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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Christopher Henderson added to this discussion on August 10, 2013
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The AP announced this yesterday.
http://intermatwrestle.com/articles/11902
I wonder if FILA should compete 10 weight classes during the non-Olympic years? The Olympics doesn't care about wrestling and wants the sport to die. Let the world championship be the best wrestling tournament with lots of weight classes and competition.
I assume the new weight divisions would look something like this.
56Kg
62Kg
69Kg
78Kg
90Kg
118Kg
It does seem like a few tweeners would benefit. Harry Lester at 152, Kilgore at 198, and Humphrey at 136.5. Sadly, people like Bergman, Metcalf, and Dake would be without a weight class.
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Mark Niemann added to this discussion on August 10, 2013
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Anyone see the TheMat.com headline about this??? Pretty sure it read something like "Women's FS adds two weight classes!!!!"
Unreal.
And these are the people leading us??? (Not really but kinda, maybe?)
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Christopher Henderson added to this discussion on August 10, 2013
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That's right, Mark.
The AP really tried to spin the news to try to sound good. The men didn't "lose" any weight classes. They were "transferred to women's freestyle". I wonder if they are "transferring" Jordan Burroughs or Spenser Mango to compete with the women?
I'm starting to wonder if trying to keep wrestling in
Olympics is such a great idea. Just let FILA wrestle 10 weight classes and put on the best show in the world each year. Make it a two day tournament for each style with more wrestle backs. No more tying for bronze. You have to wrestle for third. Also, each country could bring up to two qualifiers in a weight so that you could have an all-Russia, all-America, all-whatever final.
Of course all this would depend on FILA being run by some high quality leadership. Could they pull it off?
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on August 11, 2013
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WHY waste time and emotional energy worrying about the olympics? Nothing good gonna happen, and like i predicted long ago we are just begging for crumbs off the table. If olympic wrestling comes back in 2020 i don't doubt one men's style will be eliminated.
this drama is like begging your abuser to throw u some kisses.
YES FILA should wrestle at least 10 wt classes EVERY year incl olympic years too.
some other sports have a World championship in the same year as olympics, i know ice skating does. Wrestling can and should do it-- quit this silly drill of going hat in hand to the olympic committee begging for crumbs off the table and geting the back of their hand as our reward.
And then we are told to be grateful. Silly, isn't it? ...s/BobP
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on August 12, 2013
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Memo to FILA & IOC from the American wrestler (courtesy of Boston):
Just let me hear it from your lips
It's the last thing that I'll ask you to say
Don't wanna hear it from strangers
If it's over let me have it straight
I've been used
But I'm takin' it like a man
I'm confused
But I'm doin' the best that I can
I've been tossed around plenty before
I've had this heart of mine broken and more
I can't find a reason for sure
But I've gotten used to bad news
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Christopher Henderson added to this discussion on August 12, 2013
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That song applies pretty well, Bob.
For the longest time I just assumed that wrestling needed the Olympics because that's how it's always been.
Wrestling doesn't need the Olympics. It needs wrestlers, coaches, and fans. The Olympics just diminishes wrestling, and treats it like it's only a sport once every four years. Wrestlers are training every year, every week, and every day.
I really do think there can be a bright future for wrestling when it divorces itself from the IOC. It is so much easier for wrestling fans to follow the sport now than ever before. Wherever and whenever the World Championship is held, the true fans will watch and probably get better, more in depth coverage than NBC will provide.
Other sports have thrived without the Olympics. MMA, Football, Poker (If you consider that a sport), Car Racing, etc. There is no reason Wrestling with the right leadership can't accomplish similar things.
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on August 12, 2013
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Chris, i think its like a bad marriage, u gotta re-assess or ruin the rest of your life.
when the IOC no longer is promoting wrestling --and clearly they aren't -- then its time to take another direction.
FILA can hold World championships every year with as many wt classes male & female as make sense. IOC cant control that and we shouldnt let them.
FILA is shaking in their boots, they offered up 2 mens wts to the female side to appease the IOC.
Fewer mens wt classes means less interest in a sport which was already hurting for fan interest in this country. Some GREAT wrestlers are now gonna be left without a weight class.
Enough, let's THINK BIG, enough of this groveling, which is all its become.
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Doug Brandt added to this discussion on August 12, 2013
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I totally agree with Bob.
I posted a thread on www.thematforums earlier this year, in which I expressed the opinion that we don't need the Olympics. We just think we do.
They don't want us anyway. To heck with them. We'll do it ourselves, and we'll do it bigger and better.
Without bowing to the IOC gods, we could have 10 weight classes for Men's freestyle and Men's greco. Women's freestyle, too, for that matter.
When your game-playing girlfriend says she just might have an opening for a date two weeks from next Thursday, you don't fall to your knees and thank her. (That is, unless you enjoy the abuse.)
No, you get rid of her and find someone better.
Later, when the old girlfriend calls back and begs for forgiveness, you can make your own decisions.
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Mark Niemann added to this discussion on August 12, 2013
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I'd like to know what some of the chasers of the Olympic dream think about these last two posts.
While, yes, I agree with them, never once have I trained with all of my being to dawn the red, white, and blue singlet. Come to think of it, I've never once trained with all if my being, but that's another story.
Anywho, anyone know how to get the answer from Olympians or Olympic hopefuls???
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Christopher Henderson added to this discussion on August 12, 2013
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Reece Humphrey and Harry Lester have been known to post on here every once in a while. I'd love to hear their input on this topic. At least for 2016 I'd imagine they could deal with the new weight classes, but I still think they'd like more opportunities for more athletes.
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Harry Lester added to this discussion on August 13, 2013
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Looking at some of the responses makes me realize what kind of fans/athletes we are as wrestlers. Majority of the responses on all the boards are filled with the intensity and emotions most of us carry with us as wrestlers. But I think we have to think about what really must be done to keep our sport around.
I see a lot of responses saying wrestling isn't wrestling anymore. It was different in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and so on. What I have realized is that sports evolve and continue to change not always for the better in our case. I wrestled in an era where it seems like there is a rule change everytime I use the bathroom. That's just part of being a wrestler now adays. This recent change has so many levels of wrong to it, but at the same time it has ONE positive.
Adding to women's wrestling is a beautiful thing. It is growing OUR sport. To me there is no men's or women's, freestyle or greco, there is simply wrestling. There is no way we should have to give up men's weights to add womens, but that is what our leaders believe we need to be done in order to save our sport. No I do not agree, but if that is what keeps it around after 2016 then we need it to be done. Also without the Olympics, USAW would loose incredible amounts of funding. NO WAY would USAW be able to run the programs without the USOC funding.
As far as the weight classes, it is either going to really help me or probably be the end to my career. I'm hoping that their is an 69kg class. That would provide a little more cushion for me! I love the new rules and the added weight would be awesome!
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Dan Strope added to this discussion on August 13, 2013
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The sport is dying on the vine and we keep adding pesticides.
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on August 13, 2013
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Quote from Harry Lester's post:
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" There is no way we should have to give up men's weights to add womens, but that is what our leaders believe we need to be done in order to save our sport. No I do not agree, but if that is what keeps it around after 2016 then we need it to be done. "
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“You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” Bob Dylan sometime in the 1960s
thanks Harry for your well thought expert opinion. Yes we need to be a part of the Olympics for funding, for alot of reasons, its the zenith.
BUT no reason FILA cannot hold a World championship EVERY year with, let's say, 10 mens FReestyle, 10 mens Greco and as many womens wts as they want. NO reason whatsoever.
The idea is to be part of the great Olympic movement-- NOT to be held hostage by it. ...s/BobP
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Harry Lester added to this discussion on August 13, 2013
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Quote from Bob Preusse's post:
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"
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Quote from Harry Lester's post:
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" There is no way we should have to give up men's weights to add womens, but that is what our leaders believe we need to be done in order to save our sport. No I do not agree, but if that is what keeps it around after 2016 then we need it to be done. "
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“You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” Bob Dylan sometime in the 1960s
thanks Harry for your well thought expert opinion. Yes we need to be a part of the Olympics for funding, for alot of reasons, its the zenith.
BUT no reason FILA cannot hold a World championship EVERY year with, let's say, 10 mens FReestyle, 10 mens Greco and as many womens wts as they want. NO reason whatsoever.
The idea is to be part of the great Olympic movement-- NOT to be held hostage by it. ...s/BobP"
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I completely agree with you. I just think the leadership we have had in the past was so content and on their high horse that they didn't care about the endless possiblities to better the sport. I've gotten a chance to see the real FILA and USAW and it's not pretty! It's disgusting.
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Discussion Topic: Bad News: Only 6 Weight Classes At 2016 Olympics
Brad Proudfoot added to this discussion on August 13, 2013
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Quote from Bob Preusse's post:
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"
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Quote from Harry Lester's post:
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" There is no way we should have to give up men's weights to add womens, but that is what our leaders believe we need to be done in order to save our sport. No I do not agree, but if that is what keeps it around after 2016 then we need it to be done. "
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“You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” Bob Dylan sometime in the 1960s
thanks Harry for your well thought expert opinion. Yes we need to be a part of the Olympics for funding, for alot of reasons, its the zenith.
BUT no reason FILA cannot hold a World championship EVERY year with, let's say, 10 mens FReestyle, 10 mens Greco and as many womens wts as they want. NO reason whatsoever.
The idea is to be part of the great Olympic movement-- NOT to be held hostage by it. ...s/BobP"
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Bob has hit the nail on the head. This is exactly the approach that I would like to see FILA take. Have 10 weights for mens FR and GR and also women's FR every single year. We have our World Championships, and the Olympics can have their six weight classes. The Olympics will simply be a different type of showcase for our wrestling talents.
We need to take the good that we can get from the Olympics, but not lose sight of what FILA can do apart from the Olympic committee's grip.
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