• Archive through August 15, 2008 August 15 - 01:14 pm [20]

A-
How did he do in Athens?
I hear ya. I have friends in similar boats. When I was looking for a job I got denied 9 times out of 10 because of "lack of experience." I was like, "How the hell am I supposed to get any experience if none of you give me a chance to break in?" Frustrating to say the least!
I have contemplated going back, but to be honest I have become disenfranchised(is that the right word?) with the whole "game." In the end I am happy where I am at, doing what I do. I have no regrets, other than taking loans that would need to be paid off.
Thanks
Jake

I have more debt than he does for undergrad. That's not the point.

I don't have to pay $2500+ every couple of months to go to Europe or Asia for a week, just to keep up with the Joneses.

By the way, Ronda gets more support than any other Judo athlete in the US by a long shot!
Think about it; an hourly job at a place like Home Depot is about the only thing you can do when you need to leave town 20 times a year for a week at time.
How much do you think that added up to? $8.00/hr, 20 hours a week, for 30 weeks out of the year? That's less than $5K. Guess how much it costs a normal person to train at Jason Morris' or Jimmy Pedro's for a year; $9K.

I agree that the 'system' is broken, but don't attack Taraje because of it. He competes for the US.
We don't have this conversation about athletes from China, Russia, France or Korea. They are taken care of.

I don't think anyone "attacked" Taraje bro. I just said he was nothing special in regards to time spent, and money issues because of school. I never asked anyone to foot my bill for my training while attending college!

What exactly does $9000 get you a year? So you are saying if I go train with Pedro I have to fork out $750 a month in tuition??? I sincerely doubt your numbers are correct, and if they are, people are foolish to pay those kind of fees!
Jake

I wasn't attacking Taraje. Ronda teaches/taught at Pedro's in order to train there. She was homeless for a while too. Long story, don't want to go into it on the net. I'm not sure what support you're talking about that she receives. Maybe you know something I don't.

i don't want to get into Ronda; she should get even more support than she does.

$750 is for Morris', with that you get all the classes they offer and housing at their facility (dorm style). I don't know what Pedro charges the athletes like 'Team Force' that are mostly national/international players. Honestly? Probably nothing.

Taraje has admitted that when •••• hit the fan Rhadi payed his rent. That's quite a strength coach if you ask me!

Sorry- I think that sometimes tone or meaning can be misunderstood over the internet.

No sorry needed.
If $750 includes room AND board, AND training, then awesome!! Good for them. I thought you meant just going to class!!
Jake

I have gotten touchy of late, b/c people decry the quality of American judo, but we don't do much about it either.

All styles, especially those who are intertwined with political organizations, suffer from problems bro. Look at the CMA! Comparatively Judo is doing fine;)

judo in the states is kind of sad compared to judo in europe and asia.

So I have heard.