D4 Mighty Ducks: The Amber Bombay Story

Growing up two of my favorite movies were The Mighty Ducks and D2: The Mighty Ducks. I recently watched D2 again and had a startling revelation: I am the Gordon Bombay of weightlifting.

"Emilio Estevez, the Mighty Ducks guy. I swear to God. I was like EMILIOOOOO!!!!!"

That's a pretty bold statement isn't it? Don't get me wrong there are some differences. Contrary to popular belief, I don't pee standing up. Ms. 26 Going On 76 has never been arrested for drunk driving. And I've never quacked at my boss.

Small details aside, Gordon Bombay and I are kindred spirits. Let's take a look shall we?

Gordon's doppleganger Emilio Estevez is intrigued...even in detention

Young Athletes

 

Gordon started playing hockey at a much younger age than when I started lifting. But we both were involved in sports from a young age. Ok, all of my sports were barbell related. I did throw shot put  but that's a weighted object so I'm going to count it too.

Here's a picture of Gordon being really dramatic on the ice after he lost the game winning hockey goal. Then we have 2004 Amber squatting in a meet not loosing the game. Please note the running shoes and Undertaker-esque eyes.

Fortunately I never lost a game winning goal. Mainly because I never played a sport in school requiring cardio. However if I did I'm pretty sure no one would have let me try the game winning goal. 

Lawyers Turned Coaches

After our youthful athletic "careers", both of us attended law school. Clearly we could both rock a suit.

Gordon worked for a defense firm; I worked for two criminal defense firms and plaintiff's attorneys specializing in Traumatic Brain Injuries.


However the legal egg heads left the field to be coaches. Ok, so Gordon was initially forced into it as community service. But he eventually quacks at his boss and ends up leaving to coach the pee wee hockey team. I never quacked at anyone but I have meowed on occasion for comedic effect.

I've always been a gym rat so it wasn't a surprise when the smell of rubber mats, wood platforms, and old lifting shoes called me home. Every office job I ever had I sat there thinking about weightlifting. Any free moment was spent watching movement, reading, or traveling somewhere for continuing education or sessions.

It was only a matter of time before Gordon and I hung up our briefcases for sport.

Underdog Teams

It's no secret I consider my athletes underdogs much like the rag tag group of misfits in The Mighty Ducks. I don't think that's a bad thing to say. They work harder than anyone I've ever met.

 You can read about them and why I coach them in last week's blog piece.

 We like to win too but we're in for the long haul together

Sometimes your rag tag athlete accepts his medal while eating an entire bag of Cool Ranch Doritos

Mentors

Gordon learned his coaching philosophy from his childhood coach Hans. I learned mine from my high school coach Lachney. Hans showed up time to time to help Gordon get his groove back (much like Stella). I call Lachney on a semi-regular basis for advice and to help keep my sanity. I borrow something he told me over a decade ago regularly: "I don't give a shit if you're the strongest or the fastest on the team. If you don't have heart I don't want you on my team."

Washed-Up Hasbeens That Made A Comeback (Sort Of)

That sounds harsh doesn't it? Well since I was a hasbeen I can say that. And Gordon doesn't really exist so he's cool with it too.

After loosing his peewee hockey championship but winning one with the Ducks, old Gordon tried out and made a minor league hockey team. He suffered a knee injury and subsequently hobbled back to the Ducks. He still continued to skate though.

 

I've been lifting continuously for years but made a resurgence in powerlifting after a shoulder injury kept me from olympic lifting for a spell. You can check out that blog recap some other day. You all know about the back inury that's been documented extensively here.

Neither one of us made a world team but we kept on going even after the injuries.

Captain Blood & Dream Killer

In D2 Gordon turned into Captain Blood thanks to capitalism and pressure to perform. Eventually he snaps back to reality and turns into the loveable coach we all came to love. Full of inspirational speeches and puppy dog eyes. *Swoon*

 "They can barely stay awake in class. They're calling you Captain Blood."

I love my athletes but I can be a little rough on them sometimes. There's a reason one of my athletes lovingly calls me the Dream Killer. Well, I think it's used in a loving way. It usually comes after I've drawn all over a lift video that they thought was beautiful. Just like Coach Bombay I too have a heart of gold underneath my oily haired exterior. I also did not know Iceland was green and Greenland was ice but then again geography was never my forte.


When I told one athlete I was writing this he said, "Gordon was an a-hole to start. You're an angry, anti-hug Teddy Bear." I'm not a big fan of human contact. I will tell people "I don't do hugs"; things get a little awkward sometimes (for them). But I do care about my athletes. Sometimes they get a side hug. The ones who get full hugs cherish them forever and nearly weep. If I give you a hug, you're in my circle. I'll likely fight to the death for you no questions asked.

What About D3?

D3: Mighty Ducks is a travesty and it never happened in my mind. I won't even allow it to have a photograph on this blog. I'm still bitter about it and it's been 18 years since it was released.


Iron Lesson: From platforms to hockey rinks, passion is passion. If a courtroom doesn't make you feel alive, act like Gordon and get the "Puck out of there." You can't hide your passions. Eventually they'll come rearing their head and force you to follow. So follow your heart and do what you love to do. Maybe there will be a cinematic character you can relate to.

Underdogs

"I'm not an athlete."
"I'm not good enough yet to compete."
"Everyone will laugh at me."
"I don't have a singlet."

I've heard all of these sentiments more than once the past two weeks when I've asked people to don a singlet and consider competing in a weightlifting meet.

My internal responses are:
"Yes you are."
"If you can lift a bar then you are."
"No one cares what you are doing. If they laugh then they are a horrible human being."
"Buy one. Borrow one. Or beg for one."

 Bring a cupcake to the next party & maybe I'll stay longer

Irony?

 I've said them all before myself. The same kind of words spewed from my mouth before my first coach stopped me over a decade ago and said, "I don't care if you are the strongest or the fastest person on the team. If you don't have heart I don't want you on my team. You have more heart than I've ever seen and I want you to lift."

Needless to say I listened to my coach and here I am 13 years later doing the same thing with my athletes.

 Anti-social Amber always leaves parties early anyway

The Underdogs

There is a misconception that in order to compete in an athletic event or be a programmed for athlete you have to be some kind of super star.

"That is incorrect."

I don't care whether you're snatching 140 kilos or a training bar, whether you want to go to the Olympics or just lift in your garage, or whether you are a weightlifter, CrossFitter, or bootcamper: if you want to get better, I want to help you. Every person that steps on one of my platforms gets the same amount of respect. I don't tolerate any kind of disrespect towards any athlete or community; I will remove you from the team for it should it happen again after a warning.

 It seems in a world full of people picking and choosing what they post on social media that people have forgotten what the sport is about. Yes personal records and medals are great. But it's the journey to get to those things that matter.


My Favorite Underdogs

I'm an underdog so I identify with other other underdogs. No one thought I'd have records or quit a law career to coach weightlifting full time. All of my athletes are underdogs for one reason or another. Maybe it's their background, their age, their injuries: whatever it may be, they have the biggest hearts this side of the Mason-Dixon line.

Every single one of my athletes is my favorite athlete. I'm biased. But that's what Mississippi Weightlifting Club and Mississippi Barbell is: a core group of individuals with the biggest hearts for sport that you've ever seen. Learn more about each athlete here.

The girl who couldn't overhead squat anywhere near parallel without her shoulders rotating getting into  a full snatch with improved shoulders makes me squeal like a giddy school girl. She then went on the be a national competitor.


The girl who used to lift with shoulder and wrist pain eventually being able to do so pain free makes me want to hug everyone I see when I get that report back (don't worry: I refrain from physical human contact most days). She is now one of the most mobile people I have ever met.



The guy who couldn't get front rack to save his life being able to do so repeatedly and consistently makes me send endearing expletive written text messages of joy. He went on to place second in his age group...in the nation.

The athletes that go home and research meets, totals, and rules and then report back to me that they are signing up for their first meet that day make me want to fall to the ground and openly weep.


The garage gym lifters who illustrate what dedication really is. One went on to be a full time firefighter while raising her three daughters and the other an American Open athlete.

The athletes that come in quietly day after day to train no matter what make this job what it is.


The athlete that takes mobility to heart and you see them doing whatever you told them to do even when you aren't looking. He went on to place 7th with his team at the Crossfit Games.



Iron Lesson: So if you're sitting there thinking this post is aimed at you, maybe it is. Maybe you need to go sign up for a competition or challenge yourself some way. Do something that is outside your comfort zone. You never know what you'll find along the way.