Survivor Competitor Taking Wildflower Finisher Medal to Amazon with Him
Walter R. Strapps
luxury item his finisher's medal from 2001 Wildflower triathlon.
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor6/survivors/prof/alex.shtml
Yes, I was bored today.
Cheers,
Walter R. Strapps
Wim Colgate
Oh wait, I found it in the olympic distance results. Time: 2:58:25.
Wim
"Walter R. Strapps" <str...@sentigen.com> wrote in message
news:3E35AED1...@sentigen.com...
Walter R. Strapps
Wim Colgate wrote:
> Funny. I can't find him in the 1/2 ironman finishers list.
>
> Oh wait, I found it in the olympic distance results. Time: 2:58:25.
See, I wasn't gonna mention that :)
Cheers,
Walter R. Strapps
Mark
>
>
> Wim Colgate wrote:
> > Funny. I can't find him in the 1/2 ironman finishers list.
> >
> > Oh wait, I found it in the olympic distance results. Time: 2:58:25.
>
> See, I wasn't gonna mention that :)
Does this mean that the Olympic Distance doesn't "count" as anything? Only
the Half Ironman finishers deserve a medal and proudly display it for
finishing?
Just curious.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Walter R. Strapps
>
Walter R. Strapps
The man is a professional triathlon trainer according to the CBS
website. Personally, *I* would not hire as a professional trainer a 32
year old man who does three hours for an Olympic distance triathlon.
YMMV.
Cheers,
Walter R. Strapps
P.S. Of all the things I could take with me on survivor, things that
are (practically speaking) utterly useless would not rank highly among
them. Once again, YMMV.
Mark
wouldn't hire him either. :) I thought he was just another yokel like myself
who will be doing Tri's for the fun and health of it. :)
M~
"Walter R. Strapps" <str...@sentigen.com> wrote in message
news:3E36A802...@sentigen.com...
Brian Wagner
>
> The man is a professional triathlon trainer according to the CBS
> website. Personally, *I* would not hire as a professional trainer a 32
> year old man who does three hours for an Olympic distance triathlon.
More to the point, if I was holding myself out as a professional
trainer, I wouldn't call national attention
to such a performance. It calls his whole judgement into question.
> P.S. Of all the things I could take with me on survivor, things that
> are (practically speaking) utterly useless would not rank highly among
> them.
It must keep him warm at night.
Jason O'Rourke
>Does this mean that the Olympic Distance doesn't "count" as anything? Only
>the Half Ironman finishers deserve a medal and proudly display it for
>finishing?
>Just curious.
While I imagine the olympic course isn't exactly a walk in the park, when
people talk about conquering Wildflower, they mean the long course.
If he really is a triathlon trainer, then it's no accident he advertized
that event without making the distinction. But before people get too
excited about his slow time, you probably should check other performances.
He could have had a bad day. I lose a bit of respect for the elites that
drop out at the first sight of trouble or possibility of finishing behind
AGers.
--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com
Jason O'Rourke
>One of the competitors on the latest Survivor is taking with him as a
>luxury item his finisher's medal from 2001 Wildflower triathlon.
>
>http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor6/survivors/prof/alex.shtml
Walter, you didn't mention that he was a former projects manager for our
friends at Team in Training. Perhaps he is coaching for their customers?
Walter R. Strapps
True enough. I didn't mention because frankly I don't really have any
idea what a TnT project manager is. :)
Cheers,
Walter R. Strapps
Brian Wagner
>
> If he really is a triathlon trainer, then it's no accident he advertized
> that event without making the distinction. But before people get too
> excited about his slow time, you probably should check other performances.
> He could have had a bad day. I lose a bit of respect for the elites that
> drop out at the first sight of trouble or possibility of finishing behind
> AGers.
Still doesn't mitigate the bad judgement of calling national attention
to the time when he
wants to sell himself as a trainer. Those elites are doing the smart
thing from the self-promotion angle that ultimately translates to money.
Mike Conway
>Jason O'Rourke wrote
>> He could have had a bad day
>Still doesn't mitigate the bad judgement of calling national attention
>to the time when he
>wants to sell himself as a trainer.
Absolutely....if it was indeed a "bad day", why not pick another race with a
better performance? Perhaps not much else to choose from?
Mike C
Walter R. Strapps
My brief check of the web reveals one other race for him in 2001, the
Malibu triathlon. Though with a better performance: (in miles) 1/34/10
and a time of 3:44.
Cheers,
Walter R. Strapps
MJuric
<str...@sentigen.com> wrote:
>
>
>Mark wrote:
>> "Walter R. Strapps" <str...@sentigen.com> wrote in message
>> news:3E36A2C7...@sentigen.com...
>>
>>>
>>>Wim Colgate wrote:
>>>
>>>>Funny. I can't find him in the 1/2 ironman finishers list.
>>>>
>>>>Oh wait, I found it in the olympic distance results. Time: 2:58:25.
>>>
>>>See, I wasn't gonna mention that :)
>>
>>
>> Does this mean that the Olympic Distance doesn't "count" as anything? Only
>> the Half Ironman finishers deserve a medal and proudly display it for
>> finishing?
>> Just curious.
>
>The man is a professional triathlon trainer according to the CBS
>website. Personally, *I* would not hire as a professional trainer a 32
>year old man who does three hours for an Olympic distance triathlon.
Is it not possible to be knowledgeable about something or
possibly even a good coach and not particularly talented in teh field
they are coaching? Alot of gynecologists are guys, does that mean they
aren't good at there jobs?
On the other hand aren't alot of real good athletes lousy
coaches?
~Matt
Walter R. Strapps
MJuric wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Jan 2003 10:55:46 -0500, "Walter R. Strapps"
> <str...@sentigen.com> wrote:
>
>
>>
>>Mark wrote:
>>
>>>"Walter R. Strapps" <str...@sentigen.com> wrote in message
>>>news:3E36A2C7...@sentigen.com...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Wim Colgate wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Funny. I can't find him in the 1/2 ironman finishers list.
>>>>>
>>>>>Oh wait, I found it in the olympic distance results. Time: 2:58:25.
>>>>
>>>>See, I wasn't gonna mention that :)
>>>
>>>
>>>Does this mean that the Olympic Distance doesn't "count" as anything? Only
>>>the Half Ironman finishers deserve a medal and proudly display it for
>>>finishing?
>>>Just curious.
>>
>>The man is a professional triathlon trainer according to the CBS
>>website. Personally, *I* would not hire as a professional trainer a 32
>>year old man who does three hours for an Olympic distance triathlon.
>
>
> Is it not possible to be knowledgeable about something or
> possibly even a good coach and not particularly talented in teh field
> they are coaching? Alot of gynecologists are guys, does that mean they
> aren't good at there jobs?
> On the other hand aren't alot of real good athletes lousy
> coaches?
Here's where YMMV comes in. It may, and for you, it does, apparently.
Regardless of this, I don't understand why anyone would take the medal
to the Amazon with them, maybe he hopes to hammer it into a spearhead or
something.
Cheers,
Walter R. Strapps
Brian Wagner
>
> Is it not possible to be knowledgeable about something or
> possibly even a good coach and not particularly talented in teh field
> they are coaching? Alot of gynecologists are guys, does that mean they
> aren't good at there jobs?
Hey, there's something to be said for liking what you do, eh?
> On the other hand aren't alot of real good athletes lousy
> coaches?
While this is true, it's not how market perceptions operate, and this
guy is putting it out there for millions of potential clients who, in
all probability, are not as wise as you are.
Brian Wagner
There you go - it invites the assumption that this is his best foot he
put forward.
Brian Wagner
>
> Is it not possible to be knowledgeable about something or
> possibly even a good coach and not particularly talented in teh field
> they are coaching?
Yes, BUT, *I* have done better than this, and everyone here knows I
neither train nor strain.
What does that say about one who supposedly guides others in training?
MJuric
<str...@sentigen.com> wrote:
Fish are attracted to shiny things.
~Matt
>
>Cheers,
>
>Walter R. Strapps
>
MJuric
This says they neither trained nor strained, but does not say
they are a lousy coach. (or possibly seriously lack any genetic gifts
whatsoever)
~Matt
MJuric
Unfortunately I agree. Although I have no specific cases in
mind, I'm sure multitudes have flocked to athletically talented for
sub par coaching and shunned the truly talented coaches.
From a marketing standpoint advertising a "less than average"
performance would seem to be somewhat harmful to ones employability.
Even if that time was your best shot and you are a gifted coach.
~Matt
Mike Conway
can't, teach..."
Or something like that....
Mike C
Brian Wagner
>
> This says they neither trained nor strained, but does not say
> they are a lousy coach. (or possibly seriously lack any genetic gifts
> whatsoever)
Ah, but the difference is, I don't hold myself out as an example or
mentor in terms of training and straining.
How to set USAT policy and run the sport, equipping oneself on the
cheap, consumer issues for triathletes, yes, but not coaching.
Jason O'Rourke
> Is it not possible to be knowledgeable about something or
>possibly even a good coach and not particularly talented in teh field
>they are coaching? Alot of gynecologists are guys, does that mean they
>aren't good at there jobs?
> On the other hand aren't alot of real good athletes lousy
>coaches?
If he were older, that might be reasonable. Given his TnT past, it would
appear that he is a 'professional coach' to charity race athletes.
Bob Mina
> Does this mean that the Olympic Distance doesn't "count" as anything? Only
> the Half Ironman finishers deserve a medal and proudly display it for
> finishing?
> Just curious.
Olympic Distance Finishers get coffee mugs.
Half-Ironman Finishers get medals.
Oh, wait, no. That's all wrong. Finishers with medals get mugged...
Drat. And to think my therapist said I was ready to joke about it now.
Hurricane Bob
* "Finishing mug? What the @(#*!? is a 'Finishing Mug?'" - Me, Eagleman, 2001.
Chris Maginn
qualified to be a trainer. I can see his marketing materials now:
"How to ride 4 across in full TNT regalia yacking and then weave
wildly when someone rides up screaming "ON YOUR LEFT."
"Walter R. Strapps" <str...@sentigen.com> wrote in message news:<3E36A802...@sentigen.com>...
Chris Maginn
contestant Alex Bell -- first identified as a "triathlon coach" by CBS
and now being promoted in the on-air promos as a "project manager" --
is actually a doorman at a bar called "Belly" in Los Angeles. "Belly"
originally gained fame when Big Brother 2 contestant Mike "Boogie"
Malin continually plugged his status as co-owner of the establishment
and the bar quickly became a hang-out for reality TV has-been's and
never-were's.
"Walter R. Strapps" <str...@sentigen.com> wrote in message news:<3E36A802...@sentigen.com>...
BFP
> website. Personally, *I* would not hire as a professional trainer a 32
> year old man who does three hours for an Olympic distance triathlon.
>
> YMMV.
- A coach/trainer does not need to perform at a certain level to be
good or bad. She could nail the race in 2:04 (pro winning time in
2001) and be a horrid trainer. Her job is simply to bring out the
best in you.
- Wildflower is no ordinary Olympic triathlon.
- 2001 was a really hot race.
- Despite said points, lacking more data on this guy, I agree with
you.
> P.S. Of all the things I could take with me on survivor, things that
> are (practically speaking) utterly useless would not rank highly among
> them. Once again, YMMV
- Again I agree. Not having watched the show (any time around), has
anyone packed a large bottle of ibuprofen? That would be someone to
keep around. Either ibuprofen or TP. Or Oakley sunglasses, an r.s.t
favorite.
Cleveland Steamer
"Brian Wagner" <brian....@cle.philips.com> wrote in message
news:3E36D7FA...@cle.philips.com...
>
> Still doesn't mitigate the bad judgement of calling national attention
> to the time when he
> wants to sell himself as a trainer.
Even if he won the whole race, I would say it is even worse judgement to
take a piece of metal to desert island, if that is the only item you are
allowed to take.
Cathy Morgan
beachfr...@yahoo.com (BFP) wrote:
>
> - Wildflower is no ordinary Olympic triathlon.
>
> - 2001 was a really hot race.
>
> - Despite said points, lacking more data on this guy, I agree with
> you.
Nope, he's a solid MOPer. My friend in LA has finished a number of SoCal
races right around the same time as Mr. Bell.
clm in sf who would take something handy to the Amazon, like a chef with a
food supply
--
iron...@xmac.com
cathy morgan, san francisco, ca
REMOVE x x to email
Mike Tennent
>
>- Again I agree. Not having watched the show (any time around), has
>anyone packed a large bottle of ibuprofen? That would be someone to
>keep around. Either ibuprofen or TP. Or Oakley sunglasses, an r.s.t
>favorite.
Out of curiosity, I tried to watch the opening show of the second
season. The "high drama" of that show was watching the yahoos trying
to start a fire without matches.
Now, don't you think if you knew you were going to participate in
something like that, that you *might* at least glance through a few
books to pick up some ideas on survival in the wilderness?
Nooooo. None of these Rhode scholars thought of that.
As I turned the channel, I found myself thinking "These idiots deserve
their misery."
Mike Tennent
Brian Wagner
>
> If he were older, that might be reasonable. Given his TnT past, it would
> appear that he is a 'professional coach' to charity race athletes.
In other words, lots of hand-holding, escalating of campsite territorial
squabbles, providing illegal outside support, etc.
Brian Wagner
>
> Entertainment Weekly is reporting that "Survivor: The Amazon"
> contestant Alex Bell -- first identified as a "triathlon coach" by CBS
> and now being promoted in the on-air promos as a "project manager" --
> is actually a doorman at a bar called "Belly" in Los Angeles. "Belly"
> originally gained fame when Big Brother 2 contestant Mike "Boogie"
> Malin continually plugged his status as co-owner of the establishment
> and the bar quickly became a hang-out for reality TV has-been's and
> never-were's.
I believe this posting warrants a beverage alert in the subject header.
You owe me a keyboard.
Brian Wagner
channel surfing (much like slowing to gawk at a traffic accident) I get
the impression that there is little or no application on the show for
actual wilderness survival skills - they just have to put up with a
little unpleasant living conditions - like a combination of Big Brother
in a slum tenament and Fear Factor for the eating of gross things.
Brian Wagner
>
> Even if he won the whole race, I would say it is even worse judgement to
> take a piece of metal to desert island, if that is the only item you are
> allowed to take.
Well, yeah! For that matter, his willingness to participate in this
spectacle of idiocy is all the evidence we need that his judgement is
fundamentally flawed.
Walter R. Strapps
Chris Maginn wrote:
> Entertainment Weekly is reporting that "Survivor: The Amazon"
> contestant Alex Bell -- first identified as a "triathlon coach" by CBS
> and now being promoted in the on-air promos as a "project manager" --
> is actually a doorman at a bar called "Belly" in Los Angeles. "Belly"
> originally gained fame when Big Brother 2 contestant Mike "Boogie"
> Malin continually plugged his status as co-owner of the establishment
> and the bar quickly became a hang-out for reality TV has-been's and
> never-were's.
You know, I think that another Survivor contestant from Survivor 5
*also* worked at Belly's. Gee that's not suspicious at all.
Cheers,
Walter R. Strapps
Walter R. Strapps
Mike Tennent wrote:
> beachfr...@yahoo.com (BFP) wrote:
>
>
>>- Again I agree. Not having watched the show (any time around), has
>>anyone packed a large bottle of ibuprofen? That would be someone to
>>keep around. Either ibuprofen or TP. Or Oakley sunglasses, an r.s.t
>>favorite.
>
>
> Out of curiosity, I tried to watch the opening show of the second
> season. The "high drama" of that show was watching the yahoos trying
> to start a fire without matches.
>
> Now, don't you think if you knew you were going to participate in
> something like that, that you *might* at least glance through a few
> books to pick up some ideas on survival in the wilderness?
Were I to go on survivor, this is one of the *first* things I would have
made sure I could do in the middle of a rainstorm.
I also don't understand why no one is out looking for say, bird's eggs,
why in Survivor 4 they were eating their shellfish raw when they had a
fire etc. etc.
Then again, the best way to get yourself voted off the island is to be
competent at doing anything except whining.
Cheers,
Walter R. Strapps
Brian Wagner
>
> Were I to go on survivor, this is one of the *first* things I would have
> made sure I could do in the middle of a rainstorm.
Let's face it, any intelligent person with the skills would be unable to
refrain from killing the rest of the team and the film crew by the end
of the second day.
> Then again, the best way to get yourself voted off the island is to be
> competent at doing anything except whining.
BINGO!
Cathy Morgan
<str...@sentigen.com> wrote:
> Then again, the best way to get yourself voted off the island is to be
> competent at doing anything except whining.
And then, spend the next month traveling around the area, all expenses
paid, since you aren't allowed to return home until the entire filming is
over. A month lying on the beaches of Brazil? Works for me.
clm in sf
Brian Wagner
>
> In article <3E37F9D6...@sentigen.com>, "Walter R. Strapps"
> <str...@sentigen.com> wrote:
>
> > Then again, the best way to get yourself voted off the island is to be
> > competent at doing anything except whining.
>
> And then, spend the next month traveling around the area, all expenses
> paid, since you aren't allowed to return home until the entire filming is
> over. A month lying on the beaches of Brazil? Works for me.
Hmmmm, maybe they aren't so dumb after all.
Cjohnston2001
>take a piece of metal to desert island, if that is the only item you are
>allowed to take.
>
Did you check out the "luxury items" the other people brought? There must be
some rule against bringing something useful.
Walter R. Strapps
Actually, the way it works is, they get to choose five items that are
not proscribed, and then Mark Burnett chooses one of those five items
for them.
Still, I think I could come up with five semi-useful things to put on a
list.
My favourite people are the ones who bring a journal with them. Yeah,
because there won't be any footage of their trip....
Cheers,
Walter R. Strapps
Ben Spurgeon
far as I know he is MOP athlete, coaching for Team in Training. I am
not aware of him charging people for his time as a coach, thus
qualifying him as a profressional coach. Perhaps that falls on a CBS
producer. That Wildflower finish was his first "major" race, and most
of us remember our first race with pride. :) Ben
"Walter R. Strapps" <str...@sentigen.com> wrote in message news:<3E36D511...@sentigen.com>...
> Jason O'Rourke wrote:
> > Walter R. Strapps <str...@sentigen.com> wrote:
> >
> >>One of the competitors on the latest Survivor is taking with him as a
> >>luxury item his finisher's medal from 2001 Wildflower triathlon.
> >>
> >>http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor6/survivors/prof/alex.shtml
> >
> >
> > Walter, you didn't mention that he was a former projects manager for our
> > friends at Team in Training. Perhaps he is coaching for their customers?
>
> True enough. I didn't mention because frankly I don't really have any
> idea what a TnT project manager is. :)
>
> Cheers,
>
> Walter R. Strapps
Mark Hughes
LA Tri Club. He is a certified coach. I don't know his race history,
but he's a fun guy to be around; possibly that's one of the reasons
Survivor (Eye of the Tiger) chose him.
I don't work for this following link, but he coaches for this group:
They have quite a few high profile people as clients. I believe their
main staple, however, is coaching Team in Training.
Think about it, he's gone through his entire life named Alexander Bell
and he hasn't invented a thing.
Regarding hanging out on the beach for a month if you're voted off, I
believe they do come home. They and their significant others have to
sign a confidentiality agreement stating that nobody will say a word
about what happened to them on the show.
Now, I am a bit surprised that you didn't find him under the dnf list
at 2002 long course...
Summary: good guy, legit coach.
Mark
Cathy Morgan
mwhu...@fedex.com (Mark Hughes) wrote:>
> Regarding hanging out on the beach for a month if you're voted off, I
> believe they do come home. They and their significant others have to
> sign a confidentiality agreement stating that nobody will say a word
> about what happened to them on the show.
Unless they've changed things, you are incorrect. You have to stay in the
general vicinity until the end of the taping. The confidentiality
agreement part is correct.
Spyder
> First, this has been a humerous thread. IMHO Alex is a good guy. As
> far as I know he is MOP athlete, coaching for Team in Training. I am
> not aware of him charging people for his time as a coach, thus
> qualifying him as a profressional coach. Perhaps that falls on a CBS
> producer. That Wildflower finish was his first "major" race, and most
> of us remember our first race with pride. :) Ben
>
seem to muck up every event they are part of. Their Triathlon coach's
first major race was Wildflower Short Course. Hmmmmmmmmm, any
connection?
Keep Training,
Spyder