Opinions on what USAB needs to get better.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 08 Aug 2007, 14:35

A little sarcasm never hurts.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 08 Aug 2007, 14:50

Heh heh heh heh. Sarcasm in amateur boxing? What a novel idea. We really do have to meet one of these days, Dennis......

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 08 Aug 2007, 23:24

I am always willing to meet other boxing fanatics. Anyone who has their own boxing website falls into that category.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 08 Aug 2007, 23:26

I think USAB needs to announce their next "Train the Trainers" clinic. I am going to ask if they are planning on having one this year.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 09 Aug 2007, 02:05

Yeah, my husband says he's the fan and I'm the fanatic.

They probably won't have TTT unless they have money. But I wish you would find out - it's getting close to time to have it.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 09 Aug 2007, 12:49

boxmel wrote:Yeah, my husband says he's the fan and I'm the fanatic. They probably won't have TTT unless they have money. But I wish you would find out - it's getting close to time to have it.

No reply yet. I will let everyone know when I find out.

squarering · Post by **squarering** » 09 Aug 2007, 22:42

Dennis and Mel. Now I see how a lie can catch up to you and kick you in the butt. I have to confess, I never taught at Harvard for 16 years, But I did officiate the Army VS Navy Box Off at the US Navel Academy once.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 10 Aug 2007, 09:11

Hal - did you ever say you taught at Harvard? I don't remember that....

squarering · Post by **squarering** » 10 Aug 2007, 14:52

Yes, I think it was when Dennis and I were trying to push each other into the marketing position of USABoxing. Although I didn't want the job I was only trying to improve my resume and impress Dennis (you know him being an attourney and all) by saying I was a professor of bussiness at Harvard. Once I looked up how to spell professor, bussiness and Harvard. the rest was easy. But in the end I learned my lesson, you just have to be yourself, a highly regarded brain surgeon at Hopkins.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 10 Aug 2007, 14:58

I think a Harvard business professor has more credentials for marketing than a Johns Hopkins brain surgeon. But, then again, it depends on what you're marketing........

squarering · Post by **squarering** » 10 Aug 2007, 16:25

Ok Back to the subjuct on what can make USA boxing better. Let me get phil;isophical. Often it is boxers that works hard and continues to grow and get better that pushes a coach to get better and have to commit more time, energy and money. As they get to the elite level, thier coach must do what ever it takes to get them to the tounaments and take thier training to a higher level. Could it be possible to put USA Boxing in a similar position. Where they too would just have to keep up with the progress that the grass roots programs create. What if we have more local shows , recuit more members,and push harder to get more local media coverage then continue that coverage when these grass roots athletes go to the regional, national and international level. If we did this acrros the country,it would force USAB to keep up with us vs waiting for them to lead us. In other words build the organization from the ground up instead of the top down. This would take a coodinated effert of coaches and programs. It would take people big enough to shelf thier egos for the betterment of the whole. It would give the grass roots people,(coaches, officials, ect) more input on how thing might be done at the top. Lastly it would send a motivational message that, if this can be done at the grass roots level, it can surely be done at the corporate level. Or not.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 10 Aug 2007, 17:20

squarering wrote:Dennis and Mel. Now I see how a lie can catch up to you and kick you in the butt. I have to confess, I never taught at Harvard for 16 years, But I did officiate the Army VS Navy Box Off at the US Navel Academy once.

No, you aren't a real Harvard prof, but you did you stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 10 Aug 2007, 17:27

squarering wrote:Yes, I think it was when Dennis and I were trying to push each other into the marketing position of USABoxing. Although I didn't want the job I was only trying to improve my resume and impress Dennis (you know him being an attourney and all) by saying I was a professor of bussiness at Harvard. Once I looked up how to spell professor, bussiness and Harvard. the rest was easy. But in the end I learned my lesson, you just have to be yourself, a highly regarded brain surgeon at Hopkins.

I know that you are doing it because I'm so pretentious, right? I even wore a suit to work a corner at the local GG. I received a lot of compliments on my cornerman's attire. I then had people ask me why I changed into my jeans/t-shirt combo (my normal boxing attire). I only wore the suit because I had to work right up until time to get to the show and I did not have time to change before the first few bouts. I was wrapping hands and getting boxers ready. As soon as I had a chance, it was off with the tie and on with the normal clothes.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 10 Aug 2007, 17:55

squarering wrote:Ok Back to the subjuct on what can make USA boxing better. Let me get phil;isophical. Often it is boxers that works hard and continues to grow and get better that pushes a coach to get better and have to commit more time, energy and money. As they get to the elite level, thier coach must do what ever it takes to get them to the tounaments and take thier training to a higher level. Could it be possible to put USA Boxing in a similar position. Where they too would just have to keep up with the progress that the grass roots programs create. What if we have more local shows , recuit more members,and push harder to get more local media coverage then continue that coverage when these grass roots athletes go to the regional, national and international level. If we did this acrros the country,it would force USAB to keep up with us vs waiting for them to lead us. In other words build the organization from the ground up instead of the top down. This would take a coodinated effert of coaches and programs. It would take people big enough to shelf thier egos for the betterment of the whole. It would give the grass roots people,(coaches, officials, ect) more input on how thing might be done at the top. Lastly it would send a motivational message that, if this can be done at the grass roots level, it can surely be done at the corporate level. Or not.

Hal - that has been the problem in the past. USAB wants the grassroots people to do all the fundraising, marketing, promoting, etc. We can't sign contracts for all of amateur boxing that can get big deals with big corporations and we need some of those at the national level. However, we saw how USAB botched that one over the last few years. I'm hoping they do a better job this time.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 10 Aug 2007, 20:17

What if we have more local shows , recuit more members,

This is not the problem in So. Cal., where we have at least 2, if not 3, local shows every weekend and have consistently had over 1200 registered boxers for many years.

and push harder to get more local media coverage then continue that coverage when these grass roots athletes go to the regional, national and international level.

This only works if the local papers are interested in amateur boxing and willing to put out the resources. We have two clubs in Orange County who consistently get good coverage, both for the club and their boxers. But this is only 2 out of the 80 or more registered clubs we have in our LBC.

In other words build the organization from the ground up

You have just taken the words out of USAB's mouth. This has been the platform for the past three or four years. Unfortunately, nothing ever happened - then or now. USAB leadership has been blathering about supporting the "grass roots" for longer than I can to remember; I have yet to see any results.

It would take people big enough to shelf thier egos for the betterment of the whole.

Did you really say that, Hal????

It would give the grass roots people,(coaches, officials, ect) more input on how thing might be done at the top.

That's what the annual meetings were for. All they did was keep the politics going. Now we no longer have a vote.

I think Dennis put it the best. I totally agree with him. I'm not holding my breath.

squarering · Post by **squarering** » 10 Aug 2007, 22:17

First to Dennis. It's not because you are so presumtuious, it's because you are so tall, you perpetuate the little man syndrome on guys like me. Now on to Mel, I can counter all of you comments by saying that I did say "or not"

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 10 Aug 2007, 23:59

I can't believe it - Mel totally agrees with me. Unbelievable!!!! LOL.

Hal - I try not to act tall. I have felt small just a couple times in my adult life - when I was around a 7'4" guy and a 7+ footer both who were over 300 pounds.

boxmel · Post by **boxmel** » 11 Aug 2007, 11:11

Whatchit! Us Little People are powerful and not to be messed with.

Humph - of course I agree with you, Dennis, when you make a good and valid point (not very often, however).

You definitly have USAB pegged when it comes to what they want the LBCs to do.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » 11 Aug 2007, 11:23

Dennis wrote:I can't believe it - Mel totally agrees with me. Unbelievable!!!! LOL.

Hal - I try not to act tall. I have felt small just a couple times in my adult life - when I was around a 7'4" guy and a 7+ footer both who were over 300 pounds.

People don't realize; being tall isn't always as easy (or fun) as it looks.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 11 Aug 2007, 16:25

boxmel wrote:Whatchit! Us Little People are powerful and not to be messed with.

Humph - of course I agree with you, Dennis, when you make a good and valid point (not very often, however). You definitly have USAB pegged when it comes to what they want the LBCs to do.

OUCH Mel. Yeah USAB needs to provide the LBC's with more tools to work with if they want them to do all the work.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 11 Aug 2007, 16:26

Kolya - you're correct, especially in old houses with low ceilings and doorways. That can be a real pain - literally.

Kolya · Post by **Kolya** » 11 Aug 2007, 16:55

Dennis wrote:Kolya - you're correct, especially in old houses with low ceilings and doorways. That can be a real pain - literally.

Don't get me started; my girlfriend's apartment is in a building that's 100 years old or so. I eventually learned to hunch my shoulders when I go through a doorway.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » 11 Aug 2007, 22:21

I duck out of habit. It looks stupid when it is an 8' doorway though.