Introducing...Dr. Rhadi Ferguson
From the desk of Rhadi Ferguson, Ph.D.
On March 2nd at the time of 1:58pm I successfully defended my dissertation and was provided with the privilege to put the letters"Ph.D." after my name and "Dr." before it.
At this moment I can tell that I'm still somewhat numb.
I've been in school for a looooooooooonnnngggg time.
As a matter of fact, I can recall studying into the wee hours of the morning in Sydney, Australia while attending the 2000 Olympic Games as an alternate and training partner. I remember that it was around the same time when I was beginning my studies in the Masters of Arts of Teaching program at Howard University. It was the first of many late night international rendezvous that involved books, a desk and a couple cans of Coca-Cola Light(the European version of diet coke).
I can recall living at the Olympic Training Center and having to decline many offers to go out and hang out. It wasn't because I didn't want to, it was because I couldn't. My day was jam-packed with training, preparing, studying and developing papers which had to be submitted at the end of every quarter. It was a brutal existence. I can still recall what it was like to leave the tatami area in Spain after practice at one of the roughest training camps in the world and going straight to the Internet cafe while everyone else went into their room or to the beach to play.
I still remember the nights where I stayed up on the computers at the Olympic Training Center and went directly to the weight room with no sleep and working off of nothing but desire and espresso!!
I have plenty of stories for you but none quite hit home as much as the time I was doing my comprehensive examination. For my comps at Capella University I had 4 questions which I had to answer and each question was 15 pages a piece. And the questions as well as the entire submission had to fit a certain format which the university requires. Well, as I was finishing up my first 3 questions and getting ready to start my 4th question I heard my wife say, "Oh!" I said, "Oh what?" She said,"Oh! I'm having contractions!" To which I replied,"Oh." I not sure if my "oh" was the preamble of an"oh s---!" or an "oh no!" or an "oh, I guess we better go."
But I do know that I was feeling somewhat"oh"-ver whelmed. Well, the due date for my comprehensive exam was already set and it was about 3 days away. I can recall being in the hospital room tapping away on my laptop while my wife was in labor. I think the nurses thought I was the most insensitive father-to-be in the world,but they didn't understand that if you don't pass your comps YOU are OUT of the program. Period, end of story. And that was not an option. Needless to say, I finished but question 4 was not one of my best and I was given a onetime rewrite which I had to resubmit in 72 more hours. Staying up all night at the Olympic Training Center was definitely good practice for what I was going through. Needless to say, I passed and then began the dissertation process.
===============
The Doctoral Journey
===============
I can clearly say, without hesitation, that the journey to the Ph. D. was THE MOST DIFFICULT and one of the most fulfilling times in my life. There are numerous people that I need to thank as well as a number of people which I need to apologize to for, as my former wrestling coach Dr. Cotton said,misplaced anger.
It was certainly tough and certainly a thought provoking experience. I can clearly remember the day which I decided to pursue a Ph.D. I was attending one of the best graduations in the country, bar none, every year.That is,of course, the graduation at Howard University. And I saw the Ph.D.'s walk onto the stage to receive their degrees. At Howard, out of the thousands of students in attendance, ONLY the Ph.D.'s get to walk up on the stage to receive their degrees. And I remember hearing the name, Jorielle Brown. I couldn't believe it. I scrambled to get my hands on a program and searched through it and sure enough there was her name. I attended Howard during the same time Jorielle did and I couldn't believe that she was walking across the stage and receiving her Ph.D. I began to ask myself, what I had done at that point which was so significant. I couldn't find an answer. At that time, I was pursuing my Master's Degree and I had won a couple of National Championships and missed making the Olympic Team.
=============
Statistics....
=============
Statistically speaking....
This is an excerpt taken from the website
http://www.bankjr.com/teachers/tDoc.jsp?subject=FACS&doc=ProSports.html
Planning on Pro Sports?
Do you really have a chance of becoming a professional athlete?
Many students today believe they have a career in sports just waiting for them as soon as they get out of high school. The reality is that only 2.9 percent of all senior boys playing interscholastic basketball will go on to play in the NCAA. Only 1.3 percent of senior males playing in the NCAA will go on to play in the NBA. The chances of a high school senior boy who plays interscholastic football eventually being drafted by the NFL is approximately nine in 10,000 or.09 percent.
These statistics are startling considering that many more than this percentage plan on becoming a player in the NBA, MLB, or NHL. Many students don't realize how few athletes really make it in today's world of pro sports.These statistics are not only for basketball, but the chart below lists the statistics for Football, Baseball, Ice Hockey, and Soccer.
Check it out.
Estimated Probability of Competing in Athletics Beyond the High School Interscholastic Level
Student-Athletes
Men's Basketball
Women's Basketball
Football
Baseball
Men's Hockey
Men's Soccer
High School Student-Athletes
549,500
456,900
983,600
455,300
29,900
321,400
High School Senior Student-Athletes
157,000
130,500
281,000
130,100
8,500
91,800
NCAA Student-Athletes
15,700
14,400
56,500
25,700
3,700
18,200
NCAA Freshman Roster Positions
4,500
4,100
16,200
7,300
1,100
5,200
NCAA Senior Student-Athletes
3,500
3,200
12,600
5,700
800
4,100
NCAA Student-Athletes Drafted
44
32
250
600
33
76
Percent High School to NCAA
2.9
3.1
5.8
5.6
12.9
5.7
Percent NCAA to Professional
1.3
1.0
2.0
10.5
4.1
1.9
Percent High School to Professional
0.03
0.02
0.09
0.5
0.4
0.08
Note: These percentages are based on estimated data and should be considered approximations of the actual percentages.
(c) The National Collegiate Athletic Association
Now PLEASE understand this. The probability of becoming an OLYMPIAN is less than what you see on the chart.
With that being said, in 2002, after completing my Masters Degree, I thought that it would be very important to place a go a that is somewhat more achievable in place.
I said, somewhat more achievable because attaining a Ph.D. is no walk in the park either, but it sure is a better bet, statistically speaking, than putting all of your eggs in the "I hope to become an Olympian" basket. It certainly is sad to see many athletes who strive to make an Olympic Team and then when they fall short they have nothing except the fact that they tried. It seems as if no one ever explained to the them that the likelihood of them becoming an Olympian is super super slim.
Therefore, I urge and even implore many of the clients that I coach to attend school. When its all said and done, being an Olympian is great, but being an Olympian with a Ph.D. is better. And if you don't get the Olympian title, by all means please make sure that you go to school. It's a better bet than saying, "I want to win a Gold Medal in the Olympics." I'm not saying that you should dream big. What I'm saying is that you should dream big and also live realistically.
==============
Thank you
==============
As with many of my emails or blog posts, this one probably isn't going to be politically correct, but, I gotta do what I gotta do....
I would like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for providing me with opportunity to achieve greatness in spite of the times when I definitely didn't deserve it. I appreciate Him for allowing me to be when I couldn't understand who I really was. I also appreciate him positioning people in my life who were able to help me, push me, inspire me, and propel me towards each goal that I have had the opportunity to pursue and attain. I write this email in awe of Him and humbled by His grace and mercy.
I would also like to thank my wife, Dr. Traci Ferguson, whose loving care and tenderness allowed me to pursue a goal which put more than somewhat of a strain on the family. I appreciate the times when she picked up my slack in terms of my familial responsibilities because she recognized my educational pursuit as an investment and something that would provide a household standard of excellence for our son, Rufus Alexander Ferguson.
I would also like to thank my parents, Rufus and Stephanie Ferguson for their untiring love, unwavering support and their many nights of fasting and praying.
I want to also thank my son's Godfather and my brother from another mother, Dr. G. Stewart. He is beyond inspiring,beyond exemplary and THE TRUE definition of the word FRIEND. His place in my life cannot be underestimated, reduced or disrespected. He is...... (I don't even have to finish the sentence because that's how solid my main man G.is. He just is....)
I would also like to thank so many of you that have prayed for me, supported my business endeavors and even those who have hated on me for no reason at all. I'm in the process of trying to acquire more haters because that is one of the true measuring rods of success. :-)
Take care and thank you so much. I will post pictures of my graduation in the near future on my facebook page. If you are not on Facebook, you need to get on there IMMEDIATELY. I am listed under "Rhadi Ferguson". Send me a friend request and I'll take care of you. Or you can just follow me at http://www.twitter.com/rhadi and I will keep you up to date on what's going on in the life of the Ferguson's.
Thanks again,
Rhadi Ferguson, Ph.D.
2004 Olympian
4-Time National Judo Champion
BJJ Black Belt
http://www.rhadiferguson.com
http://www.MoroteGari.com
P.S. After my I graduate on the 13th of March I am going to have a HUGE sale on a new judo product that you are going to absolutely love. It will be absolutely AMAZING.
On March 2nd at the time of 1:58pm I successfully defended my dissertation and was provided with the privilege to put the letters"Ph.D." after my name and "Dr." before it.
At this moment I can tell that I'm still somewhat numb.
I've been in school for a looooooooooonnnngggg time.
As a matter of fact, I can recall studying into the wee hours of the morning in Sydney, Australia while attending the 2000 Olympic Games as an alternate and training partner. I remember that it was around the same time when I was beginning my studies in the Masters of Arts of Teaching program at Howard University. It was the first of many late night international rendezvous that involved books, a desk and a couple cans of Coca-Cola Light(the European version of diet coke).
I can recall living at the Olympic Training Center and having to decline many offers to go out and hang out. It wasn't because I didn't want to, it was because I couldn't. My day was jam-packed with training, preparing, studying and developing papers which had to be submitted at the end of every quarter. It was a brutal existence. I can still recall what it was like to leave the tatami area in Spain after practice at one of the roughest training camps in the world and going straight to the Internet cafe while everyone else went into their room or to the beach to play.
I still remember the nights where I stayed up on the computers at the Olympic Training Center and went directly to the weight room with no sleep and working off of nothing but desire and espresso!!
I have plenty of stories for you but none quite hit home as much as the time I was doing my comprehensive examination. For my comps at Capella University I had 4 questions which I had to answer and each question was 15 pages a piece. And the questions as well as the entire submission had to fit a certain format which the university requires. Well, as I was finishing up my first 3 questions and getting ready to start my 4th question I heard my wife say, "Oh!" I said, "Oh what?" She said,"Oh! I'm having contractions!" To which I replied,"Oh." I not sure if my "oh" was the preamble of an"oh s---!" or an "oh no!" or an "oh, I guess we better go."
But I do know that I was feeling somewhat"oh"-ver whelmed. Well, the due date for my comprehensive exam was already set and it was about 3 days away. I can recall being in the hospital room tapping away on my laptop while my wife was in labor. I think the nurses thought I was the most insensitive father-to-be in the world,but they didn't understand that if you don't pass your comps YOU are OUT of the program. Period, end of story. And that was not an option. Needless to say, I finished but question 4 was not one of my best and I was given a onetime rewrite which I had to resubmit in 72 more hours. Staying up all night at the Olympic Training Center was definitely good practice for what I was going through. Needless to say, I passed and then began the dissertation process.
===============
The Doctoral Journey
===============
I can clearly say, without hesitation, that the journey to the Ph. D. was THE MOST DIFFICULT and one of the most fulfilling times in my life. There are numerous people that I need to thank as well as a number of people which I need to apologize to for, as my former wrestling coach Dr. Cotton said,misplaced anger.
It was certainly tough and certainly a thought provoking experience. I can clearly remember the day which I decided to pursue a Ph.D. I was attending one of the best graduations in the country, bar none, every year.That is,of course, the graduation at Howard University. And I saw the Ph.D.'s walk onto the stage to receive their degrees. At Howard, out of the thousands of students in attendance, ONLY the Ph.D.'s get to walk up on the stage to receive their degrees. And I remember hearing the name, Jorielle Brown. I couldn't believe it. I scrambled to get my hands on a program and searched through it and sure enough there was her name. I attended Howard during the same time Jorielle did and I couldn't believe that she was walking across the stage and receiving her Ph.D. I began to ask myself, what I had done at that point which was so significant. I couldn't find an answer. At that time, I was pursuing my Master's Degree and I had won a couple of National Championships and missed making the Olympic Team.
=============
Statistics....
=============
Statistically speaking....
This is an excerpt taken from the website
http://www.bankjr.com/teachers/tDoc.jsp?subject=FACS&doc=ProSports.html
Planning on Pro Sports?
Do you really have a chance of becoming a professional athlete?
Many students today believe they have a career in sports just waiting for them as soon as they get out of high school. The reality is that only 2.9 percent of all senior boys playing interscholastic basketball will go on to play in the NCAA. Only 1.3 percent of senior males playing in the NCAA will go on to play in the NBA. The chances of a high school senior boy who plays interscholastic football eventually being drafted by the NFL is approximately nine in 10,000 or.09 percent.
These statistics are startling considering that many more than this percentage plan on becoming a player in the NBA, MLB, or NHL. Many students don't realize how few athletes really make it in today's world of pro sports.These statistics are not only for basketball, but the chart below lists the statistics for Football, Baseball, Ice Hockey, and Soccer.
Check it out.
Estimated Probability of Competing in Athletics Beyond the High School Interscholastic Level
Student-Athletes
Men's Basketball
Women's Basketball
Football
Baseball
Men's Hockey
Men's Soccer
High School Student-Athletes
549,500
456,900
983,600
455,300
29,900
321,400
High School Senior Student-Athletes
157,000
130,500
281,000
130,100
8,500
91,800
NCAA Student-Athletes
15,700
14,400
56,500
25,700
3,700
18,200
NCAA Freshman Roster Positions
4,500
4,100
16,200
7,300
1,100
5,200
NCAA Senior Student-Athletes
3,500
3,200
12,600
5,700
800
4,100
NCAA Student-Athletes Drafted
44
32
250
600
33
76
Percent High School to NCAA
2.9
3.1
5.8
5.6
12.9
5.7
Percent NCAA to Professional
1.3
1.0
2.0
10.5
4.1
1.9
Percent High School to Professional
0.03
0.02
0.09
0.5
0.4
0.08
Note: These percentages are based on estimated data and should be considered approximations of the actual percentages.
(c) The National Collegiate Athletic Association
Now PLEASE understand this. The probability of becoming an OLYMPIAN is less than what you see on the chart.
With that being said, in 2002, after completing my Masters Degree, I thought that it would be very important to place a go a that is somewhat more achievable in place.
I said, somewhat more achievable because attaining a Ph.D. is no walk in the park either, but it sure is a better bet, statistically speaking, than putting all of your eggs in the "I hope to become an Olympian" basket. It certainly is sad to see many athletes who strive to make an Olympic Team and then when they fall short they have nothing except the fact that they tried. It seems as if no one ever explained to the them that the likelihood of them becoming an Olympian is super super slim.
Therefore, I urge and even implore many of the clients that I coach to attend school. When its all said and done, being an Olympian is great, but being an Olympian with a Ph.D. is better. And if you don't get the Olympian title, by all means please make sure that you go to school. It's a better bet than saying, "I want to win a Gold Medal in the Olympics." I'm not saying that you should dream big. What I'm saying is that you should dream big and also live realistically.
==============
Thank you
==============
As with many of my emails or blog posts, this one probably isn't going to be politically correct, but, I gotta do what I gotta do....
I would like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for providing me with opportunity to achieve greatness in spite of the times when I definitely didn't deserve it. I appreciate Him for allowing me to be when I couldn't understand who I really was. I also appreciate him positioning people in my life who were able to help me, push me, inspire me, and propel me towards each goal that I have had the opportunity to pursue and attain. I write this email in awe of Him and humbled by His grace and mercy.
I would also like to thank my wife, Dr. Traci Ferguson, whose loving care and tenderness allowed me to pursue a goal which put more than somewhat of a strain on the family. I appreciate the times when she picked up my slack in terms of my familial responsibilities because she recognized my educational pursuit as an investment and something that would provide a household standard of excellence for our son, Rufus Alexander Ferguson.
I would also like to thank my parents, Rufus and Stephanie Ferguson for their untiring love, unwavering support and their many nights of fasting and praying.
I want to also thank my son's Godfather and my brother from another mother, Dr. G. Stewart. He is beyond inspiring,beyond exemplary and THE TRUE definition of the word FRIEND. His place in my life cannot be underestimated, reduced or disrespected. He is...... (I don't even have to finish the sentence because that's how solid my main man G.is. He just is....)
I would also like to thank so many of you that have prayed for me, supported my business endeavors and even those who have hated on me for no reason at all. I'm in the process of trying to acquire more haters because that is one of the true measuring rods of success. :-)
Take care and thank you so much. I will post pictures of my graduation in the near future on my facebook page. If you are not on Facebook, you need to get on there IMMEDIATELY. I am listed under "Rhadi Ferguson". Send me a friend request and I'll take care of you. Or you can just follow me at http://www.twitter.com/rhadi and I will keep you up to date on what's going on in the life of the Ferguson's.
Thanks again,
Rhadi Ferguson, Ph.D.
2004 Olympian
4-Time National Judo Champion
BJJ Black Belt
http://www.rhadiferguson.com
http://www.MoroteGari.com
P.S. After my I graduate on the 13th of March I am going to have a HUGE sale on a new judo product that you are going to absolutely love. It will be absolutely AMAZING.
posted by Rhadi Ferguson at
12:36 PM
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