Askren's take on hard work : Speakers & Interviews

Good thing Saitiev didn't get ahold of Askren...Askren would have been detroyed. Well actually Askren did get destroyed anyway. Come to think of it, aside from Cejudo, the entire American team got destroyed. That was pretty bad. I mean, the team captain ended up in the hospital trying to make weight!?!? The freakin' team captain! Great leadership. He should be wrestling with a freakin' Big Mac in his mouth. Hmmm...back to Askren...I think Askren spent too much time talking about how bad he wants the gold or how determined he is to get it. It's that fairy tale nonsense, "wish and you shall receive." Everybody wishes.

Any body who talk about Ben is a fool. This dude is the man when it comes to wrestling. I had a chance to watch him wrestle one of my idols from my state in vegas at a tournament that we were both in. Needless to say Ben beat him quite well, ever since then I have followed him. What a bad ass!!

Ever think about a haircut?

Prenctice is right. ive worked with ben a couple times and he is one of the hardest workers and greatest thinkers in wrestling. everyone out there who says he isnt is crazy. ben just knows what he needs to work on and does that and u cant argue with the results he gets

Let's be honest, this is a really bad video of Askren. He was obviously caught off guard and was preoccupied during this time. He is usually a lot better than this, but I'm sure he's got a few things going right now. Let's just ease up off his back on this one as I'm sire the next one will just blow our socks off.

Alright guys he defenintly knows what he is talking about, yo do need to focus on all other things, like very small things, the only people who deserve to win is the ones who work very hard, unless your very good. Well what im saying is that you don't only have to work hard ro win, if you are the only one thats working very hard do you still deserve to win?

I actually learned some very good moves from Ben Askren i went private lessons with him...... trust me he knows what he's talking about and yes he is my fav wrestler.

Hah, didn't even catch that ot first, WTF is an Olypian?

"FormerOlypian": Did you learn to spell olympian before or after the olympics? After you spend a few hours thinking about that, then please tell us what you mean by "class."

reid worley said exactly what was on my mind about "former olympian"

OK "former olympian" why don't you act like one and post your real name? Oh right, because you're only a Special Olympian.

sometimes you don't have to be diffrent hard work is still the best substitute for sucess ask Cale Sanderson of John Smith Ben is a great wrestler but sometimes he thinks to much

all of a sudden no one likes askren? he makes wrestling interviews and matches interesting

Askren needs to grow up and represent the country with class. All the hard work in the world will not make you a good role model it takes class, respect and honor and hard work. O.K. 1 out of 4 is poor.

I agree with monsterstatus. Hard work needs to be focused and well thought out. I have seen too many times where individuals or even programs work hard and long yet do not work on weak areas and therefore do not improve much. What they are basically doing is working inefficiently.

I believe the key is to constantly evaluate and reevaluate ones wrestling and then go back to the "drawing board" and develop a game plan to keep improving on problem areas while at the same time work on your strong areas as well so it is still strong areas.
Bottom line, is to plan and prepare for success.

Terry and Tom Brands were each multiple World Champion and an Olympic Medalist, what works for them might not work for others but I think Ben is an adaption or evolution of their championship philosophy but even more closely resembles the John Smith approach. I want to see him wrestle Saitiev and see what he is made of.

i think he's talking about arbitrary hard work. hard work needs to be focused and well thought out, not just working hard just to prove you deserve to win/give you that mentality

boobies make everyone feel like peaches dudeman

Brands' "the only thing you deserve is what you earn" is really the epitome of the Protestant work ethic Askren is talking about. What Askren's getting at is more about working on your weaknesses, making them strengths, finding what doors those open, and developing in those new directions (i.e. working smarter, not harder).

What Tom Brands did in college lent itself well to freestyle (but not always as well for Terry). So at least for Tom, he drilled those aspects of his style into the ground. For Askren, what he did in college was a hindrance in freestyle. Rather than just work those things into the ground, with the idea "if I just work harder on this stuff than anyone else, it'll work," he adapted to strengthen his weaknesses (scrambling), and then looked for new offensive and defensive scoring opportunities those adaptations revealed.
Making those adaptations and working them into your repertoire can take a heck of a lot of work, and to master them even more. I think what he's getting at is that working harder at adapting is a more useful way of working harder than just working excessively hard at what got you to a certain level. Plateaus and all that.

Ben Askren is a savage on the mat and of the mind!!!!!

they caught benny of guard. askren's done a great job adapting to the international style at the highest level. hard work should be automatic for these guys, simplifying and adjusting back to the basics is what wins!

How to work hard..good thoughts and philosophies!
Get the Gold.

Is it me or does it sound (not to mention look) like this guy is a little high....?

Always love listening to this guy. Of all the athletes I have dealt with across the board, Ben is by far the most fascinating. It be interesting to be inside his head for awhile. His mentality and perspective set him apart. Great job Flo with the coverage all week.

So basically, in a round about way, you are trying to quote Tom Brands, "the only thing you deserve is what you earn."