Q & A with Team Rick's Coach, Sam Summerville

It's been a busy couple of weeks for Sam Summerville, world famous Ridicathlon trainer and coach of Team Rick, but he found some time to sit down with me and discuss his Ridicathlete, the competition, and Ridicathlon in general.

ES: How did you get involved with Team Rick?

SS: I have known Rick for a few months now, and I know a bit about strength training, so I offered my assistance.

ES: What impact have you had on his training regimen?

SS: We do a lot of strength training, and he bounces some ideas off me now and then about diet and conditioning. It seems a bit funny that I’m talking with Rick about diet and conditioning if you look at the two of us, but knowledge and practice are two different issues.

ES: Which event do you feel like he'll dominate? Why?

SS: Rick has a great throwing arm, it’s something that you really can’t teach. If there was one event I think he has in the bag it would be fast pitch.

ES: What does he need to work on most? How do you plan to help him improve in this area?

SS: I think he is going to have to practice the miniball dunk a bit. Jim has some natural advantages in that area being tall and pretty creative. Rick's going to have to have a game plan going into that one. As far as my help, he hasn’t asked me anything about that yet, but if he does I’m open to planning some stuff out with him.

ES: What would you like to say to those on the fence between Rick and Jim? Why should they support your man?

SS: Truth be told they are both great friends, and I just want to see them both compete well. I have a little personal interest invested in Rick since I’ve been helping him out a little bit but both guys deserve a good showing. I will be the judge of a few events during the contest so I stay impartial as to be fair.

ES: Is Rick going to win this thing or what?

SS: I think that when the day is done the contest will be a squeaker. I wouldn’t be surprised if either guy wins it. Right now I’m predicting a 5 to 4 win in the 9 real events for Rick. If Jim takes a win in this evening wear thing I have to give the edge in sports trivia to whomever defends themselves the best in the boxing match.