Jordan Burroughs battles Andrew Howe at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Jordan Burroughs has been receiving a lot of attention over the past several months.
One of Team USA's biggest stars, Burroughs has been the face of the Polo Ralph Lauren campaign for Rio 2016 and has repped Chobani, Asics and a few other brands. He's been featured in several magazines and is even the subject of upcoming documentaries by two well-known media outlets.
As wrestling's most popular figure for the past few years, Burroughs is now showing significant mainstream appeal.
This week Burroughs used his platform to speak about the frustrations of many in the African-American community regarding police brutality and the social injustice. The posts came in the wake of the police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castille, which were caught on camera and watched millions of time via social media.
Police are supposed to diffuse situations, not escalate them. Protect the public, and be the voice of reason amid conflict.
��" Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) July 7, 2016
It's sad that someday I will have to teach my son police etiquette. Either be quiet and completely submissive or risk being shot.
��" Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) July 7, 2016
Police force needs to reevaluate their selection process and training methods. Too many cops shooting civilians out of fear.
��" Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) July 7, 2016
It bothers me that cops stick together even amongst injustice. No one is willing to call out their colleagues for mishandling a situation.
��" Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) July 7, 2016
I respect police. I don't think they are bad people. Just bad execution. Either way, consequences should be involved. Justice is necessary.
��" Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) July 7, 2016
Are the police here to protect the public or themselves?
��" Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) July 7, 2016
ATTENTION POLICE: There is a way to protect yourself and subdue your subjects without killing them. It's called wrestling. Learn it.
��" Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) July 7, 2016
I'm more than willing to teach all officers willing to learn.
��" Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) July 7, 2016
Regardless of how any one reader feels about the police, guns and the situations which prompted Burroughs' response, there is much to admire in Burroughs' standing up for what he believes is an issue that affects his family and friends. He's taking his position as father and role model with seriousness and thoughtfulness.
The wrestling community has plenty of opinions, but few quality opinion-makers. Burroughs is one of those opinion-makers and for him to speak up about this type of issue, especially as it would have been easy to cower away during this pre-Olympic period, shows his courage to stand for what he believes is right.
To your questions …
Q: In 2004, Team USA won six medals (across all three styles) at the Olympic Games. In 2008, the Americans won three medals. Last Olympics, in 2012, Team USA captured four medals. Over/under for Team USA medals in Rio is 5.5. Are you betting over or under 5.5?
-- Mike C.
Foley: I'll take the over.
1.5 from Greco-Roman
2.5 from women's wrestling
2.5 from men's freestyle
I like where you placed that line! Any thoughts from Brian Muir?
Q: Looks like a segment of one of Jordan Burroughs' Olympic athlete profile videos was used in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Taking this plug and Adeline Gray's appearance in the upcoming ESPN Magazine's The Body issue can we assume that USA Wrestling has hit a promotional turning point and expect to see the sport gain more exposure in popular media outlets?
-- Jacob R.
Foley: Wrestling is very visually pleasing, which lends many creative outlets to lean against our stars in the promotion of the Olympic Games. The highlights are radical, the bodies are in-shape and the characters are even a bit brighter.
We speak a lot about Burroughs' fame, but no wrestler has received more media attention in the run-up to the Olympic Games than Adeline Gray. Her feature in the upcoming Body Issue is groundbreaking, but she's also seen write-ups in magazines and websites ranging from women's focused to airlines. In fact, even I have a 4k+ word profile piece on her coming out on ESPN right before the Olympic Games.
The women have been wonderfully promoted, as have our freestyle stars. The crew at USA Wrestling has done a phenomenal job getting their athletes front and center for external media. Years of hard work and relationship building has created this opportunity for the athletes and I hope we see it continue to grow.
MUTLIMEDIA HALFTIME
Second teaser for upcoming documentary on Battsetseg
Hamid Soryan: The Long Road to Rio
Link: Adeline Gray ESPN Body Issue photos
Q: Do you think the World Championships will return to the United States within the next 10 years?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Sure, why not. Ten years is a pretty long time and the 2015 World Championships were some of the best received in the history of the sport. I don't know how interested USA Wrestling would be in hosting, but I think that the event and fan, athlete and viewer experiences were all top of the line.
As far as averages it would be a little quicker than normal. USA had last held it 12 years prior in 2003 and then 7 years prior with the Olympic Games in 1996 and the LA Games in 1984.
Q: Do you see Boris Novachkov as a legitimate medal contender in Rio?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Hard to count out anyone that athletic, but he has struggled to break through against the top five talent at 65 kilos. I'd put him at 10 percent to medal.
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