Anthos/CrossFit Debacle

[ncsuLuke]

I quit posting on the crossfit board a while ago because I got sick of all the cool aid drinkers on there who take personal offense to saying things like grains aren't all that is evil but this whole Anthos deal has been interesting to say the least. From the looks of it Laura Glassman seems to be out for blood and while I wouldn't care if it only hurt Greg's wallet, I would hate for this to impact my friends businesses.

[Chubrock]

Haven't really paid attention to it. Can you give me a run down?

[ncsuLuke]

Greg Glassmans ex wife is looking to sell her 50% stake to Anthos, a venture capital company. There is a lot of BS to sift through and it is pretty impossible to know who is being sincere but it looks like Greg and others offered her more than the $20 million Anthos is offering but she is turning them down because she wants to be vengeful (who knows what happened with their divorce).

The reason people are upset is there is worry that Anthos will want to change the affiliate agreement to make it more like a franchise and push certain supplements and other products at the different boxes. Essentially they want to squeeze more profit out of the crossfit name like a VC firm would typically do. Now granted this POV is from current crossfit staff so who knows the real deal.

[Chubrock]

Hmmmm. I've got a lot of mixed feelings about anything associated with CFHQ, so anything I say would probably be tainted by my opinion of them.

[ncsuLuke]

Yeah I am not a huge CFHQ fan so I wouldn't mind seeing them get knocked down a peg, I just don't want it to impact my friends that are affiliates.

[Bako Lifter]

I'm having mixed feelings towards crossfit as a whole as well, I don't even like reading their forums anymore. Now that the games are over I'm less excited about all of it. This could push me out all together depending how it plays out. I saw a video of Austin malleolo teaching farris (our USA representative for weightlifting) a kipping pull up and trying to teach him about power. Idk why but it just kind of pissed me off.. Crossfit trying to teach power to an olympian...

[Chubrock]

The biggest thing that pisses me off about HQ is that they constantly bitch and moan about quality and quality control, but then continue to churn out Level 1 Certifications to any dumbass with the money.

I'm not so sure it would be a bad thing for affiliates to lose their title. The good affiliates, that weren't willing to sell out, would rise to the top as strength and conditioning facilities. The rest, the majority, would fall to the wayside when they no longer have the name to hide behind.

[chris mason]

Chubrock,

They put people through a quality class. They do their part. If the individual does not take notes and strive to learn then shame on them. That is not a reflection of the class HQ is offering.

[chris mason]

My position is I 100% back Mr. Glassman and his crew. I have met many of them and found them to be a great bunch. I like the affiliate program as it currently exists and agree with it. I am NOT for some equity firm getting 50% ownership of CF and therefore major decision making power.

[Chubrock]

Chubrock,

They put people through a quality class. They do their part. If the individual does not take notes and strive to learn then shame on them. That is not a reflection of the class HQ is offering.

I've never said the class was bad. In fact, it likely is a very good class. What irritates me is the assertion made by HQ that the class, alone, makes someone a suitable coach and that a lack of CF Certification somehow represents a potential danger. Certified does not equal qualified, though many seem to feel this way.

[chris mason]

I've never said the class was bad. In fact, it likely is a very good class. What irritates me is the assertion made by HQ that the class, alone, makes someone a suitable coach and that a lack of CF Certification somehow represents a potential danger. Certified does not equal qualified, though many seem to feel this way.

The run a business... They want a certain degree of homogenous presentation of their concepts at the gyms that carry their name hence they require a certification. It is a pretty sensible model.

[Chubrock]

The run a business... They want a certain degree of homogenous presentation of their concepts at the gyms that carry their name hence they require a certification. It is a pretty sensible model.

A business, and its model, should be able to stand on its own merit. If your position is strong enough, you can promote your strengths without resorting to gross hyperbole. Sadly there are those out there that are ignorant (of the subject) enough to believe some of the lines that HQ puts out from time to time.

If the buyout occurs, IMHO, you'll see the better affiliates drop their names and stand as strength and conditioning facilities. The rest will attempt to ride out the money as long as possible before failing due to lack of quality instruction.

[JustinM]

Hey Andrew.

I don't think anyone on that board has a clue about the law or how business voting works. The 1 other attorney thinks it is a pretty funny situation.

Anthos will not be able to elect enough (maybe any) board members to make ANY change in the way that CF is run without Greg's consent. Grdg won't consent. So Anthos can suck it up and take an equal portion of profits, or it can force a dissolution. A dissolution would give it a bunch of branding worth nothing, since nobody would support Anthos CrossFit. So, bottom line is that thid is all legally meaningless.

And from Lauren Glassman's perspective, I believe she was cheated on countless times, and she just wants out. Greg apparently offered more money but over a long period, rather than cash. So a sale to someone seems pretty imminent, but still completely meaningless. Even if you prefer Greg's vision, Lauren owns half, and she should have every right to sell.

[r2473]

.....

[Ben Norris]

A little bird knows.. his wife isn't out for blood. Greg explicitly wants her away from the business. She has been pushed out since their whole divorce and issues started happening. He tried to offer her an out based on future earnings of CFHQ earlier this year. The problem is, there's some legal issues because she's entitled to her half now and HQ isn't financially stable (never has been- for a lot of reasons, mostly personnel aren't capable). And it isn't more than the Anthos offer. The reality is that Anthos comes to the table with a legitimate offer and a clean break for her. Just like Greg wants. Whereas, CFHQ can't. Having been a part of that place, they nearly break even on cash because of the lack of control of their operational spending (they even couldn't make payroll a few times. And they still drew out those huge salaries in the meantime- irresponsible). Take a wild guess about how much salary some of those folks make. I'll give you a hint. High six figures, low seven. straight cash. Plus the way these folks conduct themselves professionally is appalling. The fact that they are lying and making a public scene out of this benefits no one and it's childish. Their brand suffers, and all of the CF'ers out there suffer. They are selfish and deserve what they get. I know that Anthos wouldn't come in and disrupt a good thing. First rule: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. There are obvious ways that they can insert a little operational control, and perhaps even help encourage better service to the affiliates. I know that their aim isn't to do what Greg is claiming. Those claims are lies that Greg is spreading because his ego is getting crushed over this. Simply because someone outsmarted him. To quote some of them when they try to backpedal from doing something stupid "It's just business".

Perhaps you would like to reveal your real name, what your postion was at Crossfit HQ, how long you worked there and what was your salary? Without these you are simply some internet troll throwing around wild and unproven statements. I suppose I wont get an answer because trolls tend to run away when confronted.

Crossfit is not perfect and people have bagged it in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Having said this I challenge anybody to name another company that has done more for people fitness, health and nutrition than Crossfit. There is factors of elitism in the Crossfit community, but most of us are not. We respect Rowers, gymnasts, runners, olympic lifters, powerlifters and anybody who is out there achieving his or her best at their chosen sport. Hell If i did not have immense respect for powerlifters then why would i have bought the Westside Book of methods, the Westside squat and deadlift manual and the Westside bench press manual, became a member of this forum and read the Westside forum daily and plan on doing Westside for 2 years to drastically improve my strength and become better at Crossfit?

We can achieve so much more as a group than alone. I mean Crossfitters love Powerlifting and we turn up to meets to learn and to compete. We turn up to Olympic lifting meets to do the same thing. We then spread the word about Crossfit, Powerlifting and Olympic lifting to more and more people who have never tried these things. How can getting more people interested in Getting stronger faster and fitter not be beneficial to all of our communities?

Greg started Crossfit and has backed every affiliate owner 100%. He stands for improving peoples lives and snubs his nose at making huge profits because this would not be in the best interest of our community. I stand behind Mr Glassman 100%. He has always had our backs and we will always have his.

[Russ Greene]

Perhaps you would like to reveal your real name, what your postion was at Crossfit HQ, how long you worked there and what was your salary? Without these you are simply some internet troll throwing around wild and unproven statements. I suppose I wont get an answer because trolls tend to run away when confronted.

Crossfit is not perfect and people have bagged it in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Having said this I challenge anybody to name another company that has done more for people fitness, health and nutrition than Crossfit. There is factors of elitism in the Crossfit community, but most of us are not. We respect Rowers, gymnasts, runners, olympic lifters, powerlifters and anybody who is out there achieving his or her best at their chosen sport. Hell If i did not have immense respect for powerlifters then why would i have bought the Westside Book of methods, the Westside squat and deadlift manual and the Westside bench press manual, became a member of this forum and read the Westside forum daily and plan on doing Westside for 2 years to drastically improve my strength and become better at Crossfit?

We can achieve so much more as a group than alone. I mean Crossfitters love Powerlifting and we turn up to meets to learn and to compete. We turn up to Olympic lifting meets to do the same thing. We then spread the word about Crossfit, Powerlifting and Olympic lifting to more and more people who have never tried these things. How can getting more people interested in Getting stronger faster and fitter not be beneficial to all of our communities?

Greg started Crossfit and has backed every affiliate owner 100%. He stands for improving peoples lives and snubs his nose at making huge profits because this would not be in the best interest of our community. I stand behind Mr Glassman 100%. He has always had our backs and we will always have his.

To answer your question, Ben, ExCFHQ's name is Ron Wilhelm. He did work at CrossFit HQ, a while ago. I'm not sure how he would claim to have insider knowledge about anything that's going on now. Unless, that is, he is getting his stories from the woman who's selling to Anthos...

[Ron Wilhelm]

To answer your question, Ben, ExCFHQ's name is Ron Wilhelm. He did work at CrossFit HQ, a while ago. I'm not sure how he would claim to have insider knowledge about anything that's going on now. Unless, that is, he is getting his stories from the woman who's selling to Anthos...

Sorry Ross Greeenburg, ExCFHQ isn't me. Does being wrong make you a liar, or just wrong? If you compare the "tone and demeanor", as Greg Glassman once asked me to do, of what ExCFHQ wrote with what I have written, you'll find substantial differences. I have a strong suspicion of who ExCFHQ is, but no hints for you Sheerluck Greene.

[Big_Byrd52]

haha u all are like a bunch of catty high school cheerleaders!

[chris mason]

Well, we won't be hearing from ExCFHQ again, so no worries on that.

As for the tale he or she told, not accurate.

[chris mason]

Perhaps you would like to reveal your real name, what your postion was at Crossfit HQ, how long you worked there and what was your salary? Without these you are simply some internet troll throwing around wild and unproven statements. I suppose I wont get an answer because trolls tend to run away when confronted.

Crossfit is not perfect and people have bagged it in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Having said this I challenge anybody to name another company that has done more for people fitness, health and nutrition than Crossfit. There is factors of elitism in the Crossfit community, but most of us are not. We respect Rowers, gymnasts, runners, olympic lifters, powerlifters and anybody who is out there achieving his or her best at their chosen sport. Hell If i did not have immense respect for powerlifters then why would i have bought the Westside Book of methods, the Westside squat and deadlift manual and the Westside bench press manual, became a member of this forum and read the Westside forum daily and plan on doing Westside for 2 years to drastically improve my strength and become better at Crossfit?

We can achieve so much more as a group than alone. I mean Crossfitters love Powerlifting and we turn up to meets to learn and to compete. We turn up to Olympic lifting meets to do the same thing. We then spread the word about Crossfit, Powerlifting and Olympic lifting to more and more people who have never tried these things. How can getting more people interested in Getting stronger faster and fitter not be beneficial to all of our communities?

Greg started Crossfit and has backed every affiliate owner 100%. He stands for improving peoples lives and snubs his nose at making huge profits because this would not be in the best interest of our community. I stand behind Mr Glassman 100%. He has always had our backs and we will always have his.

You are right about Mr. Glassman and what he has done.

The bottom line to the whole thing is as follows:

Private equity firms seek a 5X return on investment. The want to realize it in a relatively short period of time. Therefore, by definition, if Anthos buys into CF things will HAVE to change. If you are a CrossFitter or affiliate owner and are happy with how things are then you MUST not want this buyout to occur. Forget all of the rest.

One aside, I don't the circumstances of their marriage, but the very fact Mrs. Glassman refuses to sell to Mr. Glassman ANY percentage of her ownership smacks of spite to me. That is unfortunate.

[Workhorse]

One aside, I don't the circumstances of their marriage, but the very fact Mrs. Glassman refuses to sell to Mr. Glassman ANY percentage of her ownership smacks of spite to me. That is unfortunate.

Chris, I don't think we know if that's true. We only know that Glassman offered her 17million over 5 years and Anthos offered her 20million in one payment upfront. I have not seen anywhere that Greg asked for a % of her shares, nor did Lauren say she wouldn't sell a % of her shares to him. However, she's signed an agreement with Anthos already and she's committed to them for ALL of her shares - the courts will decide if Anthos gets the shares for the 20million they offered. Right now there's nothing, unfortunately, that anyone can do to stop it other than doing what CFHQ asked and use social media to speak up about it and try to devalue CF should Anthos take over.

I know you're at the Affiliate gathering right now in Montana by Greg's invitation, maybe you'll have more insight for us from being there?

[Workhorse]

Very cool video posted up by CFHQ from the Big Sky gathering.

http://youtu.be/M-gFFOf6CfQ

[Sensei]

The biggest thing that pisses me off about HQ is that they constantly bitch and moan about quality and quality control, but then continue to churn out Level 1 Certifications to any dumbass with the money.

Agreed.

Chris,
No offense, but you aren't exactly impartial on any of this.

[Paulo_Santos]

The biggest thing that pisses me off about HQ is that they constantly bitch and moan about quality and quality control, but then continue to churn out Level 1 Certifications to any dumbass with the money.

If someone goes to a certification class and passes the written test, how are they a dumbass? Most people that open up a CrossFit box already have been doing CrossFit for a while before they get their certs and open up a box, so I don't understand what you are talking about. I think you are just regurgitating crap you read on the internut.

[DoUgL@S]

If someone goes to a certification class and passes the written test, how are they a dumbass? Most people that open up a CrossFit box already have been doing CrossFit for a while before they get their certs and open up a box, so I don't understand what you are talking about. I think you are just regurgitating crap you read on the internut.

Just because someone passes a test, does not mean they are in a position to train others. Don't drink the kool-aid. Doing crossfit for a while, does not equate to being a good trainer and having the ability to program effective workouts for high level athletes and everyday Joes. I fyou look through the posts at the crossfit boards, there seems to be plenty of affiliates complaining about this same issue. Just like there are quality coaches that choose to learn the crossfit methodology, there are a lot of people using the crossfit name just to make a buck. As an aside, doing crossfit does not prepare you to coach, neither does a weekend cert. It is your dedication to learning about training and being able to apply it in the real world effectively and safely that does. JMHO.