Wrestling Blogs - Ben Askren

Our Low Self-Esteem

August 16, 2007

I was almost finished writing this and the computer crashed so I will try again. I am sitting at the OTC and just finished watching the Gallick-Zadick wrestle off. It has motivated me to write about something I already had the idea to write about. It is wrestling's self esteem problem. Lets start with freestyle the new rules are crap, I have not talked to one senior level freestyle wrestler that likes the new rules. When a ref and a coin flip often determine the winner of a match, then something is fundamentally wrong with our great sport. No other sport has gone through such a rapid change of the rules as ours. Between the two matches in the wrestle off, I was talking to our 1976 Olympic freestyle coach. He admitted to me that he had no idea what was going on. If you think he is crazy, then search this site and find the 1972 or 1976 olympics and see what a different sport it was. What kind of sport has ex olympic coaches that can't follow the scoring? Why this need for a rapid change in the rules. Can't we just love the sport of wrestling for what it is, why change? Another branch on the low self-esteem tree is our constant need to be on tv or in the newspaper. Our sport just isn't as exciting as a lot of the other ones, it is great for different reasons. It is great because all of the blood, sweat and tears that is takes to be great. It is also great because people of all sizes and athletic abilities have the chance to be amazing if they put in the work. But this in no way means our sport is exciting as some of the others, but so what. Do we need to be on tv to be a great sport, NO! I think we need to start accepting wrestling is not for everyone, to really love wrestling you have to know everything that goes into being the best behind the scenes, and let's face it 98% or more of people will not experience this. So the next time you get upset because someone thinks wrestling is stupid or boring, don't. Just be happy that you got to experience wrestling, the greatest sport on earth.

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Seth Meyerson December 30, 2007 at 11:39pm.

I like the rest..but.. someone has to like wrestling for it to stay around. You might have noticed that we have lost a couple of college programs in the last 20 years. The game is in real jeopardy in college. A broad audience is probably part of the solution. It achieves this in other countries.

Reply to Seth

Dominic Castelli August 22, 2007 at 11:08am.

Ben, well said I feel that the new rules are junk especially getting a point for going out of bounds, even if defending a against an opponents shot. The crowds will never be large in certain areas of the country, and that is fine. I just think changing rules to get more fans is the sport selling its soul.

Reply to Dominic

Jim Brown August 20, 2007 at 9:03am.

Ben - you forgot Cornell (College - not University). My guess is that are 100,000 to 150,000 ex-high school wrestlers living in Iowa (based on published participation numbers). That means that if Iowa has a full house and Iowa State draws 5,000 on the same night (a big crowd for them when they're not wrestling Iowa), that means that 80,000 to 130,000 ex-wrestlers were available to fill Hilton Coliseum and the gyms at Cornell, Wartburg, Coe, etc. Those are the first butts I want to get in the seats. Then come the parents of those ex-wrestlers. By osmosis new fans will be attracted.

From my standpoint - every pee wee, junior and high school wrestler should know your name - so that when you get to wrestle in Beijing they can't wait to watch - and then it snowballs: they're inspired to continue wrestling and their friends want to join them. Sorry - I'm obsessed.

Reply to Jim

Ben Askren August 19, 2007 at 10:44pm.

Aaron, I know I have issues! Jim, I agree wrestling in front of big crowds is great. Think of it like this, if you go to the NCAA tournament and take every person who is a former wrestler, wrestler, coach, relative or friend out of the audience how many people would you be left with? Very few. Think about the Iowa situation for a second, Iowa has been historically a very wrestling oriented state. Before Iowa ever won an NCAA title Iowa State did and Iowa Teachers College(now Northern Iowa) did. There were a lot of wrestlers in that state. That coupled with the marketing genius of Gary Kurdlemeier and the ability of Dan Gables team to win almost every time made for large crowds. It is easy to go when you know you are going to win. So yes it is awesome to have crowds like that, but it will be difficult, but not impossible to repeat.

Reply to Ben

Aaron Simpson August 19, 2007 at 5:05pm.

Ben, you are funny.

Reply to Aaron

Jim Brown August 17, 2007 at 12:59pm.

Ben, I'm a fan of your wrestling. I can't entirely accept the assertions that wrestling doesn't need better exposure. One of the reasons that it is so easy for college administrators to eliminate programs is because no one shows up at meets. Look at Oregon - read all of those impassioned pleas from Oregon residents to save the wrestling team, but note that they averaged less than 600 people a meet last year. I happen to have been a season ticket holder at Iowa for almost 20 years so I know what wrestling can be like with 15,000 screaming maniacs in attendance. The sport is too great to hide under a rock.

Personally, I think your career was great for college wrestling.

I also think flowrestling and sites like it are a key element in bringing new fans to the sport.

Reply to Jim

Martin Floreani August 16, 2007 at 11:14pm.

Ben I agree, wrestling dilutes itself by trying to be too many things to too many people. Just be yourself and sell our sport the way it is. Good blogg