Cletus_Tucker 890 Report post Posted January 21, 2014 Sounds like A clear case of jealousy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cletus_Tucker 890 Report post Posted January 21, 2014 Sounds like a great deal. So called wrestling fans are actually opposed to his plan? I can't say I'm surprised. people on this site and in our great sport love to tear down others who far exceed what they could ever accomplish. So he's got a free ride to college, will graduate HS a year early, will travel the world training in the sport he loves, and this is frowned upon. A clear case of jealousy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cletus_Tucker 890 Report post Posted January 21, 2014 So called wrestling fans are clear case of jealousy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RetiredPoster 87 Report post Posted January 21, 2014 That article is not good... Pico's father sounds like a typical overzealous father and it sounds like Andy Barth has dipped deep into his pockets... I just find this whole thing to be extremely arrogant and a pipe dream. He has barely wrestled a match nor has he fought a fight and he is being crowned, King. Give me a break! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaroslav Hasek 1,865 Report post Posted January 21, 2014 and the cup of haterade runneth over. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Jensen 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2014 That article is not good... Pico's father sounds like a typical overzealous father and it sounds like Andy Barth has dipped deep into his pockets... I just find this whole thing to be extremely arrogant and a pipe dream. He has barely wrestled a match nor has he fought a fight and he is being crowned, King. Give me a break! Wow? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
armspin 257 Report post Posted January 22, 2014 Dude is the best wrestler on Earth at his age and weight class. That's significant. I'm not informed on whether the MMA agent thing is a good idea or not, but I don't see how the freestyle thing is bad, assuming he doesn't bankrupt his parents or something. Statistically he probably won't win the Olympics but that's true of all wrestlers. USA wrestling at least seems to be on board and think he has world level talent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sgallan 592 Report post Posted January 22, 2014 Good article on Pico especially for those so concerned on the college education issue. http://www.defensesoap.com/grapplegnostic/?p=735 So according to this article, Pico has: - Restructured his studies with the collaboration of his high school to complete his diploma requirements and graduate HS - Negotiated a free ride to a top university (UCLA or USC), which he plans to attend as he trains for freestyle - Signed contracts to earn some income from sponsorships already, which he plans to save and invest - Negotiated all travel expenses to and from training and competition venues for both himself and his coach - Restructured his training regimen to advance in the sport he cares most about, freestyle, and forgo the brutal wear and tear of D1 folkstyle, which he does not care much about - Set an ambitious but realistic goal (for someone of his precocious talents) of making an impact by the 2020 Olympics, which he has communicated to his sponsors to set expectations, giving himself six years - Is living his dream and having the time of his life In summary, he gets a free college education, a chance to maximize his enormous potential in the sport he loves most, and has his college degree to fall back on after wrestling if MMA, for which he already has a contract and relationship with one of the best agenst in the business, does not pan out. And people criticize this???? If my kid could follow suit, I would be the happiest dad in the world. I, for one, will be rooting for Pico to achieve his goals. If you can read this article and still think he and his family’s decisions are stupid and not in his best interest you have a very myopic view on life. Actually I think your vanilla everybody should be exactly the same views as myopic and stupid..... but I support your right to be so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sgallan 592 Report post Posted January 22, 2014 That article is not good... Pico's father sounds like a typical overzealous father and it sounds like Andy Barth has dipped deep into his pockets... I just find this whole thing to be extremely arrogant and a pipe dream. He has barely wrestled a match nor has he fought a fight and he is being crowned, King. Give me a break! I fully support your right to be a troll.... but I would suggest you work on your craft. I actually respect talented trolls (this forum has had several really good ones over the years). Transparent trolls are boring. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TripNSweep 466 Report post Posted January 22, 2014 I wasn't rooting against the guy, I was just hoping that he wasn't being exploited and wouldn't have anything to show for it if he was injured or decided he didn't want to wrestle anymore. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HuskyHero133 52 Report post Posted January 22, 2014 It would be pretty cool if Pico wins Gold for the US... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GranbyTroll 430 Report post Posted January 22, 2014 I actually respect talented trolls (this forum has had several really good ones over the years). Transparent trolls are boring. Thank you for the kind words. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RetiredPoster 87 Report post Posted January 22, 2014 That article is not good... Pico's father sounds like a typical overzealous father and it sounds like Andy Barth has dipped deep into his pockets... I just find this whole thing to be extremely arrogant and a pipe dream. He has barely wrestled a match nor has he fought a fight and he is being crowned, King. Give me a break! I fully support your right to be a troll.... but I would suggest you work on your craft. I actually respect talented trolls (this forum has had several really good ones over the years). Transparent trolls are boring. I'm no troll..I am actually concerned for the kid. I hope he wins Gold medals from now until eternity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Voice_of_the_Quakers 66 Report post Posted January 22, 2014 That article is not good... Pico's father sounds like a typical overzealous father and it sounds like Andy Barth has dipped deep into his pockets... I just find this whole thing to be extremely arrogant and a pipe dream. He has barely wrestled a match nor has he fought a fight and he is being crowned, King. Give me a break! I fully support your right to be a troll.... but I would suggest you work on your craft. I actually respect talented trolls (this forum has had several really good ones over the years). Transparent trolls are boring. I'm no troll..I am actually concerned for the kid. I hope he wins Gold medals from now until eternity Retired Poster, I believe your concern for the kid is genuine. However, Pico (and Kyle Snyder) have no business continuing to wrestle high school age competition - it will do them no good in helping them achieve their short and long term athletic goals. I guess Pico could've gotten his GED and entered college early to continue to compete, but 1) if the Olympics arehis most important wrestling goal, and 2) understanding the Olympics are now a professional endeavor, I think this is his best option. (Likewise, I am curious as to how long Snyder will compete on the collegiate level if he truly wants to contend for the 2016 team.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RetiredPoster 87 Report post Posted January 23, 2014 I am just wondering why Cook and Zinkin would pay him a salary for MMA, if he is wrestling..It seems too risky to me. Six to eight years of salary(before possibly earning prize money) for travel, training, living expenses, etc..Is a great deal of cash.. The investment risk and ROI are not balancing out for me....I am not trolling, just trying to figure it out. OK, here is how I see it...Cook and Zinkin are Ringling Bros Circus(MMA)......Pico is a young, talented feline tamer...they pay him a salary, but send him to another circus(Wrestling) to hone his skills working with a cougar or mountain lion......preparing him to come back to Ringling Bros. to work in the big lion cage in 6-8 years. HAHAH Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaroslav Hasek 1,865 Report post Posted January 23, 2014 do you actually have any financial data to conduct a meaningful ROI? if so, i'd be very much interested in seeing your calculations. i think a better analogy would be an agent that signs a teenager in high school or in the dominican republic, even though there is a minuscule chance each individual kid ends up with a big MLB payday. it happens all the time. are you worried for those agents as well? so besides being confused about how the business of sports agency works, what are you actually concerned about? that his agents won't make any money? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aztec 20 Report post Posted January 23, 2014 I wasn't rooting against the guy, I was just hoping that he wasn't being exploited and wouldn't have anything to show for it if he was injured or decided he didn't want to wrestle anymore. I'm not the closest person to him, but from what I have observed Aaron has people around him that are looking out for his best long-term interests. It's always smart to be aware that there are people who want to exploit star athletes, but based upon what I have seen he has really good people close to him. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RetiredPoster 87 Report post Posted January 24, 2014 do you actually have any financial data to conduct a meaningful ROI? if so, i'd be very much interested in seeing your calculations. i think a better analogy would be an agent that signs a teenager in high school or in the dominican republic, even though there is a minuscule chance each individual kid ends up with a big MLB payday. it happens all the time. are you worried for those agents as well? so besides being confused about how the business of sports agency works, what are you actually concerned about? that his agents won't make any money? There is ZERO ROI and there won't be for a long time, if he is being paid to be an MMA fighter, while he is only wrestling....It seems like an awful lot of risk, for some "potential" money, way down the road..This is not Baseball..Most people don't care about Wrestling..Wrestling, is a non-revenue generating sport...You do not earn income, unless you win a Gold Medal, and in the big scheme of things, it isn't that much money. So I guess someone is banking on him winning a gold medal..ok, let's say he wins Gold in Rio and then the following year he wins the WC....That's 300K..After Cook and Zinkin's cut, after taxes, etc.....That really isn't that much money. I just think he signed on, too quickly if he wants to wrestle and fight...If he wants to only be a fighter, this would be great. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RetiredPoster 87 Report post Posted January 24, 2014 I only have an MA in Applied Economics, so be patient with me. And yes, I understand business and these numbers, just don't add up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaroslav Hasek 1,865 Report post Posted January 24, 2014 what numbers? you have a very small portion of the whole picture. the professional MMA agents are taking the financial risk and they think the numbers add up. the potential pay off of a top billed MMA fighter is huge. its many years down the road but presumably Pico won't be their only client. thats great you have credentials. with them you wouldnt think you'd have such difficulty appreciating the situation but then here we still are. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RetiredPoster 87 Report post Posted January 24, 2014 If he's wrestling, he's not fighting and earning prize monies and his fight days are for six to eight years down the road. If he's wrestling he is risking injury and there is no guarantee he will earn any money wrestling. I do wish him well..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaroslav Hasek 1,865 Report post Posted January 24, 2014 yes there's a very good chance Pico's agent's dont ever see a payout on their investment. hence risk/reward. if they have a stable portfolio of revenue generating clients, it can be worth it to diversify with some high risk, high payout clients. you dont get rich by investing in Apple stock after the iPhone came out. also the injury risk is a non factor. he has the same injury risk whether he's training in MMA or just wrestling. not sure present value and expected value got covered in your masters classes but those concepts will play heavily into Pico's new agents' decision to sign him as a teenager. but glad to hear we both wish Pico nothing but the best! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old_Marine_Wrestler 245 Report post Posted January 24, 2014 2 Zinkin brothers AA'd for Fresno State. His agent understands the risk(s) of Pico wrestling. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RetiredPoster 87 Report post Posted January 25, 2014 After all this discussion, I am sure you see my point and concern. Over and out. I only wish him well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brew 0 Report post Posted January 25, 2014 It just isn't about prize money. IMO the money will come from sponsorships....which if he is successful on the mat and in the cage will be plentiful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
