@Ca_Calico
Don't act like it's only Makino that is talking about Weeds vs Elites. The reporters chose to frame their stories in that way even before he brought it up. They were talking about him as a dark horse, or overlooking him entirely, before he ever talked about weeds. And the reporters also acknowledged that they have seen this dynamic play out before.
Likewise, you have Kimura (and others?) in their commentary on the match (and earlier) talking about how Itagaki is a "different breed", a "natural", a "genius", etc. The author makes it clear in this arc ( and elsewhere in the manga) that Itagaki is unusually gifted.
Makino did not just make excuses. He worked his ass off, but he also recognizes that some people are gifted at birth. And either because of that or other reasons, some people get all the limelight while others are overlooked (perhaps even when they deserve not to be).