After the allegations? Blatter will still win his fifth term.
For all the drama surrounding wrestling's Olympic missteps culminating in the 2013 removal from the Olympic Games, at least the president was fired. However, to give some idea of how tough it is to remove a president of an international federation, that decision was made by one vote -- a fact I still find incredible.
Most anyone with a pair of eyes and a rational brain can rightly assume that Blatter was on the take as well. How entrenched and for how much is the only question remaining, but with Russia and Qatar winning consecutive World Cup bids, you can be certain his patronage didn't come cheap.
Wrestling made changes and most agree they have been for the better. Soccer, like wrestling, is a worldwide sport that can lift individuals from poverty and provide a better life to those willing to put in the work to excel.
Let's hope that at some point in the future FIFA follows wrestling's lead and makes positive changes for the betterment of the organization, but also the larger sporting world.
To your questions ...
Casey Cunningham coaches Matt Brown at the NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)-- @Eagle_Fan
Foley: For this year, see below. As for years past I'd assume that he applied for the Arizona State job when it opened, but maybe not. Cunningham is an extraordinary coach who seems to have a very positive impact on the lives of his athletes, but that doesn't mean he's jonesing to lead his own program.
There is honor and skill in being the second, especially to a coach as talented as Cael. Casey might just be happy as is, and if that's the case then I applaud the outlook. If not, then I'd advocate for him to be considered for a job big enough to capture his wealth of talent.
Q: It's almost June and still no Division I head coaching changes. Do you think that means we are going to see none this offseason? Is this the first time you can recall that happening?
-- Mike C.
Foley: I don't think it has happened, at least not since I've been following college wrestling. There is no way I can manage all that data, but I know that every year the carousel spins, but this year there is no oil in the gears.
Wrestling needs change every year. This sport drains the energy from coaches and if you analyze the entire Division I program structure as one company then at least one of the (roughly) 80 employees is probably in need of replacement. How many companies retain the exact same 80 executives year-to-year? Not many.
There still might come a time for change, but with graduation past and the summer starting it would be the latest start I'd ever seen, too.
Maybe there is one AD out there still looking for the oil?
Q: Has there been any update or dialogue about uniform change and if so will it be applied in Rio?
-- @jamill_kelly
Foley: The outfits will almost certainly NOT change before the 2016 Olympics. Obviously, the federation doesn't want to spring new uniforms on athletes without plenty of testing. From what I understand there is development and due diligence still to be done.
2017? Yes.
Q: I thought overall the U.S. wrestled well against Cuba. Which U.S. wrestler had the most impressive performance at the Beat the Streets event in NYC?
-- Mike C.
Foley: David Taylor. Wow. That he beat a World and Olympic medalist is a real thing, even when you factor in the home court advantage and the fact that the Cubans were not on their best performances. Still, Taylor looked sharp and I was absolutely impressed by his aggression and ability to score in bunches.
Jordan Oliver finished runner-up to Brent Metcalf at the U.S. Open (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com)-- @Eagle_Fan
Foley: No. He's only won the Dave Schultz Memorial and placed third at Yasar Dogu, and that was at 70 kilos. There is nothing to keep him from going overseas more often to prove he's better than Metcalf, but that hasn't happened.
Meanwhile, Metcalf finished runner-up at Yarygin and was third at the Paris Grand Prix. He also went undefeated at the World Cup and won last year's Golden Grand Prix.
Oliver is certainly talented, but he's not anywhere close to as accomplished as Metcalf, nor as much of a threat to medal at the World Championships or Olympics.
MULTIMEDIA HALFTIME
The new UFC light heavyweight champion is super charming. Watch as he reacts to WWE's Seth Rollins' win at WrestleMania
Q: Who do you think will be Iran's rep at 86 kilos in Rio next year? Very, very competitive weight class right now.
-- @DefGrappler
Foley: World No. 2 Meisam Mostafa Joukar won the Takhti Cup and could be the guy come Vegas. To get there he has to get past World No. 4 Mohammad Hossein Mohammadian, who took bronze at last year's World Championships.
The Iranians pick their team at the national tournament. With the exception of an injury to a World medalist, they go down the line (now) and take the best guy. If it comes down to a heads up battle I'll take Joukar, but not by a lot and with almost no confidence.
Q: Is Logan Stieber too small for 65 kilos right now? If there was a 61-kilo weight class at the Olympics, would he be down there?
-- @Eagle_Fan
Foley: I don't know that he would be down at 61 kilos. That's pretty svelte for the 141-pound NCAA champion to hit. Besides, this really isn't a conversation since that weight class won't make it into the Games anytime soon.
However, I don't think he's too small for 65 kilos. I just think he needs more time to train freestyle and dedicate himself to the gamesmanship necessary to compete at the international level. He's got the talent and the results are sure to be coming soon.
How awesome is 65 kilos for the USA?
Q: Zahid Valencia just won a gold medal in Turkey and earned a technical fall over a wrestler who dominated Bo Nickal in the same event. Who do you see having a more successful collegiate wrestling career, Zahid Valencia at Arizona State or Bo Nickal at Penn State?
-- Mike C.
Foley: Freestyle results can be tricky. Right now I'm torn. I think you have to look at that result and the Valencia bros.' recent performances and say that the latter would have the advantage. Still, I think all three are NCAA champions by the time they put on the cap and gown for their respective schools.
Q: Should freestyle change its rules to more closely resemble folkstyle?
1. More fans.
2. They'd then understand the convoluted scoring.
-- @jammenjammenz
Foley: No. Freestyle is much more exciting and American collegiate wrestling does NOT translate well overseas.
Scoring is pretty straightforward in freestyle!
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