Dave Castro is Still the Director of the CrossFit Games

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“Head first towards the uncomfortable.” — Brent Fikowski

CrossFit and Reebok Settle Legal Dispute

What happened?

Yesterday, CrossFit announced that the two-month long legal dispute between them and Reebok has been settled for an undisclosed sum of money.

Remind me.

Back on June 14, CrossFit took Reebok to court purporting a breach of contract over an estimated $4.8 million in missed royalty payments. According to the 98 page lawsuit, Reebok not only underpaid CrossFit,  but they obfuscated records and paperwork in an attempt to hide it. CrossFit characterized their actions as “deceptive and dishonest.”

Exactly 15 days later, Reebok filed a motion to seal all documents pertaining to the case — specifically “royalty rates, minimum licensing fees, and marketing and sponsorship commitment levels.” The court said no and argued the entire lawsuit was based on the very documents Reebok was attempting to conceal from the public.

After a little more than two months, the parties made nice and came to an agreement, which included a confidential “payment to CrossFit for disputed royalties.”

Reading between the lines.

According to the original contract, “If Reebok fails to pay any amount owed to CrossFit pursuant to this Agreement, other than amounts which Reebok is disputing in good faith, and such breach is not remedied within ten business days after written notice thereof has been given by CrossFit to Reebok, then CrossFit may terminate this agreement immediately upon written notice to Reebok and shall be entitled to seek recovery from Reebok for any actual direct damages suffered or incurred by CrossFit arising out of Reebok’s breach.”

Based on our reading of the contract, if CrossFit was to receive a favorable judgment that Reebok failed to pay what it owed, CrossFit could cancel their agreement, opening sponsorship up to anyone. In light of the recent announcements from Greg Glassman about the Games season, it doesn’t sound like Reebok had much of a bargaining chip other than to pay up.

Jeff Cain, CrossFit’s CEO called the agreement “a victory for CrossFit trainers, affiliates, and athletes,” which is notable given CrossFit’s recent moves to focus more resources towards promoting and protecting affiliates, and training.

As it stands, Reebok will remain the title sponsor of the CrossFit Games through 2020.

GAMES BRIEF.

Glassman: Dave is “the Director of the Games. Nothing’s changed.”

In an exclusive interview last week, when asked about Dave Castro’s role in this new direction for the CrossFit Games Greg Glassman said, “He’s the director of the Games. Nothing’s changed.”

Glassman went on to say, “Dave is the perfect person to execute on this vision, the perfect person. He and I are as close as we’ve ever been.”

Last week, Glassman outlined changes to the CrossFit Games season which included the elimination of Regionals and the Invitational, as well as new qualification requirements for Games athletes.

Continue reading…

Coffee Break Conversations

What to tell your friend with thick thighs who really likes skinny jeans…

There’s a pair for you. Barbell Apparel just dropped a new line of slim athletic fit jeans designed to hug your quads and show off all those hard leg days. And if you use code “CHALKUP10” you’ll get 10% off on as many pairs as you’d like.

What to tell your friend who’s still having a hard time believing the CrossFit Games changes are true…

As if the fact that CrossFit HQ hasn’t come out and refuted any part of our story wasn’t enough evidence, Russ Greene, CrossFit’s Director of Government Relations and Research tweeted our story and followed it up by confirming individual changes. Rory McKernan also added some food for thought: “Call me crazy, but what if you allowed yourself to believe things might even be better than ever?!” 

Things To…

WATCH: 2018 Team Series Explained 

The 2018 CrossFit Team Series will be underway in less than a month. CrossFit has compiled some information to help you through the process of finding a teammate, registering your team, completing the workouts and submitting your scores.

GRAB A FRIEND. 

EAT: Bloody Mary Pasta Salad

Don’t worry, there’s no vodka in here. But everything else you love about a good bloody mary is; the horseradish, tomatoes, celery, pimiento-stuffed olives, and bacon. We know it sounds a little cray, but we promise it’s good.

MIX IT UP.

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• CHARITY WOD-A-THON — CrossFit Be Someone in Houston, TX is having a charity WODathon from 8 AM – 8 PM on September 29 to raise money for the ACLU, Texas Civil Rights Project, and the Houston Food Bank. They will be doing hero WODs at the top of every hour, with the
  suggested donation of $10/WOD.
• CROSSFIT COMES TO BEMIDJI — Matt and Lynn Boyer have just opened CrossFit Bemidji in MN.

CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES (a highlight reel around social media of CrossFit pros and average joes)

72-year-old Bill Minor got three rope climbs in a WOD • Congratulations to Mike Shaw on his 130 pound CrossFit transformation • Wes Piatt gets his daughter on an air runner • Phoebe gets a 140 pound front squat PR • 80-year-old Sydney does a scaled version of
Fran • Sara Sigmundsdottir gets dressed up. 

…and can you clean up after your WOD, please?

First Look — Just after the launch of their two new caffeine free flavors, O2 Natural Recovery launched a new digital commercial and campaign featuring Alison Scudds and James Hobart and we got a sneak peak. They’re also giving 20% off site-wide plus free shipping from now through Labor Day with code “LABORDAY.”

Steph Curry on Inclusion in Sports — “Last week, I did something I’ll never forget: I hosted a basketball camp for girls, just to share a court with 200 girls who love to hoop, and watch them do their thing. But I think it was also something more than that. I think it was also the sort of thing that can help to shift people’s perspectives. So that when someone sees an NBA player is hosting a camp, now, you know, maybe they won’t automatically assume it’s for boys. And so eventually we can get to a place where the women’s game, it isn’t ‘women’s basketball.’ It’s just basketball. Played by women, and celebrated by everyone. One thing we’ve always maintained about our camp, is that we want it to be world class. And in 2018? Here’s the truth: You’re not world class if you’re not actively about inclusion. I’m not even close to satisfied. In fact, I’m feeling more driven than ever, to help out women who are working toward progress, in any way that I can. Let’s work to close the opportunity gap. Let’s work to close the pay gap. And let’s work together on this.”

CrossFit on the Spectrum — Combat Sports Academy in Dublin, CA is known for mixed martial arts and Krav Maga. But occupying part of the space is something very unique: Puzzle Piece Athletics, a first-of-its-kind gym for children on the autism spectrum. Chad Hooker, who started the program after a friend introduced him to a child with autism said, “I fell in love with it and it was a snowball effect. I love it and will never turn back.”

“How Diabetes Raises Your Risk for All Major Cancers,” by Ginger Vieira, Healthline

People with diabetes already have a growing list of complications and concerns they face each day, including that they’re at risk for developing conditions such as retinopathy in their eyes, as well as neuropathy in their fingers and toes.

Now, a recent study has brought more attention to an even more worrisome issue for people with diabetes: cancer.

Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health said they looked closely at almost 20 million people across the globe and concluded that people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have a significantly higher incidence of cancer.

They said women with diabetes are at even greater risk with a 27 percent higher likelihood of cancer than women without diabetes.

A man with diabetes has a 19 percent higher risk.

“The link between diabetes and the risk of developing cancer is now firmly established,” explained Toshiaki Ohkuma, PhD, the lead author of the study and a research fellow with The George Institute for Global Health. “We have also demonstrated for the first time that women with diabetes are more likely to develop any form of cancer, and have a significantly higher chance of developing kidney, oral, and stomach cancers, and leukemia.”

/​8/31: Greece with VoyEdge RX

9/1: Tampa Bay Games (Tampa, FL)

9/1: Battle At The Base 3 (Oklahoma City, OK)

9/6 – 9/9: Kill Cliff Granite Games (St. Cloud, MN) 

9/7: Koski Training Camp (Lloret de Mar, Spain) 

​9/8: Midwest Fall Classic (Tulsa, OK)

​9/8: The Sugar Skull Showdown (Agawam, MA)

9/8: I Can CrossFit Competition (Georgetown, TX)

9/8: Global Aftermath 2018 (Online)

9/8: The Catalyst Games (Bastrop, TX) 

9/8: BoxLife Games @ CrossFit Bear Cat (Bunnell, FL)

9/8: BoxLife Games @ CrossFit Wynwood (Miami, FL)

9/8: Booties in Action (Wilsonville, OR)9/8: Hookd2Hops 2018 (Newtown, CT)

9/8: Rumble in the Jungle 2018 (LaVista, NE)

9/8: 2018 Battle of the Bluegrass (Louisville, KY) 

9/8: Decima Throwdown (Littleton, CO)

9/8: First Timers Fitness Festival 2 (Burlington, MA) 

9/8: Girls Gone RX (Bridgeville, PA) 

9/8: BoxLife Games at CrossFit James Island (Charleston, SC) 

9/8: Femme Royale (Denver, CO) 

9/8: Double Trouble Throw Down (Twinsburg, OH)

9/8: Power Output Challenge (San Antonio, TX)

9/9: Reps for Recovery (Annapolis, MD)

9/8 – 9/9: Beach Cities Battle 2018 (Gardena, CA)

9/8 – 9/9: The Vermonster Team Challenge (Berlin, VT)

9/15: Warrior Affiliate League Three Amigos (Pomona,CA)

9/15: No Mans Land 4 (Painesville, OH)

9/15: Average Joes (Troy, MI) 

9/15: Stateline Throwdown 2018 (McHenry, IL)

9/15: Project Uplift (Fort Collins, CO)

9/15: Barbells for Bullies (Lexington, SC)

9/15: Barbell Brawl IV (Kennett Square, PA)

9/15: Double Date Got Twisted (Bowling Green, KY)

9/15: Doomsday CrossFit Team Competition (Beachwood, OH)

9/16: 2018 Battle at the Rock (Castle Rock, CO)

​9/16: 5th Annual North East Masters Classic (Plainville, MA)

9/16: The Brazen Cup 2018 (Fairfield, NJ) 

9/22: Shatter the Stigma III (Boyertown, PA)

9/22: New Kids on the 321 Block 2018 (Topsham, ME)

9/22: Femme Royale at Eagle Wing CrossFit (Orange, CA)9/22: 2nd Annual CrossFit TUFF Charity Row-A-Thon (Nashua, NH) 

9/22: Girls Gone RX Denver (Denver, CO) 

9/22: Legends of the WOD (Grapevine, TX)

9/23 – 9/23: Field of Teams (Cedar Falls, IA)

9/22 – 9/23:The D-Town Throwdown (Decatur, Illinois)

9/22 – 9/23: The Cascade Classic (Seattle, WA)

9/23: Games of the Ages Masters Team Competition (Hanson, MA)

9/23: Cadre Crucible Team Competition (Hudson, OH)

9/23: Detroit Red Wings WOD (Detroit, MI) 

9/23: IronWorkz Gauntlet (Medina, OH)

9/24: CrossFit New England 3rd Annual Fundraising Golf Tournament (Hudson, MA)

9/28 – 9/29: Pensacola Beach Brawl (Pensacola Beach, FL)9/28 – 9/29: The Primal Games (Savannah, GA)

9/29: Kilo Crush Fest (Hampton, VA) 

9/29: Barcode Team Competition (Leander, TX)

9/29: Long Island Masters Team Competition (Hauppauge, NY)

9/29: Fallout Powered by Battleground Events (Long Beach, CA)

9/29: Battle for Boise (Meridian, ID))

9/29: 5th Annual WOD for a Cause (Murrietta, CA) 

9/29: K-9 Pursuit (Bristol, CT)

9/29: Swolemates (Cincinnati, OH)

​9/9: CrossFit Be Someone Charity WODathon (Houston, TX)