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Training Yao
� Sugar Land Magazine � Sugar Land, Texas 2006
January 15, 2006
By Kim Elliot
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A Sugar Land Trainer�s Story
"A man among giants". That is how Anthony Falsone can be described. Falsone is the personal trainer for the NBA�s biggest import�Yao Ming. If that sounds impressive, then the rest of his
resume will as well.
For a decade, Falsone had been employed by the Houston Rockets as their Strength and Conditioning Coach. Before that, the Sugar Land resident worked as a trainer for none other than Hakeem Olajuwon.
The Dream Altered
Falsone got his start in the fitness industry with expectations of working in baseball. His career began with training some of the Astros foremost players including Shane Reynolds and the late Darryl Kile. But when his
clientele grew to include Houston Rockets Kenny Smith and Carl Hererra, the future for Falsone turned from the hard ball to the hard court.Olajuwon learned from fellow players about this �new trainer� and requested a
meeting with Falsone. Olajuwon
and Falsone met to discuss just how strength and conditioning could benefit the perennial all-star�s game. Olajuwon was
convinced on the spot. They discussed health and lifelong fitness, and Falsone was charged with personalizing a program for Hakeem. During the time the two worked together, the Dream�sgame rose to new levels. He was
awarded the League MVP (1994), Defensive Player of the Year (1993,1994) and then brought Houston its first ever major sports Championships (1994, 1995). The perception that Hakeem was �a guard in a center�s body� can be
attributed to his conditioning and strength training. Those results led to a position for Falsone with the Rockets.
Elite status
He had an elite status� one of only 29 people in the world with the same position. The job with the Rockets was exciting and challenging. Falsone had to adjust from having a one-on-one working relationship with clients
to creating and implementing programs for 16 very different players. Falsone credits his success to continuous education and a great support team with the Rockets. �He is a leader. He walks the walk everyday, I have
learned a lot from him about taking responsibility for yourself and your actions,�
Falsone said.
Time for a Change, Yao�ll
Like many players at the top of their game, Falsone decided it was time for a change. He had assisted players in many different ways over the years� from the strength and conditioning aspects to lengthening careers .The
10 years of traveling for 10 months out of the year were proving arduous for a man with a young family. And the possibilities and opportunities for someone with Falsone�s resume needed some exploring. As fate would have
it, he would go out the same way he came in� with a 7-footer. His first post-Rockets gig was as Yao Ming�s personal trainer. �I took the job with Yao to be available to him at a higher percentage,� Falsone said. �I was
traveling with him to China in the off-season but had obligations with the Rockets. Falsone started with the Rockets working under Head Coach Rudi Tomjanovich (1991-2003). �Rudi is a players� coach and he is true to
himself,� Falsone said. While Falsone treasures the years spent in Rudi�s system, he believes he was never a better trainer than he was in his last two years under current Rockets Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy. Currently, I
am working with him to improve aspects of his game and general health and fitness.� Falsone describes Yao as committed, funny and respectful. He adds that Yao no longer uses his translator and actually hired a teacher
over the summer to teach him American slang .In fact, Falsone is amazed at just how similar Olajuwonand Yao are.�They are almost the same person. Sometimes I have d�j�vu when I am with Yao; he acts so much like
Hakeem.�Yet they hail from different countries and cultures and
speak different languages.
More from Falsone
In addition to training Yao, Falsone is teaching a class at the University of Houston-Clear Lake on resistance training
programs. Anthonyfalsone.com is a new website where anyone� not only NBA players�can obtain fitness and health
tips. Falsone is also in the early stages of writing a book about health, fitness and all-around positive well-being. One day he hopes to open a unique training facility. And Falsone isn�t the only trainer in the family.
His wife of 13 years, Tosha, is also a certified trainer boasting high-profile clientele as well. The Falsones have two children: 8-year-old
Rhylie and 5-year-old Nicolas. Falsone knows that his time with Yao is short-lived. The Falsones believe that when they do their job as trainers the right way, they teach their client what they need to know and they live
the results.
Kim Elliott, a former FOX
Sports producer and current
Television freelancer, is the
Mother of a 3-year-old son and
2-year-old daughter. Kim and her family reside in Sugar Land
Editor�s Note:
Sugar Land is full of interesting, talented people. If you know someone who should be profiled in Sugar Land Magazine, tell us. Email editor at sugarlandmagazine.com
Submit your Sugarland news to editor at katymagazine.com.
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