Being Selfish is Hard Work

I'm selfish.  There's no doubt about it.  Why do I train?  To show off what kind of an athlete I am.  Why do I work hard at something that my body was not bred to do?  Because I want to win.  I want to win big.  I want the world to fear me, I want the world to know my name.  I want Sevan to come to my house and interview me, tape a workout and maybe get a trip out to California.  I want to be featured in the journal.  I want my picture on the main page.  You're selfish too.

Why do you train?  If not for the same reasons, then what?  To look good?  "Yes, I want the sex of interest to take notice of me and to find me attractive enough to take me home for at least an ONS."  You want to be healthy?  Basically, you're saying that nobody and no food product will stand in your way of living a longer life than the Twinkie says you will.  It's what you want, not a given right.    

Working out is, in and of itself, a very selfish activity.  But who cares?  Being selfish is a good thing.  Being selfish got you through college, being selfish got you a promotion, being selfish is human nature.  I want you to be selfish.  Figure out your reasons for doing a certain activity and stop at nothing to hit a goal that you set for yourself.  Maybe you want to win the Crossfit Games in July, 2009 (mine) or you want the best looking yard on your block, or maybe you just want to finish a workout without throwing up.  I say don't let anything stand in your way of what you feel is yours.  It's going to take hard work, you will have to earn it.  It will take sweat, tears and maybe even some blood to get what you want but it will be worth every last drop.  Being selfish is a good thing.

Still Funny!

Rabbit of Seville, featuring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd (1950) @ Yahoo! Video

Bugs Bunny was/is/will always be the greatest

Cert

I've never been certified to do much.  Sure, I'm a certified life guard, but all that really allows me to do is sun bathe and twirl a whistle.  There are a couple of Crossfit certifications that people I can safely say are friends of mine are attending this weekend.  They are specialty certs too, a kettlebell cert in VA and a Barbell cert with great one, Mark Rippetoe.  I'm a bit jealous.  I knew about them in time, I had ample opportunity and really nothing to do this weekend, but I'm saving for a wedding and a house and life in general and feel that I can hold out getting a piece of paper saying that I have a proficient squat or KB Snatch.  

But what's the point anyway.  I'm not coaching crossfit.  I'm an athlete.  There seems to be this notion that only people that are certified are worthwhile athletes in the Crossfit world.  Where did this notion come from?  Michael Phelps doesn't have his Level 2 swim coaches certification, I do, but that certainly doesn't make me a better swimmer, nor does it necessarily mean that I'm a better coach.  The cult of Crossfit pushes hard for everybody to get certified.  It's fun, it's really "ra-ra" and it makes the Glassman's hordes of cash.  I'd promote it too.  I'm sure they're really educational.  But so is the internet, so are books.  

My worth as an athlete is not tied into paying into the Greg Glassman retirement fund.  If I go to a cert it will be because I want to own and operate a gym some day.  I can go to seminar's that will hit the specific skills that I want to become proficient in such as Greg Everett's weight lifting seminar, which costs far less than a certification but still lends itself to the same expertise and knowledge.  

It's my money and when I dominate at the games, it'll show everybody that getting certified is not mutually linked to athleticism.

TV Time

I've been watching a lot of bad TV.  This happens when engaged, or so I hear.  I've seen Grey's Anatomy this week, as well as Biggest Loser, Intervention...  I'm excited for good TV again, and by good TV I mean the Mets.  I mean the sweet sounds of Gary, Keith and Ron.  I mean figuring out what's coming next from the pitcher, figuring out weaknesses, strengths and wishing that I worked for the organization so that I could somehow be involved in making the team, players, game better.  

This is how I feel about Crossfit and oly lifting.  I used to do bad workouts.  I used to do lat pull downs, the pec deck, leg extensions; that was my bad TV.  Crossfit is my good TV.  Greg Glassman, Mike Burgener, Robb Wolf and Greg Everett are my announcers and some day I hope to be able to change crossfit, make it better and show the world what the human body is capable of.  I've analyzed the big hitters strengths and weaknesses.  Khalipa: bodyweight exercises.  Speal: Heavy stuff because of his size.  Everett: swallow hard because he's probably going to beat you.

The important thing about crossfit is what the future holds.  We don't know where this is headed.  It wasn't that long ago that a sub 3minute Fran earned you the right of fitness God.  Now, people hit sub2 fairly regularly.  The standards have changed.  135 is the new 95 and 225 is the new 135.  Chest to bar pullups are standard and nothing less than ATA will suffice for your squats.  The bar has been raised, the ante upped.  Whichever cliche you prefer, the athletes, yet to be discovered, will no doubt, be helped by these new standards and possibly change the way we see the human body; as a machine, as a powerful engine that can be used to accomplish anything.

However, what happens when the Glassman's pass on.  It's sort of depressing to think about.  Greg, easily, is one of the most charismatic people around.  He is well spoken, endearing and most importantly, a great spokesman.  Will people surfing the internet, looking for a way to workout pass over crossfit because it's fearless leader is gone and there will be far fewer cert videos of him to go around?

I doubt it.  The product will remain the same.  The trainers of tomorrow are sitting in my fiancee's classroom.  Crossfit is an amazing product and now a strong brand name.  The cream always rises to the top and stays there.  This is why Private Practice is going to fail miserably; the acting is terrible, the plot lines absurd and the star of the show is unlikable and a no-talent ass bag.  Crossfit, is like the Mets broadcast.  It has it's leadership (Gary/Greg), it has it's inside information (Ron, Ketih/Rip, Burg) and it's comedy relief (Kevin/Sevan).  There will be enough time for Crossfit to evolve and grow and become the fitness jugernat that it's supposed to be, it will not be cancelled or moved to Friday night.  Crossfit is prime time.  

Now, if somebody wants to help me compare Crossfit to Always Sunny in Philadelphia, I'm all ears.  I'm thinking Speal is the Danny DeVito, but that could just be a height thing.