Johnny G
- Updated: September 12, 2002
By Johnny Gallagher
I admit it, I don’t have “IT”.
In any type of competition there is a team, or an individual athlete who tends to shine brighter that the rest. Sport’s journalists will often refer to these individuals as having that “IT” quality that allows them to excel when others fail. To consistently rise to the occasion and leave the competition wondering what just hit them. As the current off-road racing season nears completion, most of us are left in awe of much of what we have witnessed.
In the MX outdoors, Ricky Charmichael pulled off a perfect season – winning not just every race, but all 24 motos along the way. In the 125 class, James Stewart won 10 of 12 races and likely would have won more had it not been for a few mechanical gremlins. A little closer to home is the GNCC series, after 10 of 13 events Jason Rains holds the cards for the #1 bike plate, (despite being virtually unknown coming into 2002). Now on to the part you guys actually care about. Bill Ballance has won every event since round four way back in April. (Note: Chad Duvall won the overall at round 6, but Ballance won the pro class) That’s six straight wins for those of us who are mathematically challenged. I think we can safely say that whatever “IT” is, Bill has.
RC has “IT”
So now I ask how can we define this quality that turns mere men into Gods, average Joes into figures that strike fear into all those who dare to challenge them on the battlefield? Some say it’s just natural talent, others say that luck is what separates the number one guy from second through fifth. Natural Talent? I personally don’t believe such a thing exists. It is very hard for me to say that anyone is born with a genetic predisposition to go fast on a motorcycle. Luck? Bullsh!t! I have suffered more DNFs and poor finishes due to some type of setback in the last three years, than I’d care to even think about. I will be the first person to admit, only as of recently, that each one of those can be attributed to either poor judgment, or preparation on the part of myself or someone on my team. Bottom line, there is no such thing as luck, good or bad. When something unexpected happens it can be traced to a decision or action.
You ask, “Johnny, if natural talent and luck are just mythical ideas, then how do you explain domination in sports that are so packed with athletes that are both qualified and motivated”? In my opinion, expectations of ones self are the defining factor in determining who wins and who doesn’t. Ricky Charmichael won each of those motos this summer long before he ever even went to the starting gate. He won those motos while lounging in the Team Honda big rig, and on the way to each race event. Not to make him sound cocky, but he won those motos in his sleep. These moments, along with about another 1420 minutes per day, (I left him 20 minutes a day to think about food, and manly desires), Ricky was distancing himself from the fastest motorcycle riders in the world. Why and how? Rest assured that as good as the rest of the pack is, they spent the days and hours before each time they went to the line thinking about how to beat Ricky – all the while Charmichael was thinking, scratch that, knowing that he was going to win, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
Bill has “IT” too.
As I type this I am preparing to leave for the GNCC race at High Point. Sometime after 3pm Eastern Time Saturday afternoon, there will be three individuals standing atop the GNCC podium drinking champagne. History tells us that Bill Ballance will likely be on that podium, and although Matt Smiley, William Yokley, Chris Borich, Brad Page, and several others will do everything in their power to prevent it, he will likely be the first one up there. Although this is a likely occurrence, one thing is absolute. William, Matt, and the others have spent the last 12 days trying to formulate a game plan to beat Ballance. They will work this out in their heads up until the green flag drops. Bill meanwhile has spent those same days doing farm chores, playing with his new baby girl and driving east bound towards the famed Mt. Morris facility – all the while thinking, scratch that, knowing that he is going to win, and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
Gallagher’s dictionary defines “IT” as a quality that occurs when equal parts preparation, dedication, and self belief are mixed together, resulting in a heightened sense of competition, and eventually – domination.
Johnny G -out
