Luis Yanez kicked off Olympic team

[Puncher7]

What I did was to tone down the grievances (and my own ego) and try to work with the other coach instead of against him, because ultimately, that would be working against my fighter.

Thats the main key. Regardless of how he personally feels, had Yanez's coach tried to make the best of the situation and encouraged Yanez to work hard at the OTC rather than bash the coaches then Yanez himself might have a different attitude about the whole deal then he would still be on the olympic team
Fighters often take the attitude of their trainer. Why focus on negative stuff when your fighter's preparing for the biggest event of his life?

[lam1ko1]

We will find out if he's on the team. Still he should have been in camp, weeks ago.What if
they should have selected pro. boxers instead.They do it in basketball.

[Canada]

Once you turn professional in boxing you can't box as an amatuer anymore so that would be impossible.

[boxmel]

What I did was to tone down the grievances (and my own ego) and try to work with the other coach instead of against him, because ultimately, that would be working against my fighter.

It would be really, really nice if there were more like you. However, no egos are a rarity.

[ABA Boxing]

Once you turn professional in boxing you can't box as an amatuer anymore so that would be impossible.

I think you can have 3 pro fights and still go back to amateur, not sure!

[jtyson]

Chagaev had two pro fights in 97 and came back to amatuer boxing and found for several years, including the 2000 Olympic Games

[therealPunchDrunk]

What I did was to tone down the grievances (and my own ego) and try to work with the other coach instead of against him, because ultimately, that would be working against my fighter.

It would be really, really nice if there were more like you. However, no egos are a rarity.

Oh, I have an ego alright... never said it was easy.

[boxmel]

ABA -

Chagaev had two pro fights in 97 and came back to amatuer boxing

That was back in the old days and a bit of breaking the rules on the part of AIBA. He was suspended and then allowed to again compete as an amateur.

Once you have turned pro and had your first fight, you are no longer allowed to compete as an amateur.

Oh, I have an ego alright... never said it was easy.

But, at least, it doesn't dictate how you guide your boxer.

[lam1ko1]

We have a young team and some are not mature enough to handle the pressure. Should USA boxing raise the age, for the men's open division, how about age 21 to 34. I think it's worth looking into. Some of these young men are still in high school.

[boxmel]

Should USA boxing raise the age, for the men's open division, how about age 21 to 34. I think it's worth looking into. Some of these young men are still in high school.

The age is determined by AIBA, not USA Boxing. The US is not the only country to have 16 or 17 year olds competing in the open division.

[therealPunchDrunk]

If USA Boxing changed the age limit to 21, I'm sure you'd lose even more talent to the professionals. If a fighter is at Olympian level at 18, he's not gonna wait another four years to go to the Olympics, he'll just go pro, especially in the US.

Plus I'm getting the feeling that immaturity is not something that is exclusive to the boxers...

[ZMOMMI]

I hope they put Luis back in the team cuz honestly Coach Dan and USAB should take action of this long time ago and they let many athletes get away with many things and now a month away from the games..i think they should just fine him.

I agree. Yanez did an interview http://www.quickdfw.com where he said that he thought USAB was just making another threat. USAB had threatened to kick him off the team previously for not following the rules. Yanez thought he could get away with another infraction. This should have been handled way before this incident. Now it is being said that the hearing will be Thursday. Yanez is supposed to be bringing his sister, Dad, coach and lawyer. This is all crazy. In three weeks Yanez managed to care for his sister, go to his gym, go to graduation, and go to an awards ceremony, but he didn't have time to make a 2 sec phone call to the OTC? He said he didn't want to put his sister's business out there. Well, if he had followed the rules, no one would know anything. Yes, through boxing he earned a spot on the team. That is a privilege, not a right. That is why so many people feel that Americans are arrogant. Some people are more worried about the U.S winning a medal than holding Yanez accountable for his actions. That is why so many athletes feel that they are untouchable. We feel that someone owes us something.Why is everything being blamed on Dan Campbell? What about Jim Millman? I have yet to hear Yanez admit that he did wrong. Yanez needs to apologize to USAB and his teammates. Maybe then we can get past this.

[lam1ko1]

The only way USA boxing gets past this is to stick to their decision. How do you think the other boxers will react or have confidence in the coach,if Luis Yanez is allowed on the team.
Let them make a decision and hopefully it's the right one.

[kidscoach]

COladyref, true, all of the team members signed the Code of Conduct, but so did the coaches. Our leaders should be the epitome of that Code, but alas, that is not the case. Also, what is the fairness of "many" of the coaches being allowed access to their boxers. ALL coaches and parents should be allowed access to their boxer. THEY were the ones that got those athletes to that level, so what do we do, throw them away? It has nothing at all to do with EGO (in most cases).

[kidscoach]

I agree with Canada. Except there is nothing wrong with 8 personal coaches traveling around if they so desire. USA Boxing should be providing many, many clinics and camps for any coach that wishes to learn the nuances of international boxing so that the boxers will be learning these things right along. Then the transition to the official Olympic Coaches would be smooth. Most of the coaches would be happy to pay their own way to these clinics. Or will find a way to raise the funds. It is absurd to "cloister" this "special" information at the top with just a few coaches. Actually, there are a great many Level 4 coaches, and guess where the Olympic coaches were chosen from? These Level 4 coaches. The international trips should be a great learning and teaching thing for USA boxing, the more depth we have in skilled coaching, the more likely we will be to be successful at the Olympics. The money wasted on this forced residency program could have gone a long ways in the development of our sport and our coaches and officials. We need to think ahead.

[ZMOMMI]

Except there is nothing wrong with 8 personal coaches traveling around if they so desire[quote][/quote]

There is nothing wrong if those coaches are working WITH the Olympic coaches. The problem comes when the personal coaches conflict with the Olympic coaches. And you cant speak for every personal coach. Some coaches out there have very big egos. This goes for the Olympic coaches also. Instead of working together, they work against each other. Are you saying that if a trainer does not grow up with a boxer, they cant teach that boxer anything? We have all seen in the pros where a boxer leaves his long time coach/trainer and gets with someone new and they excel. All sides need to take responsibility. No one person is perfect. This is not a local fight show, this is the 2008 Olympic Games. Are you telling me that these young men could not sacrifice ONE year away from home for preparation. People are acting like they were in prison. The Olympians where allowed to go home this past year ( more than once.) They were in contact with their family and trainers. Also, their families were able to come visit them. It is sad that one month before the Games, we are pointing fingers. I have personally talked with one of the Olympians. He said that it is not perfect at the OTC, but is focus is on bigger and better things. He said that everyone should be accountable for there own personal actions. WELL PUT!! Some of these boxers really took this opportunity for granted. Why whine about the USAB rules and code of conduct? USAB has invested a lot of money and time with these Olympians. And who doesn't protect their investment? If any of these Olympians were not happy with the residency, rules, codes or coaches, why did they show up at the OTC. And no the residency was not forced on them. No one held a gun to their head. They ALL made a choice.

[boxmel]

And no the residency was not forced on them. No one held a gun to their head. They ALL made a choice.

Right, or wrong, it was a condition of being on the Olympic team and the boxers did not find this out until AFTER they had won the Trials.

[kidscoach]

You need to consider that it should work the other way around,too. The Olympic coaches should be trying to work with the personal coaches. They should also be open to suggestions, thoughts. They should all be sharing this stellar experience! Not trying to be the Big Man on campus, my way or none. The residency was indeed forced on them. How can you expect a boxer to not choose to try and make it a go when the alternative is to lose all they have worked so many years for? I am not opposed to the rules. These athletes should be role models for the new generation. But I think that those rules have been adjusted as the day changes to fit whatever those in charge want at that time.
And ZMOMMI, don't try to make stupid deductions from the simple things that I have said.

[ZMOMMI]

And ZMOMMI, don't try to make stupid deductions from the simple things that I have said.[quote][/quote]

It is ignorant for you to make such careless comments. Stupid deductions? That is the kind of thinking and talk that has this team in jeopardy now. No one can make a statement without out someone crying or getting their feelings hurt. How petty. That's why these kids act like they do! Did you even read my comment? I said THEY need to work together instead against one another! If you choose to be on the team you need to FOLLOW ALL the RULES. No, they were not forced. My nephew is one of the OLYMPIANS. Don't even try to speak for the whole team. He knew what they expected of him and he is doing just that. He in no way feels that he was FORCED! It seems to me that the only ones complaining about the rules are the ones bending or breaking them.
Read and UNDERSTAND my comments before you make stupid deductions regarding the simple things that I said. They are MY OPINIONS!

[DCAmateurBoxing]

The only way USA boxing gets past this is to stick to their decision. How do you think the other boxers will react or have confidence in the coach,if Luis Yanez is allowed on the team.
Let them make a decision and hopefully it's the right one.

My understanding is that at this point it is up to the appeals committee (USA Boxing) and after that - an arbitrator (independent) per USOC policy. During arbitration, which is not done in a legal courtroom, the arbirtator can look at a lot more evidence (past boxer infractions and punishment, affidavits, etc) than in a courtroom when deciding his/her recommendation. If this is the case, I would think Yanez may have a good shot at getting back on the team. Yanez' lawyer said that the basis of their argument will be that Luis earned an automatic berth to Beijing in October at the AIBA World Championships. They may argue that this shouldn't be revoked for "not training". . . .

I agree with some of the other posts - that at this point, given what has been said by both sides, I don't know if it is a good or bad to reverse the decision as far as team morale, team momentum, etc.

I am no lawyer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn (and watched a lot of Law & Order), so Dennis & Mel, am I correct about the arbitration?

[Kolya]

The only way USA boxing gets past this is to stick to their decision. How do you think the other boxers will react or have confidence in the coach,if Luis Yanez is allowed on the team.
Let them make a decision and hopefully it's the right one.

My understanding is that at this point it is up to the appeals committee (USA Boxing) and after that - an arbitrator (independent) per USOC policy. During arbitration, which is not done in a legal courtroom, the arbirtator can look at a lot more evidence (past boxer infractions and punishment, affidavits, etc) than in a courtroom when deciding his/her recommendation. If this is the case, I would think Yanez may have a good shot at getting back on the team. Yanez' lawyer said that the basis of their argument will be that Luis earned an automatic berth to Beijing in October at the AIBA World Championships. They may argue that this shouldn't be revoked for "not training". . . .

I agree with some of the other posts - that at this point, given what has been said by both sides, I don't know if it is a good or bad to reverse the decision as far as team morale, team momentum, etc.

I am no lawyer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn (and watched a lot of Law & Order), so Dennis & Mel, am I correct about the arbitration?

At that last bit. In my opinion, if his conduct hasn't warranted placement on the team, they should keep him off; particularly if it would be disruptive to the guys on the team a month before the Olympics.

[boxmel]

so Dennis & Mel, am I correct about the arbitration?

As far as I know, yes. It will be interesting to see how the USAB Judiciary Task Force (no more than 5 USAB members, headed by attorney/coach Adam Pollack) rules. Hmmm - wonder if USAB could make some money turning this into a reality show?

[Dennis]

I haven't reviewed the appeals process rules, but what you describe sounds correct. At this point all this arguing back and forth is just hurting the team. USAB should have been more strict and had everyone, including the coaches, follow the rules from the get go. Consistency is the key thing for discipline. Any good parent that has dealt with a 13 year old knows this to be true. I can't say for sure who is right and who is wrong as I haven't been in the training camp to witness the infractions. I have talked to many boxers and coaches who have been in these camps in the past and discipline is not always the top priority.

[boxmel]

I haven't reviewed the appeals process rules

Do we have any? I haven't seen a new Constitution and By-Laws or a rule book in two years - ever since the new BOD took over. My guess is we don't know what the actual appeals process is any more.

[Dennis]

Mel - the new rulebook is due out later this summer according to USA Boxing. The 2006 Rulebook is currently the most recent edition. Until the new rules are promulgated, they will have to abide by the 2006 rules.