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If you're a wrestling fan and have seen these images, then you've likely broken a glass in anger or kicked a swan in frustration.
The Oregon Ducks last week released images from their new football training facility, to which they've given the dry name, The Football Performance Center. Perhaps there is no introduction more telling of the facilities gratuitous abundance than the opening paragraph written by New York Times reporter Greg Bishop:
The Football Performance Center at the University of Oregon features rugs woven by hand in Nepal, couches made in Italy and Brazilian hardwood underfoot in the weight room that is so dense, designers of this opulent palace believe it will not burn.Wrestling fans don't need to be reminded that the Ducks wrestling program was eliminated in July of 2007 due to the budget constraints brought on from the addition of a baseball program and competitive cheer (which has yet to be recognized as a scholarship-bearing Division I sport). Some in the wrestling community pushed the blame on Title IX, but the equality of women is just a scapegoat for what is a larger and much more pervasive problem: Football and amateurism.
While wrestling and other sports scratch for a few extra fans, the NCAA works tirelessly to ensure that the culture of football and profiteering endures past every substantial lawsuit, concerning piece of concussion research, and seemingly bi-weekly amateurism scandal.
Despite the growing sentiment that football is corrupt and unhealthy, the NCAA preaches it as a gospel of Americana and schools line up to give their benedictions. How else can one explain a cathedral built for the cause of enslavement?
Too harsh? Just read the quote left by Walt Byers, the father of the modern NCAA, in regards to modern amateurism in his book Unsportsmanlike Conduct:
Today the NCAA Presidents Commission is preoccupied with tightening a few loose bolts in a worn machine, firmly committed to the neo-plantation belief that the enormous proceeds from college games belong to the overseers (administrators) and supervisors (coaches). The plantation workers performing in the arena may only receive those benefits authorized by the overseers.Why isn't that quote splashed across the entryway to Oregon's $70 million, 145,000 square foot facility? You'd think it would at least fit on one of the 250 televisions.
Wrestling can't compete with Brazilian hard wood floors and rooms devoted to video games for athletes. We aren't big enough and never will be. However, we are well proportioned to score PR victories by changing our sport in unexpected and progressive ways. Our solution isn't to raise $70 million for a building that gets pages worth of negative and snarky reviews.
Our answer comes in raising $5 million to start the NCAA's first Division I women's wrestling program, or eliminating singlets, getting rid of the weight-cutting culture, or improving our competition schedule. These aren't just winning arguments and slick press releases; these are the changes that need to be made for the betterment of the sport and the next generation of wrestlers.
Miss this chance and we'll be the quack jobs.
To your questions ...
Q: What happened to Ryen Nieman and Jamie Clark? Both were big recruits a few years back.
-- @Rhino184
Foley: Ryen Neiman isn't on the roster at Indiana University and the last time he seemed to compete was the intrasquad competition at the start of 2011. His career is over. Jamie Clark was at Kent State for a spell in 2012, but felt better in a teaching capacity and lives in the area helping out and running camps.
Q: What is the toughest state to win an individual high school state championship in and why? How tough do you think California's State Championships compare to other states?
-- Gregg Y.
CIF wrestling medal (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)There has only been ONE four-time California state champion (Darrell Vasquez), which should give you some indication about the quality of the athlete that shows up to the tournament every season. The quality isn't just because there are solid programs, but the top-flight individuals from small schools -- who in Ohio or Virginia might wrestle in one of the many divisions -- gets a chance at competitors from better programs in bigger schools.
Again, I think Pennsylvania is the best wrestling state, but California has the toughest state tournament to win.
Q: How do think Alexander Karelin would've done in MMA in light of how dominant he was internationally in Greco-Roman wrestling? And what's your opinion on the Rulon Gardener win over Karelin? Basically did Rulon Gardner win on a technicality due to the rules vs. if they kept wrestling Karelin would've figured out a way to win?
-- Marcus R.
Foley: Alexander Karelin is successful at everything he attempts. Poetry? The man. Duma? Elected. Leader of Mother Russia? Hasn't tried ... yet.
Mixed martial arts wouldn't have been a problem for Karelin. As a big guy he'd have less worry about grappling, and with his obscene size, genius-level intellect and ferocious competitive style he'd have been one of the top five heavyweights of all time. There is no argument for why he'd be less-than-impressive.
As for the match with Rulon Gardner, Karelin was the unfortunate victim of terrible rules that awarded Gardner a point after the Russian lost a coin flip and briefly unlocked hands his hands. Were the rules like they are right now, you can imagine that Karelin would have earned the first point from passivity and been in control the rest of the match. I'm American, but all my passwords include the word "karelin."
Alexander KarelinSamaranch is up in the VIP box watching the match, and to his eye all looks good for the Russian. Sure there is cheering and a brief loudspeaker explanation of breaking grips, but Samaranch was busy prepping the speech as it was a fact that Karelin couldn't lose.
The match is tied at the end of the first three-minute period which shows that Karelin is responsible for action within 30 seconds. He ends up unclasping his hands and gives up a point. Three more minutes pass, regulation ends and it's 1-0 Gardner, but as the rules states overtime was to occur. Samaranch, who is half paying attention, doesn't know who is winning, but is so steadfast in the certainty of events that he begins the walk to the floor greet Karelin. He's arguably the greatest leader in the history of the Olympic movement, so he can be excused if he wants to be part of history.
Just before he goes full-steam, some of his aides inform him that Karelin hadn't won, but instead had lost during the prolonged hugging bout. When the aides tried to explain why Karelin had lost, Samaranch couldn't follow and in a tizzy storms out of the building, flinging unkind words about our beloved sport as he left the building.
Samaranch was happy to know that there was an upset, but for a man whose job it was to present an athletic event to the world, it was as stain on wrestling that even he couldn't understand the winners and losers.
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
Seriously, he's a bad dude.
Still love this one ...
Interesting. I'd be careful about making this the centerpiece of any argument, but there is a powerful perspective to be heard from the Caucuses.
Q: What do you think of the NWCA All-Star Classic moving to George Mason?
-- Andy R.
Foley: The Patriot Center holds a lot more fans, which could be incredible if there are matches that wrestling fans will travel to watch in person. Should the NWCA and its partners keep working to improve the quality of the event, including high-quality promotional videos and marquee matchups, then it is possible that the crowds could rival what we saw last year at American University.
The NWCA and hosts of the event need to make this about more than just the college kids selected to attend. By creating annual programming outside of the two-hour event, like the dinners and clinics, there is a good chance it could become an annual can't-miss event for wrestling fans in the region.
Q: In my opinion Logan Storley will be the next collegiate wrestler to be a stand out in MMA. He has all the skills? What do you think?
-- Gregg Y.
Foley: Sure! There's no questioning his toughness or wrestling ability. The big test will come in his ability to learn jiu-jitsu and striking. Can't win a fight with wrestling if you take a shin to live, or get your arm snapped off by a Brazilian limb-hunter.
Q: Five of the seven U.S. World Team members were in the U.S. lineup that was beaten in rather dominant fashion by Iran at Grand Central Station in May. All five of those wrestlers lost to their Iranian opponents. Do you think this might predict a disappointing overall U.S. showing in the upcoming World Championships? Or do you think this will prove to be part of the learning process, with the American wrestlers peaking at the right time in September?
-- Mark R.
Foley: Most Americans believe that FILA's new rules benefit American freestyle wrestlers by eliminating period-based strategies based in positioning, and rewarding constant action and conditioning. I'd agree. And since the rules changed after the Rumble on the Rails, we should be, overall, in a better position to win some heads-up matches.
More importantly we are well built for a long tournament because unlike other countries we've trained our whole lives for the match-ending technical fall. At seven points Americans like Brent Metcalf have an enormous, absolutely GIGANTIC incentive to go out and launch rapid attacks. By earning quick technical falls wrestlers like Metcalf can save their energy for the battles they might run into later in the tournament, while other more conservative wrestlers like those from Iran might not be able to end matches as often with such efficacy.
Like you wrote, this team is probably peaking for September, and if you trust their training and leadership, then you have to be optimistic about their chances to bring home more than two gold medals at the World Championships.
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