Cael Sanderson » 84 3rd, Cael Sanderson, USA vs Saritov, Russia

Moonmac,

Thanks for viewing the sport through your political prism. For most people, the good thing about wrestling is that once you step on the mat, everything else is . Politics, color, religion, handicaps...etc. Arguing that Metcalf has a better tank than Caldwell is like a fan arguing the Oklahoma's offense is better than Alabama's defense in football. It is you that has brought race into this. It is you that sees racial boogeymen in every corner. The mat doesn't give a damn who you are. Save that argument for who gets picked first in dodge-ball.

Anonymous Coward said: "Freestyle is no longer wrestling." This is what Americans scream anymore because they cannot control the rule changes. The change from coin flip to ball grab="Freestyle is no longer wrestling." The change from one, five minute period to the best of three, two minute periods="Freestyle is no longer wrestling." The clinch="Freestyle is no longer wrestling." Last I checked, single legs, double legs, head locks, drags, trips, leg laces, gut wrenches, chest locks, etc. are all part of the sport. If none of that is wrestling, then what is it?

Freestyle wrestling is no longer wrestling. Its some kind of make believe style trying to mask itself as wrestling. This is no longer "real" wrestling. Real wrestling requires you to actually do something to get points. This is like watching paint dry.

I agree with steve...I'd say Moomac is right. And to the Anonymous Coward right below me denying that culture and ethnicity comes into play in this sport: you have your head buried in the sand. I am a white dude and I think the wrestling community is great for all people. But we've got work to do, too, and there is no doubt in my mind that Americans whining about the rules all the time has some xenophobic overtones....among other things.

moomac, you hit the nail on the head. I am a bit surprised that Martin made such a comment about Americans being 'averse to freestyle.' I really enjoy freestyle and would have done it more had I had the opportunity. Freestyle is one of the two internationally accepted styles. By contrast, folkstyle is an American school game, and people not associated with school rivalries don't come to watch -- except maybe family members of the wrestlers. Nothing against folkstyle, but it doesn't exist in any substantial way beyond the walls of high schools and universities. Moomac is right when he says that " the US is being dominated by groups of people that we as Americans are programmed to think are innately no good as people and are inferior to we Americans." So true. We Americans need to stop sniveling and start wrestling. And the USA team this year starting taking us in that direction! Marvelous job Team USA!!!!!!

does it bother anyone else that our sport has been reduced to "grabbing balls" as a means to decide a world champion in 'wrestling'? how can you shoot zero shots and become a world champ? putrid.

Saritov just about had the TD at the end of the second, I guess time expired . I didn't think Sanderson scored in the clinch. I know some refs will blow the whistle VERY early in a clinch situation, especially when an athlete lands on his hip, but that's not something you can count on.

No one likes the clinch, but everyone needs to learn to wrestle from there. Guys have won world and Olympic titles defending the clinch.

cael is well known in usa but not in the world of westling and those yung guys had no fear of his name, i know he won the us national to get to world championships but he wasnot hungry
enough for that gold like jordan burroughs ,i think the yung guy that cale beat at us nationals
wouild got place

So. . . Hows the weather ? :)

Martin, you're right---the ref did give him only a point, and I was mistaken. In that sense, it was not a good call in my opinion. He should have had 2. In viewing the video again, I can't seethe ref or the number of points he awards, but it looks like he raises his hand for a takedown the first time Cael's head hits the mat. Either way, it's points.

As for the bigger picture, you seem to miss the point I and others make about Saritov wrestling a superior match. It wasn't just in point-scoring situations, it was in every other aspect of wrestling.
I will probably never be so vain to think I could speak for all Americans, or even all American wrestling fans, but I for one peter to watch freestyle over any other discipline.

They did not call it exposure. They gave him 1 point meaning a takedown. If it was exposure it would have been 2 points. Look at the box score. Jimbo Slice, you cant even find the point where Cael was taken down yet think the guy made Cael look like a beginner. This match is the exact reason American's have an aversion to freestyle.

CFK, Cael wasn't dominated in the way folkstyle wrestlers think of domination, but Saritov was in command the whole match for sure. The only way you'd understand that is if you follow Russian wrestling tactics. Saritov played the game smoothly and soundly. Cael wasn't able to get anything going offensively, and Saritov beat Cael offensively and defensively in the clinch. I wish I could say those were bad calls, but each time I watch the video I am more and more convinced the ref made good calls. No worries....Cael will improve and have another shot next year.

Anonymous Coward, the ref was not totally accurate: there was a takedown at 3:15, and then it looks like Saritov exposed Cael's back at 3:18, so Saritov should have been awarded another 2. Cael of course would have lost in that case, too.

Cael is still my hero! Gold in 2012!!!! He looked a little rusty in this tournament. The Russian was a bit too slick. I think the officiating was pretty accurate here. No problem though...Cael will get him next time.