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QUOTE OF THE DAY
CHALK UP IN 2 MINUTES
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIT THE BOX
Here’s the giant sign welcoming visitors to Madison for the CrossFit Games when they land at the airport. Rich Froning turned the big 3-0 this weekend. Kari Pearce joins the Paleoethics team. NC State’s Kentavius Street squats 700 pounds. These are maybe the hottest Nike Metcons we’ve ever seen. Happy 24th birthday to Tia-Clair Toomey. Annie Thorisdottir hits a 200 pound snatch. Neal Maddox didn’t have anywhere to workout in Wisconsin so he pulled his RV up next to a corn field and did a WOD. Jason and Ashley Khalipa celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary.
Two Teams and One Individual Athlete Suspended…From CrossFit HQ’s announcement, “Three athletes who submitted samples for drug testing at the 2017 CrossFit Games Regionals have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs…Nick Thomas, a member of the CrossFit Marysville team…OJ Washington, a member of the Bear Republic CrossFit team…[and] Ryan Elrod, who finished fifth at the Atlantic Regional.” Both CrossFit Marysville and Bear Republic CrossFit are disqualified, as is Elrod. All three athletes are suspended for two years, ineligible to compete in any CrossFit-sanctioned event until July 7, 2019. No teams or individual athletes will replace them.
CrossFit General Manager Justin Bergh commenting on the suspensions…“The most common causes of a failed test are over-the-counter supplements and medications…regardless of the intent, we have a zero-tolerance policy for athletes who use banned substances.”
Meanwhile down in Florida at the 2017 Pan Ams…Alyssa Ritchey and Kathleen Winters are first two Americans to take home hardware. Ritchey snatched 77kg to take home silver and bronze overall.
WHAT TO TELL YOUR SPOUSE WHO ALWAYS NEEDS TO WOD ON THEIR VACA…
THINGS TO…
WATCH: Making of a Champion, Part 14
HEAR: Champions are Built in the Mind First
TUNE IN.
DO: The CrossFit Games After Party
EAT: Grilled Sweet & Spicy Pineapple
IT’S GRILLIN TIME.
EDUCATE: Paleo or Not?
TIME TO KNOW.
CHALK UP READS
Travis Hanrahan became so excited competing in his first CrossFit competition “I forgot what I was supposed to be doing.” Like jumping rope. “I skipped it three times,” he said. “But it all worked out.”
To say Hanrahan, 31, hit a natural high Saturday afternoon at Thunderdome is accurate.
The Naples resident found the high a lot better feeling than the low of being homeless and dirty under the Fort Myers Bridge six years ago with a needle sticking in his arm. That’s where Hanrahan’s life had descended. He had gone from marijuana to alcohol to opiates to heroin.
“What the CBS Sports Deal Means for CrossFit Affiliates” by Two-Brain Business
Last year’s broadcast of the CrossFit Games on ESPN2 yielded an average of 336-361,000 live viewers. About 60% of those were age 18-49 (ESPN2’s target demographic–although that’s a pretty broad target.)
That’s about a fifth of the MLB Sunday night game. Pretty great for a niche sport like ours. Track and Field competitions, non-title boxing competitions and recap shows all ranked higher during the same week, but women’s tennis and arena football were both ranked lower. Replays of the Games boost those numbers even higher, while “mainstream” sports don’t usually enjoy the repeat viewership. This is interesting, because it suggests that we want to see the actual events unfold…not just catch the score. That’s great news for advertisers and a good sign for longevity.
While ESPN boasts about its “broad portfolio” and total live broadcast hours, CBS Sports should actually be a better media opportunity for CrossFit AFFILIATES.