<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Mar 18 2010, 08:50 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Barry, you must be having a laugh. Most of your stuff I can understand the humor in and I see it's all a big joke, but this I don't get that sense. From this, all I get is that you know that Mladin tried his hand at GPs, went to the states, was massively successful, lost to two men who went on to win world championships, and the yanks hate. So obviously it has to be because he's not "one of us," right?
Thing of it is, at least in my experiences, Mladin being Australian wasn't why American fans disliked him. It had nothing to do with his riding, anyone who watched him over here can tell you how talented the man is. It really didn't have anything to do with him winning everything, either. What it had to do with, was Mladin being an ....... in the media with regards to other riders. Ben Bostrom is a nobody because he's too busy doing other .... and not focusing on his riding. Who's Nicky Hayden? I just won another title, look at me. Eric Bostrom is a crybaby, my GSXR1000 isn't the reason I win. Miguel Duhamel is an ........ Neil Hodgson is an ........ The AMA is out to get me, they tore apart my bike but not Ben's. I should punch Larry Pegram in the face.
I really enjoy listening to what riders who speak their minds have to say. That's why I'm such a Colin Edwards fan. But, in my opinion, riders should have respect for other riders. And Mladin rarely showed any respect for his competition. A lot of people have said Mladin was fueled by creating rivalries and I think that's exactly right. If he wasn't upset with anyone, he didn't have to motivation to beat anyone. If that's what it takes, so be it. But keep it to yourself. And if you can't keep it to yourself, then don't expect much fan support.
And as far as the consensus that US fans think AMA champs are world championship material and Mladin is the gauge, I'll only speak for myself but you're wrong there. In the past decade, the AMA has produced three riders of world championship caliber: Hayden, Spies and Mladin.
However Mladin was too busy enjoying his fat paycheck here in the states and never proved anything to anybody. So for him to be the yardstick is wrong, period. He got beat by two kids who went on to win world championships, true. But he also got beat by Ben Bostrom. Eric Bostrom gave him a pretty hard run in 2003 before Yates decided a dive up the inside of the Andretti Hairpin was a good idea and ended EBoz's season. Kurtis Roberts even had a reasonable go at Mladin. Mladin was a great rider in the AMA, and I think he could have been very successful in WSBK and probably could have had a legitimate go in grand prix. But he didn't. And his legacy isn't as glossy as some would lead you to believe.
Austin, if you keep writing like this I'm gonna start calling you Arrabbi.
Bares repeating.
Anyhoo, I recall Ben Spies (who if you met, is a reserved and respectful young man) refused to call Matt Mladin by his name and referred to him as "THAT MOTHAFUCKER!". This should be enough said, however...I'll add:
It has nothing to do with Matt's riding or psuedo-straight talk (many riders tell it like it is without the ego), all to do with his attitude and lack of respect for not just his colleagues, but the spectators; and this last part (for most people who follow the sport) could no longer be stomached.