The_KC_Godfather

I joined for about 10 seconds. I thought a watch party meant that there would be a live chat or something. When I realized there wasn’t, no reason to “watch”.

On a side note…have these refs graduated from elementary school? The officials in the Edmond match could seem to math the score to save their life for like 10 minutes. I’m half crocked and knew the score before the brick came out.

Mauller is so extremely painful to watch...

Edmond knocks off Henson...

Why did Surtin ride the last 3 minutes of the match, down 3-1? I know he was working for a turn, but you gotta think at some point, you cut him loose (after negating riding time) and go for the TD...

Looking at common opponents since the 2023 Big 12 finals, it seems Surtin may have closed the gap. I hope so, but he's a wrestleback monster I feel like, so not super worried if he drops to consi's. I have Edmond/Henson circled on my watch list...that's going to be a fun one, and I think this year may be the year Henson gets on the podium. I really hope Mocco is able to push through. Would love to see another AA for him. I have Hawks AAing in my bracket (tried my very best to keep bias out of it and not give him swing matches).

Great question that I don't know if anybody knows the answer to. I do know that he wrestled unattached last year as a RS at 157 and didn't do well. I had hoped he'd be back at 149 for this season, but he's big. He was able to horse guys at the lower weight...maybe not so much at 57. Sad...similar story to Jacques, imo. Ironic that they came from the same HS (as did Eierman).

Damn. I thought all sports betting was legal in KS now. Any odds for PSU to win, I'll take!

How do you guys find wrestling on draft kings? I don't see a search bar and can't find it in the drop downs...

"AJ Ferrari named as prime suspect in Kansas City shooting" "Brands brothers will make a full recovery after sustaining gunshot wounds in Kansas City parking garage shooting" "Missouri does the unthinkable; knocks off defending champion Penn State" "Oklahoma State head coach John Smith fires assistant Coleman Scott matside for throwing challenge brick" "Dayton Fix celebrates 40th birthday with first NCAA title"

A really fun place in P&L that we like is No Other Pub. I believe it's owned by Sporting KC (Pro Soccer Team) and they have big watch parties there, plus foosball, shuffleboard, cornhole, ping pong, etc. There is actually a Sporting KC game Saturday night at 7:30pm, so I'm sure the place will be hopping if you head there after the finals. They have good drink specials on game days. Chicken N Pickle is also a lot of fun, and there's a Top Golf in Overland Park. Main Event is also great (Dave & Busters on steroids). I personally don't like Arthur Bryant's or Gates. Q39 is my favorite place and that's where I take anyone who comes from out of town. Slaps is good, not great. The Meat Mitch in the airport doesn't have the good stuff like the restaurant does; I love their burnt ends and Alabama white bbq sauce (neither were available at the airport location the last time we were there). Jack Stack and Joe's are our other go-to's. We haven't been yet but have heard from friends that LC's and Char-Bar are legit. If you're a breakfast person, Chaz on the Plaza is a must. It's the restaurant at The Raphael hotel. If you're not opposed to raw fish, I highly recommend the norwegian benedict. Dinner there is just "meh", but they have live jazz music on the weekends that is usually great. If you're looking for shopping/souvenirs, hit up Charlie Hustle in the plaza. Crown Plaza is also a fun place to walk around.

Had I not seen what Vito did in the finals last year to RBY, I would say Brooks is unbeatable. But, clearly, never say never…

I know his name has been brought up quite a few times, so not new, but I am still raving about Meyer Shapiro after he MD'd Brock Mauller. I think he's a dark horse finalist. I also think that if Josh Edmond can push himself like he did to win against Happel (and close against Echemendia), he can be a dark horse AA.

I am worried about him as well for Carr and Keegan. I really hope he’s on the opposite side of the bracket from O’Toole. I’m sure there’s a brotherly vibe there from AWA and they’ve likely gone a million times, but Messinbrink is on a war path and with Carr and O’Toole not seeing him until March, it worries me a bit. An opportunity to feel him out ahead of time would be ideal (but also could be an opportunity for Messinbrink). See Carr/O’Toole for the “feeling out” process and result.

Maybe if you watched the matches, in order, you'd be able to think outside of the head-to-head record? Carr wins 7-3 in their first meeting Second meeting went to OT O'Toole wins 8-2 in their last meeting I see progression there...

I think O'Toole has Carr's number now, but a huge match and exciting nonetheless! I just hope it's Carr that ends up on Messinbrink's side of the bracket in March

Yep, you’re right! Thanks for the correction!

It seems like there are burned bridges with Askren and Wiscy....and I would guess that Ben is recommending that the top recruits you mention not go there. Maybe not, but with Bono and the staff he has, the scholarships they have in D1, and the chance to stay close to home for AWA guys, there has to be another reason they aren't getting these top WI kids...

The one team I would say you left out is Nebraska. Those guys are looking pretty legit so far, dual-wise and individually.

The only reason I thought it was legit was because JB had his kid with him on camera, which, I would assume if you're playing into something/acting, you wouldn't do. I may be wrong on that, though. Problem with Flo is that they have built up the relationships to get the media rights. I wonder if there is a market for the "opinion" and podcast part outside of Flo. Pyles is clearly lacking in that area, and from what I've seen, the other guys that contribute (besides legit wrestlers like Askren) are worthless. I could be wrong, though...

Wow. Askren seemed to try to shut it down quick, although that could have been a ploy. To be honest, I didn't look at Pyles' face when Dake showed up...only listened. Likely need to watch it again...

Just watched the JB: VI Flo Film. Kinda pissed that that Flo ambushed JB at the beginning by not telling him (giving him time to prepare) that they were planning to bring Dake on to the podcast. Love Dake, and love JB, but that was really sh*tty of Flo to not give JB a heads up. Is this typical of Flo? Legit question, as I have subscribed to them for many years to watch films and live wrestling, but have not watched any FRL. Of course I read the feedback here about Pyles and others, but never watched any of their opinion podcasts. Is there an opportunity for someone to replace them in interviews, opinion pieces, etc., and still provide the wrestling community with access to these athletes and their feedback without blindsiding them and treating them with respect?

Man! You're taking me back! TJ Hill was unbelievable. Not sure if you were ever at the MO state championships watching him, but it was tech, tech, tech, then the flip. So awesome to watch. I was shocked he didn't do better in college. I know he placed as a freshman, but as dominant as he was in HS, I thought he'd be a contender right away. I always wondered if he went to Fresno State due to grades (no offense to him) and didn't get the best coaching. Guy was a stud. But...there are three other wrestlers that I've seen in my time, in MO HS wrestling, that I think would have given him a run. Dustin Brewer (now the coach at Liberty HS in MO), Zach Bailey, and Mac Bailey. Brewer was one of the fastest wrestlers I've ever seen (and that includes Nahshon and Vito). I don't know that I've ever seen a better lightweight wrestler than Mac Bailey, to be honest. Anyone who knows MO wrestling history, and hasn't seen it, should google "Tony James vs. Mac Bailey". I believe James was a one or two time state champ at the time, and Mac made him look like a middle school wrestler.

That’s skewing things a lot. Tony and Nick were a year older than Sammie (they graduated 88, Sammie graduated 89). Sammie’s junior year was the first year they got rid of the 98lb. weight class. He was at 103, while Nick and Tony were at 112 and 119, respectively. Even if they were in the same class at state, they were different weight classes. They wouldn’t have affected his state title in 89. So two of his three wouldn’t have been affected by the Purler’s. I also don’t remember that Tony or Nick beat Sammie in every match, but doesn’t surprise me. Interesting (for me at least), is that Chris Lantz held down the lower weights for FH prior to Sammie and I believe whipped on the Purler’s when they were underclassman. I say interesting for me because, Chris Lantz was my freshman coach in high school

Yes, he was unbelievable. 2x NCAA champ at Clemson and won a world title. I have to put J’Den ahead of him though based on J’Den’s 3 NCAA titles and 2 world titles. Interesting, though, that Sammie was the assistant at Mizzou when J’Den was an incoming freshman. As soon as they were able to start practicing during the summer, Sammie was working with J’Den on his top game, getting him ready to win a natty as a true freshman. If we’re looking at whole body of work, it has to be J’Den. If just high school, we’d have to look at Schatzman and Eierman as the only undefeated 4-timers.