Appetite and Attitude: A Conversation with Lance Mackey

Appetite and Attitude: A Conversation with Lance Mackey

From: HuskyNews.com

Appetite and Attitude: A Conversation with Lance Mackey is perhaps as revealing about the past that brought him to this point as what drives him today. Mackey’s repeated refrain that his father Dick Mackey, who won the closest finish of the Iditarod ever, taking a win over Rick Swenson by one second, was viewed as something of a laughing stock amongst those involved in the sport when he started made me wonder given Mackey’s claims of not getting the respect he deserves. One wonders if Mackey’s drive to gain the respect of his peers today might be more closely associated with that perception than perhaps even Mackey realizes, but “Appetite and Attitude” is exactly what it claims to be, an informal chat with the Lance Mackey about his life and his dogs. This is about as close as most fans can get to having a one-on-one with Lance Mackey.

 There’s an earnestness about Lance Mackey that makes you believe what he’s saying whether he’s talking about his own troubled youth, his battle with cancer or his love for his dogs. Those who know Mackey know that “what you see is what you get”. He’s not just a talker who tells a great story, but he’s honest and rarely holds back in conversation. Mackey clearly loves what he’s doing and it shows.
You’ll certainly find plenty to ponder here as Mackey talks about how he rebuilt his life and built his team, but it’s the dog talk that is most memorable. Perhaps the stand-out moment of the entire conversation in my mind is his recounting of how Larry, who’d win the Iditarod’s Golden Harness in 2007, seemed to know he’d done something special. Mackey is known to take a moment with his team before entering Nome and recounts stopping to tell them all how special they were and all they had done. He’s convinced Larry knew exactly what he was saying. Mackey also talks about Larry sort of surveying the crowd at the Burled Arch and taking it all in as if he knew it was his due. As he talks, you can see the faint trace of a smile on Mackey’s face as he remembers, too.

This is what “Appetite and Attitude” is about then, Lance Mackey’s unrestrained comments on all aspects of his and how the love of dogs has taken him to where he is now. “I love what I’m doing” is a comment you’ll hear often from Mackey. while much has happened in his life since this video was made, it still holds true. “Appetite and Attitude” will take you inside his life, introduce you to his dogs and his drive to gain the respect of his peers, and, yes, leave you convinced that he does love what he’s doing. Pull up a chair and listen to what Lance Mackey has to say.