"The Ring" archive entries from Sep 15th 2010

These are the posts from "The Ring" archive on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/ from day Sep 15th 2010

Quote from Kap

Any throwers looking to move to train/work/live.... I have a 2 bedroom/1 bath house ready to rent Oct 1st in Chapel Hill, NC. It's on my property and will allow you access to my gym/weight room, runways and med ball/weighted ball stations as well as some training with me and my group of athletes. Before I open it up to the general public down here I thought I'd see if anyone was interested in moving to do some serious training. Drop me an email for more details if interested.

published at Sep 15th 2010 1:02am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from Coach B

Just as football, basketball and baseball coaches constantly promote their sport. It is up to throws coaches to promote our sport/events. We have to share ideas and try them. For example, Jeff Gorski has told me about the javalin carnivals in Finland, which is something that I am going to try next spring. It may not work well the first time, but eventually it will. I've also seen several other promotional ideas here, why not try them and share their sucesses with others.

published at Sep 15th 2010 1:35am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from Kap

Before my wife's injury, I did run 4 "American JavFest" events in different parts of the US. I modeled it a lot on ideas from Keihaskarnivaalit- the Finnish Javelin Carnival (they also have weekend carnivals for the other throws): high level competitions to end days of clinics, training camps and discussions with current and former greats. Our first JavFest was at the 2000 Penn Relays and we had "Bud" Held (WR; 1st man over 80m), Bill Miller (WR; Olympic Silver medal); Tom Petranoff (WR, WC silver medal), Duncan Atwood (308'9"; 2X Olympian), Kari Ihalainen (Finnish Nat'l Javelin coach) & Anders Borgstrom (Swedish Nat'l Javelin coach)... Kate Schmidt (WR; 2X Olympic bronze medal) had an ear infection and could not fly in. Athletes included Olympians Breaux Greer Lynda Blutreich & Tom Pukstys. The crowd for the Open javelin was 6-8 people deep from end of runway out to 70m. Then a TurboJav comp inside the stadium: Breaux dropping turbos on 5k runners 90m away.... awesome. 2001 was in Portland, OR and included Kate Schmidt, Karen Smith (212' PR;Olympian & WC teams), Atwood & Petranoff; highlight was Greer blowing a 3ft divot out of the runway on his block and still throwing 81m.... waaaay over 90m if the surface held.
2002 was in boston and guests included Kate Schmidt, Tom Petranoff, Bill Schmidt (1972 Oly bronze), Roald Bradstock (WR; Oly & WC teams for UK & US) & Janis Lusis (2 WR; full set of Olympic medals; 4X European champion; greatest javelin thrower of 20th century). The evening of our Q&A with this group and the coaches and athletes was amazing!
Point is, we can do these things and get some local pub, which can grow and become something much bigger. Watching people throw stuff is interesting to the general public.... it just needs to presented to them well. And now, with instant media like YouTube these things can be videoed and edited into very good presentations that can go viral and possibly get picked up by a sports network somewhere. And throwing has cross interests: in India I'm known for training a guy who may become the fastest cricket bowler in the world. I've done more interviews w/ cricket magazines than track ones the last year or two....
Now, in true Bill Cosby fashion....

published at Sep 15th 2010 2:31am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from Kap

to tell you this one.
In keeping with my promotion of Bill Schmidt for USATF CEO yesterday, here's some comments from Bill about promoting our sport from a recent interview (in the Aug issue of Long & Strong):
to get a feel for what Bill would try to do. Nice timing, huh?

L&SM: You were recently considered for the CEO position at USATF in 2008. What do you think of the current status of track and field in the US and what would you had done to elevate the sport and developed an appeal to the mainstream sports fans?

Bill Schmidt: Given my business background in sports some people felt that I had the experience necessary to grow and advance the sport. I

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published at Sep 15th 2010 2:34am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from stone

I don't think anyone is saying let's take throwing mainstream. But to make it more recognizable is something that is within our reach. Throwing is what it is. A niche. By it's very nature of not very many people doing it, already wins the interest of the general public. We just have to take advantage of it.

Mic- I will speak for the technical status quo for the hammer. You're right. But I don't think we need to sugar coat it by saying the process will be "tougher". it will be damn near impossible as our collective hammer history can already attest. I was caught up in it as well. Trying to work on absolute technique and getting caught in the "how far can I throw" trap. I, like most, (closer to all), lack/lacked that discipline to perform the technique first and foremost. Of course, one must actually know how to perform said technique. Luckily it's the hammer, and it is as simple as pushing it. This is one of the things that has worked so well being with Bondarchuk the last two years. 1. Total deconstruction of my throw due to massive volume. 2. Disciplined technical work. 3. Then technique comes and eventually surpasses. 4. Followed by disciplined technical work for the rest of your life Technique should always be sought after, similar to completing continuing education courses in a professional field.

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. I threw 75m 4 years in a row and was #1 or #2 ranked in the US in each of those years. While I won the Silver at PanAms in `07, what do I really have to show for it? Those guys in Europe don't care if I'm the best in the US! I feel if I'm not training with my focus on being the best damn hammer thrower on the planet, then I am failing myself. I didn't think like this before.

There is also the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" crowd. That's just complacency sprinkled in with a little bit of fear of trying new things in my opinion. If they're fine with it, then that's their prerogative I guess.

I don't mean to sound too harsh. I want to emphasize that these are all traits that I saw in myself. I came to the realization, and I made a concerted effort to change and be a better student of the technique and in turn a better thrower. I'd like to believe that the change in my technique is obvious. It won't stop there.

Everyone can do it!

Bill- I really appreciate your comments. I have been with Dr. Bondarchuk for about 25 months now and I have a better understanding of what it is to accomplish these goals. The hammer throwing community in our country has a really proud tradition, even though there were but a few of you among the worlds best. If I can etch my name among yours and the other US hammer legends I will be content. When I was young (20ish?) and still a 3 turner, it was Harold who first told me that I could be good at this hammer throw thing. And he was invested in it! So much so, the next time he saw me and I was still doing 3 turns he was very upset with me! It saddens me that I can't do my best to tackle that goal of medalling with him around. But he has started the train among the youth. Aside from all the other suggestions we've made to make the hammer more popular, the most powerful one may be Hal's push in getting as many youth involved as possible. That legacy will never die.

Kibw

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published at Sep 15th 2010 3:24am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from w8coach

Kibw'e,
It was a bit of a sugar coat only to not impugn anyone's work. It is the collective knowledge of all that can make a difference. I don't think it comes down to a one style , instead a perfected biomechanical philosophy that creates its own style.
I hear you on the aint broke crowd. It is by a conscious choice they stay there but it shouldn't be spread as Gospel. If someone likes the status quo they either don't want to stretch their comfort zone or are unable to do so.
I truly hope this all leads somewhere positive for the sport.
Mic

published at Sep 15th 2010 4:45am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from Coach Mac

Back in 1998 a video production crew took a chance and shot a 4-5 game circuit in the US and then sold this to ESPN. When the first show hot the air I sent out 554- personal e-mails and challenged the Throws Community too support this by sending it to a minumum of 5-10 friends, relatives and friends and apparently we had wholee mail lists as the bean counters at ESPN where overwhelmed with stats.

Much like a stone being thrown into a pond...the ripples can go on forever and dont mina mize WHAT we can do as a motivated audience.

We almost had USA versus the World about 8 years back in Hawaii but could nt land a airline sponsor...thoughts ?

Best- mac

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published at Sep 15th 2010 7:51am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from Coach Mac

Mic...tell me what you see wrong in this video tape throw ?

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

published at Sep 15th 2010 7:54am on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from ABG

We need to focus on our internal market and development profitable events that are geared to be an overall experience and not just an event. I had said this before "those who know, know and those who don't don't matter"

We also need a team like American Big Guys used to be, the first in, last out club. I am working on that.

A comprehensive e-mail list of everybody who has any connection to the throws and alert people to events in their areas.

published at Sep 15th 2010 5:21pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from w8coach

Gary,
My good friend is one of the organizers of the Pole vault Summit. We have had many conversations as to why a throws summit would or wouldn't work. One of the past problems is that there hasn't been a willingness to reinvest all proceeds back inot building the event, as well as athletes not requiring appearance money or travel to get it going.

published at Sep 15th 2010 5:32pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from MadDog

Does anyone know of some good track meets in the mid-west and south region that has strong throws competitions for dec, jan, and feb? Thanks.

published at Sep 15th 2010 7:31pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from Coach S

Over the past couple of years I have put on a throws only meet in October and it has definitely grown in size exponentially. I decided to call the meet Throwstock due to it being a day of fun and throwers coming together. This year I am having it on October 16th. I bring in USATF officials, have music blaring throughout the meet, have the entry fee at $20 which includes a shirt, lunch, and a goody bag from our backers. I am definitely not looking at it as a money maker, just a great time throwing and sharing our love of the sport. The town is starting to really embrace the meet along with the surrounding area. I put this on to really show off how fun the throws can be not only to the spectators, but to the competitors. It is really cool for people to see that hammer throw for the first time or for parents to bring their kids and explain the events to them throughout the meet. It is a ton of work, but when you are done it is definitely worth it. I remember when I was a kid and watched Gary's American Big Guys Classic and just fell in love with the sport. I wore that shirt that my Dad bought me there until it was almost see through. We just never know whose interest we can possibly spark from these things. Here is the link to Throwstock:
http://www.neosho.edu/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-8QSJ6AiPAY%3d&tabid=414
and the Facebook page that is more up to date:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=110821842303388

I would love to see as many throwing die hards there as possible.

published at Sep 15th 2010 8:16pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from Will

Anyone got one that they are wanting to get rid of cheap?

Will Summers
Live to Throw
Throw to Live

published at Sep 15th 2010 8:31pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from GOKats

Check your email. I can probably help you out.

published at Sep 15th 2010 8:50pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/

Quote from ABG

Most Throwers Meets are regional events where you hope to bring in the best who are in driving distance and you want to charge enough that it becomes worth doing year in and year out because as Darrin pointed out, it builds over the years. At it's peak Kansas Big Guys had 92 competitors, the entire Mexican throws team road 30 plus hours on a bus to throw. I am thinking the Bar and Grill Meet is my next direction.

published at Sep 15th 2010 9:25pm on http://www.effortlessthrow.org/