (as I did Armstrongs), but like Armstrong can't take to him.

It's all very well saying that arrogance is a good thing in a sportsman, but my point was that he owes a duty to his sponsors and to us to behave in a professional manner. He's also an ambassador for cycling. Rendell's questions were dumb but a simple " I don't want to talk right now" would have done, instead of the petulant "Kevin" behaviour.

I like succesful people as i'm a fan of the finest cyclist in the last decade (De Kaiser). Oh, and I met Cav at the end of the Tour of Britain - he can be charming if he puts his mind to it - but he'd won then, hadn't he?

Gr.uB

redddraggon wrote:

I like his and Ricco's interviews, they're not media-savvy.

Personally I don't care how people interview.

Ditto. If he was a nice guy, someone like Henman for instance, he would be good for nothing but second fiddle. The man has balls to do what he does so he has the matching attitude too. I see no problem with that whatsoever. Suits the situation.

phil s

A couple of points in relation to some of the topics raised here.

1. Cav's tender years, as opposed to Federer's maturity... Cav's 23. Roger's what? 26?

2. ITV should've tried to interview him later... sorry, that's not how it works at the Tour. As a TV or radio reporter you are also doing a job and you aren't given infinite time to do it. The riders know the score - interviews right after the stage. That's the whole reason accredited journalists and reporters are given bibs to allow them onto the road after the finish line. The riders are whisked off to their next destination shortly after stages and broadcast facilities are taken down fairly quickly too. I always get to speak to riders after stages, not recording all of the time but gauging opinion. Most are very courteous and think about how best to give you an answer, even if they're absolutely knackered or if they don't agree with your point of view. All of the French boys like Voeckler and Feillu are extremely polite, as are the German riders. Guys like Cav cah'tt have it both ways - he needs to have the grace to give a mature opinion even when he doesn't win, not just when he does.

Jez mon

Well, Federer has been world no 1 since February 2004, thats a long time he's had at the top. Whereas this is only Cav's second season.

ITV would probably have seen/worked out, that Cav would be in a rotten mood and was bound to come across as a bit of a ****.

knedlicky

Maybe Cavendish is a bit surly because he's got Ciolek breathing down his neck, or rather on stages 1 and 2, in front of him.
Cavendish has more victories this season but Ciolek has been more times on the podium, is already one podium-placing ahead in the Tour, and ahead on points.

Perhaps there's more tension between them than evident on the surface - in the early season Tour of California, who worked for whom supposedly changed according to circumstances, but on one day when Cavendish was to work for Ciolek, he broke ranks and sprinted off to win.

DavidBelcher

Jez mon wrote:

Obviously you don't know what he said today....that today was a sort of recovery ride for him, and that the only priority was to get inside the time limit.

He's a SPRINTER not a TTer. :roll:

And in all fairness, the post-TT interview seemed OK to me - evidently the previous one was the end product of a bad day at the office.

David

fast as fupp

TAKE THAT YOU ANTI CAVENDISH FUPPERS!

actions speak louder than words

SamWise72

A classy person would be polite even if in a bad mood. Maybe it makes him a "better athlete", though I doubt that, but it doesn't mean we have to like him. Nobody says that success = being liked. I thought he came across very badly, as someone I'd liked a lot based on his performances, but found deeply unprofessional and arrogant in that interview. If it's all the same to everyone, I'll judge his ability based on his performance, and his personality based on how he treats people.

Jez mon

Spoiler....






















WOOO GO CAV Chapeaux to him!

Edwin

The Eurosport site says he's just won today's stage. That's definitely something to be arrogant about...

iainf72

I don't want to be square again, but could you keep results in a spoiler thread - Some people might be waiting til they get home to watch.

sportzchick

you were saying......