August 10, 2024 • 10 mins
James McOnie from The Crowd Goes Wild joined Piney to discuss last night's gold medal haul - and shares his experience meeting Tony Hawk.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
B four twenty four in the morning in Paris. But
James McCarney is up and about taking our call. Good
the chat to your mate. Gee, I don't know where
to start. You've been all over the place at the Olympics,
but I get the I got a message from you
to say you spent time with shot put silver medallist
Maddie Wishy over there.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
How was that? And I mean, she's an absolute diamond,
doesn't she.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Oh fantastic.
Speaker 5 (00:37):
Your whole family are just awesome and it was lovely
to see them at New Zealand House there and Maddie
has really sort of done it her way.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
You know.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
She didn't even realize that Dame Vale was a legend
because she didn't really watch athletics that much on TV.
So when she was starting to compete and she realized that,
oh wait a second, I'm up against the goat. And
of course had a great relationship with Val and there's
nowhere there as big. But she through nineteen eighty six
(01:10):
ninety meter is eighty six on a wet night, and
she was saying that, you know, because she grew up
in Auckland and trained out at why Tarkety there in
West Auckland. She knew all about throwing in the wet,
so she was well prepared and just an absolute delight.
So happy for her and I think that she will
(01:30):
inspire a new generation because I mean, with all due respect,
Vale was six ft five is six ft five. But
Maddie Wishy is one of those.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
You know, she's.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Well under six foot and just really powerful and good
at what she does and is quite relatable.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
It's incredible that the feedback we're getting a lot on
the show today and yesterday and across the Olympics is
just how humble our sporting champions are and just how
proud we all are because they are that way. I
think it's very key we, isn't it. But I think
if Maddie Wishy are I know, you know you've spoken
to many of the others as well. Daniel Hillier, Van
Butcher was so humble, you know, Hamish cur Lydia, Lisa Carrington,
(02:14):
the list goes on. It's just isn't it great to
be a KeyWe at a time like this?
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Yeah, I find that our athletes are definitely the most
approachable and even if they've they've been disappointed by their results,
they're still willing to give their time in chat and
they understand how important it is to you know, put
this sport on the map, to be a good ambassador
and to and to reach the people of New Zealand.
(02:41):
That's that a lot of the athletes really talk about
the next generation and hoping that they can inspire them
and hope. Even David Letzi tonight, I was at the
at the weightlifting and he came eighth and it was
you know, he's the eighth strongest man in the world.
He made me repeat that several times in the interview
(03:02):
because I mean, that's amazing, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Really. Let's be honest.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
He's up there with in the big leagues, and some
of these guys are absolute freak. So, you know, he
was making a point that he found a passion and just.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Really went for it.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
And he hopes that that young kids will look at that,
look at him, and and young Pacifica kids will try
something different from maybe rugby or whatever it is. And
he was talking about Koreas just finding a passion. You know,
it doesn't necessarily have to be sport but it can be.
And I love that message. And I thought that you know,
(03:37):
he's he really acquitted himself.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Well, absolutely, And Hamish Kerr said, you know that before
or when he was growing up doing high jump, there
was no one for him to look up to necessarily
as that you know that that that person had been
there and done that, and now he becomes that for
somebody else. You know, there'll be there'll be kids around
the country this morning, you know, setting up sort of
bars or maybe bits of rope or ribbon in their
backyard and doing the Fosbury flop or whatever it might
(04:02):
be to try and emulate him. Now, speaking of meeting people,
Tony Hawk, you met Tony Hawk, the skateboard goat.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
I did.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
The goat was wandering around after the men's Park skateboard final,
and so was Snoop Dog as well, by the way,
but he had a lot of security around him. But
Tony wandered past the mix on, which is just a
little sort of pig pen where all the media sort
of wait for athletes to come by, and I thought,
I'll just ask him to see if you'll have a word,
(04:32):
and he turned around. I said the words New Zealand
and I think that pretty much got him over and
he and obviously, you know, I locked eyes with him
and so that was something.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
But I.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Actually think that he really is, you know, probably the
most famous person I've interviewed, but not necessarily the most
famous from this Olympics, because I interviewed the Australian breakdowncer
who's gone viral, Reygun, who had a.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Very interesting routine, shall we say.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
And and that was that's that's something that has ended
up going around the world. But also the New Zealanders
can't believe that she won the Oceania Chaps, did.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
You interview her? Have you? Have you had a chet
to Reygun for your ultra famous?
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Now she is super famous and for the for the
listeners out there if they haven't seen what she did.
She kind of arrived on the floor. It reminded me
of an episode of Kath and Kim. You know, look Amy,
look Amy, and and then she did something that resembled
a kangaroo. And there are a couple of times where
(05:46):
she looked like she was mopping the floor with her
head and it just was quite bizarre.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
And you know, she was genuine.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
She she was really proud to be there, she's a
thirty six year old university lecturer, although after watching her perform,
I wouldn't trust her to teach anything, so it just
didn't up And look, I hope that she's okay because
I think she's going to get a lot of attention.
You know what Australians are like, if you're not ripping
the green and gold the right way, they'll come down
(06:16):
on you like a ton of bricks.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
I wonder that actually, because I've seen a lot of
a lot of you know, people mentioning this and as
you would have seen this online, she has just exploded.
She probably is as as prominent in the last weekends
as Tony Hawk. But I think people are some people
are like, this is absolutely ridiculous, what is going on?
She's she's become a laughing stock or made our country
(06:39):
laughing stock.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
But I think there's another side of.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Some Australians that I've seen who actually now are making
her into a bit of a cult hero. So it'll
be interesting to see where it lands once she gets
back home.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Yeah, she is.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
She's somewhere between in the Eagle, Eric the Eel and
that I Skates. Stephen Bradbury, who won a gold medal
when everyone fell over. Yes, yes, but I mean look,
I mean, Bradbury was a proper racer. I feel the
only issue with ray Gun Rachel Gunn is that she
(07:18):
is that she ended up looking kind of comical. Really,
that's the only problem was I was I was enjoying
it in the wrong way.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Really, that was something to behold.
Speaker 5 (07:29):
There were a few memes out there saying this is
what happens after a six year old says watch me
and Mum watched this.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
It's like when they put on when you have visitors
around and they put on shows. That's exactly Another one
I saw was here's a move I like to call
Tracy's had a few Vodkas.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
I mean, it's just the gift that keeps on giving.
So yeah, we've all been chasing big names. I mean,
I spoke to Scottish Scheffler after he won the gold
medal of the men's golf and I thought, Okay, it's
not going to get much better than Scottie Scheffler. But hey,
a couple of days later, Tony Hawk and then Raygun.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
That's the Holy Trinity of the Olympic Games. You've absolutely
nailed it and I have to say, and the discussion
back here is that only James mcconey gets those interviews. Look,
I know you won't like me saying this, but you
are the most disarming person I've ever met. And I'm
sure that when Tony Hawk and Scottie Scheffler and Raygun
(08:32):
locked eyes with you, they were brought under that spell
that so many others have been and just felt compelled
to open their hearts to you. I just think you
have an incredible ability to disarm people and to make
them want a chat to you. And look, it's something
that I've admired for a long long time.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Thanks man, I really appreciate that.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
You know what, I still get people coming up on
the street and asking for directions. I am that guy,
Yes where people yeah, And I don't even speak for
each or know where the hell I'm going, So, you know,
I think that there is something there's something in that maybe.
But the one thing I do think with guys like
(09:14):
Scottie Scheffler and I think You've got this exactly exact
same ability as well, is that as soon as you
talk to them, you realize whether you can get on
the same page with those people. You know, whether they've
got a little bit of enjoyment and fun in their
in their life, you know. And I think I've got
that even just from my family. You know, my mom,
my grandmother, and you know, my sisters. We're all very
(09:38):
similar like that. We like to find out people's life
story in two minutes and you.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Know, and counting. Really it's just a it's a family curse.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yeah, well it is also a magic power, a magic
power indeed, James, great to chat to you. Presume you'll
be coming home at some stage. Can we look forward
to your company next Sunday from somewhere maybe back here,
over there or somewhere in between.
Speaker 5 (10:01):
Well, pony, I'm going to drive you crazy because I
think I'll be at the opening day of the Iglish
Premier League Bornemouth versus at Nottingham Forest.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
So you can oh get excited about that.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Mate, Safe travels there, can't wait to catch up next Sunday,
get some sleep.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Always great to chat.
Speaker 5 (10:20):
Cheers mate, really appreciate it and can't wait to get back.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Yeah, can't wait to see when you get back, mate.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
But off to Bournemouth with you to watch Bournemouth against
Nottingham Forest. Unfortunately, Alex Paulson's not going to be there.
We didn't even get the chance to chat about Alex
Paulson over the weekend. There was so much else going on.
Alex Paulson to Auckland FC. Maybe we can address that
once the games are over.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
B four twenty four in the morning in Paris. But
James McCarney is up and about taking our call. Good
the chat to your mate. Gee, I don't know where
to start. You've been all over the place at the Olympics,
but I get the I got a message from you
to say you spent time with shot put silver medallist
Maddie Wishy over there.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
How was that? And I mean, she's an absolute diamond,
doesn't she.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Oh fantastic.
Speaker 5 (00:37):
Your whole family are just awesome and it was lovely
to see them at New Zealand House there and Maddie
has really sort of done it her way.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
You know.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
She didn't even realize that Dame Vale was a legend
because she didn't really watch athletics that much on TV.
So when she was starting to compete and she realized that,
oh wait a second, I'm up against the goat. And
of course had a great relationship with Val and there's
nowhere there as big. But she through nineteen eighty six
(01:10):
ninety meter is eighty six on a wet night, and
she was saying that, you know, because she grew up
in Auckland and trained out at why Tarkety there in
West Auckland. She knew all about throwing in the wet,
so she was well prepared and just an absolute delight.
So happy for her and I think that she will
(01:30):
inspire a new generation because I mean, with all due respect,
Vale was six ft five is six ft five. But
Maddie Wishy is one of those.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
You know, she's.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Well under six foot and just really powerful and good
at what she does and is quite relatable.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
It's incredible that the feedback we're getting a lot on
the show today and yesterday and across the Olympics is
just how humble our sporting champions are and just how
proud we all are because they are that way. I
think it's very key we, isn't it. But I think
if Maddie Wishy are I know, you know you've spoken
to many of the others as well. Daniel Hillier, Van
Butcher was so humble, you know, Hamish cur Lydia, Lisa Carrington,
(02:14):
the list goes on. It's just isn't it great to
be a KeyWe at a time like this?
Speaker 5 (02:19):
Yeah, I find that our athletes are definitely the most
approachable and even if they've they've been disappointed by their results,
they're still willing to give their time in chat and
they understand how important it is to you know, put
this sport on the map, to be a good ambassador
and to and to reach the people of New Zealand.
(02:41):
That's that a lot of the athletes really talk about
the next generation and hoping that they can inspire them
and hope. Even David Letzi tonight, I was at the
at the weightlifting and he came eighth and it was
you know, he's the eighth strongest man in the world.
He made me repeat that several times in the interview
(03:02):
because I mean, that's amazing, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
Really. Let's be honest.
Speaker 5 (03:05):
He's up there with in the big leagues, and some
of these guys are absolute freak. So, you know, he
was making a point that he found a passion and just.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
Really went for it.
Speaker 5 (03:16):
And he hopes that that young kids will look at that,
look at him, and and young Pacifica kids will try
something different from maybe rugby or whatever it is. And
he was talking about Koreas just finding a passion. You know,
it doesn't necessarily have to be sport but it can be.
And I love that message. And I thought that you know,
(03:37):
he's he really acquitted himself.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Well, absolutely, And Hamish Kerr said, you know that before
or when he was growing up doing high jump, there
was no one for him to look up to necessarily
as that you know that that that person had been
there and done that, and now he becomes that for
somebody else. You know, there'll be there'll be kids around
the country this morning, you know, setting up sort of
bars or maybe bits of rope or ribbon in their
backyard and doing the Fosbury flop or whatever it might
(04:02):
be to try and emulate him. Now, speaking of meeting people,
Tony Hawk, you met Tony Hawk, the skateboard goat.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
I did.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
The goat was wandering around after the men's Park skateboard final,
and so was Snoop Dog as well, by the way,
but he had a lot of security around him. But
Tony wandered past the mix on, which is just a
little sort of pig pen where all the media sort
of wait for athletes to come by, and I thought,
I'll just ask him to see if you'll have a word,
(04:32):
and he turned around. I said the words New Zealand
and I think that pretty much got him over and
he and obviously, you know, I locked eyes with him
and so that was something.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
But I.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Actually think that he really is, you know, probably the
most famous person I've interviewed, but not necessarily the most
famous from this Olympics, because I interviewed the Australian breakdowncer
who's gone viral, Reygun, who had a.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Very interesting routine, shall we say.
Speaker 5 (05:08):
And and that was that's that's something that has ended
up going around the world. But also the New Zealanders
can't believe that she won the Oceania Chaps, did.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
You interview her? Have you? Have you had a chet
to Reygun for your ultra famous?
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Now she is super famous and for the for the
listeners out there if they haven't seen what she did.
She kind of arrived on the floor. It reminded me
of an episode of Kath and Kim. You know, look Amy,
look Amy, and and then she did something that resembled
a kangaroo. And there are a couple of times where
(05:46):
she looked like she was mopping the floor with her
head and it just was quite bizarre.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
And you know, she was genuine.
Speaker 5 (05:54):
She she was really proud to be there, she's a
thirty six year old university lecturer, although after watching her perform,
I wouldn't trust her to teach anything, so it just
didn't up And look, I hope that she's okay because
I think she's going to get a lot of attention.
You know what Australians are like, if you're not ripping
the green and gold the right way, they'll come down
(06:16):
on you like a ton of bricks.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
I wonder that actually, because I've seen a lot of
a lot of you know, people mentioning this and as
you would have seen this online, she has just exploded.
She probably is as as prominent in the last weekends
as Tony Hawk. But I think people are some people
are like, this is absolutely ridiculous, what is going on?
She's she's become a laughing stock or made our country
(06:39):
laughing stock.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
But I think there's another side of.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Some Australians that I've seen who actually now are making
her into a bit of a cult hero. So it'll
be interesting to see where it lands once she gets
back home.
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Yeah, she is.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
She's somewhere between in the Eagle, Eric the Eel and
that I Skates. Stephen Bradbury, who won a gold medal
when everyone fell over. Yes, yes, but I mean look,
I mean, Bradbury was a proper racer. I feel the
only issue with ray Gun Rachel Gunn is that she
(07:18):
is that she ended up looking kind of comical. Really,
that's the only problem was I was I was enjoying
it in the wrong way.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Really, that was something to behold.
Speaker 5 (07:29):
There were a few memes out there saying this is
what happens after a six year old says watch me
and Mum watched this.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
It's like when they put on when you have visitors
around and they put on shows. That's exactly Another one
I saw was here's a move I like to call
Tracy's had a few Vodkas.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Yeah, I know.
Speaker 5 (07:52):
I mean, it's just the gift that keeps on giving.
So yeah, we've all been chasing big names. I mean,
I spoke to Scottish Scheffler after he won the gold
medal of the men's golf and I thought, Okay, it's
not going to get much better than Scottie Scheffler. But hey,
a couple of days later, Tony Hawk and then Raygun.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
That's the Holy Trinity of the Olympic Games. You've absolutely
nailed it and I have to say, and the discussion
back here is that only James mcconey gets those interviews. Look,
I know you won't like me saying this, but you
are the most disarming person I've ever met. And I'm
sure that when Tony Hawk and Scottie Scheffler and Raygun
(08:32):
locked eyes with you, they were brought under that spell
that so many others have been and just felt compelled
to open their hearts to you. I just think you
have an incredible ability to disarm people and to make
them want a chat to you. And look, it's something
that I've admired for a long long time.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Thanks man, I really appreciate that.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
You know what, I still get people coming up on
the street and asking for directions. I am that guy,
Yes where people yeah, And I don't even speak for
each or know where the hell I'm going, So, you know,
I think that there is something there's something in that maybe.
But the one thing I do think with guys like
(09:14):
Scottie Scheffler and I think You've got this exactly exact
same ability as well, is that as soon as you
talk to them, you realize whether you can get on
the same page with those people. You know, whether they've
got a little bit of enjoyment and fun in their
in their life, you know. And I think I've got
that even just from my family. You know, my mom,
my grandmother, and you know, my sisters. We're all very
(09:38):
similar like that. We like to find out people's life
story in two minutes and you.
Speaker 4 (09:43):
Know, and counting. Really it's just a it's a family curse.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yeah, well it is also a magic power, a magic
power indeed, James, great to chat to you. Presume you'll
be coming home at some stage. Can we look forward
to your company next Sunday from somewhere maybe back here,
over there or somewhere in between.
Speaker 5 (10:01):
Well, pony, I'm going to drive you crazy because I
think I'll be at the opening day of the Iglish
Premier League Bornemouth versus at Nottingham Forest.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
So you can oh get excited about that.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Mate, Safe travels there, can't wait to catch up next Sunday,
get some sleep.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Always great to chat.
Speaker 5 (10:20):
Cheers mate, really appreciate it and can't wait to get back.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
Yeah, can't wait to see when you get back, mate.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
But off to Bournemouth with you to watch Bournemouth against
Nottingham Forest. Unfortunately, Alex Paulson's not going to be there.
We didn't even get the chance to chat about Alex
Paulson over the weekend. There was so much else going on.
Alex Paulson to Auckland FC. Maybe we can address that
once the games are over.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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