Ben Spies: Prodigy or Zen Master. Secrets revealed.

Keshav · Feb 19, 2011

Talpa said:
yes of course there are fans of Rossi who pertain to the antics, however there is also a large majority of hardcore race fans who appreciate the talent of the man. So I certainly wouldn't place stereotypes across the board for Hayden or Rossi fans.

It could also be said that some only support Nicky because he's American.....hardly a hardcore racing fans POV?

As has been maintained... nobody (alleged "haters" included) seriously downplays Rossi's abilities.

And as you said - there are admirers of Rossi and Rossfans.

It's a given that enthusiasts will root for champions from their own country. Yet you will have noticed

among the hard-core American enthusiasts who regularly root for Hayden, Spies et al; there is a marked

appreciation for riders like Haga, Crutchlow, Chili, Bayliss, Doohan etc who project a certain straight-ahead, no ........ quality.

As to Hayden - his appeal is obvious on so many levels. Kinda clean-cut, aw shucks, down-home, humble, hard-working underdog who in 2006 despite Pedrosa's favored rider status at Honda - snatched the crown away from the unstoppable multiple-times world champion. It was "Rocky" all over again. Plus there was the dynamic where Hayden is from small-town, rural America and Rossi is perceived as a city-slicker from Europe. Americans have always have that love affair with the underdog and the dark horse. That he was an American - was just the cherry on the icing. He may have only won one championship - but that'll get him free beers and ..... for decades - and that's how it should be.

Talpa · Feb 19, 2011

Keshav said:
As has been maintained... nobody (alleged "haters" included) seriously downplays Rossi's abilities.

And as you said - there are admirers of Rossi and "Rossfans".

It's a given that enthusiasts will root for champions from their own country. Yet you will have noticed

among the hard-core American enthusiasts who regularly root

for Hayden, Spies et al; there is a marked appreciation for riders

like Haga, Crutchlow, Chili, Bayliss, Doohan etc who project a

certain straight-ahead, no ........ quality.

Certainly, I also am a big fan of all those mentioned especially Doohan and Bayliss whilst still being a fan of the clown antics and talent of Rossi for I think that his overwhelming success and support, both from his on track and off shows, has lifted the sport and helped drag it through a rather tough period of financial pressure and boring racing. So some of us can do both

Mr. Shupe · Feb 19, 2011

I think Mladin is partly responsible for today's Ben Spies. I remember watching some press conference videos from OTT in which Spies looked downright miserable, a monotone voice that didn't say much. In a Road Racer X article, after he had moved on to WSBK, he said he was much happier and didn't miss the antagonistic atmosphere he had at Yoshimura.

Sounds like Spies passed through the fire and came out tough.

Tom · Feb 20, 2011

Keshav said:
I "get" what you're saying. I just don't agree that Pedrosa and Spies are alike in any way.

Pedrosa is a frightened little boy who shirks the spotlite always looking like he's just been molested by his Uncle Flaco.

Spies on the other hand is self-assured, forthcoming and eloquent when it's required - and as has been shown in the

videos with CE 2 - capable of solid good humor, even to the point of parodying himself as the stolid, man of few words

Texan.

Would Spies look so self assured, forthcoming and eloquent if he was doing all his interviews in Spanish. I doubt it, and from the way you talk about Pedrosa its obvious you are not being, nor trying to be even remotely objective. There is nothing wrong with you liking Spies and not liking Dani, you don't have to deny their similarities to try and justify it

Keshav · Feb 20, 2011

Tom said:
Would Spies look so self assured, forthcoming and eloquent if he was doing all his interviews in Spanish. I doubt it, and from the way you talk about Pedrosa its obvious you are not being, nor trying to be even remotely objective. There is nothing wrong with you liking Spies and not liking Dani, you don't have to deny their similarities to try and justify it

This isn't about Dani-hate. There are lots of other riders in the various classes for

whom English is not a first language - and yet when they're interviewed - they

don't have that furtive, irritated quality that Pedrosa exudes. His English is in

fact better than that of many of the other Spanish and Italian riders. I've seen

Pedrosa being interviewed in Spanish and even then he's far from genial. Seems

it's yourself whose not being objective.

Tom · Feb 21, 2011

Keshav said:
This isn't about Dani-hate. There are lots of other riders in the various classes for

whom English is not a first language - and yet when they're interviewed - they

don't have that furtive, irritated quality that Pedrosa exudes. His English is in

fact better than that of many of the other Spanish and Italian riders. I've seen

Pedrosa being interviewed in Spanish and even then he's far from genial. Seems

it's yourself whose not being objective.

Iif you are genuinely trying to be objective and simply disagree then you clearly didn't understand my point. Sorry, i obviously haven't explained clearly enough to you what i mean.

Keshav · Feb 22, 2011

[quote name='Tom' timestamp='1298287303' post='266585']

Iif you are genuinely trying to be objective and simply disagree then you clearly didn't understand my point. Sorry, i obviously haven't explained clearly enough to you what i mean.

Then kindly state your point in plain language and I will do my best to refute it.

ScottP · Feb 26, 2011

Keshav said:
This isn't about Dani-hate. There are lots of other riders in the various classes for

whom English is not a first language - and yet when they're interviewed - they

don't have that furtive, irritated quality that Pedrosa exudes. His English is in

fact better than that of many of the other Spanish and Italian riders. I've seen

Pedrosa being interviewed in Spanish and even then he's far from genial. Seems

it's yourself whose not being objective.

leave PooR PedroDOT DWARF alone for god’s sake hes a nice guy ‘we all like him’.. PedroDOT DWARF exudes personality hes personality in motion or mr personality ‘I like his style’ hes always lost be it in English or Spanish hahahaa. spies is just a very straight forward guy you cant compare the two

Search

Search

Ben Spies: Prodigy or Zen Master. Secrets revealed.

Keshav

Talpa

Mr. Shupe

Tom

Keshav

Tom

Keshav

ScottP

Similar threads

Recent Discussions