I just think that it's ill-conceived to tell an aspiring pilot "I'm a he-man and passed my test in the minimum time...but I won't think any less of you if it takes you longer."
I know Mike and have met him several times too. He is a top bloke. That comment quoted above is not the Mike Cross I/we all know. Mike would never dream of thinking along those lines and so would never even dream of being like that with someone. I think you may have crossed wires somewhere along the lines.