So I offered an olympian $1500 for 12 hours.

[tubby_mcgee 685]

To make a long story short. Ended up with phone number of a top notch American athlete. He actually texted me first. Otherwise I wouldn't have his phone number. He is basically one of my kids role models, favorite athletes, etc. The guy (I always thought) was incredibly humble as he came from very humble beginnings. Everything I've seen in interviews, points to him being humble and just a good guy. Not only would the 12 hours of training help my kid....but the fact it is this guy....would be one heckuva morale booster/motivator.

 

He'd is only 10 Americans that qualify for his team. This year isn't an Olympic year, but they still have a competition make the World Team...(same as Olympic team on non-Olympic year)

 

Anyway...text basically was like this:

 

Me: ....would you be willing to work out with my son and one other kid for three 4-hour sessions over the course of 3 days, for $1500 cash?. (We would fly to city where he is).

Him: that sounds like a good deal, when are you thinking?

 

(we then texted for about 3 days straight about dates that work for him, as he is leaving country to compete with his team and currently on a strict training schedule)

We pretty much agreed on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday on a certain weekend.

 

I hadn't heard from him in a while, so...I texted...and

 

Me: Hey...I want to get airline tickets bought, so are we good to go?

Him: please give a detailed text of the financials and what you are looking for exactly.

Me: (So I did, and again said what I said before...$1500/12 hours total across 3 sessions)

Him: To be honest, that's not enough.

Me: So what are you thinking?

Him: At least $200 an hour. I'll be honest, I can make $1000 more than that in one day for the same amount of time.

 

He is referring to camps that I'm sure he goes to schools to do.

I don't want to argue, as that will get me no where...but here is what I want to say "So you have camps lined up those days that you could do instead and make $2500? (He doesn't...and that's my point)

I get that he charges more when he goes to a school and does a camp for their program, etc.

 

He acts like he'd be giving up $1000 by accepting only $1500 But...if he has nothing going on that weekend (he told me he didn't),.... ummm....then he is losing out on an easy $1500?

 

I really can't believe he'd turn down $1500 (especially after his first text said it "sounded good").

And..FYI...I came back and offered what he asked. Only cuz its a once in a lifetime opportunity for my kid.

The kicker....he hasn't replied back.

I'm wondering if he is gonna come back and say 'On third thought, that's not even enough...."

 

 

Also, he doesn't have a job as of yet. He's only training with his team. At some point, he will coach a college team....but that could be a ways off. He's about 24 years old.

[Gladiators 1,900]

Probably a waste of money anyway. Consider this a sign that it wasnt meant to be.

[tubby_mcgee 685]

Probably a waste of money anyway. Consider this a sign that it wasnt meant to be.

 

 

Trust me...that crossed my mind also.

[RaiderHaters Revenge 3,563]

I heard Larry Nassar is available to train your kids for really cheap

[nobody 2,031]

I say just look for a new ryhtmic gymnastics coach.

[tubby_mcgee 685]

I say just look for a new ryhtmic gymnastics coach.

 

 

It's not gymnastics, but I'll keep that in mind.

[MTSkiBum 1,591]

I say just look for a new ryhtmic gymnastics coach.

In North Dakota, probably dressage.

[SenatorRock 708]

So you spend $2500 plus airfare for 3 and hotel and food, (assuming you would want to be there), so in the neighborhood of $5000?

 

That is probably a little more than a family vacation some place nice or Disney World, but comparable to sending 2 kids to a camp during the summer, so the investment isn't that bad, if it is something that could benefit your son in the long run.

 

The main question is if he is nickel and diming on the front end how do you think he will be in person? You would hate to spend that and get there and the dude is half assing the training with a poor attitude. If he has great reviews for the other camps he does and you work out the other details then it could be worth it.

 

 

Is he Michael Phelps wealthy or still trying to make it financially? That could be his reason for negotiating the price. If you like his background and upbringing, and he is a hero to your kid then I say go for it.

 

As the years go by we always remember experiences more than things. This could be an experience you and your son and his friend value for the rest of your lives.

[Bill E. 666]

I know it is not the same but this may be a thought. I get messages all the time from high end fossil collectors asking for something special. I know they are serious and would pay what it is worth. I also know that I have what they want. I just need to find it in my collection, clean it and get photos collect the money and ship it out. So I say Let me look for what you want. But I have so much going on and I have trouble keeping up with the routine day to day stuff. Extra custom requests are tough to do. I also do not always get enough downtime to do what I want. So a lot of the time I just think I will get back to them later. I am not a very organized person and I let a lot slip by. It is not intentional but I can not find the time do everything, so I just try to get the routine stuff done. Then I get distracted and waste time on stupid stuff. If you were to offer me $1500 to take 4 hours out of my schedule for three days to do something that I do not really want to do I would not do it and I am far from a top notch American athlete with a lot of money. His time may mean more to him than the money at this point and him not getting back to you may just be that he put it off for later and is distracted by something else.

[tubby_mcgee 685]

So you spend $2500 plus airfare for 3 and hotel and food, (assuming you would want to be there), so in the neighborhood of $5000?

 

Yeah...I suppose that's about right. Only one of the kids is my kid, but I'm still paying the entire $2500 if he accepts. The airline costs, etc will be shared with parents of other kid.

 

2 kids to a camp during the summer, so the investment isn't that bad, if it is something that could benefit your son in the long run.

 

A "camp" from this guy or equivalent would cost an organization $3000-$5000 for a 3 day camp lasting 6 hours per day (he'd probably bring an assistant also). The organization would collect funds from parents and the costs would be ya know...probably $50 to $100 per kid to attend. The parents would cover that and the organization/club would cover the rest. There'd probably be 20-30 kids...and a lot variables on cost. So the cost would be astronomically less. BUT...each kid would get 1/20th or so of his attention and time. This would be 100% of his time working directly with my kid. "Do this not that, set it up like this, finish like this..."just 12 hours of pinpoint instruction and correction. But of course, the pay out of my pocket is astronomically more.

 

Is he Michael Phelps wealthy or still trying to make it financially? That could be his reason for negotiating the price. If you like his background and upbringing, and he is a hero to your kid then I say go for it.

 

He isn't wealthy now. He is about 24. 2 years out of college. He will get a high paying coaching job at some point. Right now, he can't have a job. He is training. I would imagine the large organization that he is a part of gives him funding of some kind. And...the top D-1 coaches for his sport make $150k - $175k before incentives. He would likely make minimum $100k once he is head coach. May not start as head. May assist....so...prolly cut those numbers 1/3 to 1/2.

 

If you like his background and upbringing, and he is a hero to your kid then I say go for it.

 

As the years go by we always remember experiences more than things. This could be an experience you and your son and his friend value for the rest of your lives.

 

 

That's where I'm at. You said it right there...."remember experiences" and "value for the rest of your lives"

 

 

[wiffleball 4,629]

You know the Catholics will molest your kid for free, right?

[lickin_starfish 1,477]

If you have the disposable income, go ahead and do it for your kid's memory bank. Just be aware that your child most likely isn't anything special athletically, and the only return on investment is the experience of meeting the guy.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

I thought this was gonna be a Caitlyn Jenner prostitution thread.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,552]

You can hire Digby. He'll make believe he's whatever you tell him. Lol.

[penultimatestraw 473]

Why are you so coy about identifying the athlete/sport?

[Alias Detective 1,177]

There is nothing an athlete can teach a kid worth that price over that short period of time.

[Alias Detective 1,177]

Why are you so coy about identifying the athlete/sport?

Wrestling

[Mike Honcho 3,994]

Was it Suzy Favor-Hamilton?

[bandrus1 413]

Wrestling

Def wrestling. For that kinda money I bet there are a lot better options as far as learning experience

[Djgb13 2,338]

There is nothing an athlete can teach a kid worth that price over that short period of time.

This. Its not worth it. All youre paying for is to have the athlete around. Youd get better bang for you buck going to one of his camps hes talking about than to just pay him for three sessions.

[Filthy Fernadez 2,696]

I'd pay that for Aly Raisman....

 

https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrEwVqOpXpb214AECqInIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTIzcWQ2aW9kBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZANmNDllYTZhNDA2NGU3ODkwNmVlYWI1ZWQyMjIwYWI4NgRncG9zAzYzBGl0A2Jpbmc-?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Daly%2Braisman%2Bsports%2Billustrated%26fr%3Dyfp-hrmob-s%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26ri%3D4%26nost%3D1%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D63&w=1200&h=1800&imgurl=www.hawtcelebs.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F02%2Faly-raisman-in-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-2018-issue-6.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hawtcelebs.com%2Faly-raisman-in-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-2018-issue%2F&size=228.2KB&name=%3Cb%3EALY%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3ERAISMAN%3C%2Fb%3E+in+%3Cb%3ESports%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EIllustrated%3C%2Fb%3E&p=aly+raisman+sports+illustrated&oid=f49ea6a4064e78906eeab5ed2220ab86&fr2=piv-web&fr=yfp-hrmob-s&tt=%3Cb%3EALY%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3ERAISMAN%3C%2Fb%3E+in+%3Cb%3ESports%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EIllustrated%3C%2Fb%3E&b=61&ni=21&no=63&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=12gviehti&sigb=147abvh9i&sigi=139bheo44&sigt=11tjtng0d&sign=11tjtng0d&.crumb=MLdB92aB4MY&fr=yfp-hrmob-s&fr2=piv-web

[wiffleball 4,629]

Foxcatcher didn't end well...

[NorthernVike 2,079]

Why are you so coy about identifying the athlete/sport?

Because he's 13 and thinks this is Facebook.

[peenie 1,690]

I know people who pay for 1 day of their children simply meeting pro football players that give a tips.

[cyclone24 1,787]

Wrestling? Unless it's Cael I'm not sure who would be worth that much.

[bandrus1 413]

Wrestling? Unless it's Cael I'm not sure who would be worth that much.

I'd say at this point dake,burroughs,Snyder would be higher on a list

[MTSkiBum 1,591]

Wrestling? Unless it's Cael I'm not sure who would be worth that much.

 

Hulk Hogan, Undertaker?

[cyclone24 1,787]

I'd say at this point dake,burroughs,Snyder would be higher on a list

Well I disagree but that's not the debate on this post.

 

I still wouldn't pay that much to have anyone come coach my kid in anything.

[bandrus1 413]

Correct

[wiffleball 4,629]

 

Hulk Hogan, Undertaker?

Benoit

[Kanil 519]

I would think Hope Solo would charge less than that.

[dain11279 926]

I would think Hope Solo would charge less than that.

 

And already being at an Arby's you could save on lunch

[vuduchile 1,940]

I thought tubby's kid was a football player? He must be into another sport too. Either way, this seems like a waste of time and money.

[DonS 3,063]

Maybe he's looking at the big picture. Spend some money now, and then wait for this athlete to become super rich and famous. A few years down the road make the claim that "back in 2018 this celebrity molested my son and his friend at a private training camp."

 

BOOM! Jackpot.

[Cdub100 3,366]

We are talking about sex right?

[GhostofTEK 71]

We are talking about sex right?

You would think that Greg Louganis' rates would have dropped because of the Aids.

[drobeski 3,061]

The ringer

[jerryskids 5,149]

While I understand the appeal of a "once in a lifetime" experience for your son with one of his sports idols, I share the concern that others have stated about the dynamics of the text exchange and how much this idol would actually be emotionally invested in making this experience worthwhile and unforgettable.

 

It actually reminded me of a discussion I had with a landscaper recently. His brother had done a good job on a maintenance projece for $100 a month ago, I texted him about coming out again. Seems he has moved on to more construction vs. maintenance so he passed me to his brother. Brother came out, $100 quickly became $200, then as we talked $300. He added some work which I could use so... OK fine, $300. Oh sorry he said, looking at it yet again it is too much work, I need $400. I told him to GTFO, I'm sick of this.

 

I still need the work done and he may be right on the price, but I have absolutely no trust in his honesty and that he would be attempting to gouge me at every turn. Fock that.

 

My advice would be to sign up your son for a camp with this guy. It would still be memorable, you wouldn't have to deal with the above, and you wouldn't be paying for his friend. What's up with that BTW?

[Kanil 519]

Post the person's name/phone number on a low rent message board. Watch hilarity ensue.

[Cdub100 3,366]

While I understand the appeal of a "once in a lifetime" experience for your son with one of his sports idols, I share the concern that others have stated about the dynamics of the text exchange and how much this idol would actually be emotionally invested in making this experience worthwhile and unforgettable.

That's the thing about meeting your heroes they may not be the people you think they are.

 

Probably best you didn't do this.