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Really long thread(some adult language)
I've told this story a few times, recently, in person. I get the same reaction every time. Figured I'd share on here.
I was a student assistant/manager for my college basketball team before it was cool.
Goal was to get into coaching
I've told this story a few times, recently, in person. I get the same reaction every time. Figured I'd share on here.
I was a student assistant/manager for my college basketball team before it was cool.
Goal was to get into coaching
Unpaid. Traveled w/ the team. Got a few pieces of gear. Helped run/work camps in the summers. Etc.
There was nothing we did not do. Helped paint/decorate an asst coach's house one offseason. Knew everyone's kids. Even babysat when asked (this is important for later).
There was nothing we did not do. Helped paint/decorate an asst coach's house one offseason. Knew everyone's kids. Even babysat when asked (this is important for later).
Anyway. I turned that into a Dir. of Ops spot at another DI school after graduation. Technically a Grad. Assistant, but had the DoBo title. Lived in a dorm. Got paid just enough to pay in-state tuition. 60-80 hour weeks, plus classes. Pretty typical stuff. I was *stoked*
But...
But...
But, worked for a guy who, shall we say, had Greg Marshall tendencies w/o the physical altercations.
A pretty terrible person, really.
Currently not allowed to coach in the NCAA bc of some cheating a few years later at a different school.
A pretty terrible person, really.
Currently not allowed to coach in the NCAA bc of some cheating a few years later at a different school.
So, I'm in the job for 2 weeks. Maybe mid-August?
I had literally taken the GRE 6 weeks before, on 2 days notice, without studying, just to get the minimum score for admittance to grad school.
I was eager.
Blah. Blah. Blah. You know the drill.
I had literally taken the GRE 6 weeks before, on 2 days notice, without studying, just to get the minimum score for admittance to grad school.
I was eager.
Blah. Blah. Blah. You know the drill.
But, I was also, like, the 3rd or 4th different staff member in about 12 months.
Previous GA quit halfway through the season because of the culture.
One asst. coach quit after a few weeks.
Another left after the first year to go across the country for a similar position
Previous GA quit halfway through the season because of the culture.
One asst. coach quit after a few weeks.
Another left after the first year to go across the country for a similar position
When offered, I was given 24 hours to accept.
Like, red flags everywhere.
Well, an athletic banquet was coming up, for all athletic staff (I thought). Naïve me thought that the newest member of the basketball staff would maybe, sort of, be allowed to go.
Nah.
Like, red flags everywhere.
Well, an athletic banquet was coming up, for all athletic staff (I thought). Naïve me thought that the newest member of the basketball staff would maybe, sort of, be allowed to go.
Nah.
Dude calls me in his office, says "Hey, this weekend, I need you to *watch my kids* during the banquet. I mean, I'll pay you of course, but we don't have a sitter".
Caught off guard. Pretty presumptuous. But, he's the boss, right? So I said, yeh. Sure. Ok. Swallow that pride.
Caught off guard. Pretty presumptuous. But, he's the boss, right? So I said, yeh. Sure. Ok. Swallow that pride.
Next week, he does it again. Which, I get. I set a precedent.
Only this time, "Hey I need you watch *my and the athletic director's kids* this weekend."
Dude just offered my services up like I'm charity. To people I HAD NEVER MET!
I said ok. Walked out.
But I was pissed.
Only this time, "Hey I need you watch *my and the athletic director's kids* this weekend."
Dude just offered my services up like I'm charity. To people I HAD NEVER MET!
I said ok. Walked out.
But I was pissed.
Next day (I think), go back into his office.
Say "Hey, I appreciate you looking out for me & paying me to babysit until my paychecks come in. But, next time, can you just ask?
Happy to help, but babysitting wasn't part of the job description."
Say "Hey, I appreciate you looking out for me & paying me to babysit until my paychecks come in. But, next time, can you just ask?
Happy to help, but babysitting wasn't part of the job description."
Brothers. Sisters. Friends of Twitter.
You would've thought a nuclear bomb exploded.
He motherfucks me up and down. Maybe for 2 minutes. Could've been 3 or 4.
I'm (again, naively) a bit surprised. I came from a staff that, I don't know, treated you like a human.
You would've thought a nuclear bomb exploded.
He motherfucks me up and down. Maybe for 2 minutes. Could've been 3 or 4.
I'm (again, naively) a bit surprised. I came from a staff that, I don't know, treated you like a human.
I try to explain, like, I don't mind babysitting. But, just *ask*.
Don't demand.
No dice. Doesn't matter. Tells me to get the fuck out of his office.
I comply.
About 5 minutes later, he comes stomping down the hall and into my office.
And goes off AGAIN.
Round 2!
Don't demand.
No dice. Doesn't matter. Tells me to get the fuck out of his office.
I comply.
About 5 minutes later, he comes stomping down the hall and into my office.
And goes off AGAIN.
Round 2!
"You never played this game!" (In college, no)
"Nobody else offered you a job at this level!" (Incorrect)
"You're nothing but a Graduate Manager!" (A verbal demotion!)
"You will have to suck 8 dicks to ever find any success in this game!" (LOL Wut?)
"Nobody else offered you a job at this level!" (Incorrect)
"You're nothing but a Graduate Manager!" (A verbal demotion!)
"You will have to suck 8 dicks to ever find any success in this game!" (LOL Wut?)
You get the point. I again, futilely, tried to explain just *ask me*. Didn't matter.
"My entire perception of you has changed today!:
I just said, "Fine. I'm sorry to hear that"
This was 2 weeks on the job! Maybe a month!?
"My entire perception of you has changed today!:
I just said, "Fine. I'm sorry to hear that"
This was 2 weeks on the job! Maybe a month!?
Over the next 11 months, he said my loyalty belonged to him and not the players, when I said I "understand why Player X doesn't want to spend his own money to drop this course".
Also had to explain, that no, I would not have the managers write my graduate papers "like he did".
Also had to explain, that no, I would not have the managers write my graduate papers "like he did".
Had to explain why some game tapes were not copied at 6AM Sunday morning, bc a manager and I drove 8 hours, round trip, to pick up DVDs.
Then *I had to convert them to VHS* bc he didn't know how to use a DVD player.
Literally, everything had to be VHS.
This was 2007-8.
Then *I had to convert them to VHS* bc he didn't know how to use a DVD player.
Literally, everything had to be VHS.
This was 2007-8.
More than once, I was threatened w/ being fired.
My response was always the same. "If that's what you want, tell me. I will be gone tomorrow."
His response was 1 of 2 things.
And, I paraphrase for brevity and family-friendly reading.
My response was always the same. "If that's what you want, tell me. I will be gone tomorrow."
His response was 1 of 2 things.
And, I paraphrase for brevity and family-friendly reading.
"No. I'm a man of my word. I said 2 years, but I'm definitely not hiring you after that."
Or.
"No. I can't. I can't explain losing another staff member in the middle of the year."
Or.
"No. I can't. I can't explain losing another staff member in the middle of the year."
I made the decision for him after one year. We had an argument over summer camps.
I was the director. Worked my ass off. We were going to bring in roughly $30K revenue, $18K profit.
In undergrad, I made $500 per week, for 3 weeks, as a thank-you for working the year unpaid.
I was the director. Worked my ass off. We were going to bring in roughly $30K revenue, $18K profit.
In undergrad, I made $500 per week, for 3 weeks, as a thank-you for working the year unpaid.
Now I was running it, and brought in a 600% increase in revenue from the year before. His offer to me?
$700. Total.
For 3 weeks of team and/or individual camps.
$700!
AS THE CAMP DIRECTOR!
And he was mad I kept asking him!
I didn't even get paid in the summer!
$700. Total.
For 3 weeks of team and/or individual camps.
$700!
AS THE CAMP DIRECTOR!
And he was mad I kept asking him!
I didn't even get paid in the summer!
So, a blow out to end all blow outs ensued.
The S&C coach heard us 40 feet down the hall, thru 3 closed doors.
It basically ended w/ him telling me to stop calling coaches by their first name and to call everyone "coach"
I said " You're fucking stupid. I won't do that"
The S&C coach heard us 40 feet down the hall, thru 3 closed doors.
It basically ended w/ him telling me to stop calling coaches by their first name and to call everyone "coach"
I said " You're fucking stupid. I won't do that"
He called me "entitled & ungrateful"
I told him there's a difference "in being professional & being someone's bitch"
3 different meetings over 24 hours followed. Along the way he said he "respected that I stand up for things", or something.
I just said thanks.
I told him there's a difference "in being professional & being someone's bitch"
3 different meetings over 24 hours followed. Along the way he said he "respected that I stand up for things", or something.
I just said thanks.
We decided I would finish camps & then leave w/ a professional reference, if needed/wanted. (Again, 23, naïve, had *no* idea what was next)
To this day, I almost regret working camps. Part of me wished I loaded my car up and drove off 10 days before teams arrived.
To this day, I almost regret working camps. Part of me wished I loaded my car up and drove off 10 days before teams arrived.
I had all the information.
All the schedules, points of contact, and financials.
It would've been the ultimate "fuck you" to a guy who also eventually (allegedly) got into some tax problems with his summer camp financials.
Which explains SO MUCH.
All the schedules, points of contact, and financials.
It would've been the ultimate "fuck you" to a guy who also eventually (allegedly) got into some tax problems with his summer camp financials.
Which explains SO MUCH.
My dad talked me out of it. Why?
Because he is a smart man. 12 years later, I still have some pride knowing that I upheld my part of the bargain.
Of course, for some dumb reason, he had everyone who applied for my job, talk to me on the phone or in person for my perspective.
Because he is a smart man. 12 years later, I still have some pride knowing that I upheld my part of the bargain.
Of course, for some dumb reason, he had everyone who applied for my job, talk to me on the phone or in person for my perspective.
I told every single one to not take the job.
He eventually figured it out and stopped doing that.
The guy he hired to replace me?
Eventually became the fall guy for his cheating actions later on.
You can't make this stuff up.
He eventually figured it out and stopped doing that.
The guy he hired to replace me?
Eventually became the fall guy for his cheating actions later on.
You can't make this stuff up.
In any case, I decided to take a full year off from college sports. That's turned into 12 years.
I never went back in that world. Maybe one day I will.
But until then, I *always* get the same question:
"Why 8 dicks? That's a really specific number."
The.
End.
I never went back in that world. Maybe one day I will.
But until then, I *always* get the same question:
"Why 8 dicks? That's a really specific number."
The.
End.
