Portland Timbers...and the Building of a Fan Base

Soccer has a hard core group of fans. This group had been complaining for years that they would have to get up at 3am to watch certain major European matches at pubs. Recently, the games have been shown at better times here in the United States and more soccer coverage in general has become available.

Timbers Army photo
by Craig Mitchelldyer.

Along with this increase in access to good soccer matches (here and abroad) something interesting has been going on in Portland. Three years ago, Major League Soccer (MLS) awarded an expansion team to the city. And, a group of fans emerged that this side of the Atlantic hadn’t seen before. They are called Timbers Army and they stand…chant…sing…the entire time. They even sang the National anthem last year before a match.

Timbers Army has created a completely different environment and are changing people’s thoughts about attending a soccer match, especially one at JELD-WEN Field.

As evidence of this, it was just announced that the waiting list exceeds 7,000 for season tickets.

I talked to Mike Golub, Chief Operating Officer of the Portland Timbers, to learn more about starting up a new team and the unique fans.

PJ: What was your marketing strategy in starting up this new team?

Mike: The focus for the whole business of operating on the marketing side is to create an impactful advertising corporate partnership—bringing on the right companies that share the right values here in Portland. The sponsors could tell our story, as well. PR, social media—online communication, was built aggressively. Our community outreach is recognized as one of the most philanthropic in the state. We use the power of sports for good. Our umbrella campaign is “Stand Together.” We have hundreds of appearances for our players and give donations. We have meaningful broad and deep relationships with groups doing good things in the community.

PJ: Tell me about Portland’s soccer history.

Mike: Portland has a rich history of soccer—four decades. Starting with the NASL in the mid-1970s through 1980s…the first iteration of the Timbers was in 1975. We’ve had great support and many on that original team helped grow the sport in this region. University of Portland is coached by a former Timber and it is a national power. There was a re-introduction of the Timbers in 2000s…a minor league team. They had great crowds. Ultimately, we were awarded the MLS expansion team in 2009. We tap into the history of the Timbers and it has helped define the present existence in a unique way. The league itself thought of us as an expansion team with 35 years of history.

We are perceived as the people’s team. Our focus has been to be a major league team…to present ourselves and conduct ourselves commensurate with a major league team. And, we present ourselves as Portland—that has been our major theme.

PJ: How did you capitalize on this fan support?

Mike: We knew we had diehard soccer fans that we were going to capture. Then there were those people who knew the game, but would not call themselves die-hards. We wanted to bring them into the tent. Beyond that we brought in more general sports fans and casual fans who caught the excitement in the process. We have a great core of existing soccer fanatics and knew it had grown. We knew those with a passing interest would catch the bug and we think we’ve done it.

PJ: You have a unique atmosphere. Tell me about how you created this.

Mike: We had a supporters group that started on a small scale 10 years ago. Timbers Army has helped cultivate the conditions to flourish. We work with them and meet with them. We keep 5,000 seats for supporters who stand/chant all game. We embraced their growth, which is a big part of this.

PJ: Do other teams find it intimidating coming to play at your field? Do you consider this a home-field advantage?

Mike: Big Time! To a person the players say this is one of the best environments in North America. It reminds them of Europe. A TV sports executive who was here recently said he’s been to all the big sports events around the world and this is the best atmosphere he’s seen. We think we have something special here. We think the culture around the club and the city is great. Players love being part of it. When the city embraced the Timbers it make it that much more fun for the players to be here. They enjoy being here.

PJ: What’s next?

Mike: We’re obviously proud of what we’ve done so far. We need to stay hungry and keep at it every day. We want to do right by our fans and our corporate partners. We still have folks who are on the waiting list for season tickets. It’s a hard ticket to get and there are still a lot of folks who have not experienced it. We’d like to invest more in the community. We’re not taking success for granted and we are helping the sport grow.

To read more about how the team is doing this season check out http://www.portlandtimbers.com/

Heather Petri...and the Two-Minute Drill

U.S. water polo player Heather Petri has a lot of hardware.

·         Three Olympic medals

·         Two European Champions Cups with Vouliagmeni Nautical Club

·         One National League title with Flamengo in Rio de Janiero Brazil

·         Three Pan American Games titles

·         Two World Championship titles

Heather looking to pass

You’d think after a while it would just be a job…and she would be blasé about competing in her fourth Olympics. Not Heather. She actually got goose bumps while I was talking to her—while sharing her memories of the Games in Sydney. She still feels that first time competing in the Olympics excitement.

The goose bumps came back at the end of our conversation, while she was talking about how fortunate she is to do what she loves and give back by participating in Swim Across America, which raises money and awareness for cancer research.

Both speak volumes on Heather’s grace and dignity and what she stands for.

After reading our conversation, I know all of you will be standing with me and cheering loudly for her in a few weeks in London and well beyond.

PJ: Three Olympics, three medals. That’s an incredible feat. Which one means the most to you?

Heather: Yes, it’s been a bonus…a blessing to return home with medals from the Games I’ve competed in. Each represent a different story and I was a different person as part of those teams. It is a snapshot of me when I was on those teams. All are so different. I think the first one had the biggest impact. The Sydney experience, whether we won or not would’ve been great. I was so new when I joined the team in January and the Olympics were in August. I had never played international water polo. I tell people it’s like I was on a fast, high-speed train speeding past and my eyes were like saucers, wide open, pressed against the windows. I loved every second. When I look back it’s all memories of joy…so incredible.

PJ: What is it like to compete in the Olympics? We at home stop everything to watch. Even people who typically aren’t sports fans are Olympics fans.

Heather: I get chills just thinking about it. For two weeks the way you feel about the Olympics is how I feel about it every day. When I wake up, do a swim set, etc., I keep my goals in my mind and use that feeling to keep me motivated and keep it fun. It’s the same feeling you have for two weeks, I harness it every day. To go to one Olympics is incredible, two is…well…four is a dream, a blessing.



Heather Petri.

PJ: What are your goals this time around?

Heather: It may be cliché, but we have a gold medal in mind. We have the confidence leading up to the Games to think we can do it. Our team is talented. We have the right mix for our team with youth and veterans. The right chemistry and we are supportive of each other. We’ve had adversity. We placed sixth in the World Championships. We’ve had our struggles, but we’ve worked through them and are tighter as a team.

Our goal is to play four consistent quarters. Good teams play one good quarter. If we can sustain this immediate goal and a team beats us with another four good quarters, then it’s a good match. If we can do that, put together four good quarters, we are capable of anything.

PJ: I know that philanthropy is important to you. You have been involved with three organizations up to this point, including Right to Play, and are looking to do more.

Heather: Yes, training is so full-on right now, that it’s hard to coordinate dates—to really get into it. I am excited…I have a lot of ideas. I want to continue this in my life, whether I get a job with the [Right to Play] or another organization. It’s inspiring to think about.

PJ: You are an ambassador for Right to Play. Tell me about the organization and what you do.

Heather: I met other Right to Play ambassadors at the Olympics in 2004. It wasn’t until after 2008 that I got involved. They had a booth in the Olympic Village so we could all learn about it. I met the founder, Johann [Olav Koss], who is an inspiring man. It’s so simple…every child should be able to play. What I love the most is that we get to play. When I look at my life, my parents supported me in all the sports I tried. If they hadn’t, my life could be different. We almost moved to Colorado and I think what path my life would have taken if we moved? I’d be a different person.

So far, what I’ve done is help Johann and others in the organization with donors and kids/parents to show what Right to Play does, and where the money goes. I understand how it’s helped me in America, and people around the world have so much less than we do.

Besides building play areas, they focus on longevity in sports. They pick team leaders, who learn simple games like ball toss and also teach life skills, communication skills, hygiene, conflict resolution, etc. Kids want to play, but don’t realize they are learning until later. The team leaders are part of the community to ensure this lasts. Some organizations do temporary fixes; this organization leaves a lasting impression.

I met a team leader from Uganda. It was so cool. She taught two tribes of little boys. Every Tuesday they would come to play. When they had a war, it was the boys who helped the parents solve their problems. OMG! I can do something so small and it can lead to that…that is special!

PJ: You are also involved with Athletes for Hope.

Heather: Yes, this organization was founded by Mia Hamm and other athletes [Andre Agassi, Andrea Jaeger, Jeff Gordon, Lance Armstrong, Mohammed Ali, Tony Hawk, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning, Cal Ripken, Jr., Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Warrick Dunn]. It is a community-based volunteer program for athletes. You can tell them when you are available and they will help you search options. I used them to work at a food bank and hospitals where I visited cancer patients. They understand the life of an athlete. For them to do this is cool.

PJ: Tell me about Swim Across America.

Heather: As the name says…they organize swims across America and the proceeds go to cancer charities. When I was a kid, my aunt had a double mastectomy and needed bone marrow. When I saw this I knew I wanted to give back. There is a swim in the Bay Area on Sept. 29. A ferry drops you off at the Golden Gate Bridge and you swim to Chrissy Field—about a mile-and-a-half. It’s so inspiring. Last time I did this with my friends and we swam as water polo. We brought a ball with us and wrote names of all the people we were swimming for. On the ferry we passed the ball around and others signed names—I’m getting chills! It’s amazing to see how many people you can touch. One friend got up and said…I’m swimming because I can. It is so simple. I’ll always remember that. There are people who can no longer do what they want to do…I can do this. It’s a cool way for me to do what I love and give back!

Josh Dixon...and the Two-Minute Drill

Injuries are never welcome. And, you could argue that no time is a good time for an injury…especially not the year leading up to the Olympics.

Josh on the rings.

This is what San Jose native, Josh Dixon, had to endure. He tore his Achilles a year ago right after winning the NCAA team title at Stanford. He had it all mapped out…trying out for the world team last summer leading into preparing for the Olympics this year.

Instead, he found himself in physical therapy the entire summer just trying to do the basics…walking, running, getting up on his toes. He was nowhere near training for gymnastics let alone being the elite athlete he had been just a few months earlier.

This was the same athlete who in high school was a four-time member of the USA Junior National Team and competed at the 2006 Visa U.S. Championships and placed second in all-around, first on floor exercise and vault, second on horizontal bar, and third on pommel horse. And, in college at Stanford won two NCAA team titles, was the 2010 U.S. floor exercise champion, second in floor at the 2011 Visa Championships, and first in floor at the 2010 Visa Championships.

But, he didn’t let this injury end his dream. He pushed forward and made a remarkable recovery and is now vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

I spent some time with Josh prior to the U.S. Gymnastic Olympic Trials to learn more about his journey.

PJ: How does it feel to be competing in your backyard?

Josh: It’s really exciting. It’s going to be loud! The local club gymnasts and Stanford will be out. It’s cool to come back. I’ll be giving it my best effort. It’s full circle from when I was six years old starting with a club in San Jose. The opportunity to compete here is a unique and fun position to be in.

PJ: How did you get started in gymnastics?

Josh: Both my sisters [Kira and Mikka] did gymnastics when I was like 4 or 5 years old. I just saw them and I’d go home and try to flip around in the backyard trying to do what I saw them and others do at the gym. The daredevil inside of me wanted to walk on my hands and flip around. My parents wanted to put me in a safe environment to do these things so they signed me up.

PJ: What is it about gymnastics that you love?

Josh: At this level you have to have the passion. Otherwise, you wouldn’t get this far. It’s always changing…every four years. It’s about striving for perfection. It’s a unique sport as it challenges you mentally, emotionally, and physically on a daily basis. Not sure how to articulate what makes it stick. I just love the sport.

PJ: How did you end up at Stanford?

Josh: Being from this area I always saw Stanford and Cal through our clubs. I thought someday I wanted to compete at that level. I wanted to stay in California to compete and these were two top-notch academic and gymnastics universities. Other schools recruited me [Michigan, Ohio State, etc.], but Stanford had everything. The Athletic Department is state-of-the-art in every sport. There is no better place to get an education and discover what you want to do in and out of the classroom. Another draw was that six of us came from the junior national team and there was the opportunity to create a dynasty for the next four years…another plus.

PJ: What was it about the program that lifted you to the next level?

Josh: Much of the credit goes to our Assistant Coach J.D. Reive, who is now the head coach at Iowa. He was the mastermind behind our success. He had the workouts all laid out for the entire year. He knows how to develop athletes and bring out their potential. A few of us [including Alex Buscaglia] worked with J.D. in a small group for two or three years. He brought excellence out of us. He is knowledgeable and is always finding new ways to develop juniors into national team level gymnasts. It’s a huge transition from junior level. You come in and have confidence and think it will be easy. But, once you are there you realize all the hard work…I need to push myself and then some to compete at the senior level. He just instilled this into us from Day 1.

PJ: How special was the 2011 NCAA Team Title?

Josh: It’s hard to describe how much the team jelled in three years. We lost the National Championship at home freshman year, then won in 2009, and was edged out by Michigan in 2010. In 2011, the seniors had one focus…to lead the team in this collective effort. We focused all year and knew in the back of our mind that there was no stopping us. If we hit, we win. The first day we were only up by six points and won the finals by three points. It was a huge testament to how deep our team was. We had at least eight guys per event that were the top scorers in the country. The competition in our own training gym was tougher than Nationals. When we were freshman there was so much hype on our team. It was expected that we would win all year [and we didn’t]. As seniors we were in position to lead our team and we had the utmost confidence. It was an amazing experience and I would do the four years again in a heartbeat.

PJ: Floor seems to be one of your strengths. You finished first at the 2006, 2007, and 2010 Visa Championships; second in the 2011 Winter Cup Challenge; and first in the 2012 National Qualifier. Is this your favorite event?

Josh: It’s one of my favorites. I picked up quickly. I am naturally powerful and understand the technique and can replicate it quicker than other events. Although, I do have a love/hate relationship with floor as it gave me one of my most traumatic injuries. I tore my Achilles. Last April a few weeks after the NCAA Championships I was at camp and pushing towards the summer…a chance to make the world team. It’s been both the worst and best thing to happen to me in the gym. In the big picture it helped me rededicate to the sport.

I spent the entire summer learning how to walk, then run, then get back up on my toes, again. There were a lot of questions…do I want to continue to do gymnastics? I’ve had a successful career—I made the National team and a rewarding collegiate career. How many people can say they won a championship two out of four years? It made me appreciate my ability to do gymnastics. I rededicated myself to the dream I had as a child to make the National team and the Olympics. It was a long process. I enjoyed pushing myself to get back. I’m happy I didn’t give up when I had the chance.

PJ: What was your mindset during recovery?

Josh: My focus was one day at a time…how can I improve on yesterday? Typically the recovery time is eight months to a year to come back from this injury…to have some power level and to take the pounding of gymnastics. In January and February people were impressed at how far I’d come. It’s so crazy to think about it that I’ve scratched the surface to meet my goals…to be mentally and physically strong enough to get here. Yet at the same time, I have to put my head down and work harder. I haven’t reached all my goals yet.

PJ: What do you think your chances are to make the Olympic team?

Josh: There is so much depth, talent, and so many competitors. And, competitors with more experience who have been doing this longer than me. At the same time, I’m putting forth the best effort I can to make the team.

PJ: You recently came out. What there anything in the timing of this that was important?

Josh: I came out to a lot of my friends and teammates in September of 2010, the beginning of my senior year in college. It was a big weight off my shoulders. Another student-athlete I was seeing at the time helped me through that process. I did the interview two months before it was published [by Outsport]. It had nothing to do with timing…I think that I just hadn’t been competing for a while so they waited to publish.

A friend of mine who is now at Harvard, said I was in a unique position in the LGBT community to be a huge role model in sports. It was interesting to see someone approach me and saw I was a role model in gymnastics and could be an even bigger role model to help break down boundaries…that it’s OK and not a big deal. That was my motivation behind it. To me, I’m glad I could be a role model for a bigger crowd. I’m focused on gymnastics, I worked for this my entire life and it’s not that big of a deal.

PJ: Do you have any advice for younger gymnasts?

Josh: Not settling, especially as this sport is changing so quickly. You need to have the internal drive for gymnastics. If you really love it and want to do it, you’ll wake up each day always improving. Think about how much better you can be today than you were yesterday. Learning, being open to changes, focusing on the details will help you get to a very high level.

PJ: Do you have a routine to prepare?

Josh: Visualization. I had a coach when I was eight who instilled this in me. I relax, block out distractions right before my routine. It’s muscle memory and focusing on one skill at a time. Too much thinking is when mistakes happen. Countless hours of work is done, I turn off my mind and let it go.

Glen Ishino...and the Two-Minute Drill

His older siblings all excelled in sports, so it was just natural that Glen follow suit. All four Ishino kids took gymnastics. All four competed at the collegiate level (his brother, Gian, wrestled). And, two, are in elite company…those who have competed to make an Olympic team.

His sister, Allyse, was an alternate for the 2004 Olympic women’s gymnastics team and competed at Stanford—his rival school.

Glen in the midst
of a circle on pommel.

“There really isn’t too much of a rivalry,” said Glen, who is a Cal Bear. “My oldest sister [Genine] also went to Cal, so when we are at family gatherings we bug Allyse a little about the rivalry stuff. But, it’s not a big deal. We just tease her a little.”

We’ll try to keep this on the down low for all those who uphold this rivalry and for the Cal Bears who wouldn’t be caught dead wearing Stanford red.

As an older sister who has been there, Allyse has offered advice to Glen along the way.

“When I went to college, she warned me that it would be different than competing in high school,” he said. “The major change was that in high school you were competing for yourself and in college it’s for the entire team. Your teammates have faith in you to hit your routine and you have faith in them that they will hit their routines. It’s a different dynamic and it took me a while to get used to. In the National events [like Olympic Trials], it’s different…it is for you.”

Coming out of high school, Glen was the No. 1 junior gymnast in the country. He has won the all-around at the 2008 US Championships. Glen trained at SCATS Gymnastics in Huntington Beach, CA, and that seemed to make a difference.

“I had two great coaches, Grigor [Chalikyan] and Albert [Avchain],” he said. “And, the facility is great. It’s huge and they have good equipment. Every piece of equipment has a pit, which is good for development. The combination of the coaches and the equipment made it easier to become top in the nation.”

Although, it wasn’t just high-level training that molded this champion. A certain toy seemed to help develop his skills for pommel horse--his best event, as evidenced by his first place finishes at the 2012 NCAA championship and the 2012 Winter Cup Challenge.

“My parents bought a Little Mushroom, a child’s pommel horse,” Glen said. “My brother helped me with circles and that excelled me and my niche for pommel. Things came easier and it was fun.

“For the U.S. team, we’ve been weaker on pommel, for whatever reason,” he continued. “It’s kind of my trump card that I’m good in pommel. Although, high bar is my favorite.”

At Cal, Glen continued to compete at a high-level. In 2009 he was the NCAA all-around silver medalist. In 2010, he was the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Gymnast of the Year and won the MPSF all-around title; 2010 National pommel horse bronze medalist; the 2010 Pan American Championships pommel horse champion and all-around silver medalist; and the 2010 NCAA pommel horse silver medalist. In 2012, he was also the 2012 NCAA high bar silver medalist.

While many gymnasts take the year before the Olympics to train, Glen opted to compete for Cal this year. Once the season was over he could focus on his individual goal…to make the Olympic team. And, this change of focus hasn’t changed his preparation.

“This year I approached it step-by-step,” he said. “The collegiate season was very important. At times I got selfish and was thinking ahead [to the Olympic Trials], but I took it meet by meet. After the NCAAs I thought…ok now that competing for Cal is done, I have time to focus on me and competing for the Trials.

“For collegiate it is more about consistency and higher hit percentage is better for team,” he continued. “This is less about the team, more about risk. I put in more difficulties and higher skills, but overall not too much has changed from the NCAAs to Trials on my routines. My training has stayed the same. I train all around all year as my body permits. The biggest change is the little injuries that add up and take you by surprise. I have to be careful not to overwork and be smart with my training plan. A year ago my grip snapped on the high bar and I hyper-extended my back. I was pulled out of all-around mode and stuck to pommel and a few other events. The coach put me on a good training schedule and I recovered quickly. In the past it took a long time to come back.”

So, what is it that keeps Glen pushing forward?

“I love so many things [about gymnastics],” he said. “I am performer and I love being at big meets where the crowds go crazy. I love when I hit my routine and see the reaction I get from them. You can never be perfect and someone can always beat you. You are always working with the code changing and no one can stay on top for too long. I’m always trying to be more consistent. It’s an endless game for me.”

And, he’s excited about competing at the Olympic Trials in San Jose, CA, in front of a home crowd.

"It’s my first time competing locally,” Glen said. “I am excited to see a lot more family and friends in the stands. My teammates have already bought tickets. So many arms of support in the stands…it’s a lot different that I’m used to. It’s exciting to think about.”

Alex Buscaglia...and the Two-Minute Drill

Typically when people face adversity and use sports to help them overcome, it is one tragic event that occurs. Not a series of tragic events. For Alex Buscaglia one tragic event was just the first domino to fall. First his mom died of cancer, then his dad left him and his sister, then his brother left, and then he was forced to move. All of this happened within a short time period when in he was in high school and any of these would be enough to make you give up and quit on everything, including the sport you love. But not Alex…he preserved against all the odds.

Alex concentrating on rings.

He qualified for the Junior Olympic National Championships in 2005 and 2006 and was recruited by one of the top collegiate programs in the nation—Stanford. And, while at Stanford Alex’s accomplishments grew to include:

·         Two NCAA team titles (2009 and 2011)

·         Six-time All-American

·         College Gymnastics Association Gymnast of the Week for the final week of the 2011 season

·         Team title at the 2010 Pan American Championships and first on the horizontal bar

·         Second in horizontal bar at 2011 Winter Cup Challenge

…and numerous US National Qualifier firsts and seconds in horizontal bar, vault, and floor exercise.

I spent some time with Alex prior to the US Gymnastic Olympic Trials to learn more about his journey.

PJ: What draws you to gymnastics?

Alex: My mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 when I was 14 years old. And, she died nine months later in 2004. She got me started in gymnastics…she pushed me every day. On days I didn’t want to go, she’d say…go back one more day and see how you feel. In gymnastics you can control how much you push yourself. Life is uncertain…gymnastics was the one thing I could control. I couldn’t control my mom dying. I couldn’t control my dad leaving. I couldn’t control my brother leaving. I couldn’t control moving. And, for right now I can still control how much effort I put in.

PJ: What will you remember most about competing at Stanford?

Alex: The environment in general at Stanford…it was not to expect too little of myself. I didn’t have only one area of focus. I was in a better mental place in the gym because I was not thinking about gymnastics all the time. I had tests to take. My coaches and teammates pushed me. Greatness is expected here. It is an enriched, high-level environment. You want to be the best you can be…this shaped my time here.

The NCAA is not about personal achievement, it’s about the team. In our senior class there were five of us who led us to Stanford’s 100^th National Championship. So many teams during that 2010-2011 season had the opportunity to win No. 100, but couldn’t do it. When our time came, we seized the opportunity. That is etched in my mind.

PJ: In 2011 you won the NCAA title on the horizontal bar and in 2010 at the Pan American Games you won the gold. Why do you think you excel in this event?

Alex: I’ve been asked that before and I really don’t know how to answer it. I don’t spend more time there. Although, what I think actually made me good is that I am not very naturally strong. I think not having natural strength makes me work harder and helps me excel.

PJ: What do you think about during a routine?

Alex: Before a routine, my mind is racing. What do I remember after? Not really anything. During I think about my breathing, that’s it. I read this book…Internal Warrior about a gymnast. His mind was the most quiet…in the arena…when he was competing. At that point, you’ve done all the practicing and you switch to an automatic mode. Not “trying” to do well, because when you try you make a mistake.

PJ: How does it feel to have made the Trials and be competing for a spot on the Olympic team?

Alex: It’s hard to describe. You work so hard and dream of the Olympics when you are younger. There are so many steps along the way. And, great gymnasts get cut. You don’t think about that when you are younger. I feel so privileged to be in any discussion about the Olympic team. To compete at the Trials with 15 people, every four years and so many people have come before you. It’s humbling that I am 1 of 15 people. This alone is a dream.

PJ: You had a rough outing at the Winter Cup Challenge, then came back and finished well at the Visa Championships to make it into the Trials. What happened and how were you able to turn things around?

Alex: I took last year off from finishing school to give this dream a real shot. Having all that time off, not having distractions was hard for me to adjust to. There was nothing to take my mind off gymnastics. It was challenging. I only had gymnastics…that was it. I think I hit only 4 of 12 routines at Winter Cup. I changed my [training] routine…I competed in London at a large international competition, an Olympic test event [filling in at the last minute], came back and was at camp four days later, then Winter Cup was a week later. I think I was mentally strained and kind of collapsed. I knew something wasn’t right. After that I realized…this is it. I won’t be around in four years to try for Rio. My career is coming to a close, whether I make the Olympics or not. At Visa I was excited to be there. In all the videos you will see me smiling after all my routines. I was one of 45 to 50 people to compete for the Trials. That’s what really drove me from February’s Winter Cup to now.

PJ: What is your mindset now, going into the Trials?

Alex: We are going from 15 people to 5…even to be an alternate is a huge deal. Taking a note from Buddha, I am going to be in the arena…be there…not be two weeks down the road possibly at the Olympics. I am going to enjoy the atmosphere. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to be there. I am going to enjoy it.

Raj Bhavsar….and the Two-Minute Drill

As we embark on another summer Olympics and are in the midst determining the athletes that will represent the USA in London, it seemed like the right time to share this conversation I had with Raj Bhavsar, a 2008 Olympic men’s gymnastics bronze medalist.

Raj on the rings at the Olympics.

Raj has seen much success in his gymnastics career…from taking second in the team title in the 1999 Pan American Games, taking silver medals in the team event at the 2001 and 2003 World Championships, to a team title at the 2008 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships, and, of course, was an alternate for the 2004 Olympics.

On the collegiate level, Raj competed at Ohio State, led them to a team title in 2001 and won the individual title on the parallel bars. In 2002, Raj won the all-around title, while the team lost out on repeating by the narrowest of margins (less than a point) to Oklahoma.

Raj is also known for two gymnastics elements, which are named after him. “The Bhavsar” on the still rings was created in 2003 and “The Bhavsar” on parallel bars was created and performed in 2009 at the Moscow World Cup.

After Raj reached the pinnacle…the Olympics and winning a medal…he faced the question that all top athletes ignore until it’s all over. What’s next?

I sat down with Raj to learn more about his experience at the Olympics and how he is dealing with his life after gymnastics.

PJ: How did your gymnastics journey begin?

Raj: It all started when I was four years old and not really by choice. I was an active kid and climbed all over the house…on furniture…and bookshelves. Kind of like a monkey. My parents took me to gymnastics class to get me out of the house…not with the idea of competing. I fell in love with the sport. It was awesome and the coaches instilled the love of the sport in me. A lot came easy to me. I had natural strength. So, the coaches said they’d like me to be on the team. I won state five times, regionals three times, etc. The results spoke to me…everything was telling me to take it to the highest level. Olympians would come and talk to us and I wanted to be the guy going to the gym talking to kids.

PJ: Tell me about the Ohio State gymnastics program.

Raj: It was the only school at the time that was consistently producing Olympians…Kip Simmons, Blaine Wilson, Jamie Natalie. It has a history of this. I just didn’t want to be a collegiate gymnast…I wanted to be an Olympian. The coaching staff was awesome [Miles Avery was head coach]. They worked well together not allowing me to settle just be an NCAA gymnast. They made sure that the level of gymnastics they kept us to was a high standard.


One-armed on the horizontal bar.

Of course, I was fortunate as all my coaches instilled in me the love of gymnastics and that it didn’t matter what scores I got, it was the journey. Being grateful to be able to do gymnastics was my foundation. I was coming from a place of gratitude for every meet…just having this ability, to come this far was humbling.

PJ: You were an alternate in both 2004 and 2008. In 2008 you got the call to compete. How did you handle being an alternate the second time around?

Raj: Yes, I was an alternate both times. It’s a lot for any human being to endure. There was a rollercoaster of emotions. It made my journey to the Olympics so special. I retired in 2005 and 2006 out of frustration. It was an up and down journey to the chapter closing better than I could have expected…winning an Olympic medal.

In 2008 after the excitement died down of being called…I realized it was a mission…the biggest job of my life. It was thrilling and nerve-racking at the same time. But, I was ready; I stayed on top of my game, which allowed me to perform at such a high level. I joined the guys on the team in San Jose for Olympic processing before going to Beijing. I remember going through so much and although I was very healthy I caught strep throat. I don’t know how, but I guess the range of emotions had something to do with it. Luckily we didn’t compete for two weeks, so I took medication and was OK.

PJ: What was it like to compete in the Olympics?

Raj: The Olympics are in a class of its own. However, when you break it down it truly is just a competition and I was very familiar with competition. Certainly I wouldn’t say the energy is the same. Being in the Olympic village, hanging out with other athletes and to be able to represent your country…is special. You have to use your tools to manage your nerves. There are a lot more chips on the line at the Olympics, for sure.


We had two injury replacements…we lost the Hamm twins, who were the front runners on the team. Alexander Artemev and I were both called to the team. So, we had six guys…all rookies. We were counted out by the general media and our own gymnastics community back home. We were reading this on the Internet. But, we had a team meeting and claimed this “Our own Olympics.” We formed a brotherhood and it was about sticking together. That spirit carried over as we competed. It was magical. We were having an excellent competition. We built so much momentum…the opportunity happened and we continued to stick together and clinched bronze. We went from the underdogs to getting bronze. For us it was gold!

When I get a chance to talk to folks about giving up on a dream…I tell them you never know. I almost gave up. My flame dwindled, but the fire was still there pulling me towards this.

PJ: What happened after the Olympics, after your career as a gymnast was over?

Raj: As athletes we are truly committed…usually so committed to that moment that you are not focused on Plan B, just Plan A. I remember starting to thinking about what I would do after this. I got sidetracked so put it aside. I had to be committed 100% to gymnastics to compete at that level. What is next is difficult to answer. I found myself still going into the gym, still doing it. I enjoyed it for the sake of it. I did some gymnastics shows, which I enjoyed—you could break the rules and were more like an artist. I thought about Cirque…what was it like? Would it be a fit? It seemed like an adventure.

I continued to do speeches, clinics, and promotional work after the Olympics. I was riding the wave…it was not what I wanted to do forever. I wanted a career I could fall in love with like gymnastics. So, I put together a reel and submitted it to Cirque. I knew I wanted to live/work in Los Angeles. I loved it there. They [the folks at Cirque] came back and wanted me to be on the team for the Iris show in Los Angeles.

One dream, the Olympics came true, now another one was staring me in the face. I had to make the decision…so I joined Cirque and went all in with them. It is an incredible opportunity…hanging out with artists. It is the most creative experience. I know this has a shelf life and I still am left with the question of what’s next. I am lucky to be with Cirque now, but I still ask myself almost every day…what’s next?

PJ: I know you have been working with Kurt David, a counselor and advisor, who helps former athletes in determining what to do when the cheering stops. Tell me about what it’s like to work with him.

Raj: I was referred to Kurt in 2008 by a dear friend and trusted confidant, Robert Andrews, a sports performance counselor [founder and director of The Institute of Sports Psychology®]. Robert gave me an objective view when I was too emotional. He has helped me immensely. I wouldn’t have achieved my title without him. As I am no longer competing, Robert thought I should talk to Kurt. It was exactly what I needed. I was living in Houston in an apartment in a nice area, traveling the world and doing great things, but something was missing. Sometimes I would sit in my apartment and be very introspective. Kurt reassured me that what I was going through was normal. I was confused. I thought the medal would bring me happiness, but you have to work for it, it’s not just there. In no way was I different from other athletes. He shares stories of other athletes who have been through this. I have a lot of faith in Kurt.

It’s not Kurt’s job to tell you here’s what you should do, he’s not career placement. He’s a guide, an advisor. You ask specific questions and use your previous athletic life and channel that into what is next. It’s remarkable what he’s doing. When athletes finish playing is when most people their age have it all figured out. So it can be daunting. What Kurt does is immensely powerful and all athletes can benefit from it.

Every single athlete I’ve talked to misses sports to a degree. It’s who they are, what they did in sports. Kurt facilitates what to do post-glory days.

I'm Back!

I’m back. After a hiatus of nearly three months, I am back writing and in the game. Thanks for reading and sticking with me during this time.


Michael Jordan flying to the hoop.

Over the next few weeks you’ll see a flurry of activity in this space. Some things to stay tuned for are posts on the Olympics, former athletes, soccer, and some surprises.

I just had to use the phrase “I’m Back!” For Bulls fans these are some of the sweetest words we’ve ever heard. These were the words in Michael Jordan’s press release announcing that he was returning to the NBA and to the Bulls. His first game back at home was March 24, 1995, vs. the Orlando Magic. I was there. I was fortunate to have a good friend on the inside who told me weeks before that Michael was coming back and the exact date. My brother, Tom, and nephew, Josh, and I bought tickets to the game. We were part of the crowd that night and witnessed a special evening.

I was also there the day in 1998 when Sammy Sosa hit homers 61 and 62 in a 10-inning game against the Milwaukee Brewers, to tie Mark McGwire in that record breaking year. Well, technically I was on a rooftop on Sheffield Avenue across the street from Wrigley Field. Close enough. That day the crowd just cheered and didn’t want to leave.

Another I was there moment came in 2004 on the second to last day of the baseball season. I was at Dodger Stadium when the Dodgers beat their rivals, the SF Giants, to win the National League West pennant. Another day the crowd wouldn’t leave…we all waited and cheered and were the first to buy the locker room t-shirts and hats.

I know I have quite a few other moments…we all do. What are your I was there moments?