View Workout (Joe Uhan)
"HAAARRY! You never CALLED!
June 21, 2014 (Night)
Exercise Type: Other
Comments:
Got home and cleaned up. Texted Harry Marra in the AM and we agreed to chat at 5PM.
He called just afterward.
Impressions: NOT good.
First off, he called from some loud place, which was super-annoying, and condescension #1 (couldn't go somewhere quiet?). He sounded like he was in a bar.
Secondly, his whole line of questioning: of me and my background, was condescending. I told him about my practice, my educational background, and how I got into physical therapy. He was condescending about how I was a distance coach, and then that my kinesiology Master's degree was "only in Sport Pyschology, NOT in biomechanics" ("Ruh-really, bro?").
He gave me some vague background about the job: that I would "treat" Ashton+Bri pre-and post- their two-a-day practices. "Active release therapy" was mentioned, like, ten times (obviously, this is the only tissue technique he's ever heard of).
He spoke a lot about the commitment: of how much they travel - "out of town for 120 days already this year" - trying to paint a picture of how demanding it is. "We really want a single guy", he said, not even remotely masking his selfish desire to have a "therapist' that has zero life and would be at their every beck and call. I chuckled at that, indicating that, yes, I'm single. But it still annoyed the piss out of me, especially in retrospect. Then he said, "Even *I* had to leave a *beautiful place* like Southern California to come HERE", relating his supreme sacrifice to come to Eugene, which, according to him, is a shit-hole.
His main question - for which I had a great answer - was where he was a HUGE dick. He asked me, "Why do you want this job?". I returned to my story of what got into physical therapy:
I told him how I missed the reward and value I got from "watching athletes grow, and participating in their development over time" when I was a coach, as opposed to simply treating a few times and not getting to see them progress. This job, being "on the team", would allow me to provide valuable medical care, but also develop a strong, nurturing relationship as they progress in their careers.
He did NOT like that answer. "You would NOT be doing ANY coaching". He added, "It's NOT about watching them grow and progress, like watching them on the sideline...".
"Are you fucking kidding me, bro?", I thought to myself. I chuckled, and assured him, that, "No, I won't be coaching", as if I knew (or gave) two fucks about multi-events.
He continued: "I don't want someone who's going to Tweet about how they're treating the best athletes in the world, or on social media".
Wow.
I knew the deal was pretty well blown at that point, though he continued to pepper me with questions, again questioning my ability to treat "elite athletes". I told him that, yes, I've treated elite athletes. I also - in a very subtle way - tried to explain to him that *I* have *personal experience* being a top-level athlete. He didn't respond much to that statement, likely because he thought that was completely irrelevant.
Once more, he came back to the Commitment, "Three years, through the 2017 World Championships" and the win-at-all-costs, "Ashton needs to repeat and Bri HAS TO win gold".
OK, dude, chill! I get it. Yeah, and I "NEEDED to WIN Western States" last year, and yeah...that turned out real well.
Once more, he talked about the commitment, and asked if I'd be willing to commit for three years. I told him it would be a "big decision, based on many factors, including financial". This is was a blatant hint that he should clue me into the compensation, but, he did not.
Finally, he talked logistics: they're leaving for Europe on Tuesday. I was dreading that he'd ask me to meet with him or Ashton+Bri next week (when I''m already obligated to Western States all week), but he deferred until "after they get back in August".
He made it sound like he was still interested: "It MIGHT be YOU!" he said, like he was doing his best Ed McMahon-"Publisher's Clearinghouse" impression.
We'll be in touch, he said.
Thoughts? This is a raw deal. I could be reading him all wrong (and God knows I have my sensitivities with track coaches), but he seems like a huge dick, who - like the bulk of "career coaches" - is really selfish. What he REALLY wants - and what he should be going after - is a Certified Athletic Trainer. Athletic trainers "stretch out" athletes, and rub them down ala "oil boys". *I* do not do that. I fix problems. I don't "fluff athletes". No offense to my ATC friends, but that is just not what I do. Harry talked about meeting Ashton and Bri and "treating them" to "test me out". Really? Well, are theu fucking injured? What am I evaluating?
Ultimately he needs to find a good, young ATC (or, if he's REALLY LUCKY, an ATC + DPT), who has no connections, no life, no loans, and has the ego that needs to bask in the glow of awesomeness. That's never been me.
Oh well. It was a fun 48 hours of excitement. Ultimately, I think I always knew it wouldn't fit, but I wanted to see just how much they would like me. :-)