CrossFit Athletic Group

[This intro of this post is mainly directed at Coach Casey, because I am confident he still has his Detroit Pistons 2004 NBA Champions DVD. If the thought of Darvin Ham running the wing in a 2-on-1 doesn't take you from 6 to midnight real quick then it's probably best to just skip down a few paragraphs.]

...........

I was on edge and agitated talking to Mr. Robinson and Mr. Mark Sunday morning; they, on the other hand, were filled with more hope than Andy Dufresne after he crawled through the river of shit and came out clean on the other side. Usual fall Sunday stuff, except the roles have been usually reversed.

At that very moment Anto and Moustaache walked around their usual corner through the gym doors. It suddenly struck me in stark bewilderment that there are people in this world - pedestrian in the literal and figurative sense - whose emotional well-being doesn't ride on whether or not their team wins. I tried to imagine what it must be like to just simply not care... and I couldn't. I thought maybe it's like cutting the grass, but I genuinely don't like cutting grass; these people don't not like sports, they just don't know what it's like to watch your boys need a stop on 3rd & 12 with a sinking pit in your stomach at the sight of a pass rush that's not getting through like it's designed to.

Nope, Anto and Nick just walked in the gym like it was any other of the 52 Sundays they're here, joined a conversation circle with Mr. Gjon, Mr. Francis, and Mr. Ron, and began talking about happy things that made them happy. What a sad and miserable life that must be.

My first introduction into this glorious life of fandom did not come from the colors Maize and Blue, believe it or not, but a much more elegant and glamorous color, a color so intimidating it drove Bison Dele into hiding.

Teal.

The teal-jersey Pistons were everything to me: I watched every game, knew every player and what college they went to, had their cards, and even had a Jerome Williams autograph. And one thing that is often missed about that era is those teal-jersey Pistons actually had stars: Jerry Stackhouse was arguably a top-10 player in the league and stud from UNC (I once gave him a high-five while he was running out of the tunnel); Grant Hill was in conversations as the best player in the league; Joe Smith was a former #1 overall pick out of Maryland; Christian Laettner was the best college player in the country out of Duke; John Wallace was a New York legend; Eric Montross was a suprtstar and National Champion our of UNC; Mateen Cleaves had been the biggest name in Michigan high school and college sports for 8 years; and anyone who wants to claim Don "The Chief" Reid wasn't a dominant big man can meet me outside in the parking lot. And don't even get me started on Mikki Moore's upside.

And then they started trading their dudes! I was pissed before I even knew pissed was a word! Grant Hill... GRANT FREAKING HILL... for Ben Wallace? What's a Ben Wallace? And did we just sign an adult named Chucky? The next thing I knew the Pistons changed jerserys and rolled out with a starting lineup of Chucky Atkins, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Curry, Cliff "Uncle Cliffy" Robinson, and Ben Wallace... and then we traded Stack for the dude who was famous for photobombing MJ's celebration.

But then the damndest thing happened: the Pistons started winning. It wasn't pretty, mind you, but if my memory serves me right I think we finished first in our division with a front court that averaged more blocked shots than points. By the time we traded Stack for Rip, picked up Chauncey and drafted Tayshaun, we had no All-Stars and a bunch of dudes that didn't fit on any other teams; somehow the chemistry and toughness was enough for us to run train through the East, picking up 68-64 win by 68-64 win, but not enough to get us over the hump of the New Jersey Nets, let alone any of the powers in the West.

Then Joe Dumars made a move that shocked not only our tight-knit fanbase, but the entire league.

Rasheed Wallace was the most volatile, unpredictable, and hostile player in an NBA that also contained Ron Artest and Gilbert Arenas at the time. But Sheed could also have an argument as the most misunderstood player in the league; I am fortunate enough to have heard first-hand stories from one player and two staff members of the '04 Pistons who confirmed what the general public already knows: even though Chauncey and Ben and Rip received the most attention and awards, Rasheed Wallace was that dude. He had his own standard because he was his own, unique person. And that energy, talent, and swagger is exactly what put the team permanently in the history books.

...........

I began to mentally organize a State of the Champions Club post midway through the Summer, but I always found myself summarizing it simply as, "everyone is good." Not great, above and beyond, or extraordinary, but just plain good. And this is... good. Very good, actually. I mean, scroll down and look at the roster from the final attendance post: almost everyone is a veteran. It is not only unrealistic for Bubs or Cecilia or Chase or Mr. Van to have a banner-worthy Summer every year, but it's also unhealthy. What good is it for Mrs. Van and Mr. Malak and Shakes to crank up the stove just for an arbitrary time period only to burn out for the months and years ahead; Nah, man, just keep the baseline solid and go there when the time is right. It seemed like things really worked in cohesion that way: just about everyone had "their workout" and "their moment" at some point this Summer.

It was also around this time I realized that it's not really fair to do the Athlete of the Summer feature on just one person because Elizabeth wouldn't have been BIFF if she wasn't working out around The Freaks, and Dillon Sharp would not be Dillon Freaking Sharp without Jessica and Madison by her side. I got to work out with Chase and Matt and one of the Sunday sessions this Summer and it reminded me how much of a difference the group makes. So let's do a quick rap on all the Dream Team before we get to Rasheed.

*I'd also note, like last Summer there were some really close calls for the Dream Team: it was between Mrs. Van and Mrs. Hill for the last spot; Mr. Kuiper and Crystal were the next two closest; Mrs. Carey, Mr. Malak, Mr. Krstich, and Tea' were all right there in the mix as well.

Anto was one of the few exceptions of a veteran who made a BIG jump. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but I've debated with a few people in here about whether or not I am holding Anto to a higher standard than he's capable, and no matter what I hear in rebuttal I can't get moved away from the fact that I believe the kid is a stud and pound-for-pound as strong as anyone in the gym.

Most of you didn't know the pre-Champions Club Anto; Shannon and I both got to see plenty of him coaching track at Mott and he was closer to an Arthur-type athlete than he was to his sisters. The JUMP he made this Summer was more about how consistent his fitness and mindset were more than his actual times and performances; despite his early struggles in fitness he did have the Banet gene, after all, so he's really been putting up great workouts since lockdown. But he came right into this Summer hot on squat/running repeats and Randy and deadlifts. This is the standard I think it is fair to hold Anto to. This is what a "good" Anthony Banet looks like in workouts (give or take 3 feet of hair). Aaron made a jump almost identical to this in 2022 and it's been his baseline ever since.

...........

I met with Jessica when she got back from school in May to talk about how she wanted to approach her final Champions Club Summer as a soccer player; there will hopefully be many more as a post-college kid, wife, mom, auntie, and grandma (ha, Grandma Jess with gray hair and glasses), but her window to be a soccer athlete is only open for a few more months before closing for the rest of her life. The premise was simple: she didn't play as much as she was hoping as a junior and most starters returning meant seeing the field was going to be a battle; she could either go all-in on the technical side of the Champions Club (full-go workouts, dedicated mobility time, focused daily turf work) and see how close she can get to the field... or be balanced - locked in but don't compromise on fun.

This Summer Jessica chose balance, and I am so proud of her for doing that. While it means she might have to be okay with soccer not going exactly how she wanys this fall, I believe it is a great tradeoff if that's where she's mentally at right now. And, I mean, it's not like she was slacking - she was probably the fittest in her 9 am peer group, crushing everything from 30-rep back squats to dumbbell snatches/running. I have a feeling Jessica will look back at this Summer in 5 years as a major turning point for her mentally and physically.

...........

I'm sorry guys, but I gotta bring back the basketball metaphors for a minute, because while players need to be compotent in all aspects of the game, every team has specialists: the '04 Pistons had a strapping old veteran named Jon Barry*. The dude came to Detroit known as a deadly knock-down shooter and not much else (his brother had the hops in the family) but being on the Pistons meant he had to develop other apsects of his game, and so he turned himself into a very good defender and even attacked the basket on occasion. His game, combined with his corny celebrations and toughness made him the most endearing personality on the team.

Matt Fecht was the Jon Barry of the Champions Club this Summer: his specialty was known and obvious to everyone, but he also hit pr's on his deadlift, clean and max height box jump. Plus the mental side of his development is what I've found really intriguing; 26 miles (I'd imagine) is a long time to be alone with your thoughts, and it's probably common to overthink things along the way; I love where Matt is mentally and physically right now more than I ever have in his almost 10 years at the Champions Club.

*The Pistons traded Jon Barry in the deal to get Rasheed in town if my memory serves me right; I just wanted to make it clear that Matt has signed a no-trade clause good through 2058.

...........

Mr. Lett came up to me at a Family practice in May, talking about how he wanted his son, Jobe, to come back and get workouts with me. This was my first chance trying out the Your Kid Can Train With Us If You Do Too method of recruiting, and holy pants was this a hit! Dude has lost 30-something pounds and went from not bring able to hold on to the pull-up bar because it hurt his shoulders to doing all 21-15-9 pull-ups in Fran with legit ROM.

Even early in CrossFit there was always a part of me skeptical about how "athletic" the people posting times and videos were because... well... they were all white dudes. Yeah, Shannon and Mr. Robinson and Aaron are athletic and twitchy, but even they'll show respect where it's due. If stereotypes weren't really a thing, there would be an Asian dude winning the 100m at the Olympics.

We need more pepper in the gym, no question. Not for the sake of whatever diversity and inclusion association is telling us, but because the best athletes I know are all black and have a background, personality, swagger, and perspective that would make us better. Mr. Lett makes us better for all of those reasons, but he also did something very few people do regardless of color: he committed. It's so common to "dabble" in a little of this and that, but it takes nuts to jump all-in on something and live with the results. I am really grateful he took the leap of faith as a rookie this Summer, and I'm excited to have him on board for the long haul.

...........

Mr. Ron just is. That's the best way I can put it. According to math, I have seen Mr. Ron more in the last two years than any other human being in my life. Actually hold up, let me think on that for a sec...

... yup, that's accurate. And I'll bet he's top 5 in your life too. When he first came in during Summer 2022 I wasn't sure about him, but it didn't take long for me to flip on that uncertainty. With how much the concept of "change" is glorified at this time (change job, new team, transfer school, more growth, new clients, different friends, etc.), having something as constant and unchanging as "Ol' 6" is actually really settling.

As much as I mess with Mr. Ron for the fitness he leaves on the table, the dude is about as fit as anyone could reasonably hope your above-average college athlete to be, let alone mid-40's computer dad. And now that I think about it, someone at his age and condition would be much better off missing on the additional peak of fitness rather than missing on the fun and enthusiasm he brings every day. Can you think of a time Mr. Ron came into the gym in a bad mood? He's had plenty of chances, and yet my man went to a 7 on his 30-rep max back squat three days after he helped steal the entire gym during Cops and Robbers; he's doing just fine.

...........

In February Mrs. Colleen was an out of shape helicopter mom stepping into a gym with the most fit and easy-going moms ever collected under a single roof that sometimes keeps water out. Seriously, our moms lineup is stacked: Mrs. Van, Mrs. Nevarez, Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Carey, Crystal, Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Hana... Mrs. Tara will be back with us one of these days... am I missing anyone else? I know what it's like to step into a great team and come to the daunting realization that I am very, very far behind. It can be unsettling for sure.

The thing I've realized, though, is it never really takes that much to catch up, because it can't be done all at once. Just a little something today, then a little something the next today, and then a little something the today after that. Add that up for three months, missing only 5 days, and Mrs. Colleen has officially caught up to the moms of the Champions Club. Now understand, "catch up" doesn't mean she's handstand walking with Mrs. Nevarez and lifting with Mrs. Carey, but she's improved enough where I would say she's in their ballpark on most workouts - which is not an easy thing to claim. Now her job is to keep that baseline of fitness sound and wait until the time is right for the next jump.

...........

Mrs. Hana was absolutely essential as a community "glue" piece this Summer; not a single 10 am session would go by without her making one of the new moms feel welcome. As embarassing as it is to admit, she's one of the people whose fitness flies under my radar more than I want to admit. I'll notice her push-up progress one day, forget about it for a few weeks, then check back in and see she's up to 16.

Yet somehow Mrs. Hana is high-maintanence, but it's in the best way possible; I coach way too many quiet players to know that "overcommunication" is something I'll take any day. This Summer her overcommunication meant questioning how fit she was. In fact, I would like you to all help me out in the Swag Up Mrs. Hana Project: from here on out you are to answer to any question or comment Mrs. Hana has with something snarky involving adding weight.

"Hey Chris how much weight do..."
"More."

"Hey Mrs. Carey, how are you?"
"I'd be better if your bar had more weight on it."

"Ethan, would you mind cutting the grass, honey?"
"Start putting some actual weight on the bar and you'd be doing it yourself."

"What's up Mrs. Van?"
"Your deadlift weight."

I have to remember this is newfound fitness territory for Mrs. Hana. A 2019 Mrs. Hana would be right to hesitate at the thought of running around the block, squatting bodyweight for reps, or handstand walking. But Summer 2024 Mrs. Hana is an absolute stud and I'll wait as long as it takes for her to fully realize that.

...........

Speaking of stud... I remember getting frustrated with Madison Bettys for not coming in first for the initial 1.5 mile run on Riley.

"You're Maddy Bettys," I kept saying to her.

"Yeah but she's Mrs. Hill," Maddy emphasized.

There's always part of me that believes Madison holds back more than she needs to, but I will concede that even a full-throttled Madison, Bubs, Cecilia, Jessica, and Dillon combined might still not be enough to mess with Mrs. Hill.

Mrs. Hill made her big jump in the spring, but added to that this Summer with improvements on the mental side of the workouts: talking to herself, staying composed, and being strategic. The cruel thing about CrossFit is that the better you are, the harder it gets; this is very backwards for people who are straight-A students used to good grades coming easy, or All Star basketball players toying with their opponent on the way to a cool 40. Mrs. Hill's toughest days of CrossFit are ahead of her, plain and simple. Developing the understanding that there's no way around that will be critical to her longevity in this thing. But in the meantime, yeah dude. About as fit as God makes 'em.

...........

If you take away the four kids thing, would you be able to tell Mrs. Nevarez apart from any of the college kids? Fitness-wise she does 20 pull-ups, handstand walks, runs fast, lifts heavy, and jumps high. She is always walking into the gym with the newest fashion pants and shirts. And she looks forward to Summer just as much as anyone still in school.

I have really been trying to catch myself when I make comparisons, even harmless ones like the previous paragraph, so for me to say 2024 was Mrs. Nevarez's best Summer is not only unfair to previous versions of Mrs. Nevarez, but also this current one. So how else can I word it without saying Mrs. Nevarez just had the best 3 months of training in her life?

...

...hmm

I'm not sure on that one yet. But man I got major Jessica vibes from her (damn, I compared again!) in terms of being exactly on point where she needed to be: balance in fitness and mentality. She fits in whether it's a session of our college athletes or 4:30's finest vulgarilites and makes everyone around her better. Chauncey Billups of the Summer sounds about right.

...........

During a conversation we had after Summer 2022, Coach Casey helped me realize that I have a bais when assessing the guys in the gym because I compare them to myself. I found this to be true with everyone as I went down the list: Ryan, Jason, Jay, David Sap, JZ... are they fitter than me? Would they beat me in "x" workout? This is where I was with Aaron in Summer 2022: he had me on Fran, I had him on everything else, and to me an Aaron Sexton that gets his name in the banners is an Aaron Sexton who would beat me on just about any workout on any given day. He got there this spring, and the question was whether or not he was going to be able to keep that momentum going for another 3 months in order to get him a banner.

Now read that paragraph again and notice all of the comparisons I inferred:

1. Ryan to me
2. Jason to me
3. David Sap to me
4. JZ to me
5. Summer '22 Aaron to Summer '22 me
6. Spring '24 Aaron to Summer '22 Aaron
7. Summer '24 Aaron to Summer '22 Aaron
8. Summer '24 Aaron to spring '24 Aaron
9. August '24 Aaron to July and June '24 Aaron
10. Summer '24 Aaron to Summer '24 me
11. Summer '24 Aaron to Summer '24 Sap, Mr. Ron, Chase, Matt, etc.
12. Summer '24 Aaron to previous AOTS winners

This is not good Chris. No wonder the burnout rate of boys has been so high over the years. It was way past due for a more fair and accurate approach. Since Aaron had already come into Summer 2024 with the fitness baseline that I think we'd both agree is where he's capable of being at, we put our focus on some of the intangible stuff.

Aaron's been known to be... well... unpredictable over his 11-year career with us, dating back to 7th grade. Wallballs would bring out a temper tantrum, 800m runs would bring out the "rescue" inhaler, being tired would bring out the "not gonna make it today" text. Most of this was fixed in 2022, and now it was time for the next step: at no point in Aaron's athletic career (baseball or CrossFit) had he ever considered himself "the best" on the team, so now it was time to learn how to act like it. Forced celebrations after pr's? Nah man, leave it. Pressing the pedal to the floor every workout? Nah man, just get a dose. Missing a session because he's not feeling it? Nah man, you'll feel better afterwards.

There was a different set of rules for Summer 2024 Aaron than he was used to. It was never anything set in stone - which would have been much easier for him probably - but rather a constant moving target that he was capable of meeting on whatever given day he was in. The culmination of this came, not during his record-breaking Fran, but during Murph; his plan was to do 4 sets of 25 pull-ups after his first mile and in 11 pull-ups into his final set he saw Peanut curiously wander in front of him, probably hoping for a better look. Instead of punting the 3 year-old into the whiteboard on the next butterfly kip, or pausing briefly then rushing his next reps, Aaron dropped off the bar, gave young fella a high five, and took a quick walk to the GHD before calmly finishing the rest of his reps, split up into 2 sets instead of 1. That's when I knew this was his Summer. He was already that dude: No need to trip on this one set of pull-ups, there will (unfortunately) be plenty more Murphs to come.

In the immediate moment one workout, one Summer, one year can seem like such a big deal. And to be fair, it is a big deal under certain artificial conditions: An NBA season gives teams from October to April to show they're worthy of advancing to the playoffs, and the players might only have this year on their contract before they head somewhere else (again, Matt Fecht is not on the trading block you vultures), so it might be appropriate to have a sense of urgency there. Schott came to visit for one workout; I really wanted to make sure he got a good workout dose and some volleyball in the warmup.

But for the rest of us, we are participating in our fitness whether we want to or not. In fact, take a minute to assess your fitness right now - not compared to Mrs. Hill or compared to that one season you had, but just look at it right now as it is. You're a freaking stud! (Yes, even you). You are participating in your fitness in a way that's really, really difficult, and doing so in public with a coach and a group of people who are bound to have abilities you don't. In 2013 Aaron participated by doing 11 pull-ups in a Cookie Monster shirt, in 2022 he participated by doing 45 pull-ups in Fran, and in 2024 he participated by doing those 45 pull-ups about 10 seconds faster. If you are just seeing athletes like him and Saporito work out now, you would be forgiven for believing they were always this fit, always this composed, not knowing in 2013 they were having dunk contests on each other.

It took Aaron 10 years to go from not being able to do a single muscle-up to doing 75 in a workout this Memorial day... and then just two weeks ago he had to tap out at 22 on his way to 30. Somehow that infinitely odd string of events led to an Athlete of the Summer banner. Unlike the NBA, you guys are on lifetime contracts here, and that's a good thing because most of the stuff you're trying to accomplish might take just that.