February 13, 201313 yr Although an activity that involves two, sweaty men rolling around on a rubber mat never appealed to me, I think this is a strange decision. Golf has been added for ratings. I hear this a lot and just don't get it. Granted, I grew up in a state where wrestling is just as big as basketball, so I may be biased. The thought or idea that wrestling is "gay" or sexual in nature, just never occurred to me. I can guarantee, wrestlers are probably the toughest (or at least one of the toughest) group of athletes in any sport.
February 13, 201313 yr As a former wrestler, this really stinks. I'm curious what kind of effect this will have on high school and collegiate wrestling participation.
February 13, 201313 yr As a former wrestler, this really stinks. I'm curious what kind of effect this will have on high school and collegiate wrestling participation. I actually don't think it will have a huge affect. Olympic wrestling was hard to find on tv last summer, and I don't think it drives kids to wrestle. I think most kids, at least here in KY, get involved accidentally....either they just got cut from basketball and wanted something to do in the winter, or their dads or brothers were involved in the sport. I see more kids that wrestle simply because they love the sport...heck there is no career path within the sport even with the Olympics.
February 13, 201313 yr I hear this a lot and just don't get it. Granted, I grew up in a state where wrestling is just as big as basketball, so I may be biased. The thought or idea that wrestling is "gay" or sexual in nature, just never occurred to me. I can guarantee, wrestlers are probably the toughest (or at least one of the toughest) group of athletes in any sport. Ask just about any multi-sport athlete who wrestled. A BUNCH of them will say that wrestling is the toughest of the sports they participated in.
February 13, 201313 yr I actually don't think it will have a huge affect. Olympic wrestling was hard to find on tv last summer, and I don't think it drives kids to wrestle. I think most kids, at least here in KY, get involved accidentally....either they just got cut from basketball and wanted something to do in the winter, or their dads or brothers were involved in the sport. I see more kids that wrestle simply because they love the sport...heck there is no career path within the sport even with the Olympics. In my high school days, we were strongly encouraged to go out for wrestling if we played football.
February 13, 201313 yr That's biathlon. Modern pentathlon (as opposed to the ancient pentathlon) consists of shooting, swimming, fencing, running and equestrian events. How about an Octagon? -wrestling -badminton -bowling -bass fishing -synchronized swimming -rhythmic gymnastics -Halo (or Call of Duty?) And -Iron Chef
February 14, 201313 yr In my high school days, we were strongly encouraged to go out for wrestling if we played football. Sadly, there are a large portion of football coaches who feel just the opposite.
February 14, 201313 yr As a former wrestler, this really stinks. I'm curious what kind of effect this will have on high school and collegiate wrestling participation. The one good thing about this is it seems to have raised a lot of awareness.
February 14, 201313 yr In my high school days, we were strongly encouraged to go out for wrestling if we played football. I've probably said this before; back in the day (mid 50s to mid 60s) my dad coached football, wrestling and track/field. While it wasn't an absolute requirement, he also strongly encouraged athletes to participate in all 3; believed that there was a lot to be gained especially for football players to wrestle, run, jump and throw.
February 14, 201313 yr I've probably said this before; back in the day (mid 50s to mid 60s) my dad coached football, wrestling and track/field. While it wasn't an absolute requirement, he also strongly encouraged athletes to participate in all 3; believed that there was a lot to be gained especially for football players to wrestle, run, jump and throw. Wrestling is huge where I'm from and regularly outdraws basketball. My first high school coach was a track coach and was not a big fan of football players not being on the track team. My LB coach also coached wrestling and had the same views of his LB's not wrestling. Of course I played Basketball and Baseball in addition to football. Although I'm sure it's not a surprise to most members, it's worth mentioning the list of NFL players who have wrestling backgrounds is pretty extensive. Ray Lewis and Roddy White for example are former high school state champs.
February 14, 201313 yr I know I've told this story before but it bears repeating. I had a roommate from the metropolis of Omaha in Knott County. This would have been spring of 1978. We had a long weekend (from classes at Morehead) in February so we drove to my house (suburbs of Baltimore, MD). It happened to be the weekend of the county high school wrestling tournament. His only exposure to amateur wrestling at that point has been limited to Andre the Giant and the like. He was absolutely captivated by it. He was a basketball and baseball guy (UK and Yankees - you've seen that combination before). Said he loved the wrestling - especially the mano-a-mano aspect. Demanded that I take him back the next night for the next round. One of the greatest sports out there. Summer Olympics without freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling will be like BGP without Clyde and rockmom.
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