2008 U.S. Olympians: Team Turmoil

Filtering through the Olympic process is a once in a lifetime thrill ride for an amateur fighter—quite possibly the most important, most memorable phase of his entire pugilistic career. It’s where he gladly pops his proverbial cherry en route to professional success, and it’s his first taste of fistic stardom to forever reflect upon. Muhammad Ali, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Oscar DeLa Hoya and George Foreman all point to the Olympics as the springboard to their individual greatness. That’s how it’s supposed to be, anyways. Unfortunately, the current crop of United States boxers—who are preparing to compete in Beijing, China—are finding their pre-Olympic experience to be more of a job than an adventure. At a time when the level of anticipation, excitement should be peaking, and when the ensemble should start to resemble a close-knit family, more and more members of the 2008 U.S. boxing team are becoming discouraged by the procedures, operations and teachings they’re receiving at the Olympic headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado as things are quickly unraveling.

By most accounts, the gist of the problem seems to be Dan Campbell, national director of coaching. He’s not the easiest person to get along with, according to those who’ve dealt with him (which this writer admittedly hasn’t). On top of that, Campbell’s qualifications are sketchy at best. He was “involved” with several national Junior Olympic winners, but the degree of his impact upon them is unknown. Back in the 1990’s, Campbell led a female fighter to a national title, but women’s boxing had no legitimacy whatsoever in those days. “Null and void” not only applied to the state of competition in chick boxing back then, but it also could have been the actual name of an opponent and no one would’ve known the difference.

http://fightbeat.com/article_detail.php?AT=658

 

REED, you're lucky you're my boy; if it were anyone else and a story was on the back-burner all weekend, I would've long ago ran with it and claimed it as my own ::

Good stuff. In asking around, not too many are directly familiar with Campbell. Among those, opinions vary - some claim him to be the best ammy coach of the moment, others say he's a rude arrogant prick with very limited knowledge of the game besides one specific style of teaching.

Sucks, as this year's class appears to be promising more so than the past few.

 

"It’s where he gladly pops his proverbial cherry"

I'm not sure I've ever read that in a boxing article before. ::

Nice article.

 

Sorry about that, TWIN...REED Definitely Appreciates your Integrity AND the Advice U Gave REED the Other Day, Dog...

There's a bit More Semi-Related Drama that's Kept REED Busier than Anticipated...To the Point that Mrs. REED is PISSY about the Whole Ordeal...N HER Words, "Fuck All this Olympic Shit, U Need to Bring your Ass Home!!"::

But Yeah, REED Hasn't Heard 1 Good Assessment of Dan, but to B Fair, REED Wanted to Make it CLEAR that he's Never Met the Man Personally...But when Virtually EVERY Related Source Calls U a PRICK, there's Probably some TRUTH to It...


REED:kidcool:

 

Thanks, Mitch...

There's a FINE Line btwn SEX & BOXING...& REED has NO Problems TOE'ing it...


REED:hump:

 

That's very interesting because, if I remember correctly, he was supposed to be the trainer that would teach the kids right after USA boxing recieved lots of criticism over their methods.

 

Good stuff REED, well done. It's frustrating that these kinds can't just stick with the coaches who got them this far.

 

That's what Irks REED about All of this...REED has NO Problem w/Campbell Being THE HEAD Coach, as Long as the Coaches that GOT these Kids to this Point R ALSO Present...

NOBODY is Gonna KNOW Luis Yanez like Dennis Rodarte Does & The Same Can B Said for ALL Of the Other Fighters & Their Trainers...

N a PERFECT World, Campbell would B the LEAD Trainer & the Original Trainers would Carry the Spit Buckets...


REED:kidcool:

 

I would take it a step further and say in a perfect world, these kids could have any trainer they want. What is this, the Cuban team? :dunno:

 

ESPN:

Dallas Morning News:

 

wow

 

The STRANGEST Part of All of this is that NEITHER Campbell NOR Millman Followed the Correct Procedure N "Removing" Luis from the Squad...

The Board of Directors is Supposed to B Informed of ALL Decisions (& THEY Vote Yay or Nay, NOT Campbell &/or Millman), yet Luis Got a Letter N the Mail w/NONE of their Names on it...Campbell & Millman DIDN'T Even Tell Luis he had the RIGHT to an Appeal & Subsequent Hearing...FORTUNATELY 1 of the Board of Director Members is FROM Dallas, Luis' Publicist Contacted him a Couple Days Ago & Now All Hell has Broken Loose...

& 1nce Again, it ALL Go's Back to Campbell...


REED:hammert:

 

Nice article REED.

What I want to know is why they feel the need to confine the boxing team to Colorado Springs for a whole year?

Do they do the same thing with the track and field, swimming, volleyball and wrestling teams?

 

That's pretty shocking and disgraceful, the athletes's welfare and optimal perfroamce conditions should be the key priority here, not some olympic coach's ego

 

Right.

 

Why can't they get a world class coach in? Im sure with their budget they could hire Manny Steward for a few months or something, then there would be no doubts about whether the kids were getting quality training.

 

Crazy stuff, nice article Reed.

Ya'll got a mention in this Dallas Morning News column.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...n/stories/070208dnsposherrington.3f036f9.html

"His "resident program" – requiring all nine Olympic boxers to spend long periods under his direct supervision in Colorado Springs – has ticked off at least half the squad. His credentials have been questioned. Under the heading "2008 Olympians: Team Turmoil" on Fightbeat.com, Javier Molina, a light welterweight, complained that Campbell offered no substantive coaching and said he didn't trust him. And that was before Campbell bounced Yanez."


Yanez representative claims it was "lack of communication." Campbell is unloading with some libelious quotes, and seems to hint that he'll reveal alot more. We heard about things that were happening in CoSprings months ago.. I spoke to Luis at the fights 6/13 in Ft.Worth, during his alleged absence, and I asked him if all the problems were behind him now, and he assured me that they were. Meanwhile, he hadn't bothered to return phone calls or tell them of his attending to personal biz. It's a result of a total lack of respect for his coaches and USABoxing officials. Both sides share some blame, but removing him was just stupid as he'll most likely be reinstated and overall it just adds to the coaches authortity being undermined even further.

 

WAR FIGHTBEAT! I hope all of the other guys just bounce too.

 

Nice to see good work getting the respect it deserves.

 

A LOT OF NEW COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

http://fightbeat.com/article_detail.php?AT=658

 

Yeah, sorry Cupey but those comments don't really help anybodys cause. ::

 

You sure about that? I think the guy that stated, "Let it rain, and clear it out," made a teriffic point.

 

V-POWER, Baby!!!...


REED:hammert:

 

Quick question. What is the goal of every amateur boxer? Hopefully it is their goal to not only make it to the Olympic boxing squad but to bring home a gold medal. Then land a huge contract with a big name boxing promoter and become a boxing star. I know that would be my goals. Now I understand the situation at hand regarding the coach and all of his issues as coach/trainer. Hell I've had plenty of those guys. But you know what being apart of the olympics is an honor and a dream come true. It's way bigger then a coach who's only claim to fame is helping a female boxer when a championship. Besides being on the team is not a right. Yes those guys earned their rights to be on the team but rules are rules. Often times in life we are gonna come across certain obstacles in our lives that we don't like. But you know what in order to achieve our goals we gotta figure out a way to overcome those obstacles. Like I said I understand that he might have a disagreement with his olympic coachs style. But you do what you gotta do to prepare yourself to win a gold medal. Yanz knows what he needs to do to prepare himself for a fight. So do it. Find a local gym in Colorado and do your shit. Don't put yourself in the position to have your goals/privilege taken away. Now I understand that he could be possibly reinstated. And hopefully he does get reinstated. However what happens if he doesn't. Then all that hard work he did to get earn his way unto the olympic squad was all for nothing. Not to mention the potential money and publicity he could earn by getting a medal or even a gold medal. So yes there may be a time and place where you buck the system but not in this case when he can have damn near everything taken away. Just my thoughts on this situation. I'll Holla 5000

 

...

 

Damn this sucks. This is a dream crusher for the simple fact is that being on the olympic squad is a dream come true. Not to mention being named the captain with a great chance to win the gold. That's why I stated just forget about the issues that u r having wit the coach. Just go train and prepare yourself menatlly and physcially to win the gold. And once u have completed ur goal then u can buck the system. Now Yanz got an uphill battle when he turns pro. I just wish him nothing but good luck. I'll Holla 5000

 

Now I'm hoping that our athletes do terrible just to spite Campbell and USA Boxing.

 

REED is PROUD to Report that Luis Yanez is BACK on the Olympic Team, Boys & Girls!!!...

Team Yanez & the U.S. Olympic Committee went Back & Forth after the Hearing & Reached an AGREEMENT on Terms that will ALLOW Luis BACK onto the Team!!!...

It's a Bit after MIDNIGHT Dallas Time, as REED Types this, but the OFFICIAL Press Release will Come Out Very EARLY N the Morning...Like 9am or So, Central Time...

WHEW!!!...


REED:hammert:

 

Thanks for the scoop REED. That's good news. I'll be watching for him.

 

Great news. I take back what I said earler....well, not really.

What terms did they have to agree to? Geez, it's an amateur competition for chrissake, not a PPV.