Chris Coletti, Todd Coe, and everyone else!!!

[Pete & Tim]

I for one am not for either organization as a whole. I too would like to see some unification in the near future. I just have a hard time with certain things that go on in this sport of ours. For example, is it really our sport, or do the people who profit from it really hold all the rights to it.

Another example is the problem I have with rules. Every tournament I go to has a different set of rules they use. I know that there are different organizations, but do all the rules have to be different as well? I can go to an A A A event and pull under one set and then go to a USA event and then there is another set and then go to a USAA event and there is still something different. Then there is the Independent organizations that try to use both sets combined and still screw that up as well!!!

Like I explained it to an "armwrestling friend", Travis is obviously upset at Karen Bean, for his own reasons, and he was expressing his feelings about that in a way that some people could understand (like myself). Is he wrong. Maybe for the way he did it, but not for speaking his mind.

As far as both organzations go, I think neither is better than the other. You have your "die hard" A A A guys, and you have your USA guys. Does it really matter which one you belong to? It shouldn't. We as armwrestlers should be more concerned with unification than which organization we are gonna stick up for.

And last but not least, this message board.

People log on everyday, sometimes two or three times a day, just to see what has been said, what new topics are being discussed, and what new background Kurt Howgate has come up with for his site!!! As far as new armwrestlers and potential sponsers seeing some of the crap that is said on this board goes,

LET THEM SEE IT ALL!!!

How are they supposed to understand us as individuals, if they see us on here debating politics and such in a politically correct fashion. Why not just be who we all are as individuals, with different opinions and different approaches towards certain things. We are all still human, and if new armwrestlers and potential sponsers can't understand that, then we don't need them at all!!!



P.S. Chris Coletti.......




I don't need a hug,
but I could use some cash
if your in the giving mood!!!

[Chris Coletti]

Pete,
I feel it is ok to voice your opinion. That is what I was doing with my post. I voice my opinion more than most so I am a full believer in it but when our opinion includes aiding in the death of another it is beyond opinion...people can disagree with me but they are wrong

I also agree that the different rules are a pain.. Unification could fix that...

I can't tell if Chris M was disagreeing with me or Travis...It seems his post addressed both of us.

I can say this as far as the posts about sponsorship goes. If we believe that sponsors have to like us for who we are then maybe we should strive to make ourselves better. If we don't then we will truly forever be banned to bar rooms. I know how to grow a company and I would say that we should always strive to be better. If that is done by chastising one of our own then so be it. Travis is in a position to be a leader..He has the skills and charisma. I hope he has the maturity because if he likes it or not there will be others following his example.

Pete I can't give you cash but if you come to Fl States I will buy you a drink

[Bill Cox]

If we are to truly grow and be recognized by other pullers then we do need sponsors. And we also need to project a good image to all that might be in a position to help us with our quest. If you notice that big companies use stars to promote their products, but if they become involved in something that might look less appealing to the public than they are replaced by another celebrity with a good name. This must also apply to armwrestling sponsors and anyone else that is in a position to help us. If we project a bad image on here then we will continue to be looked on as a bar room sport that may cause trouble. This is not the image I have worked all these years to portray.

[brzenk]

All agree Travis needs to work on his spelling and maybe his tact.
But to ban him from the board or keep him from pulling where and when he wants because he wants to build a small fire is outrageous. ;D


Chris, Travis is an in your face kind of guy. Why would you or anyone else take him literally?
He likes to tell it like it is with his own shocking flare, but he is completely harmless and very trustworthy.

Yes image may be everything.
Is this the problem with armwrestling?

Being manipulative is not a good quality.
People believing they are endowed with the power to be able to tell others when, where, and how it is going to be, is not a good quality.
People that are never officially on the record is always a little suspect…this isn’t a good quality.
People that deny access and limit footage of our sport when they see fit...not good.
People that are more interested in promoting their name than armwrestling …not good.
People that never consider their effects on the big picture or acknowledge the sacrifices that many are trying to make…bad.
Turning an armwrestler away that has spent time and money to compete…do these things create a bad image?

[Todd Coe]

I agree pete, the sport is way more complicated than it should be and yes every one has a opinion as I agree with you. But I also said and agree that tact should be used. "I think IAF1 summed it up pretty good." John I talked with Karen today and she agrees with you that no one should be banned for thier opinion and also Karen has encouraged me to pull both federations. Especially the world wrist wrestling championships in october. She said everyone should try and pull where ever, whoever and whenever possible. I know travis from talking with him once or twice on the phone and he was nothing but polite to me so I have a hard time understanding his choice of words. For example thier is a armwrestler here in the South who I do not care for and probably feel about him the way travis does about Karen but I choose to take what I feel is a better approach and leave him alone. Travis is truely a champion puller and nobody can take that from him. But I just wish everybody would use more tact. and on a different note I hope you, travis and the rest of the guys going to Zolty good luck, and may god see you home safe"GIVE them HELL!"

[Steven Lareau]

Pete I think you make some great points. It is very confussing to have different sets of rules at different tournaments. And I also agree that it is a very positive thing to have the ability to express one self on a message board such as this one. I also think Bill Cox is right about saying that we really do need sponsors to grow and be recognized. I think that unifying is a great step towards that goal. I would really really like to see this sport make it into the olympics before John Brzenk decides to retire. I think things will get very interesting in the next few years.

[Bill Collins]

Unification will simplify rules, in a since, unless everybody is on the same page you’ll always have different rule, at different events, for the most part.
Image is everything, if you’re a champion you can adapt to rule change. I believe everybody is after the same thing, it almost like a race who can get there first.

I think Kurt has something going on with his message “freedom of speech” if this board starts banding people, someone will just start another board. Hell I got banded from the AAA for mentioning quote unquote “the Las Vegas tournament is on” crazy! Oh well I didn’t get butt hurt about it, I just wrote the board off.