Nick Hopping "The Silent Gladiator" : Speakers & Interviews

“By far the best book I have ever read on the sport!”
-Ben Askren, 2xNCAA Champion & 2008 U.S. Olympian

“Title IX crybabies, USA Wrestling squares, mainstream marketing failures, amateur wrestling promotion has been just that for years...AMATEUR...Hopping's book is either a case for change or a tale of athletes who have been damned...”
-Vince McMahon, World Wrestling Federation Chairman
“A Masterpiece...” -RevWrestling.com
“Olympic wrestlers, rival factions, cold war residue and ambitions curse...this book will make you feel something about THE SILENT GLADIATORS way of life and whose main character, Cael Sanderson, is American sports unknown prince...”
-Seattle Post Intelligencer
“Banned at Fargo, outlawed by USA Wrestling, with no publisher to trust and no ally in the field...THE SILENT GLADIATORS is the lone wolf of wrestling books!”
-Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
“Hail Saytiev! Hail Russian wrestling! Vodka shots all around for great wrestling book written by a daring, reckless American...”
-Moscow Times (Russia)
“An unknown sport is stripped down to reveal its raw, powerful truth!”
-Los Angeles Times
“Like a fine 12 year old Scotch, you need to save some of the taste for tommorow...”
-Mike Gill, Clearfield Area High School, Pennsylvania
“Like three straight unlaced lines of cocaine chased by a shot of whiskey compared to other watered down wrestling books...”
-Mickey Straight, amateur pool shark
“Amateur wrestling's version of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!”
-Rocky Mountain News; Denver, Colorado
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“Amateur wrestling just got punched in the mouth...”
-Don King, Boxing Promoter
“THE SILENT GLADIATORS is my favorite book and I don't even know how to read...”
-Mike Tyson, Hitman
“The Silent Gladiators makes WWF Wrestlers look like a bunch of sychronized swimmers who enjoy wearing spandex...”
-Rowdy Rowdy Piper, Former WWF Wrestler

Nick you're honest. I stand by u 110%! Ur doing an amazing thing and i hope ppl realize what your trying to do for the sport.

I have to admin after reading this thread I am in the minority but I did not enjoy the book. While there was interesting points but I found it extremely painful to read.

To compare this book to Jon Krakauer is absolutely ridicolous and maybe one of the worst posts I have ever saw on Flo.
Nick reminds me of alot of these white knights in shiny horses that are experts in wrestling and have all the answers.

the best book about wrestling i ever read!

thanks ldingo and nick hopping honestly its people like you who us young athletes need in our corner it makes us feel like we mean something and can make it out of a hard life and wrestling has made a big step i can stand on to climb up to my goals becoming the first multi-racial olympic gold medalist thanks guys.......camden wilkens

I like to congratulate Camden Wilkins for his victory! NC State Wrestling Champ!
Nick your a motivator keep doing what you do Bro'.

I am almost finished with this book and am enjoying it very much. I read some of the posts below and it seems that the author has aroused some emotions. That's good, as Jon Krakauer pissed some people off as well in his accounts of Mt. Everest and The Polygamist Murders. A story without a slant tends to be a tech manual. Mr. Hopping's point of view is the opinion of one man who gave the time and energy to write a book about a great sport whose stories need to be told more often. People have many different opinions concerning this great sport, and those whose point of view is different are free to write their own book to set the record straight. Go to the online California Wrestling Forums or forums in other states and you'll see people passionately arguing and name calling all the time. The people on the losing end of an argument are usually the first to nit pick about spelling mistakes, which in this book are minor considering the independent nature of this publication. I've never met the guy, but clearly Mr. Hopping put forth alot of hard work for very little, if any, financial gain. For that I thank him.

hey nick its shorty, i cant here your interview cause i'm at work and theres no sound on my confuser, but everyones comments on this post are inspiring. I hope all is well with you, and congrats on the book.
shorty

hey just bought your book at the ironman tournament in newark its really a great book and touches close to home i just wanted to say thank you for the sacrifices u made to write this book

Great interview....just finished the book...AWESOME!

thesilentgladiators @ gmail.com

(www) . thesilentgladiators (.com)

Camden....I am humbled by your words...thank you very much for the support and I am glad that you are taking it upon yourself to compete in a sport that offers few, if any, material rewards...the dedication you have to wrestling will carry over to other areas of your life, now and in the future my friend. Contact me any time at:


Keep training hard and make North Carolina wrestling proud!

hay I dont really know if you remember me but I was at the 28 day intensive wrestling camp in minneoda when you came there and signed posters and talked to us. but I really and truly see you as my inspiration because you do not only speek the minds of all the dedicated and deciplened wrestlers all over but you also tell whats really going on. I personally am sick and tired of all the wrong attention our sport gets. and I know that its a hard to understand sport but like j robinson said most of america can't do what we do. from working out like mad men untill the point of passing out, to maintaining a weight and staying safe while doing it. I live in north carolina and I can personally say that I am one of the representatives over here of what dedication, hard work, commitment, sacrifice, and diciplain is really all about. I dont get any "good jobs" from people who see me running at 5 o clock in the morning before school, and I sure as hell dont tell any body about it cause I am a wrestler I I know what is required of me to be great at a sport that others are scared of and dont understand. yes I can tell that wrestling is a dying sport and it really breaks my heart to know that something as great as wrestling is in fact dying. as my coach tells me this is the last gladiator sport. football does not work as hard as we do, basketball does not work as hard as we do. there is no other sport that I rather do for the rest of my life because wrestling like you said is a humbling sport, it feels like a family. but we dont really complain much because we are all silent gladiators. and as long as your poster hangs on my wall I will remember that I am not along in my quest for greatness.
but heres my e-mail address

I look up to you

Thanks Claudine...i appreciate the support....

Hey Nick... Vega it is....I got your book. I don't live at home anymore,my mom called me and she gave it to me. Thanks!! I have to say that you as a person is doing a GREAT PROGRES IN LIFE. And from all the People that remember you here in Spain are very happy and we send you all the ENERGY we have, so you can KEEP UP THE WONDERFUL WORK MAN....ENHORABUENA!!!!!! THE BOOK IS TERRIFIC.....AND RUNNING ALL OVER THE WORLD....HAVE A FEW PEOPLE INTERESTED...DID YOU THINK ON TRANSLATING? ALL THOW THEY WILL READ IT IN ENGLISH UNTIL NEW NOTICE.Keep in touch!
FAMILY SEND THERE LOVE. : )

Try moving to Russia and really see how the system works. It is about money and the bad guys. Many of the big bucks behind the Russian Wrestling system is the Russian Mob. Some have been prevented from coming to America. Go over there, write a book, and then go try to show up unannounced and sell a book. That company over there would not have you removed from the premises and live to gripe about it. From your posts you just showed up unannounced. You worked for USAW so you know how to ask permission. Seems that more your style is to whine when nobody wants to let you sell your book to make you money....how much of that money has gone to cael, jamil, or anyone else for that matter??

My source is me Nick. Remember, I worked there? I even woke you up one of those times. I also remember a few of your call-ins "sick", but I'd have to head to the wrestling room for something, and there you'd be with a notepad, etc... In other words, not doing your job. I don't need to call anyone at USAW, cause I was there.

Though for the record, I'm not a journalist. And if using fact and sources are what it takes to be a journalist, I hope you don't consider yourself one either.
No retraction needed. You were one of the worst interns I've ever personally seen, and that's saying a lot. Very often when an employee is let go, they still receive a letter of recommendation, etc... Just cause you have the cert didn't mean you weren't fired.
Quit using the "USAW was blackballing me" line to sell your book. It's BS. Either sell it on its content, or don't sell it at all. But you blackballed yourself there brother.
Enjoy the rest of your evening. And seriously, clean up the mispellings before your next reprint.

In response to John Fuller,

I appreciate you taking the time for criticizing my work. But as a working journalist yourself, check your sources which should be easy to do since you used to work at USA WRESTLING. Contact my former Boss LARRY NUGENT. CONTACT THE US OLYMPIC COMMITEE which will tell you I completed the internship. At which point you might get back to this posting and retract your words.
Good luck with your future endeavors and have a nice day,
Nicholas Hopping

This interview says it all. I personally come from a strong wrestling background and couldn't agree more with Nick. We need to juice the sport of wrestling up and make it more attractive to the average person who doesn't really know much about the sport.

Have not read the book yet, but I will. A comment to Nick... if you want to publicize your book and have people want to read it you may want to tone down your attitude a bit. The interviewer used the word "brash" about your book... don't take the same attitude when promoting your book. I don't know if I will agree or disagree with your book, but if I were to judge it just by your attitude in this interview I would have to say I would disagree. I will not do that though and I will read with an open mind.

While I have my fair share of negative opinions of wrestling's leadership, I'm not sure Nick is representing himself in a fair manner either.

He was an intern at USAW when I worked there. Nick was fired from an internship (how often does that happen) simply cause he either A) didn't show up on time B) when he did show up would often be caught napping at his desk or C) just not show up at all.
I'm glad to see he had motivation enough to write a book in that span, though. Maybe doing all that work on the side kept him from performing the duties he was actually hired for.
I've seen excerpts from this book. Probably some truths, some opinions about individuals that certainly aren't fair or accurate, and a plethora of mispellings and name mixups, which in a published book probably isn't the best thing.
And Nick is correct, there are plenty of misappropriations of how to promote wrestling. BUT it's easy to sit back and say "he should be on the cover of SI", etc..., etc...
Simply put, the mass public in the U.S. is not interested in the sport of wrestling. It's a confusing, boring and non-objective (officiating) sport. It's not exciting enough for Americans. Otherwise, why isn't soccer massive here? It's the most popular sport in the world, but not here.
The media rarely latches onto a wrestler because those are choices they make. Ohno was a good story going into his first Games, and then had a huge Games, which brought the expectation up more. How often has a wrestler been given a feature story, and then not performed up to expectations, or even medalled, at the Games? THAT is a huge detriment.
Cael would have had an SI cover after his 159th, but that same week a little girl was killed by a hockey puck flying out of the rink. That initiated major change in hockey, and as unfortunate as it was, was a bigger story.
Could things be done differently? Without a doubt. I now represent pro athletes and it's a different world on my end. But is it as easy as making a phone call to SI, ESPN, etc...? Certainly not.
In fact, here's an example. A former Negro Leagues All-Star lost his home this year in the Iowa floods. His memorabilia collection from the Negro Leagues was ruined. One of my MLB clients asked me if I could help get him some coverage. I obliged and I did. However, a major sports network declined to interview him because it wasn't big enough for them. That same day, I saw 12 minutes of coverage on one show alone about A-Rod's divorce.
The media is concerned with celebrity, and personality. Wrestlers themselves have for years gone the PC route in interviews, never bashing their opponents, predicting wins, etc... While I'm fine with that, they have to understand that the price of boring is no coverage. That's not USAW's fault.
I could give a million more examples of this, but that should be it. Someone commented down below about Rulon making a lot of money and getting exposure. Yes, he did. Cael could have had more, but he didn't want it. I turned down numerous things for him while he was competing, which I completely respect.
You have to understand Nick. You think every wrestler is a great story. But gymnastics people think all their people are the best stories, the same for archers, shooters, divers, etc... Wrestling will never be mainstream. It's not because of the leadership, it's because of the rules in general.

Just finished the book last night. Great book Bro!

I dont want wrestling to have Idols or care that it is populer If all the colleges in America got rid of wrestling it would still be the greatest sport in the world for building Charactor instead of Income or fame

Good Book Hopping Maddness--Keep the dream alive

Just got back from vacation and rad the book on the beach - outstanding! It's a great starting point to get people talking about these things that make our sport inferrior - I thought the book was right on and no doubt will strike a cord with some people but these cords need stiked and this sport needs change - good job!

Re: Ronald Reagan, no one is saying that it is the fault of high school coaches. However, as a community all we do is and moan about what USAW, NHSCA, NWCA, FILA, etc. aren't doing, but very few of those same people get themselves up off of the sofa and do something about it. Not enough to make a major impact anyway. So, instead of everyone only whining about how USAW and others have dropped the ball, turn around and start doing what you say they are not. If you're hosting a tournament, even if it is USAW sanctioned, promote the hell out of it. Even if people don't attend, let them know that wrestling is alive and well in their community and in time it will draw people to it first out of curiosity and then out of the sheer fact that they enjoy the sport. The fault lays across the board on the people who do nothing and the people who complain and do nothing. You want to glory/attention/at-a-boys? Then go get them, because no one is going to come to you to give them.

CLAUDINE VEGA?

Oh my god!!! Oh my god!!!

And one other thing...J Robinson, Kurt Foley and the Minnesota coaches and athletes are some of the coolest guys around. I stopped by their 28-day camp in Minnesota (which I attended in high school) and they were supportive of what I was doing. Their camps turn boys into men and you could see it on all of the 300 campers faces.

I was working out with Iowa two days before that (Tom Brands was running practice) and the entire team was working out--40 guys training in the middle of the dog days of summer! and people wonder why they get it done every year.

IN RESPONSE TO JEFF SMITH:

Thank you Jeff and Boscorelli I appreciate the good words...I believe I talked to Jeff outside the FARGO DOME after the COPPERS found me to be guilt of selling a book about the greatest sport in the world....banning me from the property while holding finger the gun on his hip.........the last three weeks i have gotten the same treatment at Cadet National Duals in Kansas City, Junior National Duals in Oklahoma City and Fargo....but the thing that takes the edge off my anger towards these people is the wrestlers who enjoy the story.......wrestlers from Iowa and Minnesota and kansas City and San Diego...wrestlers who are white, black and mexican...wrestlers who are convervative and liberal....outcast and biased.....rebellious and religious....the former college competitors who email me and say they relate to the book...I've heard good words from all types....so thank you....
BOSCORELLI:
I wrote this book in a very fast paced style....there are grammatical errors and places where things need to change....but there are a good number of places in the book where if you read it aloud the story can take on a great rush of energy and you can feel what these athletes are going through (ex: Sunkist chapter when I describe Lee Fullhart; or the chapter "THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED" where I talk about Yoshi Nakamura and the OTC...read it fast outloud and it you can see what I'm talking about. I have an audio CD that I recorded and I can dictate the story exactly how I want to that way...but I haven't produced them yet.
So, while I admit there are errors and even one paragraph repeated in the Athens Chapter....the places where people are used to finding a period or a comma or a break....where there isn't one and that's by example....a run on sentence is a run on sentence for a reason....its for energy...its for flow...wrestling is not point-set-match-love-break-....its not tennis...wrestling is mind-numbing, heart-racing, blood-rushing, heart-pounding, non-stop till the last one drops.......and its written that way in my book.
I will tie up the loose ends in the next production but these long paragraphs will not change...a major publisher would butcher my work...and as of now...I don't need them, I don't trust them and I don't want them. I sent them my story a year and half ago...The William Morris Agency-the biggest literary agency in the world....read it-liked it-but then sent back the manuscript saying, "Wrestling does not have enough of a built in audience so we cannot represent your work."
I didn't agree with this because I know the sport is starved for these kinds of things so I did it myself. And one month into it...there are a good number of people who have responded to it in a great way.............as for the others (the wrestling product company that flexed the cops on me at Fargo and the other powers that be....the individuals in the sport who are cronies to the higher ups.......I don't care for their ways...and I'm not going to play nice with them....and personally I'd like to put all the politics and vendor contracts aside and settle it on the mat...they haven't taken the sport where it needs to go and the athletes...the whole point of this sport...are getting screwed...peddling t-shirts like they work at a flee market...earning $7000 grand a year as NCAA assistants....working out twice a day and eating canned tuna and crackers at night...........why isn't Mocco on the cover of Sports Illustrated?....why isn't John Smith have name as big as Mike Krzyzewski at Duke? .....why is wrestling a joke to everyone outside its inner circle and the only thing that matters to those within it?
THE WORD NEEDS TO BE SPREAD

Nick.
I bought the book for my son at Cadet Duals. We both enjoyed reading it. To me the lack of perfect grammer did not detract from the book at all kind of nice to read the way most people talk normally. Having a Cadet wrestler even at this young age we have already experienced alot of USA Wrestling's politics. As for you being told to leave the property at Fargo totaly absurd on USA Wrestlings part. We have to promote the sport not silence the one's who speak out for it.

Terrific book - aside from the typos, grammatical and other errors, this book is terrific. It's a shame it wasn't taken by a major publisher and didn't go through the editing process it deserved.

Hopefully a publisher will open their eyes and see that this work is deserving of more attention. The author writes with a style that seems well suited for the material and is certaily deserving of a professional edit and (in a few areas) a re-write. Even with it's flaws - it can stand alone and is deserving of a wide audience.

Thanks Matt...email what you found and we will correspond that way.

Nick, got your book last Friday, finished it by Saturday morning. Gave it to my old high school coach, as he said "this guy gets it, the obsessiveness, the dream, the quest for unrecognized and unappreciated glory"; it was awesome. H
onestly, there are some very obvious grammatical and factual (
name and date) errors, which go uncorrected by you (it is almost an impossible task to self-edit, I know being a college student (as well as wrestler) writing too many papers), but are pretty obvious to the outside eye. I only hope before successive printings you pass the book around to a few people to have a look at; I'd be happy to send you a few that I noticed. With this in mind, the book is perhaps an A, A- right now. But if you fix this, because of the content, passion, and strong and effective writing style this book is easiily an A ++, it is truly a fantastic piece. I would absolutely recommend to any wrestler, wrestling fan, or really anyone. Terrific job.

Hopping you crazy bastard, i am about half way done with the book. Good stuff brotha, next time give me a little more heads up and I would have been out there at the trials helping you do your thing.

Sorry, Ronald but I just tried to decipher what you just wrote and I believe I am dumber for trying to do so.

heyheyhey

I just ordered the book and it worked fine - looking forward to reading it - as I agree in general terms - why on earth does our sport not advance? My college coach told me 25 years ago the sport is like a fungus - some years it gets more interest and better than others but it never really goes away and never really gets any better! he was dead on back then - also - kids want to fight mma - I coach wrestling in Ohio and all the kids want to do it - at open mats etc. - mma is popular enough that kids can identify with it - and wrestlers (high school age) finally have something to connect to the mainstream that legitimizes what they do.

Riding time is sweet. The rules are great! Ridding time offers a whole other aspect of drama. IE Mike Tamillow's match in quarter finals in 2007.

To believe that placing the blame on high school coaches is the reason for the sports fall is unconscionable. Things come from the top. ie if you have a good secretary of Defense things in Iraq go good, if you have a bad one...things go bad. Same thing in wrestling, if you have leadership that can see the big picture things will go good. If you have leadership that is reactionary and slow moving then things will go bad. For Example: Womens wrestling is a great thing for the sport. Why does it take so long for our leaders to jump on Women's wrestling? A whole campaign should have been created in the mid to late 90s (at least- maybe late eighties early nineties). We are now in the mid to late 00s. The sport has tripled with women on the high school level without any real backing or promotion by the big dogs of our sport. Only now Because of the nature of supply and demand with tuitions is women's college wrestling adding college teams. Hell Equestrian and Archery are ahead of it! Lack of forethought. Why? Why cant women wrestle?
Leadership comes from the top down. Strategic moves with wrestling on the top level will truly shape the fight no matter if you have Roy Hall, Jeff Buxton, Jeff Jordan or Greg Urbas in every high school wrestling room in America.
And you guys are arguing about scoring?! Go watch Golf and tell me that is more exciting than wrestling. If golf were failing you guys would advocate a shot clock between holes instead of looking at the branding of the sport...which is this author's point!!!! Golf is going as good as ever because the PGA knows how to brand and market its sport....not because they changed rules that have been in play for years to try and make it more "exciting".
Note to Tom: High school football didnt make the NFL popular it was the other way around. Top level football made High School Football. That has been the case with every top sport. The NBA, MLB, NFL...no one can name a sport that was made by the lower level (youth, high school, college) to become famous on a top level. It is just not the way it works. When you have people who have to blame part time high school coaches for its demise then someone aint stepping up and taking responsibility on the national level (USAWrestling) BTW high school wrestling has grown on the high school level.
Guys like Richard Rockwell are too smart for their own good. Richard Rockwell's mentality is what leads to rule changes in Fila every two years. Guys like "Ryan Pratt" are right on. IF USA Wrestling cant find a way to increase these guys salaries then dont expect the sport to become anything big on the top level. And if it is not big on the top level it will be hard to grow on the college level without outstanding college leadership which doesnt seem to exist. (High School wrestling- due to the awesomeness of the sport- still finds ways to move forward IN SPITE of top level failed leadership.)
The problem with USA Wrestling is that they are communists and the ironic thing about The Russian Federation is that they understand capitalism better than the Pigs running the Animal Farm at USA Wrestling.

I've always likened riding time to dry humping an opponent into submission. I never saw the purpose of riding time other than to bore the fans into never wanting to watch wrestling again.

I didn't address it directly but I did mention on occasion that the rules were confusing, ambigious and hard to follow. You're right about the riding time issue from a spectator standpoint...people want to see slams and takedowns and battles on the feet...not two dudes rolling around like on like sprung traps.

Would you like to order a book?

I haven’t had a chance to read your book yet. I hope you have addressed the riding time in college. I think if they were to eliminate that I would make things more exciting. Hopefully more television channels would carry the wrestling. It’s almost impossible to watch wrestling on television. College level should go to Freestyle and Greco. Which is what the rest of the world wrestles

Sure thing RYAN...lets find a way to get these guys paid! American badasses who are broke....theres something wrong with that. National champions who have to sell t-shirts like there at a flea market? World medalllists who live in dorm rooms?
No bueno.

I love the fact that someone is finally talking publicly about everything that is wrong with wrestling on every different level. Not just talking about it but puting it in writing. There is too much of a good old boy system in wrestling where people (coaches/athletes) don't want to step on anyones toes. There is NO MONEY IN WRESTLING. Our top athletes are poor and there is something wrong with that, the amount of time, effort, commitment that goes into wrestling is rediculous. I will definitely read this book. Thanks for speaking out Nick.

Pickens,

Thanks for the good words...glad you enjoyed the read.

Sorry about the site ordering problem.Email me your number or call me directly at 310-995-8383 and we will work something out.

THe problem isn't getting the site to load, the site works fine. Its just as explained below, when you click on the link to "buy the book" it takes you to pay pal, and says "site not found."

Still not working! I can access your web site but when i go to buy the book and paypall comes up it wont allow me to buy the book!

If you are unable to access the silent gladiator site, try another browser such as firefox or at the very least make sure you are running the most current version of your own browser.

Because I cannot test all versions of all browsers, I cannot definitively claim that my suggestion will fix the problem. Regardless, give it a try and let me know if this helps anyone. Good luck.
P.S. -- Firefox can be downloaded at: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/products/firefox/

The Amazon and the Barnes and Noble sites are working; and my book is on its way. I had to pay a few dollars more!

your site is still not working

Nick instead of responding to the comments, why don't you fix your site first, so more people have access to buying your book online. You are hurting your chance to make money, and get the word out to more people.

I attended the tryouts in Las Vegas; saw the book; didn't buy the book and paid more in the bookstore. I am glad that I did not miss out reading the book. I was an all around athlete; I still am. My small town school did not have the budget to afford a mat so I took my brawling to the street. Folks back home would look at me; and say "Don't mess with Texas. Hopping, you make reading easy; your words and thoughts flow as fast as you talk. One thing you missed is the international impact the sport of Olympic wrestling will have making nations understand each other better. Guess!

I will admit that things could definately be done different. However, with that being said, I don't think you should alienate yourself from the powers that be. JMO

I think you have some ideas here and it will serve as a walk up call, but it might fall on deaf ears because of your approach and because sometimes people don't want to hear the truth. Then where have we gotten? Nowhere.
After I read this book, I will do a review on my website. There is obviously some things that need to get out there and the wrestling community needs a severe wake up call. However, I don't necessarily think it has to do with the big dogs, but with all the supposed fans of our sport.
Question-How many of you could attend a college dual in your area and don't? How many of you say, I'll go next time? How many of you donate to local wrestling programs on a regualr basis? How many of you donate your time to help the wrestling community? I'm sure the people who post here are diehards and could answer yes to these questions, but just imagine all the others who say no. There's a lot of them.
Maybe we need to look ourselves in the mirror before we start looking towards others. We are in control of how our sport makes it and as of right now, we've done a pretty ty job from the ground up. Just some thoughts.

Thanks for the response. Your words are taken with thought. But what i've found with my life is that the people who want to get things done will and people who don't will stay the same. I get frustrated with things sometimes but I recover, because I know how to recover and I get where I want to go. I never watched Real Pro Wrestling but from what I know about it, the guys in charge put up alot of money, time, investment and the thing fell through because of ratings. I appluad them, at least they took the gamble.

Why not set up a dual with Iraq at a US Army base, host it on CBS...have an oil sheik put up $5 million and an American heavy hitter do the same, call it the "Duke in the Desert", host it at a base with 20,000 troops, sign Sanderson out of retirement and watch the two warring countries go at it....that couldn't make the headlines?!?
About the flow....many successful people rely on that (Stephen Abas, Buddhist, etc) and its something I respect but its not my style. Do you think J. Robinson built Minnesota into a power by a flow....no...Robinson is a doer-a closer-a finisher and he takes action. He's open minded to the entertainment side of things. The Border Brawl between Iowa-Minnesota is an example. He shuts out the lights, pops up the spotlight and lets the two NCAA powers go at it. I heard 14,000 people showed up. Robinson opens up his locker room to the local high school kids as well, he talks about real life stuff at his camps and hes another guy who could change things...and it starts at the low levels. If they can like it in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Iowa...why not everywhere else? Were ALL-AMERICANS.
If they get paid millions in Russia-why not in the USA? If they can put someone on the moon-then put em' in the seats and keep em in the seats.
No excuses.
You can't tell me J Rob wouldn't do it better than its being done now...you can't tell me their doing their best...you can't tell me these guys can't be in commercials...on magazines....signing posters at MMA Fights.........i never watch the MMA but someone knows what they're doing and they don't work for USA Wrestling.
Wait...Flow....as Mario Andretti said: "The only thing that happens when you wait is you get older."

Nick, I would have to say a lot of what you're saying may be very true. But it's also greatly filled with frustration. One of the key ideas behind innovation and entreprenuership is to go with the flow. To allocate resources where they will be used most effectively and efficiently to grow capital. That means you have to avoid getting frustrated. You have to try as you might to deceptively alter the current and create change. And what that entails often times is accepting things the way they are first. Then you go and befriend as many people as you can, you find ways to influence them and help them recognize how your and their goals are similar. You help them realize their opinion before they have a chance to say it's anything otherwise. Slowly you win over the crowd and change its direction, subtle and unnoticed accept for it's effect. And when everythings in motion you come out on top. Since you are comparing us to professional sports, you can't expect anything to just fall on your lap. It's a whole different game and it's unpredictable.

The only time you should go against the flow is when that is a distraction so people do not see your real plan. An example of that would be creating an alternate organization to replace USAW, or trying to get everyone you don't like fired.
I haven't read your book, but chances are pretty good that I will. You are saying that wrestling needs to get more support and these guys deserve the bestright? Now I would also say that Real Pro Wrestling was an attempt to do that and it didn't have much success. Hell, I think I've seen a handful of episodes. The only time any nonwrestler would mention it would be if they were talking to a wrestler, just to show a little respect. On the other hand two people who never did ultimate fighting would surely talk about it if they had some interest. And even the wrestlers who competed in real pro wrestling only took it semi-seriously. I heard a bunch of them blew weight by a long shot but were still allowed to wrestle in it because, hell, without them there would be no show.
I would put money on it that Rumsfeld would not turn the sport professional. Even if he is a great leader. I think there is plenty to work with. I mean lets be honest you can make a giant douche or turd sandwich famous if you really know what your doing.

Can I get your number?

That anonymous Coward was me...forgot to drop my name in.

If you need more evidence of the legitimacy of the way things are-and how far we are from a professional sport-look at the background on the video. This is below the arena...might as well have been a janitor closet and its the official interview area for the Olympic athletes. How could a reporter for the NY Times take this seriously? Could you imagine Micheal Jordan in an Armani Suit giving interviews with rats crawling by and pipes leaking? Bobby Knight would throw every chair, break all the tables and scare all the reporters half to death...and worst of all...he would have a legit reason.

What would happen if Donald Rumsfeld, the former Secretary of Defense and ex-Princeton wrestling captain, ran the sport? He would take charge. He would grab it by the balls and he would't let go until these guys were making money. I ran across him at the World Championships in New York...and while I never agreed with his politics or cared enough to agree, within two minutes of him speaking at the NYAC...I would have followed him anywhere. That's the leader we need. That's the attitude that should be taken. You can see why Rumsfeld achieved what he did.
And I'll tell you what...Martin's got a little bit of that edge too. People say he's a jerk...well...How often do they go johnny on the spot, with a napsack full of dirty clothes and go to Russia, Mongolia, Greece...or any other place that has the worlds best wrestlers competing?
They don't. They won't. He's one of the few that does.
Say what you what...but he's not a guy who's going to fail the sport and he has my respect...even if there are times when I disagreed with him as much as you.

This is Nicholas Hopping, the author of the book. It's interesting to read the responses from you guys, its fired me up even more to get this book out. If you have any questions or you want to call me out on something, let er rip and all is fair game. Especially that Iowa Trucker guy....you think I'm an idiot? You think I'm uneducated? Cool...now tell me why...it won't bother me...but make a god damn point. At the very least I respect your passion for the sport if not my book...but let me tell you one thing I do know...you're missing out if you don't read it because there isn't another one like it. I'll even send you a free copy...and if you hate it...I'll send you $20...but if you like it you send me $20. How about it Cowboy?

I have been on the road trying to promote this thing. Left Los Angeles in the middle of the night on tuesday and arrived in Kansas City on Thursday. the people are good out here, much different from LA. But at the Cadet National Duals USA Wrestling, which has a promotional contact with ALL AMERICAN WRESTLING SUPPLY, outlawed me from the Cadet National Tournament.
I got sent to the parking lot, but I still sold a bunch of copies. Just goes to show you the old-school way things are run in this sport. Don't agree? Why wasn't Steve Mocco who looks like the Undertaker from WWF not on the cover of Sport Ilustrated after making the Olympic team...or how about that high school kid from Minnesota...that will be the story of the Olympic Games...because the powers that be aren't cutting it, the promoters aren't cutting it, despite it's amazing athletes, U.S. wrestling is full of dead weight

He makes some very valid points, wrestling does not sell itself well. I don't know if it's because, of reticence, or, arrogance, but it doesn't do a good job selling the greatest sport in the world.

i deffinately agree we should promote this sport and i am going to promote it. everyone should do it.

the website works just fine to me.

The book is on sale on Amazon but it is $10 more. Please fix the website so we can buy the book from you.

Promote yourself, your program and the wrestlers around you. That's the way to do it. If you only promote yourself, then the sport still suffers. Do all three and everyone benefits.

no more to say after tom. just reread his post again and again and ....
My son's 3 and i plan on coaching hs wrestling so i'll try to follow tom's advice and PROMOTE myself...

"the bottom line is money"... yes, yes, that is the definition of the bottom line. I still don't know what your message is though. Should wrestlers just be handed money and made famous... That's not how the economy works. If I listen to what you're saying, wrestling is becoming a means to and end. That end not being wrestling in itself but MMA, which wrestlers seem to be having a lot of success in. If there is something that wrestling proves in life it is hard work does not gaurentee money or success. You can't take what isn't offered.

your web site to buy a book is not working

Hopping for President..............of USAW

this guy sounds like an early dana white in mma and look how that worked out! Good job Nick, im also trying to buy your book but I cant find your site!!

good sh*t

Fix your damn site hopping! Im trying to buy a damn book!

Dear Jake and the other guy,

Yep, I am dead serious. You cannot simply lay blame on one very small handful of people in Colorado Springs as the root of everything that is wrong with wrestling. See, the problem with wrestling is that we have, by and large, this very elitist mentality surrounding our sport. All we ever hear from one another is how we work harder than every one else on earth and how we're not in it for the glory (until now for some odd reason) or that nothing in life is ever as hard as wrestling. We've become our own worst enemies with that $#!% and now everyone is crying about it because everyone wants the publicity right now. No one ever complains about how poorly high school and college dual meets and tournaments are promoted across the country outside of our own circle. That surely is not USAW's fault because they have zero comtrol over that sort of thing.
Reporters aren't going to start covering international wrestling out of some sense of obligation if they couldn't care less about high school or collegiate wrestling in the first place. Really, each kids club, junior high, high school and college/university needs to take it upon themselves to do a much better job of marketing their own programs not only to the media, but more importantly to the local communities they serve. Make it accessible, make it exciting and give people every reason under the sun to come back each week to watch or be involved and not only will some people enjoy it, but a legit market will also demand more coverage from the media. Editors/producers listen to readers/viewers/listeners because that means that they can pay their bills at the end of the day.
As for Apollo Ono, wrestling doesn't have a single guy that can compete with his combination of charisma, personality, humility and looks. Like it or not, this is a very image-concious society. Has "Dancing with the Stars" ever approached Rulon Garnder? My guess is because he's perceived as being old and unattractive and in a fringe sport, regardless of how incredible his story is as a whole.
Look at speed skating since you brought it up; it's fast, which people genuinely enjoy, and it's not hard to understand. You either win or you lose based on who crosses the line first - no rules to try to understand, no points to attempt to calculate and it's fast paced the entire time. Sure, it's the lowest common denominator in terms of marketing it, but it's simple. Not to mention that it's a winter Olympic sport and it doesn't really have to compete with anything all that major like Summer Olympic sports do. The American wrestling community isnt willing to change with society's desires and short attention spans. There's too much of the "like it or leave it" mentality in this sport and as far as I can see, it's becoming the next boxing; no one will care anymore.
So, let's pull ourselves from the basements and start marketing ourselves at the lowest levels and be unconcerned right now with what USAW is doing. Once the demand is there, then USAW can effectively make things happen. The fact is that the demand is not there on the lower levels and it's even less at the highest levels of the sport in our country. Period.
Finally, I have a nice life and a complete grip on things, thanks. I'm just not blinded by this tough guy elitist crap that so many folks in the sport, like yourselves, love to spew to one another to constantly reassure our little group that we're the only form of competition that really means anything. While it might be that way to you, it isn't so to 99.9% of the rest of the world. The truth hurts, boys.

Anyone else try to buy his book on his website, and the link didn't work?

Nick! Whats up bro!? I am gonna buy your book man. Hit me up sometime.

dude get a life

"kids don't like getting there ass kicked"

that's awesome....lol

Tom, are you kidding me? Every time I turn around someone is telling me why wrestling cant make money? First the belief that its not a team sport, now its because it doesnt have speed! These are just lame excuses. Come on are you serious? Because it is fast and wrestling isnt? Get a grip and get real. I always read Martin writing "wrestling is the most exciting sport in the world" and I believe it. The reason it is not successful is because of poor leadership nothing to do with the wrestling sport.

Gable and Smith already don't like one another. They've said it, other people have said it. It's just a clash of philosophies and personalities. But it doesn't matter because Gable hasn't been the Hawkeyes main man for more than a decade now.

I'll check out the book and see what it is about. They're just words and opinions from one man, so who cares? Hell, I've read parts of Mein Kampf before just to see what kind of crazy $#!* Hitler was spewing, but it doesn't mean that I espouse his beliefs as a result of it.
As for Apollo Ono, he makes money because he is young, good looking, intelligent and in a sport that is FAST. Americans like fast sports, so add that to what Ono already has and it sells itself. Where does wrestling have that?
The only issue I have before going into it is that based on this interview he seems to be saying that the only way anything is going to work is if USAW follows his rules. There are a million ways to skin a cat, my friend, but I am interested in your perspective. You just need to calm down a little bit and collect your thoughts before you're interviewed on tape or radio again about this book.

sir, don't you believe that if this sport were to get the things you suggest, re: money, fame, publicity, that it would take the athletes the same route as other popular sports?
Just what this country needs. more rich, vocal, tabloid ready athlets. I don't totally disagree, our country does not handle its sports icons as easten european states do. Welcome to capitalism, and, happy sales to you!

Very aggressive point of view creating as he said probably some dislike. Not unlike I would say of a healthy wrestling rivalry. I do agree with some of the points he has brought up and will look into reading the book...

this guy seems so pisseed off. There are alot of people who like the "underground" feeling of wrestling. No programs should be cut, but I don't need the sport to be proffessional to still love it.

another Rulon because there will never be another Karelin. BMX riders are getting more publicity than wrestlers. What a shame. But they are not Silent. The same people have been in charge of the NGB for years mabye they need to hire a marketing person or just fire everybody as start anew. At some point you can't believe you can keep on doing the same exact thing and expect changes

nick has balls. wrestlers should have balls. they should be paid for having balls.
show ur balls, get paid.

loved the interview. maybe the interviewer was a little too nervous. kept saying r u worried about offending someone. that's what nick was saying we need to get tougher. quit being so soft. i think he cares about the wrestler athletes. i do too.

Why not mention how much Rulon has gotten off his deals? Its not like there isn't any wrestlers out there making money off of the sport. Just not enough. Problem is, a lot of our wrestlers simply aren't marketable. Look at Cael. I'm sure he's a great guy but not necessarily mister personality. At least not on camera.

Now a guy like Askren is marketable. Could USAW be doing more? Sure. But so could a lot of people in our sport.

Its a really good point about Yoko Ono the speed skater!? WTF a speed skater makes really good money on sponsorships but why cant at least the very best wrestlers be getting six figure salaries? This is America, it shows how far off USA Wrestling leadership has been.

Usa Wrestling needs to rehire this guy to promote wrestling!

The interview was great, right on! Very intelligent interview, you sounded smooth and passionate about it, I want to read it...Gosh, I love controvery..."I have enough friends," hahahaha, that was great.

Nick "The Quick":

Look forward to reading the book...I enjoyed our time at USA Wrestling.
Email me at

so your saying that wrestling should just stay where it is? at least hes starting something, its better to fight and die on your feet than live a life on your knees. A little dramatic but i just mean id rather see wrestling go somewhere, anywhere, other than to just sit on where it is and see itself dying.

While his exact context hasn't been said, the point is, many people have been saying for the past couple of years that wrestling needed a shot in the arm.

I've been saying this for at least three years and I've read others comments to the same affect. Like I said, its nothing new, but now its in book form.
His approach to selling his book though doesn't surprise me. That's the new thing to do.

This guy is so unprofessional and uneducated. He is a wannabe author. Martin you are really letting this site go by having someone on like this. I will never read his book and his mindset is the exact reason that wrestling is going backwards.

Maybe an effort to increase participation in inner city schools will increase interest nationwide? I don't know of any successful innner city schools but I could be wrong. It seems the sport especcially at the high school level is geared towards the suburbs and rural areas. It seems that much of marketing follows the trends that are popular in the city areas, i. e. hip hop culture and the way for example, rap and hip hop sell major products. Increased membership in city communities could jump start an increrased interest in the sport. Just an idea!

Rockwell, are you kidding? "Wrestling should get punched in the mouth" I havent heard anyone say that remotely close to that. I think his points and the WAY he describes things is cool. I cant believe he was ragging on that one author- pretty brash is right.

"Wrestling needs to be punched in the mouth" LOL that was awesome. The difference Rockwell is that he wrote a fricken book that took him 4 years to write! Also in how it is said. Show me one fricken guy who is going to show Gable and Smith and Sanderson in the exact light they really are with all of their traits and holds absolutely nothing back. I got his book and read it one night.....fricken awesome!!!!

wow, dude seems like a jerk. but he may know a lil somthing about marketing cuz I WANT THAT BOOK!

While I'm interested in reading the book, he's not saying anything new that hasn't already been said for the past several years.

hopefully people do take notice of this book because wrestling is the greatest sport but in ways a dying breed. we really need something to expand the sport so it gets the attention and respect it deserves.

God.!!! this Boy hit the nail right on the Head~~the sport never put's back the money into this sport..it only takes it out..Great point..and i have been saying this to everyone...

i agree with him up until he said that MMA or the ufc took the place of where wrestling would be 2 day. ufc and mma is jacked guys punching eachother and throwing crazy elbos all over the place which is very exciting, now wrestling, unless u wrestle u have no idea whats hapening, looks very boring, and just looks like ppl r rolling around on a mat half naked. so wrestling will in my mind never be "famous" or what this person is saying wrestling should be