Comments on: Breaking news: Marty Miller fired

By: Crane Bower

Crane Bower — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 22:30:12 +0000

NASM is very reputable and has been a leader in the industry. If you look up there stats, the pass/fail ratio is quite amazing. They certainly don’t appear to hand out certifications to just anyone. It is also associated with Reebok. Reebok isn’t going to just put their name on any old training program, right? Then I checked multiple, reputable fitness clubs across the country and they all prefer NASM certified candidates (among some others) to become employees. These clubs include 24-Hour Fitness, Lifetime Fitness and Golds Gym. A 24-Hour Fitness rep told me over the phone that NASM was “the most reputable”. (Perhaps just an opinion based on personal experiences, I’m not sure.)

The National Academy of Sports Medicine should not however, be held accountable for every single student with a certification through their well studied scientific research program. It’s not fair to hold every educational institution accountable for their alumni.

Think about it. You don’t know how Miller may have tweaked things. You don’t know that the athletes followed his advice. He’s not a baby sister. He can’t spoon feed them. I’m not saying he was doing his job either. I just think you must take everything into consideration and have full knowledge, (which I don’t think we can because we weren’t all there, every day) before deciding whether an individual OR educational organization is to blame for this down fall.

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 07 May 2007 15:39:34 +0000

You can have all the knowledge in the world, but it is all about application. As an ATC and CSCS, I am very familiar with the active stretching ideas, and they are great on paper. They are very advantageous for performance. HOWEVER, what is good for performance is not always good for injury prevention. His application is flawed if so many athletes are coming up with the same injuries. Our football team at my college recently instituted active stretching this offseason (against my advice), and have eliminated several machines from their weight room (including the quad and hamstring machines). We have had seven hamstring/groin strains in the past 2 months. But hey, they have the research to prove that this is the wave of the future. I wonder who they got their research from?

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 06 May 2007 13:34:00 +0000

Hello David,

Excellent points, I am sure that he is extremely qualified. And so is every trainer out there, yet so many athletes are getting hurt by such stupid injuries. It is not only the trainers job to provide them with the best program but also to educate and motivate them to use the program.

Mike

By: David

David — Sun, 06 May 2007 06:10:12 +0000

Mike,

For having highly advanced degrees, your ignorance really shows in your last post. You ARE mistaken, the NASM Certification is not a take home test. Their Certification is NCCA accredited just like the ACSM and the NSCA. You probably don’t know what that means though.

Also, the ACSM must think the NASM is pretty reputable since they just held a joint educational Summit in Dallas a couple of months ago, which has never happened in the history of the health and fitness/sports medicine industry; but you probably didn’t know that either.

For being so high tech at Biomechanical Technologies you sure don’t know much about the goings on in the industry.

I’ve heard Mr. Miller present at numerous conferences, and he knows his stuff- hands down. It’s funny how you mention all your advanced degrees, touting your education over a guy like Miller’s cause I’m sure you didn’t know that in addition to holding a MS in Exercise Science/Performance Enhancement, he is also an ATC as well as a CSCS through your beloved organization the NSCA.

Marty Miller was more than qualified to take on this role with the Yankees. It doesn’t matter how good your assessment process and individualized programs are if none of the overpaid primadonna athletes follow it and management won’t support it by mandating their multi-million dollar investments actually put some work in!

By: Mike S

Mike S — Sat, 05 May 2007 12:57:19 +0000

Hello Paul,

Thank you, The NASM is definitly not the world leader in fitness professionals. ASCM and NSCA are far more recognized than NASM. If I am not mis-taken the NASM test is a take home test; you can have anyone take the test for you or take as long as you want to complete it, well within their 3 month time frame. How is that being the worldwide leader?

The problem is that no one understands everyone just thinks lifting is lifting and if you played a sport you most know how to train for it. The team at Biomechanical Technologies are all certified strength and conditioning trainers under NSCA and/or ASCM plus we are all international level athletes and have highly advanced degrees in medicine and/or sports medicine.

Can any one show me Millers resume as I have not been able to find it?

By: Paul Raymond

Paul Raymond — Sat, 05 May 2007 02:03:14 +0000

You just proved your knowledge and educational level in your last comment. News flash, Just because you look in shape doesn’t mean your in shape. Gym Rats like yourself wouldn’t know your rotator cuff from your femur. Science and research take the place of bodybuilders and cool exercises that you guys are used to. It is hard to teach old dogs new tricks, by looking at the past injuries the Yankees have had, the past is not working. When your trainer looks like the Pillsbury dough boy, how can you take what he says seriously. They needed a change, and cashman went with the company that was improving more teams in all sports than anyone else. The National Academy of Sports Medicine, who are they, again I reference your education. The NBA mandates all trainers are NASM certified. Biomechanical Technologies can get an interview when your resume looks like Millers did. Look up the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the worldwide leaders in fitness professionals. They are in the trainers for others teams like the Brewers in MLB and the Suns in the NBA, which in case you don’t know are both in first place at the moment. If you guys like anything can be done in two months to improve movement, again you are showing your intelligence and knowledge of the industry. Everyone is an expert. Stick to your profession.

By: steven

steven — Fri, 04 May 2007 20:04:25 +0000

Sounds like Paul must be a relative or fellow gym rat backing up his man. paul does make one very intelligent comment “These guys have been out of shape for 20 years”. I’m sure A-Rod and Jeeter would’nt agree. I looked but I can’t find the name Paul Raymond anywhere in the annuls of professional sports history.

By: Mike S

Mike S — Fri, 04 May 2007 19:41:40 +0000

How did Miller even get an interview from the New York Yankees. Human Performance and conditioning is so complicated because every person is different and needs to workout differently. My company, Biomechanical Technologies, is on the forefront of Human Performance. We cannot understand how a team spending >$180M on their players can have so many players injured from stupid issues.

How does Biomechanical Technologies get an interview for the open Director of Performance Enhancement position?

http://www.biomechtech.com

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 03 May 2007 22:18:48 +0000

Thanks Paul for some of the only intelligent words spoken so far. Miller was implementing a proven system. The only problem that existed is that the Yankees paid a ton of money for his expertise and then refused to insist that any player actually follow the program. Not “cronyism” (is that even a word?) The Yankees went to NASM looking for a trainer and that’s where Miller comes in. Have any of you even researched this guy before commenting on how unqualified he is? His resume includes baseball, among other things, such as a long history of teaching other trainers. Sounds to me like he does know his stuff. But it doesn’t matter what he knows if nobody is made to listen. Steinbrenner needed his pound of flesh and Miller was the easiest place to get it. Read this article…it states the case pretty well.

http://www.nydailynews.com/spo....._walk.html

By: Paul Raymond

Paul Raymond — Thu, 03 May 2007 19:34:44 +0000

To all the uneducated Yankee fans, who know nothing about human anatomy or performance, leave the trainers alone. This is not like remodeling your bathroom. Marty and Dana have been there for only two months. These guys have been out of shape for 20 years. No significant improvement is going to be made in two months. If you understand anything about science and bio-mechanics, it takes time to integrate a new system, and most of the players weren’t even listening to these guys. What professional sports team lets the players train when and how they want? What a shock in New York, the new guys take the fall.
The Brewers in MLB and the Suns in the NBA both implement the same program from the National Academy of Sports Medicine that Miller was trying to use. Last time I checked they both are in first place, with less injuries than the Yankees. All of the players on the DL did not workout with Miller. Matsui was quoted saying that he did not use Miller, and that he did not do enough conditioning in the off season. Pavano has been hurt his whole career. You can’t fix a head case. He is medically fine. Hockey players get a puck in the face and come back in five minutes, Yankees get a ingrown toenail and are out three weeks. Get tougher your a professional athlete. Only 30% of the team actually did 100% of the work. Your going to get great results with those numbers.