Nic White's response

[Peet]

Porky you funrider! Well we need fun riders too, otherwise there would not be any pro's!

 

 

[Athena]

Well, if you want to call it back stabbing - It's about time Mel and Nic stab <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Douglas in the back!<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

For the following reasons:

 

1. FACT - He treats his riders like sh*t, even the likes of Nic and Mel that has been riding on the team for nearly a century. 

2. He troughs wobbly on a weekly basis (and believe me when Douglas gets his panties in a bunch its something you'd wanne see to believe!)

3. He also reminds and threatens riders on a weekly basis how much he has done for them and how replaceable they are bla bla

4. Douglas Rider and Respect can't be mentioned in the same sentence.

 

*Coodos to Douglas because he is a businessman and selling is his game, securing sponsors his main interest.

He has always had the guys by the short and curlies and that is why they have put up with his temper tantrums for all this time not loyalty I am afraid.

 - if there was anything better out there MTN would certainly not have 12 riders

 

 

[Pieter Henning]

 

 - if there was anything better out there MTN would certainly not have 12 riders

 

 

You make a pretty valid point in that last sentence. Other teams cannot pay what the Y'ello one does.

 

As for the rest of it. Riders on all PRO teams receive pressure from their managers to perform. I'm sure the managers of  professional teams X, Y and Z all tell there riders firmly when they aren't happy with their performance - That's part of professional cycling. Just look at all the flaming Greame Brown is getting from Rabo's management for not being up to scratch in this years Giro - I'm sure he got k***ed out on a daily basis.

[OldMan]

Bottom line is that Doug gets results and publicity.

He also recognises the need for a backup strategy:

A large portion of publicity for MTN this year has been Nhlapo (BMX Champ) Kevin / David ,  Jay and Cherise.

 

Perhaps he knew the time would come for a split?

 

[Christie]

So Malcolm&Nic  worked for one company for a while. They had a difficult boss, but got paid well. May they not resign and go work for a different company? Come on, wats wrong with that? Lots of people do this all the time!

Its not difficult to guess some possible reasons for the move. These guys are nearing retirement, they need to think of their futures:

1. Petter pay. Perhaps shares options in the new company?

2. Cant handle the boss anymore

3. Want to ride a different bike

 

[linnega]

 

Umm' date=' why has everyone gotten their panties in a knot?

[/quote']

Thats a super question.

 

[jabbathemutt007]

 

Umm' date=' why has everyone gotten their panties in a knot?

[/quote']

 

Knotting someone else's panties is kinda kinky.

 

[porky]

Bottom line is that Doug gets results and publicity.
He also recognises the need for a backup strategy:
A large portion of publicity for MTN this year has been Nhlapo (BMX Champ) Kevin / David ' date='  Jay and Cherise.

Perhaps he knew the time would come for a split?
[/quote']

 

So dos Raymond Ackerman and last time I looked, Pick and Pay was a little bigger of a business than some SA cycling team.

 

..............and if you knew Mr Ackerman you would know he not only NEVER raises his voice, but he commands the respect of millions.

 

...............I say it again, you dont have to raise your voice and perform like a banchee to get the job done or command respect.

 

...............and Peet, I have no idea what you are on about with your post regarding Fun Riders, please expand the comment a bit and I can perhaps reply.

 

[Bikalot]

aah so now is the popcorn finished?

[OldMan]

Porky

you seem to be upset  (NEVER) - capitals indicates shouting by the way!.

There are many examples of successful leaders that shout and rant and rave example Sol Kerzner / Donald Trump are known to tell people off.

Many Soccer managers scream and shout for 90 minutes!

 

Motivation in war scenarios is not done by soft spoken negotiation - it is command and rule. Perhaps if you have ridden a stage race or two you may understand.

 

As an employee or service provider you can choose the style you will or will not accept.

 

[porky]

Old man, Old Man,Old Man, ............I am not upset, and I know what capitals indicate.

 

This is not war or a Tv reality show (Donald Trump) nobodies life depends on the win, everybody has this lopsided view that if a Cycling team looses a race or two the sponsor is going to run away because his exposure is somehow compromised - Rubbish, sponsors dont leave that easily, look at the Springboks, The Proteas, and most noticably Bafana Bafana, are they struggeling for sponsors - Nope, have they performed every year, every minute of every season - definately not, dont give me this crap you have to shout at people to motivate them, thats just corny and so "Hollywood" its lamentable.!

      

[mbaymike]

in my opinion the stabbing in the back thing is not on.  Their is something like business ethics in sport as well.  When it comes to loyalty and greener pastures....it is like they say sometimes.....if you want loyalty...buy a dog.  But what peet said in his early post...maybe we need more teams that consist of less riders than 3 teams of 10 or so.  

[jabbathemutt007]

 

Old man' date=' Old Man,Old Man, ............I am not upset, and I know what capitals indicate.

 

This is not war or a Tv reality show (Donald Trump) nobodies life depends on the win, everybody has this lopsided view that if a Cycling team looses a race or two the sponsor is going to run away because his exposure is somehow compromised - Rubbish, sponsors dont leave that easily, look at the Springboks, The Proteas, and most noticably Bafana Bafana, are they struggeling for sponsors - Nope, have they performed every year, every minute of every season - definately not, dont give me this crap you have to shout at people to motivate them, thats just corny and so "Hollywood" its lamentable.!

      

[/quote']

 

If you want Hollywood just wait until you have some lunatic Spaniard shouting VENGA, VENGA into a bullhorn while you're trying to TT.

 

[goofs]

After all the non cycling cr@p the last few weeks at last a cycling thread thats sparked debate.

[OldMan]

Porky

I need to get my post count up so that I can get out of Rookie status - so I will engage for a while!

 

You seem to think that support for Doug is a support for a robust management style. Nonsense, I just said that he achieves what is desired by his sponsor - publicity. It is a matter of context!

 

There are thousands of books on Leadership style that propagate exactly what you say but there are also thousands of practical examples where the opposite has been successful.

 

Doug would not manage a team of IT consultants (I understand that is his background) in that manner - they would walk out.

Cyclists are a different breed and do not for one minute think they do not give back when the mechanic does not change a wheel quick enough after a puncture etc.

 

 

[Witrot]

Must say, agree mostly with porky here.

 

At the end of the the day however you see cycling of the pros, it is there work. if you can't work in your environnment due to what ever reason then you must be able to take your things and leave. I also don't think ML and co just decided now to take there things and leave over one smaal issue, this must have come from various issues that happened over time. How you call it backstabbing, no idee, but then again...riders backstap other managers to ride for DR if im not mistaken as it is laid out in this topics contex....

 

And no matter where you work or who is your boss, throwing out your toys like a kiddo is a no no. Yes, you need to make yourself clear and a boss/manager will loose sometimes some of his patientce and get a loud voice and argue even.....but there is a bit of difference between throwing your toys out and loosing a bit of anger and be a bit harsh on your people that work under you....we all are human. Over the long time will he just loose respect from people and to be in such a position as DR for instance as a manager of a squad..... you must have the compentencies as manager as whole and not just good at being able to pull of big sponsers.... else your a managers ass!!

Witrot2008-06-11 13:24:08