open letter to Jim Millman

[commerce boxing]

An Open Letter to Jim Millman:

I am writing this not only out of my very personal frustration with USA Boxing’s Olympic Residency Program but also I think it is important that the record is set straight.

The reason I am writing a letter at all is because while in Beijing at the 2008 Olympic Games, I approached Jim Millman to speak to him personally about everything and his reaction was actually to turn his back to me and walk away without listening to one single word I had to say. This was the last act of complete disrespect and cowardice after a very long year of an entire team of the country’s best boxers and their trainers receiving nothing but disrespect, arrogance and total ignorance of the sport of boxing from Dan Campbell and Jim Millman.

To understand why the residency program, in the way it was built, was doomed from the start and why the athletes would have been 100 times more prepared by training primarily with their lifelong personal trainers, you have to understand where a boxer comes from. Without understanding where Javier and the other 10 Olympians truly came from, there is zero understanding of boxing and very little possibility of building a successful residency program now or in the future. But by taking the time to understand it, the future of American amateur boxing has no limit.

When Javier first walked into the gym almost 10 years ago he was like any other kid in the country with a dream of becoming an Olympian. I was also a very young 25-years-old when I started working with him and other kids in our facility. Just like Javier, I was very eager and willing to do my best to get better. This desire to learn and better ourselves is what really drove us in the gym day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.

Javier started fighting in our local shows every weekend- winning some and losing others but always learning. I was very excited when Javier qualified for the National Silver Gloves in 2001. I remember thinking, “The nationals! What an honor.” I was so excited to go that I remember that I couldn't sleep the day before we left for the airport. All I remember thinking was, "What if Javier wins the Nationals? Man, that would be unreal!”

The atmosphere at the venue in Kansas was electric, the competition was fierce and it was my first taste of what boxing is meant to be at a national level where kids and coaches from all over the country spent their hard-earned money to see that first taste of victory and confidence in a young kid. Javier won and became a National Champion (my first) that week of 2001 and we were all proud.

We were proud not only because he won in boxing but because when he returned home he also made his elementary school’s top 1% for his studies. We have this thing in our gym that "education comes first". I would do 100 push-ups for every "A" that they would bring. Sometimes I think that they would work extra hard just to see me do push-ups. The parents also worked very hard to keep Javier on a good path and strong work ethic.

By the time Javier turned 17 and was a Junior in high school, his hard work had put him near the top of his class with a GPA of 3.7 while still coming to the gym 5-6 days a week. He was well on his way to going to just about any major University in the country that he wanted to.

During the Olympics in 2004, we were at the Ringside tournament watching some of the competition and I remember Javier saying that he was sure that he was going to go to the games in China. It was very inspirational to hear a 14-year-old kid say that and you could see it in his eyes that he really wanted it.

It was during these Athens games that I realized the difference in style that international boxing was. I taped most of the boxing matches that were aired and for the next few years leading up to China, I have been able to accumulate quite a collection of international competition tapes and have been studying religiously what I believe would have been most effective for Javier's style and age.

My first experience in international competition was when Javier won the Junior Olympics in 2006. The team went to Turkey for the Cadet World Championships, but before they left for Turkey they attended a two week training camp in New York State. I attended the competition in Turkey with the team (don't worry I paid my own way just like every other international tournament that I went to) and to my surprise Campbell "allowed" me to work the corner with Javier. Now I had met Campbell a few times but never really talked to him until then. My first impression of him was: "He's the National head coach so he must know what he is doing." I have a thirst for knowledge, so being that I was around the "National" coach, well, I was going to pick his brain. I have my training philosophy and methods that I'm always looking to enhance, so I'm always looking to talk "boxing" with anyone willing to share.

Javier won the bronze medal in his first world championship which we both learned a lot from. I went home and "learned" from mistakes that we had made but most importantly it gave Javier the experience and the confidence that he would need in upcoming tournaments. During this time we started to believe that Javier had a great chance at such a young age to make the team.

It was in Turkey that I first witnessed some of Dan Campbell’s approaches to training and supervising teenage kids. The kids were being left unsupervised for whatever "reasons" Campbell had and they were taking complete advantage of it. On several occasions some of the kids were so drunk that they were throwing up. The mother of one of the kids was there with me and she also witnessed the lack of supervision. To this day, whenever I see her she still reminds me of that and we both just shake our heads in disbelief.

After my first experience with Dan Campbell, I left Turkey and couldn't believe that this man was at that position. His tactical understanding of boxing, to those who really follow the sport with a passion, was somewhere in between very limited and non-existent. My last impression of him was, "how could someone like this possibly get hired to oversee the entire success of the nation’s amateur training system?"



Our Journey

Our journey to the Olympic team was a very long and tough trip. After losing in the regional qualifier for the U.S. Championships, we spent many weeks, many months and many dollars travelling to Cincinnati where Javier lost in the third round, travelling to Chattanooga, TN for the Golden Gloves where Javier once again lost and finally travelling (immediately after the loss on a 9 hour car ride) to the Eastern Trials in Florida, where Javier won 5 straight fights to finally capture a place at the U.S. Championships.

It was during this difficult and very trying time that was a turning point for Javier and the reason why he defeated many boxers years older than him to take his place on the American team. We got beat a number of times, yes, but we were learning and getting better and making some fundamental adjustments with Javier.

I want Jim Millman, as the CEO of the sport of amateur boxing in this country to understand something. When I say adjustments, I don't mean the obvious superficial stuff like: “Work on the jab. Throw more punches. Move your head. Don't get hit.” What I mean by adjustments are the adjustments inside Javier’s mind – the kind of adjustments a real boxing trainer makes when a kid must completely trust the advice you are giving him. When you get to know a fighter you have to get to know the fighter within. By that I mean what makes him who he is as a person inside. Without the mind, a fighter will just spend all his days doing “circle drills” like he is in an aerobics class.

But before a kid lets you in to his mind, he has to trust you and you have to earn that trust. I could be the greatest coach in the world and have phenomenal ideas but not have a clue about the most important aspect of the equation. It's a little thing called "chemistry" and without it you might as well be talking to a wall. It is that very close trust between boxer and trainer that is the core of the sport and the very thing that separates the sport of boxing from every other sport in the world.

Javier won the U.S. championships in dramatic fashion not because of any made-up residency program but because we stuck to the fundamentals of boxing, of getting a kid to believe in himself above all else. The power of the relationship between a young boxer and his trainer is not only the heart of the sport of boxing, it is a 100 times more valuable than a million high-tech training centers combined, whether it is 2008, 2012 or 3012.

The Olympic Trials were bitter sweet. On the morning before the finals, Dan Campbell called a meeting and surprised everyone by announcing that there was going to be a year-long residency program and that the winners would have 24 hours to sign the contract that they would agree to leave their schools and jobs to come train with him. And Campbell added, “If you do not sign this contract by tomorrow evening, you will be off the team and immediately replaced. If all 11 athletes refuse to sign, then we’ll get another 11.”

Now I ask anyone in any sport or society in the world: Is this a way to lead anyone? To get anyone to trust you? To be a leader? To show anyone a sign of your intelligence inside and outside the ring? To bully 11 young men and their trainers into signing? Because the head of the Olympic team was going to wipe out years and years and years of dreams, hard work and endless sacrifice and kick you off if you didn’t sign? Just so Campbell could have his wish for his own training center?

I know that Campbell wanted to emulate the Cuban system but the "or else" sounded more like the Cuban government.

We had immediate concerns about Javier's education as well as he was still in high school and going into all honors classes in his senior year. So I called Campbell around two weeks before he was supposed to depart for Colorado. I was very specific about the importance of Javier's education and his honor roll status at home and we wanted Javier to continue on that same path.

At first Campbell said this to me: "Well Robert, it might come down to a choice, we are going to be training 3 times a day and I don't know if he'll have enough time to do both". I was very upset and this was the first a few clashes that we had.

I said to him, "No, Dan. By law this kid has to go to school, he's still a minor, only has one year to go and he was promised the same education he is getting at home."

He said he'd get back to me and called me the next day. His response was that "Ok Robert, there is this school up here (Palmer) that he can attend.”

I said to him, "What about when he travels? How you guys going to handle that?

He said, "We'll provide a tutor for him when he travels" Needless to say Javier went to Colorado in September (I believe 17th or 18th can't recall) around a month after Palmer High was already in session. The parents had to sign a letter to give Campbell the parental guardianship to enroll Javier into the school. Javier was not enrolled until two weeks after he arrived at the program. He had already missed 6 weeks of school and the type of classes Javier was taking were difficult enough without the time that he missed.

A few weeks later the team departed for Chicago. After Chicago the team departed for China. It was starting to get difficult for Javier to keep up with his classes. Javier would ask Dan Campbell about the tutor for the trips he went on but Campbell never provided one for him. There were never any tutors or any intentions of Dan Campbell to make sure Javier kept up with his studies.

I talked to Dan Campbell and Jim Millman about this and Millman said that he wasn't "aware" of Javier's schooling. How can you not be aware about something as important as that? Around February of this year Javier's counselor at Palmer informed him that he was so far behind that he would not be able to graduate. How sad that the person who calls himself Chief Executive Officer, who talks about the world-class standards of the Olympic training, who talks about recruiting the best-of-the-best-of-the-best athletes in the country and restoring boxing to its place in the U.S..... but an honor-roll kid who's been working countless hours to pursue his Olympic and educational dreams can’t even graduate high school under his program? Unfortunately, Javier had to drop out, he is now a year behind and will have to go back and redo his senior year in what should have been his first year at a university.

I know that he tried to Jim Millman tried to excuse his own responsibilities by saying that two of the other athletes were able to graduate from the program. What he failed to recognize is that those other two athletes were both 18 and 19 and needed only a few credits to finish. Javier needed a full schedule, a full year to finish and was taking classes at an AP level. Please don't try to compare their circumstances and try to justify your system.

We had a working relationship with Javier's former school in California. In 2007 he traveled about as much if not more because of boxing. Yet we were able to get it done scholastically and athletically because we were "aware" and most importantly we "cared".

Residency Program

First of all, let me start by thanking all of the people that had great intentions and worked hard for the benefit of the athletes. Robert Martin and Willy Price are both great people and did everything they could to help this team. But they are just captains and had to follow the directions of the general. I would like to thank the psychologist as well for her great work.

The residency program is not entirely a bad idea if implemented properly by someone who understands the sport of boxing at a deep level. I was young when I left (17) like Javier. I went to the military like a lot of young men and women. I was able to become independent and was a very important part in my growth. When Javier left I wasn't opposed to the idea, I was opposed to the man behind the idea.

After hearing Campbell talk about how the program was going to be run and my impressions of him I felt that this program was going to be run like a dictatorship. I would have been more than happy to sit down with Campbell and give him every bit of information that I have on Javier. You would think that he would have wanted to hear what I had to say on a subject that I knew so much about. Throughout the program Campbell never contacted me or even mentioned Javier in a training aspect. Javier received NO personalized instruction on how to combat the international style. He was constrained into a program were the "one size fits all philosophy" was in order.

If you know boxing Mr. Millman, as I'm assuming by now that you realize that you don't, the "offensive" and "defensive" coach approach was a joke. When I first read that my first reaction was "I wonder who they're going to get for the special teams?" For a long period of time Javier just hit the heavy bag for 10 rounds every day, day after day, with no instruction. Which was fine for Javier because at least he didn't have to do the "clinch drills" and the "turn drills" that were pointless.

My assessment of what Javier needed to do and I would have gladly given my point of view to Campbell if asked.

As I have stated before I had been studying religiously the international styles and are in complete agreement with Campbell (for once) that we can't box the same as we do at home.

One of the things that we have to do if we are to be successful is to stop complaining about the international scoring system and start adapting. I always give this example to my fighters. If you're batting and the pitcher throws a pitch that you thought was a ball but the empire calls it a strike. You're either going to complain and not swing in that area and eventually strike out. Or you're going to make the necessary adjustments to were that empire's strike zone is at, not yours.

By this I mean, understand why they are being successful and search for ways to exploit their weaknesses.

Some of the ways that I had found was that the successful boxers in international bouts are able to control the distance and range. We are more concerned on how to throw a punch but not concerned enough on how to deliver it. Domestically, we are some of the best punchers in the world. If you were to take out the moving part of the match then I have no doubt that we would have great success.

But the fact remains that it is a big part of why "in my opinion" Javier needed specific type of training. Just before departing to Colorado we were working on Javier's balance. A very important part of controlling distance and space is your ability to stay on balance. In Javier's case he understood the importance and through a series of exercises that we had designed for him he was well on his way to becoming proficient. And it’s not just to maintain your distance but how to approach and how to get out. In the mist of all that is going on in the ring is what is going on in the boxer's head.

The most important aspect of a match is what your boxer is thinking. What he is thinking is what he is performing. If you see frustration in your fighters face then he is thinking "I'm frustrated". Equally as important is what the trainer understands about that fighters "emotional" tendencies. Just like a poker player can give his hand away when put under pressure, so can a boxer give a match away if put under enough mental pressures. This is why it is essential to understand that boxer. It blows my mind that every time Javier sparred in Colorado, Campbell never once worked his corner. Yet in every major tournament he was there giving him instructions.

I'm sure that if Campbell would have talked to any of the other personal coaches they each would have had their own input, ideas and unique way to improve the team. Why? Because all 11 of the personal coaches have put years and years of seasoned learning into their boxers and proven their ability to teach from scratch with real national title belts wrapped around their fighter’s waist. It is unbelievable that the collective wisdom of all these trainers was thrown out the window for the sake of an unproven program run by an unproven man.

I read an article were Dan Campbell was quoted as saying that Javier's match was "a boy against a man". You see Mr. Millman, our first bout wasn't at the games. It was at home with a man that wanted absolute power and was being backed by the blind. So in that sense he was telling the truth: "a boy was up against a man".

Javier will move on and become successful and happy in life and take this as a "learning" experience as he's always done.

And Dan Campbell has been retired before I could even finish this letter- to the joy of every kid with a London 2012 dream.

I just wanted to end this letter by saying that it was not written by an angry coach who did not see his boxer win a gold medal. It was written by one coach among many who spent a decade building a rare trust and bond with their boxers and promising them they could achieve that impossible Olympic dream and seeing that thing so arrogantly thrown aside and never knowing what could have been.

This team was as talented as any other U.S. team in history but now the world will never know.

It doesn’t surprise me anymore that Jim Millman did not have the courage to speak to me in Beijing. As everyone who is truly a believer in boxing knows, boxing is more about facing yourself than facing your opponent and deep down I don’t think he is capable of facing the decisions he has made in the last year nor able to rely on himself to lead another team of hopeful young boxers into battle.

As for us, we will continue to fight the good fight but as long as Jim Millman is there, we'll just stick to the Silver Gloves.

Thank you for your time

Roberto Luna

Commerce Boxing

[JMac]

Excellent letter Robert. You made many good points and observations. It's obvious you are a knowledgeable and a caring coach. Too bad you were not one of the assistants. Millman was talked to plenty about what would occur if they went as planed. He didn't listen. So mnay mistakes were made. You're right, that was a talented team but it was wasted.
Hopefully, big changes will be made before the next Olympics. You are right that the residency program can work as along as there is the right head coach who knows international boxing but who more importantly can work with and bring into the fold the personal coaches who trained the boxers to become Olympians. Somebody who can get everybody on the same page. Somebody who can teach and also learn from the other coaches.
All the best,
Jim McNally

[boxmel]

Robert - thank you for speaking up and out and I hope you have also sent the same message to Millman personally. I may have started out with the "party line" last year (I did think that not letting the Trials participants know about the mandatory residency program was not a good thing) but over the past year I have watched USA Boxing sink to an all-time low, unfortunately taking the athletes to the bottom with them.

We'll be at the show on Saturday and I know Dr. Ficarola is going to ask you about the hole in Javi's lung and why he was allowed to compete - just forewarning you. 8)

Umm - how'd you like to apply for the now-vacant national coaching director position? You'd be perfect!

[squarering]

Robert, with all of the shortcomings I still have to say that your story of you and your boxer's journey is still the foundation of this sport and very familiar to those of us that have taken a similar journey. Let it serve as template for new coaches to use as a guide of what it takes to make it in this sport. The fact that Javier did not medal is in no way an indicator to the success that you both have accomplished. I hold your control of self ego to remain open to new and better methods of training and your obvious methodical approach analyzing the complete situation and adjusting to it, in very high regard. You are the material of an Elite coach/trainer in the truest sense of the word, no matter what number is one the card in your wallet.

[boxmel]

Robert is one of the most unassuming, reflective, humble people I have met in and out of boxing.

[Salsero]

The problem is obviously at the top, Dan is out, Jim should be right behind him, along with a few others. For the past 15 years, USA Boxing has ruined many great athletes because of the political – buddy system. Where are they getting these staff from?

[bigpicture]

Mr Luna,
Thank you so much for the courage, elegance, insight and composure that you letter exhibits.
Everyone is better informed and clearer about the situation for hearing your story.
And thank you for the efforts you expend on everyone's behalf.
Every parent and fan is privileged to have you be the trustee of great young men.

It took courage to speak the truth in the face of the organization and the potential for politically motivated reprisals,
Your letter speaks eloquently to the situation faced by so many.
The insights into the mentorship and leadership required to coach should be read by every new coach and reread by all periodically.
Your (and Javier's) composure to face the horrible obstacles that not only Campbell, but the organization too, placed in front of your hard work and accomplishments speaks volumes to why you and Javier are and will be a winners.

Thank you,
BigPicture

[lukerunion]

Robert, I'm going to address this letter to Jim at the next meeting. I'll let you know what feedback I receive. I appreciate your insight on Dan and the experiences. This is the first time I'm hearing specifics about it, believe it or not. And it blows my mind. Thank you. Luke Runion

[bxingirl]

Robert thank you for coming out in the open with your well written letter. You and I have spoken throughout the year about the going on with Javier and the USAB program. The fact that Javier is not on his way to UCLA this year saddens me. This never should have happened! I hope that this letter will also see it's way to the USOC.

I'll be in that AAC (Athlete Advisory Council) meeting with Luke...We will have lot's to talk about with the other members.

As Melanie said, the Head Coach position is open and USAB needs a person/coach just like you!

For all of you who don't know Robert personally, you should get to know him, he is a soft spoken, humble, intelligent and beyond dedicated man/coach. For Robert and Javier to bring this all out in the open must have taken a lot of time and thought.

Robert, I know that you, Javier, Oscar and Carlos will all reach your dreams!

Best wishes, Krysti Rosario
http://www.usaboxingrep.com

[boxmel]

Robert, I'm going to address this letter to Jim at the next meeting. I'll let you know what feedback I receive. I appreciate your insight on Dan and the experiences. This is the first time I'm hearing specifics about it, believe it or not. And it blows my mind. Thank you. Luke Runion

Luke - find and read the Luis Yanez discussion (I think there are two of them). There are plenty of specifics noted before Robert posted his thoughts.

[lukerunion]

i will find it and read it. i can't be online everyday but i am going to make an effort to check the forum more frequently. i have not read the yanez situation yet but i am already aware of some of the decisions made and reasons behind them from participating in the last BOD meeting. there is both fact and fiction/opinion on here and getting through the bs is a challenge, but i intend to use it as a tool to learn and share.

on a side note, i DO have a brain and am using it in and out the ring to do my small part to improve boxing from my corner of the world. keep my name out of your emails and your little world of usab gossip. i have never met a person in usab who had good things to say about you, and its obvious why. you are the definition of a hater.

[boxmel]

Dear Coach Luna,

Melanie forwarded me your very eloquent letter regarding the experiences of Javier in his desire to be a part of the history of our wonderful boxing program in the United States. Unfortunately his dream and yours ended with disappointment involving a number of things that need to be addressed.

I appreciate and have empathy for a number of the concerns you allude to regarding coaching, styles and the overall management of USA Boxing.

I have been away from amateur boxing after dedicating myself to the program for 29 years. In 2005, I was asked to attend the Nationals to evaluate the officials. After that I was asked to submit a resume to be a Team Manager. I received appointments to take teams to Canada, Morroco (Cadet Worlds) and Azerbaijahn (Junior Worlds). I also was asked to forward a resume for the position with the Olympic Team. Sadly, I was not considered and learned that the position was given to Joe Smith who had only one experience as a manager and that was a team he took to Canada. I angered Campbell when I accused him of politics with the selection of Smith. I did not care how he felt about my accusation.

When in Colorado for the camps as the team manager of the teams I
referenced, I saw that the boxers were doing the necessary conditioning
routines but I also was interested in the emphasis that was being placed
on, as you described, the "clinch drills" and "turn drills". I must admit
that I have been away from the program for a number of years but prior to receiving these assignments I never saw these tactics being part of
"boxing". But I was not the coach and did not challenge or question the
methodology being taught. However, when I witnessed the matches in
Morocco, I understood why it was done. But I was appalled as a former
Olympic (88 Korea) referee, with 29 active years, as to the mechanics of the referees to allow and tolerate this action with no consequence of
caution or foul to the boxers. Their failure to "break" the boxers was a
sad change in ring mechanics that impeded the ability of either to box. At times, I recognized that one or the other was responsible and should be penalized.

However, regarding those tactics and the European styles it is important
understand we must make adjustments to our styles and defensive skills to remain competitive. In your intellect you addressed this. It is evident
that our young boxers are very talented but internationally are not
receiving credit for many of their punches that land. I theorize that the
computer scoring system, which was developed by the Germans, is a contrived method of scoring that is designed to take advantage of the European style of boxing.

At the Olympics, besides our kids not getting credit for punches, I was
most disturbed at the Irish boxer Egan in the finals. He beat the Chinese
boxer all over the ring and did not get credit for any blows. I thought it
was as bad as the Roy Jones bout in Korea.

In the Morocco championships, I was scoring punches of our boxers and
became frustrated in the lack of points that were credited. I complained
bitterly to members of the championship committee to no avail. Besides my expression of discontent with the scoring system, I also became aware of the judges were doing things by signal to each other while judging. I questioned the United States official regarding thin and he told me it was to protect themselves from being critized by ring authority. I'm not certain exactly how they were protecting themselves but it had to do with the accounting for blows especially in the last round.

With regards to Jim Millman, I was introduced to him at the Trials. I was
there for the camp preparation of the juniors for their competition in
Azerbaijahn. He attended a meeting in which I addressed the boxers and had Evander Holyfield and Vernon Forest speak to them. After that, I passed him in the arena or the lobby of the hotel and acknowledge him with a "hello". He never responded. My impression of him was not good and my thought was if he was going to be just another body in Colorado who would be a detriment and impairment to raise the image of USA Boxing. For so many years we have had people who were not acquainted and needed to be oriented in the principals of boxing. If Millman is going to remain in the position I would hope that he is understanding of the predicament of the program and will surround himself with people who can enlighten him with changes to advance the program.

I, too, believe like you that a residency program could be beneficial with
the right implementation. Robert, the importance of any program like that are the people who are directly responsible for its success. Surely, if it is going to exist, there are people like yourself who has a grasp on the necessities for its accomplishment.

You presented many things that need the attention of who ever is
responsible to make changes to do so. You are very impressive and seem to have a great understanding of what is needed. Perhaps you could be considered to monitor and oversee the program if a residence program is installed. Because of the impressions of the Olympic results, however, I believe that there are a lot of things that need to be done to reinforce the thinking and confidence of coaches around the country to support having it happen.

I wish you and Javier much success for the future.

Thank you,
Elmo Adolph

[Dennis]

Another good post. I agree that Millman MUST surround himself with people who know the sport of boxing OR RESIGN. He doesn't know the sport and he learned what he does know now from Dan Campbell who obviously was not the best teacher.

A lot of people are calling for Millman's head. I understand why, but he wasn't hired for his boxing knowledge, he was hired to increase USAB's revenue (i.e. sponsorships and donations). He was put into a tough position, by not knowing the sport and having a national coach who was struggling to say the least. If he had fired Dan, I'm not sure the results would have been any better. It was too late by the time he realized the severity of the situation. Now he has a chance to show his true colors. He needs to start implementing change.

Where is the new rule book? Will it have numerous errors as usual?

When are they going to start conducting the T-T-T clinics again?

Are they ever going to announce when the U.S. Championships are going to be held? They need to remember that they can't violate the Ted Stevens Act by having it conflict with the Group Members tournaments.

I have a lot of other ideas, but that is enough for now.

WOW, I just got word that the T-T-T clinics will be reinstituted this fall. The dates of the clinic are supposed to be from November 18 - 23, 2008.

[lukerunion]

Roberto,

I want to ask you a question regarding the situation in Beijing, specifically when you say Jim walked away from you. Do you think it might have happened because he thought it could have led to a heated conversation that could have been on NBC or international sports news? I don't think that it would have looked good for USA Boxing, and if that is why Jim walked away, what a wise decision. Win or lose, there is an image we need to hold together, even if we don't have it all together, that we should keep at such an event. I have heard you are a level headed person and am not saying that it could have got that way. But I am saying to you that could Jim have made a good judgment to avoid you at that time - but I don't know your relationship with him. Have you considered it might not have been the time nor the place to discuss such issues? Did you follow up with him later - specifically did you send this letter to him or just post it on the blog?

I think all your points are valid and you have every right to be frustrated. I am only asking these questions to try and find out what you think about the shoes that Jim has to walk in. It would not look good to add insult to injury in terms of the performance, to see a flush faced coach, keeping his cool but on the verge of a heated argument with our CEO in the Olympic Arena. I don't know you or your relationship with Jim. I could be completely off. I am just hypothesizing and trying to get a feel for why you chose when and where you did to bring up all these issues. I know that during this event, Jim had an opportunity to speak with AIBA officials and officials from other nations to learn more about how he can help improve things for us internationally from his role. This seems like a situation that would have detracted from his responsibilities to help USAB, and could have been dealt with at home, after the Olympics, considering all the harm was already done.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Luke Runion

[commerce boxing]

Luke


In no way shape or form did I ever approach Jim Millman with anything other than professionalism. His refusal to talk to me in person is what caused me to write the letter. I was sitting with my wife and another one of my boxers that witnessed Jim Millman turn his back to me.

Millman was the first that received the letter.

-Roberto Luna

[squarering]

Luke, I respectfully have to add that you may fully understand one day when you have devoted a major part of your life to doing something as well as you could and your athlete has made the same grueling sacrifices for years, only to see it flushed down the toilet because the few things you were forced to give up control of at the end, were done so obviously wrong. Especially when many in the know saw it coming and did speak out. People say your just an instigator if you say or try to do anything about it before it blows up, or you are a Monday morning quarter back with 20/20 hindsight if you say anything about it after the fact. You can't win, but you sure can loose a lot. If you ever go through it once, then and only then will you truly understand the disappointment, frustration and strength it took to confront the person that took then lost the control, wanting basically only one question answered........Why?

[Dennis]

Some coaches I know are glad that they didn't have to live throught it. That they didn't have to turn control of their boxer over to a group of guys that were clearly not doing things the best way. In fact, they weren't even doing things in a good way.

[toddh5220]

Luke,

I have been sitting back watching your written sparring for the past few days, in this message thread, and several others. It is very obvious, even to casual observer, that you are VERY biased in favor of Jim Millman, and what he is doing to our organization. As someone who has devoted many many years, and 10's of thousands of dollars, I am shamed that you are a part of AAC. No self respecting member of such a board would wage open wars here in open forums. You have lost all credibility by your inability to see the truth, and see what has happened to this organization. I sit back and I think perhaps you are biased because you have no good point of reference, USA Boxing has been screwed up so long, you consider this an upgrade, alas you are misguided. You have not taken the time to listen to the very people you are supposed to be representing; you are misguided in what your purpose in USA Boxing is. If you were all in favor of making our organization stronger you would have spoken up like coach Luna did in trying to help this team get put back together, and make sure that the athlete’s best interest was at heart. No instead you listen to people like Jim Millman and Dan Campbell as to what is best for our athletes. I met Coach Luna at the PAL last year; I saw the disappointment in his eyes about Javier being run around about school. So I picked up the phone and spoke to Jim about the situation, and how this fine young athlete deserved to be treated better, he said he would look into it and get back to me, it is my fault for not following up, however I was told by coach Campbell to stay out of this and another situation in way that I won't share here. These are the people that should be helping us to form our young men. I am ashamed of what we have become. So ashamed in fact, that unlike you I am prepared to do something about it. See I offered to line up MAJOR corporate financial support for USA Boxing; in fact I spoke to Jim about it at the Olympic trials, when Tom Virgets introduced us for the first time. Do you know how many calls I have gotten for my assistance? Not one.

The truth is you misguided should, is that Jim Millman and the rest of USA Boxing have not a clue, and what's worse is they REFUSE to listen to people, who at the grass roots level have made this organization what it once was, and today we have an over budget national office that makes poor business decisions, poor decisions about it's athletes, and poor organizational decisions. They think they know everything, and it appears that this has now rubbed off on you. There are others on your committee who at least have the decency to not comment until you all get together, meet, and discuss the facts. Much like the disciplinary committee, you have already made up your mind before you hear the case, it’s a shame that USA Boxing has stopped to this. Now I made a promise to several people not to turn this into a Luke Bashing session, but man every time you post, you make the people who voted for you sorrier and sorrier, because it is obvious to everybody that you know not of what you speak. If you want to debate the truth I will not do so in open forum, you can ask at least one of you AAC members, or there are a few here that might share my contact info with you, and we can discuss this in private. You really should open your eyes and see what's going on, if you are to represent your peers.

Todd Harlib

[lukerunion]

Todd,

I have to respectfully disagree with you on many of your claims against me. I think I have tried to have an open mind here, and I think you have missed my purpose for entering the forum. If this is a place only for those against the powers that be, then I guess I don't belong here. I was under the impression that this forum was a place for all points of view, a trial if you will, while most of its participants assume the role of jury and judge.

Additionally, you have held me accountable and given me responsibilities that go beyond the scope of acting as an athlete representative on the AAC. IMO,you sir and many are misguided about the way the new organization structure works. Grassroots suggestions should be directed to the Grassroots committee or board member, not to the CEO. In some cases, he has made himself available, but he should be getting feedback through the appropriate channels. In any other organization of our size, personal phone calls of this nature would be unacceptable and out of rank. Additionally, as a new, yet previously proven CEO, wouldn't you say he deserves a learning curve to figure out who is credible and who is not?

This photo makes me think you are not a credible coach, but I could be wrong:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15145848@N00/212622894/

I welcome a private discussion, my email is [email protected]. I also welcome this forum because I believe all aspects of USAB need to be more transparent. While I disagree sometimes on this forum, I avoid wars, but ask questions. It is impossible not to bring my personal opinions to my role of the AAC along with agenda items from people who I call and speak with - and from this forum, whether I disagree or not. I believe I have tried to put myself in the shoes of others. It's not as easy as you think. And nothing ever goes to the BOD without being discussed by group consensus at the AAC.

I read that you were on the NMU Committee- were you influential in the program reinstatement? How much MAJOR MOOLA can you bring to USAB that you say Jim has ignored, and from who? Please tell me privately or here and it would be my pleasure, my duty, to bring it up at our meeting. I'm a soldier like you, who is working in the trenches, but I'll not participate in discussions about assassinations of the commander in chief. It doesn't help accomplish any mission. I'm LOYAL and believe the United States is still the greatest country in the world, regardless of the politics. We have to change things in order to prove it, I agree. Name a new CEO before anyone goes on incessantly about replacing Jim.

Also, please get engaged in our conversations, and don't just sit back waiting anymore to throw your best shot - if that's your intention. The more the merrier, and, I hope, more heads are better than a few.

Luke Runion

[lukerunion]

Roberto, thank you for your response. I hope one day we can meet in person and talk boxing. I believe I could learn a lot from you, based on the character that people who know you speak of about you, and your well versed opinions that are very valid. I will do my best to see that Jim replies to your letter in private. I cannot make any promises but I believe that you deserve it.

Hal, I don't know what its like to have an Olympic caliber athlete. I only work with college boxers. It only makes sense to me that Dan's program was wrong and I've already made recommendations on behalf of the AAC with Angel Bovee at the last BOD meeting that any future Olympic training be incorporated with personal coaches. I don't disagree here on this forum with that. You know I like Dan as a person. I never had him as a coach. But I can see that his program failed and he "retired". I put this failure on Dan, not Jim. I would hold Jim accountable for 2012. But I see their responsibilities as separate and am not knowledgeable enough of any situation or relationship between Jim and Dan to comment on what Jim could have should have would have done to improve the Olympic Team or their performance in regards to Dan's program. I see contradictions and egos from all parties of this Olympic team that stem from more than just 2 people. I see a failure of unity, and of motivation for a common goal, as we have discussed before. I say we implement these ideals before we implement new people. Once we get the message across - the right message - we expect it to be implemented and if its not, then we hold people accountable.

[bigpicture]

Luke,
First, I have NO personal interest either for or against Mr. Millman or Mr Campbell.
I have also noted bad behavior on the part of others from the Boards to the staff's actions in posts.
(The failure of staff is a direct result of the failure of leadership, not really their fault. )
I am ashamed of the way the organizations (USOC & BUSA) let the team down.
My personal focus is on solely on creating an effective and successful organization. Nothing else.

That is NOT based on the money that somebody brings in (although I grant that money make some things easier).
It is based on effective management of the resources that exist and using them to grow the value and competitiveness of an organization. THAT is how and why more money can be expected to be deserved. When money becomes the sole goal, the product suffers and the product here is BOXERS BOXING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

I can say with great confidence that regardless of your personal beliefs and hopes, without successful operations, NO MONEY WILL COME. People do NOT throw good money after bad for very long. And the goal of attracting a wider participation among athletes is similarly hampered as long as Mr Millman is running things. These are some of the legacies of his management skills to date that you choose to excuse. I cannot and the governing Board should not.

As to some of the responses you are getting, I can tell you are rather young and I note without prejudice that your perspective on how management of successful organizations REALLY works is both lacking in maturity and experience. (No disrespect is intended. Both may come with some time in pursuit of excellence, but it will not come if you chose to compromise on goals and fail to demand what is needed to succeed of the organization's role players.) And you are aiming too low. I challenge you to want more and want it now.

In regard to your defense of Mr Millman, NO Board of Directors hires Key people at the level of CEO expecting them to take five years to build an organization. It is EXPECTED that they have the vision and maturity and judgement to run the organization successfully. If they are chosen for any other reason, the Board is at fault.

If you fail to asses the current situation accurately and unless you can define some hidden reason beside money raising skill, it is clear that Mr Millman has failed in the most fundamental roll he was hired to perform: that of running the business of USAB effectively. In short, he is taking the organization's money for doing something he isn't doing correctly. That is why I see no redeeming value in his tenure and no possibility that he can recover from this fiasco that he managed.

It is that simple. He did a bad job. He is not a bad man. He knows both of those things if he is honest with himself.

Big

[boxmel]

I

will do my best to see that Jim replies to your letter in private. I cannot make any promises but I believe that you deserve it.

Your friend Jim has already responded to Robert's letter. In it he blames Robert and Javier and takes no responsibility at all for anything.

[squarering]

Luke, I think a lot of what is said on here is based on the frustration of trying to make changes and offering to help and ideas to have it ignored or being thought of as a bunch of unintelligent coaches that could not possibly know anything about running an organization or "big business " After a while you feel hopeless and helpless to do anything that could really help this organization. In my own organization I can tell you there are a few different kinds of people. The idea guy, that come up with creative intelligent ideas that need implementing, The hustlers , that gets the job done right and works like hell, The philanthropist that uses money to make up for his other shortcomings, the minimizer that does just enough to not get booted and the dead wood that needs to go because it is better to know that the job won't be done at all than to guess if it will. I Have a few of the hustlers and I consider myself one as I don't have the means to be a philanthropist. But if my ideas and my help is not wanted , I have no problem putting my energy right back here in my own program with my own kids. It's just that my altruist mentality causes me to try to do the right thing for the good of the sport. I darn sure won't push myself on anyone. So if this forum seems a little negative, I guess your right. In a way it's all we have left, a place to bitch about how things should be while we bust our ass at the grass roots level knowing that things will not change. I have been pretty fair at reading people and Mr. Millman may be a great marketer when dealing with potential sponsors, heads of companies and others at his level. But when he comes down into the trenches, I feel he is out of his element and unable to connect with the foot soldiers. Maybe it's arrogance or maybe it just come across as arrogance. Either way I don't feel he is the kind of person that leaves a lasting impression on you as a real people person. I have met people like that and they just give off a special energy. Maybe that means we need to split his job and let him deal where his strength is and get someone that can connect with the ground soldiers. You are young and eager and not unlike me with my idealist approach to making things better, but if history repeats itself, you will beak after enough time and enough energy is wasted trying to do right. After traveling is more of a chore than an escape and you value your time more because as you get older you have less of it left. Until then, charge full steam ahead with the passion I and others once had to make things better and do it knowing, I wish you all the best in you efforts and that I will gladly accept admitting I was wrong if that time ever comes.

[Dennis]

Luke why is Todd not a credible coach because of a photo showing him getting hit by one of his boxers? I know of a lot of coaches, including myself, who have been hit by their boxers.

[Canada]

No kidding Dennis, I cant ever imagine Emanuel Steward being able to take out Wlad, or Freddy Roach giving Manny Pacqiuo a beating, but obviously that doesnt mean their bad trainers.