This award is to recognize those individuals who have given significant time and effort to the sport of wrestling. Those efforts must have had significant impact on the preservation or promotion of the sport.
Many out there may know Brown as a fun loving wrestling fan who blogs about the sport from, The view from section GG: Musings and opinions on amateur wrestling from a fan’s standpoint. What he has done through his blog is raise awareness from a fans perspective and taken his knowledge of marketing and applied it to fundraising and awareness efforts to the sport of wrestling.
“To have my name associated with Dan Gable, is incredibly humbling. I see myself as a wrestling fan, who sees opportunities out there (Tickets for Kids) and instead of waiting on others to do them, I get involved. I am no different from the other wrestling fans out there,” said Brown.
One of Brown’s latest efforts to raise awareness of the sport of wrestling is in conjunction with the NCAA for the “Tickets for Kids” program. Where he is raising $10,000 to buy 1,000 tickets to the Saturday morning session of the Division III Championships at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and will be giving them away to kids. The goal is that these children are exposed to the sport of wrestling at a level that will draw them in as future high school and college wrestlers.
“This award means a lot to the NWCA and to the sport of wrestling, being able to recognize Jim Brown for the work he is doing to promote wrestling at all levels is what “America Needs Wrestling,” is all about. He is working to reach people at all levels, including those who are not following the sport currently while at the same time being creative about the means he uses,” said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director.
In an excerpt from Brown’s blog he wrote the following, “Can we get more kids on the mat? Dan Gable’s latest catchphrase is, “America needs wrestling”. I watched a video where he was wrapping up a clinic session and he explained a little about what he meant, “We need (toughness). If the power goes out and you need heat you need to be able to use a chainsaw. If the chainsaw breaks you need to be able to use an axe.” Wrestling teaches toughness and resiliency in ways that nothing else does. We need “tough” scientists like Norman Borlaug – and “tough” writers like John Irving – and “tough” leaders like Teddy Roosevelt. Where will they come from? You can be sure that some are going to walk off the mat and into greatness.”
The presentation of the Dan Gable “America Needs Wrestling” Award will take place at the 2010 NCAA Division III Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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