I Was Wrong About Greg Glassman 

What’s is ironic, if GG would have not stepped down, eventually all those athletes that said they were not gonna compete in CF would have ended up competing anyway bc there isn’t anywhere else to go in this sport except the CF games.. he should have stayed

If you need a click bait video idea... In a way the NSCA won. I used to show up to the gym and we would have some wacky fun wod like practice cartwheels. We might run backwards. Bear crawls were a thing. We might push a car around the parking lot. We might flip tires. The whole wod might just be 100 burpee pullups. Sometimes it took longer than the hour class time to finish, but you finished. Rarely did it make sense. But it didn't matter. It was fun and people kept showing up and because of that they got fit and healthy. Now I believe most gyms follow some paid program. Those programs need to 1) always be structured and fill up an hour. 2) always use the most common gym equipment 3) program for limited space 4) eliminate movements that aren't in the Sport 5) have a specific measurable goal for this "cycle". Every day is similar. Basically adjust the weight percentage by +/- to what you did last week with a different tempo or rep range. It's progressive overload of the same shit you've been doing the past 2 months. It seems like something you would read straight out of an NSCA manual. Eventually that cycle ends and you repeat it all again focusing on a different muscle or lift. It's smart programming. It's structured. It's more professional. That also means it's repetitive and in some aspects the opposite of how CrossFit was envisioned by Greg. That 30 page pdf that's out there somewhere.... It's packed with a ton of stuff, but constantly varied is one of the themes. Another theme is the concept that "routine is the enemy". A routine implies doing the same thing over and over again. To be fit and healthy you certainly do have to be in a routine with some general principles. You need to not eat like an idiot and you also need to show up and do the fitness. I think showing up is the hardest thing to accomplish. If people show up the fitness will come. It doesn't really matter what they do. If they keep showing up they keep paying their membership. It's in almost everyone's best interest to Make CrossFit Fun Again. MCFA. It don't know if you could put that on a hat. It doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but it's all yours if you want it :) I think people came to the affiliate and kept coming back to the affiliate in large part because every day was different. The "paid programming" have become very much like a traditional routine. They just throw CrossFit movements into the same pattern that most people were sick of the monotony of the traditional fitness routines. Everyday is 20 minutes of lifting and then a medium length wod. You gotta fill the hour. You get push pull days. You get upper lower splits. You have Monday squats. Tuesday upper body. Wednesday longer cardio. Thursday Oly. Friday partner wod. Over and over and over again. It's similar to how you mentioned mainsite became Cindy and every variation of Cindy. All the time Cindy. It was boring. Or how you would take pieces of main site and mash them up for a Sunday WOD that looked fun. Why? Because fun is more important than adding 5 pounds to your snatch over the next 10 weeks.

I do not know enough to have a solid opinion on what happened when Glassman was run out of Crossfit. I have never met the guy or was involved in any part of the situation that resulted from his statement. However, he did create probably one of the best things to happen in the health and fitness arena. The methodology was cutting edge which is lacking now in this corporate atmosphere that Crossfit is in now. Since his departure, Crossfit has lost its swagger and the Crossfit Kool-Aid has lost its sweetness. Right or wrong, I would still thank Mr. Glassman because he has saved my life and countless others who have adopted the methodology. Thanks

Glassman's comment was truth , nothing describes what was happening better.

I read the thead on twitter that day and understood what he was trying to do. So frustrating that people are so quick to judge. Cancel culture is so stupid.

Greg built a company. Other people wanted his company. Greg made a comment. The people who wanted him out took advantage of the situation and saw an opportunity. This isn’t about Floyd. It’s just business

Never Apologize to the mob

Great insights in the video, Glassman had an innovative idea that turned into a prioritized mission and a vision that nobody understood and had a huge backlash from the fitness industry because it brought an alternative methodology that is not dependent on the commercial gym infrastructure. If we wanna ask a question in 2022, does Glassman's vision = the current status of Crossfit as a sport and affiliates worldwide?

We love you Andrew Hiller you put it together so well!!!! Merry Christmas 🎄

Dude that cut together of the constantly varied, functional moments, high intensity … “WHO!?” Hahaha that was brilliant dude 😂 great job

But Greg’s “sin” was firing the media group (and Sevan), the ONLY people who were promoting….which was the stupidest thing EVER

I thought at the time, as you so rightly say, Coach Glassman, was just connecting the dots to what was unfolding at the time and was so obvious to many. Those who jumped on the bandwagon with such knee jerk, holier-than-thou reactions apparently have no ability to think critically for themselves and probably even now cannot see those dots let alone connect any of them. As one who was unceremoniously kicked out of my Crossfit box for choosing not to take the jab, I am absolutely disillusioned over their claims to Crossfit being all about health and community. GG had the balls to stay true to himself and his creation.

Its been a while, but the way I remember it, it felt like Greg was having high friction with many affiliates, and I think affiliates just wanted a reason to de affiliate and his twitter was just the excuse affiliate owners were looking for. In my eyes it was a Franchise/Franchisee war that had a crazy way of ending.

Even mayhem jumped on this train and I absolutely hated it. You said it exactly right, EVERYONE STOPPED CRITICAL THINKING. Just accept the narrative and be a coward if you don’t. Sucks it went down like that

Brilliant analysis Andrew, and masterful editing. Good dude

i miss coach

Passion. Feeling the passion with this one. Good on you my guy. Keep the truth normal 😉💪🏼

One of your best 👍🏻👍🏻. Spot on.

Loved this video and how honest you are. Thank you and keep it up!

I had to pause this video for a moment because I hadn’t seen Moneyball until a couple days ago and man am I glad I saw it. Great movie and great video!

If you are going to reference Dahmer, at least get in character and wear the blue light glasses.

I don't/didn't understand what Floyd-19 means. What I observed was a guy basically giving people an answer for a serious problem in our society: obesity/metabolic syndrome. I just can't figure out why people think Greg is a hater. He inspired me to start a nonprofit CrossFit box, that I ran for over 5 years, to help others find fitness and improve their lives, too. So, thank you Greg. Good content Hiller.

“Love is a Maze, and life is a riddle”🤷🏽‍♂️

I knew nothing of CF back then but did read the tweet and got what he meant. The woke need to get some rest before they use their brains again. smh

August. Can’t wait.

Hiller, did you listen to Andy Stumpf's podcast episode when he added his take on Greg and some of the stuff he witnessed behind the scenes?

I feel like a lot of people in the comment section think that Glassman stepped down because of the Floyd-19 tweet. However, he stepped down because of the silence of CrossFit HQ around Black Lives Matter (which disappointed lots of members and affiliate owners), several other controversial tweets that he sent out around the time he also sent Floyd-19 tweet, and (perhaps most importantly) hostile behavior towards HQ staff and affiliate owners (partially in the aftermath of his controversial tweets). It seems a lot of people have forgotten about all of the above except for the Floyd-19 tweet.

Ok, long response… so, I can see two sides here. I know of some coaches who’ve had dealings with Coach Glassman that were less than optimal. There were some other alligations, bad behaviour on the part of Coach’s entourage and then CF Rocket came with an email exchange. I found this all very irreconcilable with what I’ve seen on videos. There was also talk about nda’s. But he did do a lot for business owners and especially women stength. So, it’s sad.

Full circle.

Bravo sir!

For me, all the way from 2008, Coach Glassman stuck with the affiliates. He says why he did,,, because they WERE Crossfit. Look for his comments when he had Crossfit N, S, E, and W. He thought that was great because people were getting fit. Remember this was the era of casino like gyms with mirrors, neon lighting, carpets and row after row of machines with a polyester soundtrack. The crossfit athletes were a way of advertising the crossfit method!. "Get off the carbs and the couch!" But they were never what Crossfit was about. Who cared what the few thought about Glassman. Not me. Not the millions who showed up every day for their workout. In short (too late) Crossfit needs to get back on message!

Glassman is so intelligent, and the methodology of CrossFit is something to behold. I never agreed with him stepping down and never understood why so many affiliates put the pressure on him. Am I just naïve, uninformed, or does this also make me a racist? I think if you dug deep enough you would probably find out that everyone up at HQ still communicates with Glassman on a regular basis. He is the most INTERESTING MAN IN THE WORLD!!

Great analysis. The salt shaker stays.

Ooooohhh upgraded camera and set up?!

Man, condense Thank goodness for 2x speed

This is video is awesome 🤘🏽🔥

WAS too painful for me that moment, I always on his side never changed, till today. I just don't wEAR a Cf t-shirt so proudly as I used to be .

You lose me when you compare Glassman to Liver King, then compare Glassman to Billy Beane. Some people might think you're indirectly comparing Liver King to Billy Beane, which I think would be far from close.

What drove me nuts was that GG wasn’t given time to apologize, make a statement, or do whatever. Affiliates all over jumped ship without a second thought, many of which still are unaffiliated. None of us needed to know where CrossFit stood on BLM. That is for you and your affiliate to discuss in your community. GG saved my life and gave me access to health education that no school would ever teach. Thanks for ruining CF woke culture.

And Glassman sold his vision and voluntarily distanced himself from it so that Crossfit would be saved and continue to live on. Speaking of killing Jesus…

It's not a shame that he is gone. The methodology isn't going to change, GG was a not great person who said awful things and finally people felt they were able to stand up to it. I realize this is an echo chamber here, so most likely won't be seen as valid, but health outcomes are vastly lower for people of color systemically throughout our nation, to say otherwise is an absurdity.

Maybe I’m out of the loop, but who is running CrossFit these days? Who ever it is they don’t seem to be the passionate innovative leader Glassman was

Glassman fired Russell Berger for expressing a religious belief. I think that puts him on the wrong side of the debate.

Bravo!!!

Bring back Glassman

Where is coach?

To this day I still don’t understand what the Floyd-19 comment was supposed to mean. And making that tweet the month after George Floyd died was weird. I’m not a GG hater necessarily but I still don’t see why he made that comment/tweet.

I think your clock is broken

And Roza turns CF into 💩and runs and hides

But I would say Greg was effing up big time at that moment anyway….so CF was effed either way. And now CF sucks…

Hero worship is a helluva drug

CrossFit is so romantic

Maybe it wasnt a racist tweet, but at the bare minimum I'd argue poorly timed. You are 100% correct that he's allowed to say and think what he wants, the beauty of Freedom of Speech( within limitation) but what perplexes me is the selling the company. You're right, he took on the NSCA, he took on Coke etc.. But WHY sell it if you didn't do anything wrong and the couple of accusations were without merit. He doesn't owe anyone anything but as a human being and human nature, I for one would love some response to it all.

Racism. Hmm. Racist. Guess Hitler was just misunderstood. Racism its racism motivating people to keep feeling racist views s. Its simple. You are encouraging hate . he doesn't owe an explanation. Are you OK Buddy. Guess Dahmer didn't need an explanation. Brothers you lost it. What's next pedophile just misunderstood. Bro seriously. What's gets me is what Glassman said in his zoom call. That was a manufactured racism on Floyd. Bro he died. Dude literally died of a racist cop. What's hard to understand. Racism. Cross fit is being sold is anyone asking why did Roza give up on Cross fit.

Click bait

Maybe Greg should’ve stuck to talking about health and fitness.

Better comparison: Turing? 🤷‍♂️

Yes and “who” were the athletes who had the major reaction…Tia and Katrin the twin harpies! And Matt (a giant POS) and even Rich said nothing.

His girlfriend is a 6 at best! Ugly girlfriend means no confidence…

Snowflakes

I appreciate the sentiment and trying to give a cancelled figure more than one dimension. GG lost the battle when he forgot to read the room. May 2020 was a crazy time for many people and to add to the covid situation that was brand new to everyone, a number of black Americans are killed by the police for no apparent reason. George Floyd was the symbol but not the only case. Breonna Taylor was more symbolic to many of us, a medical worker shot in her bed by 7 policemen by mistake. I think GG was already a polarizing figure but by making the Floyd-19 comment he alienated a lot of his clients and investors and it all hit the fan.

Brave video dude….but you’re not even close to playing for the Yankees

It wasn't just Twitter. People conveniently forget about that. Oh yeah, Floyd-19 in your thumbnail was in really poor taste. Do better

The thumbnail is tacky. why would you put Floyd-19?

Moneyball is totally overrated. They really don't win much.