"Chance"

[KennyEBHS]

I just watched "Chance" on Flo. I thought it was very well produced and a compelling story. He is a great example of an athlete overcoming personal demons. For those who watch it, please tell me your opinion regarding how much the weight cut mandated by John Smith affected his future?

[Winners Circle]

  On 11/25/2024 at 10:35 PM, KennyEBHS said:

I just watched "Chance" on Flo. I thought it was very well produced and a compelling story. He is a great example of an athlete overcoming personal demons. For those who watch it, please tell me your opinion regarding how much the weight cut mandated by John Smith affected his future?

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Great film. As for your question, I'd say very limited, if at all. Chance admitted that he was doing a variety of drugs in HS. And I doubt JWS ever encouraged him to do (more) drugs.

[BAC]

I enjoyed watching it.  Flo stepped up their game on this one.  The camera work was very good, nice drone work, and it's a solid mix between wrestling action and interviews.  They way they handled the 2023 WTTs was really effective too, especially toward the end.  

My only real critique is they could/should have done more to talk about his Steller Trained coaching work, including how that came about, its significance to him, how it got so big.  They show his crew swarming him at 2023 WTTs but never touch on the backstory and what role, if any, they had in his getting and staying sober.

Shoutout to his wife. We should all be lucky enough to have someone who sticks by their guy like that. 

[Hammerlock3]

  On 11/25/2024 at 10:35 PM, KennyEBHS said:

I just watched "Chance" on Flo. I thought it was very well produced and a compelling story. He is a great example of an athlete overcoming personal demons. For those who watch it, please tell me your opinion regarding how much the weight cut mandated by John Smith affected his future?

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I think the weight cut is 0/10 important event in his life.

[AgaveMaria]

His Probation/Parole officers screwed him big time with Scheduled drug tests. Why no surprise tests?

The legal system let him go, to his detriment. Two wrecked cars within hours of each other - and he still walks away - with the first Alcohol involved?

All this time and apparently no one involved recognized his problems and drug use? His "friends" and coaches failed him in this regard. Apparently ignored the signs. Why?

When younger Law Enforcement called to the home many times - and nothing is done? No involvement of Child Protective Services or Counseling or arrests made?

This tale reads like Serial Failures on most all levels.

 

[Winners Circle]

  On 11/26/2024 at 2:01 PM, AgaveMaria said:

His Probation/Parole officers screwed him big time with Scheduled drug tests. Why no surprise tests?

The legal system let him go, to his detriment. Two wrecked cars within hours of each other - and he still walks away - with the first Alcohol involved?

All this time and apparently no one involved recognized his problems and drug use? His "friends" and coaches failed him in this regard. Apparently ignored the signs. Why?

When younger Law Enforcement called to the home many times - and nothing is done? No involvement of Child Protective Services or Counseling or arrests made?

This tale reads like Serial Failures on most all levels.

 

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No too mention the obvious abuse he went through at home during his childhood. I think he was dealt a bad hand from the start. 

[Konquest]

I will say this, it's not a good look for OSU that a #1 p4p overall prospect was asked to cut 40 lbs. and was using meth to make the weight.

[TNwrestling]

  On 11/26/2024 at 3:39 PM, Konquest said:

I will say this, it's not a good look for OSU that a #1 p4p overall prospect was asked to cut 40 lbs. and was using meth to make the weight.

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He never put any of the blame on okst. He said he was the reason he was big and he was the reason he cut and he was the reason he cut wrong. Chance took all the responsibility. None of the decisions Chance made fall on John Smith and staff. 

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

  On 11/26/2024 at 3:42 PM, TNwrestling said:

He never put any of the blame on okst. He said he was the reason he was big and he was the reason he cut and he was the reason he cut wrong. Chance took all the responsibility. None of the decisions Chance made fall on John Smith and staff. 

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All lineup and training related decisions fall on the coaching staff to some degree. "The adults in the room."

[TexRef]

He was not the first one to leave Okie State because they didn't want to make a huge cut. Central State (University of Central Oklahoma) made a living on those kids that left Okie State. UNC had one of the first Hodge winners, who told John he wasn't cutting too much. 

It is more widely known now that we have internet and etc...

[BarSeries]

  On 11/26/2024 at 4:12 PM, TexRef said:

UNC had one of the first Hodge winners, who told John he wasn't cutting too much. 

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The first

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

  On 11/26/2024 at 4:12 PM, TexRef said:

He was not the first one to leave Okie State because they didn't want to make a huge cut. Central State (University of Central Oklahoma) made a living on those kids that left Okie State. UNC had one of the first Hodge winners, who told John he wasn't cutting too much. 

It is more widely known now that we have internet and etc...

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And I was always amazed, because John allegedly did not cut a lot himself.

[Hammerlock3]

John Smith probably has no idea what weight his athletes should be at. When they miss weight, particularly the ones who are on drugs, its he's fault.

[flyingcement]

It was tough to watch.  Difficult life.  He is lucky to have someone like his wife.  

[Hammerlock3]

  On 11/26/2024 at 5:54 PM, flyingcement said:

It was tough to watch.  Difficult life.  He is lucky to have someone like his wife.  

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No way he's alive without her, and frankly it seems like she stuck in there longer than she should have. 

[PortaJohn]

Am I wrong or did Flo use his 2018 3rd place match loss when discussing his 2019 loss in the quarterfinals.  

[Hammerlock3]

  On 11/26/2024 at 6:37 PM, PortaJohn said:

Am I wrong or did Flo use his 2018 3rd place match loss when discussing his 2019 loss in the quarterfinals.  

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Yeah I saw that.....but very little pyles!

[PortaJohn]

  On 11/26/2024 at 6:40 PM, Hammerlock3 said:

Yeah I saw that.....but very little pyles!

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He can be insufferable 

[Truzzcat]

  On 11/26/2024 at 6:37 PM, PortaJohn said:

Am I wrong or did Flo use his 2018 3rd place match loss when discussing his 2019 loss in the quarterfinals.  

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Wick pinned him for 3/4 in 2018 but also in the quarters in 2019 both by cradle.

[Truzzcat]

Hearing how little of his wrestling life he spent sober, I truly think he has to be one of if not the most gifted sport specific athletes to ever walk this earth, Incredible film and very happy for him that he's overcome everything I think it shows that everyone deserves a second and in some cases, maybe even a third chance (to an extent)(no pun intended).

[Fletcher]

  On 11/26/2024 at 3:42 PM, TNwrestling said:

He never put any of the blame on okst. He said he was the reason he was big and he was the reason he cut and he was the reason he cut wrong. Chance took all the responsibility. None of the decisions Chance made fall on John Smith and staff. 

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I'm guessing that's a personality trait of Chance - not the type to point fingers or place the blame on anyone else but himself. That doesn't necessarily mean the Ok. St. staff is blameless.

[PortaJohn]

  On 11/26/2024 at 7:22 PM, Truzzcat said:

Wick pinned him for 3/4 in 2018 but also in the quarters in 2019 both by cradle.

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Yes, but they used the 2018 match while discussing 2019

[wrestle87]

Was very well crafted and structured, really a bit of a harrowing story, but you could also sense that, whatever the actual meat of the story is, they danced around it at Chance's request.

It's an incredible story of vulnerability, resiliency, and the power and importance of relationships in our lives.

No question, without his wife, Chance likely isn't alive today.  She is the epitome of love the universe gives to you that simply won't go away and won't give up on you.

Chance has done incredible things, most importantly, he is, unwittingly, the buffer between generations, and has been tasked with doing the work of turning whatever anger and pain he had fed into him from a young age into something more positive, kind, and caring.

Seeing how much his wrestlers love him (his wife too) was an incredible testament to who he is despite his trials.

What is so important to acknowledge here too is that it only takes one person, one helping hand to step in and show compassion in those early years to help Chance sidestep many years of anguish.

Never underestimate the impact you can have by simply showing up and demonstrating that you care.

[RawDog]

I thought it was awesome.  Too bad he didn't get help sooner. A lot of people seemed to know something was going on but didn't know how to help.

[flyingcement]

  On 11/27/2024 at 5:24 AM, RawDog said:

I thought it was awesome.  Too bad he didn't get help sooner. A lot of people seemed to know something was going on but didn't know how to help.

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I can empathize.  I had teammates back in my youth who I knew had really big problems.  As a teammate though I'm just not equipped in how to help.  I wish I had told coaches instead of being worried about ratting on someone