Lay off James Magnussen
Roar Rookie By rsingi, 31 Jul 2012 rsingi is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- James Magnussen, London 2012 Olympics, swimming
The fourth placed finish of the men in the 4 x 100 metre relay has created a lot of discussion. As red hot favourites for the event, the result was both disappointing and stunning to many Australian fans.
However, the failure of James Magnussen to speak to poolside reporter Giann Rooney has caused more controversy than the swim itself.
I believe the criticism he is copping is unjustified.
You do not see cameras being shoved in the face of David Beckham after missing a penalty in a Euro quarter final, or Ricky Ponting after making a duck in a World Cup game.
If you did I am sure you would get a worse reaction.
There is no doubt that Magnussen has a chequered history. He has a tendency to speak his mind (or not, as in this case). His derogatory comments about Adelaide when the qualifiers were held there put him offside with South Australians.
Obviously South Australian’s would be unhappy with him saying anything derogatory about their state capital.
However in this instance he was simply in shock at his and the team’s performance and had not had time to process what happened. The fire burns deep in all great athletes who hate losing.
He is now under pressure to perform in the individual event. The mark of a champion is to learn from your mistakes and perform when the chips are down.
That’s what I believe he will do and those same people criticising him at the moment will be cheering another Aussie gold medal.
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The Crowd Says (30) | Page 1 of Comments
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- James Magnussen, London 2012 Olympics, swimming
July 31st 2012 @ 6:31am
Rabbitz said | July 31st 2012 @ 6:31am | Report comment
Problem is, it is part of his job. Media work, even after a failure is part and parcel of the sponsorship deals.
But don’t let me rain on your fanboyism.
July 31st 2012 @ 7:52am
mushi said | July 31st 2012 @ 7:52am | Report comment
To be fair though part of the media’s job is also to present some analysis, learn to say the names of players and countries and provide some insight into the event.
If they are going to refuse to engage on their side of the bargain why should the athletes have to put up with them? the coverage of these games has been a slapstick mix of New Idea editorials and the stutter rap
July 31st 2012 @ 8:23am
Kasey said | July 31st 2012 @ 8:23am | Report comment
I have little to no sympathy for Magnusson. IMO he committed one of the cardinal sins of an Australian sports ‘star’ He got much too far ahead of himself. It started with his w@nky nickname (along with the other so called Weapons of mass destruction’) and the fostering of the attitude via the media that he and the relay team would win.
Broadway Joe Namath created a name for himself in a country where that sort of swagger is the done thing back in Superbowl III. Here the Oarsome Foursome didn’t get their nickname until after they had been awesome. If you want the high profile nickname and the endorsement deals, then you should have already achieved something noteworthy. I’m disappointed that our male swimmers appear to have gotten ahead of themselves and that the return on investment isn’t quite what we had hoped for. I think this coupled with the stroppy attitude post event is where the majority of Australian sports fans feel that they have been let down by JM. Luckily the Olympics are more than just one race and I hope he can learn from this and move forward to achieve what he has set out to achieve. It and JM as a marketable entity are still salvageable
July 31st 2012 @ 9:52am
B.A Sports said | July 31st 2012 @ 9:52am | Report comment
“It started with his w@nky nickname (along with the other so called Weapons of mass destruction’) “…
Yes its funny he doesn’t look disimilar to an NRL player who got himself a w@nky nickname, which gave hims some publicity which, combined with playing on the end of a good backline, propelled him into the lime light and rep football. He then started to run around planking and thinking he was the coolest thing on the planet… the problem is “the Wolfman”is one of the most average wingers in the NRL and it is starting to show…
I look forward to Magnussen trying to redeem himself in and out of the pool. His post heat interview will be interesting as you would think he will cruise through the heats, so his state of mind and responsiveness to questions (hopefully from Rooney not Hackett) will be interesting.
July 31st 2012 @ 10:19am
BigAl said | July 31st 2012 @ 10:19am | Report comment
It would be interesting to know whether it was his personal decision or the corporate hype machine ( i.e. AOC/Swimming PR consultants etc.) to go with the wanky nicknames etc… ?
July 31st 2012 @ 10:22am
jameswm said | July 31st 2012 @ 10:22am | Report comment
Kasey – Magnussen didn’t give himself the nickname Missile. The media did.
You’re saying he hasn’t achieved anything noteworthy. He won the world championship last year. I’d like you to head to the next world swimming champs and tell all the swimmers that the meet is meaningless.
Tall poppy syndrome is alive and well. Maggie has some swagger and gives honest rather than cliched answers to questions. Do you think you’ll win? Yeah. How dare he.
Seriously, you don’t have to do a lot to get off side with some people.
July 31st 2012 @ 1:18pm
B.A Sports said | July 31st 2012 @ 1:18pm | Report comment
Its nothing to do with “Tall Poppy” for me. I am all for swagger, confidence and being forthright. But you can’t pick and choose, you need to front up when you f’up. You need to stand beside your teammates when the whole race plan revolved around you and you were the one who let them down, not cower behind them.
If Anthony Mundine was delivering 1st round knocouts and taking on the world best, he could call himself whatever he wants. But it is tarnished because he doesn’t talk the talk. If Magnussen wants to be brash and confident, thats fine, but you have to stand there when it goes wrong, tip your hat to the opponent and recognise your flaws.
My fear for Magnussen is that he has been telling everyone he is confident and that he doesn’t feel nerves or pressure, but it turns out he does, and he won’t admit it.
July 31st 2012 @ 3:32pm
lolly said | July 31st 2012 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
The media also did the’ Weapons of Mass Destruction’ thing, it wasn’t the swimmers. This is so typical, the media do the nicknaming then use that nickname to tear the athletes apart. I have no idea how some of these so-called journalists look at themselves in the mirror in the morning.
This is Magnussen’s first big meet as the star of the team. Before the World’s only the rabid swim fans knew much about him. He and everyone else knew that the relay winning was dependent upon his performance. He didn’t do well in the post-swim stuff, it looked poor, but I’ll cut the guy some slack as he’s learning some nasty lessons in the biggest spotlight.
July 31st 2012 @ 11:49pm
Anthony said | July 31st 2012 @ 11:49pm | Report comment
Yes the media did call them that – but after James Magnussen gave his team that nickname. The media didn’t invent it. James did. There’s a difference between confidence and cockiness.
July 31st 2012 @ 6:49am
lolly said | July 31st 2012 @ 6:49am | Report comment
Well, what bothers me is the kicking he is getting in the Aus press. He’s still got three races but is being ripped apart as a failure already. Hope he ain’t reading ANY of the press.
July 31st 2012 @ 8:36am
Kasey said | July 31st 2012 @ 8:36am | Report comment
We just don’t like our sports stars to be cocky, we prefer more of the Pat Rafter style than the Steffanson/Mundine style.
July 31st 2012 @ 8:52am
mushi said | July 31st 2012 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Any colour as long as it’s white?
July 31st 2012 @ 8:59am
Kasey said | July 31st 2012 @ 8:59am | Report comment
attitude not race
July 31st 2012 @ 10:24am
jameswm said | July 31st 2012 @ 10:24am | Report comment
Crikes are you kidding Kasey? Magnussen’s attitude is nothing at all like Steffensen or Mundine. I can’t believe you made that comparison.
July 31st 2012 @ 11:51pm
Anthony said | July 31st 2012 @ 11:51pm | Report comment
Yes it is – James was going on how he is unbeatable. Can’t lose. Sure thing for Gold – “If they can’t beat me, when I’m not at my best, How will they when I’m at my best”, etc. Sally Pearson has a similar attitude. The only 2 Aussies I don’t want to win a medal these games.
August 1st 2012 @ 9:38am
jameswm said | August 1st 2012 @ 9:38am | Report comment
Sally Pearson?
Crikes, some of you have unreachable standards. I’ll bet there must be a lot of joy at your place, knocking these true champions. Both are warm and likeable people. If you can’t like them, you must go for the boring dour types. What are you, an auditor?
August 2nd 2012 @ 8:37pm
Anthony said | August 2nd 2012 @ 8:37pm | Report comment
Yes – Sally Pearson with her “If they only just beat me when I’m at my best, they won’t get close to me when I’m at my best” That’s called being a sore loser. Not congratulating her opponent for winning, but going on despite losing how much better she is than anyone else. How is that likeable? You can be entertaining without being a sore loser. The 2 events were the winners were the most certain are – US mens basketball and womens team gymnastics. Neither of those 2 teams carried on the way James & Sally did saying how good they are, and how their opponents won’t get close to them. Look at other star athletes. When they lose, they don’t keep saying how much better they are than the people that just beat them.
August 3rd 2012 @ 7:51am
Sarah Turner said | August 3rd 2012 @ 7:51am | Report comment
Who I regard as warm & likeable are swimmers like Phelps. Rice & D’Aarcy. Athletes like Bolt. Not people that make all kinds of excuses when they lose and do nothing but have a big cry. Of the Aussies Magnussen and Pearson are the only two that do.
July 31st 2012 @ 3:24pm
lolly said | July 31st 2012 @ 3:24pm | Report comment
But as I said he’s got 3 more races. What is to be gained by putting him in the national pillory already?
July 31st 2012 @ 8:01am
David said | July 31st 2012 @ 8:01am | Report comment
Stay strong Missile. There may have been a blank in the gun for the 4 x 100 but I am confident the launcher is being loaded and you will fire.
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July 31st 2012 @ 7:24pm
Rabbitz said | July 31st 2012 @ 7:24pm | Report comment
Well that fixes it then. All is better because you are confident.
Problem is, he was over-confident and then the pressure got to him.
I also doubt he would be reading this column…
July 31st 2012 @ 8:34am
Nev said | July 31st 2012 @ 8:34am | Report comment
I don’t see the interview as the issue here with Magnussen.
The fact that after his leg he went and sat down in the chair behind the lane in disappointment and chose not to support his team mates for the remainder of the race shows his true colours.
Tall Poppy Syndrome……
July 31st 2012 @ 12:00pm
Renegade said | July 31st 2012 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
Exactly…..it was his whole attitude….his clearly not a team player and an obvious sore loser.
Yeah i’ll still cheer him on in his remaining races however that doesn’t mean his a good sportsmen or bloke for that matter.
July 31st 2012 @ 9:24am
ziggy said | July 31st 2012 @ 9:24am | Report comment
People ill accept cockiness,arrogance etc so long as you perform up to your own hype e.g. Cassius Clay/Ali.Fall short and you get the kicking you richly deserve.
July 31st 2012 @ 9:34am
Cameron Larkin said | July 31st 2012 @ 9:34am | Report comment
It is a sport that gets no attention and rightly so for several years then they’re thrust into the limelight. Cockiness just didn’t help him here. Too much swimming coverage for me.
July 31st 2012 @ 10:17am
Kasey said | July 31st 2012 @ 10:17am | Report comment
I think you’re right, we often criticise the blandness of post match interviews in our major footy codes, but the goal has to be to avoid giving the opposition any ammo for next week and to say as little as possible. Our swimmers just aren’t used to the blanket coverage that has produced for the most part the ‘polished’ media of our footy stars.
July 31st 2012 @ 9:45am
k77sujith said | July 31st 2012 @ 9:45am | Report comment
The media has a habit of sensationalizing a story especially when the personality in question happens to be one of the best athletes around. The loss in the relay might have brought him back to ground zero but he’s got all the talent in the world to win his remaining races provided he learns to cope with the ‘added’ pressure. Thanks.
July 31st 2012 @ 10:17am
Australian Rules said | July 31st 2012 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Magnussen talked it up. Simple as that. Any time someone does that before they’ve won, they lay themselves bare to instant criticism if they lose. Magnussen lost badly…and to make it worse, he lost without grace.
As for the pool side interview, the compairsons with Beckham or Ponting are irrelevant… win or lose, every Australian swimmer knows that there’s a microphone waiting for them after the race. He should have fronted up, or at least stood with his teammates.
Of course, all will be forgiven if he wins the 100m. If he doesn’t, he risks going down in Australian Olympic folklore as an absolute howler.
I hope he does it…or he might earn a new nickname…just one letter…
…T
August 2nd 2012 @ 9:35am
Rugby guy from Fiji said | August 2nd 2012 @ 9:35am | Report comment
so is he still going to be forgiven for coming 2nd?
and which is worse……coming second by 1/100ths of a second in the individual event or coming fourth in the relay
August 3rd 2012 @ 10:18pm
annie said | August 3rd 2012 @ 10:18pm | Report comment
does anyone know the alleged ‘derogatory’ SA comment?