Getting to know.... EXTREME CARDINAL!!!

[Danny Burk]

One of the most exciting figures in our sport (outside of the athletes) was gracious enough to take some time to answer questions for my blog. EC is one of the best fans of wrestling I have ever seen and brings a flair to the wrestling world that is often missing. Some people may look at his antics as outrageous or uncalled for, but I for one enjoy watching him and enjoy having him as part of our community and on the forums. To me, he is great for the sport. One thing I really respect about him is that he tells it how it is, whether people like it or not.

He showed his true pride for wrestling by taking the time to answer my questions. His immediate response was "Sure, whatever I can do to better this sport or influence wrestlers to chase their dreams, I am all for it." I figured many people might enjoy getting a closer look at him and learning more about the man who goes by the name EXTREME CARDINAL.

DB: How did you get involved with wrestling??
EC: One day my oldest came home and asked if he could join the wrestling team at River Trails Middle School.

DB: What is your background in the sport?
EC: I wrestled 2 years in high school at Austin Community Academy, Chicago Il.

DB: What about wrestling makes you such a passionate fan?
EC: The willingness of two athletes standing toe to toe and try to impose their will on one another.

DB: What other interests do you have outside of wrestling?
EC: Boxing. I was a amateur boxer in the (CYO) Chicago Youth Organization where I compiled a record of 37-2 over 2 years.

DB: If you could change ONE thing about the IHSA state series, what would it be??
EC: Adding more injury time per bout, I think it really cost my son at this year’s series.

DB: You always seem so excited during matches - do you do that out of nervousness or just pure excitement?
EC: Pure excitement. However I was for the first time nervous while Demetrios was wrestling for the championship. Maybe it was the match, or maybe it was Max.

DB: Outside of the Hersey boys, what wrestlers do you enjoy watching the most?
EC: So many I'll just list a few... Ornoff, Fontanetta, Sabatello, Cooper, Surber, Luke Smith, Max Schneider, Blaise, Brill, Eddie Gonzalez. I like watching real wrestlers, not guys that run from challenges.

DB: If you could have dinner with 3 people in the wrestling world, who would you pick (living or dead).
EC: Of course Dan Gable my idol, Demetrios Mitchell my son, and whatever college coach that will be bringing Demetrios on board next year...lol

DB: The most influential person in wrestling for the state of Illinois is whom?
EC: Almost impossible to answer but I would have to say the wrestlers across the state. They make me love the sport as much as I do.

DB: What message would you like to send out to the entire wrestling community?
EC: I grew up in the inner city, Chicago's Westside, and my parents worked and never had time to support me in sports. So many times I am misunderstood, but I am a very proud father and just want to support my children the best I can. I never mean any harm or try to disrespect anyone. I love this sport and what it has done for me and my kids.

[BrandWrestler301]

EXTREME CARDINAL are u juss as big of a fan watching stepfon scales wrestle as much as demetrios mitchell?

[wrestler191]

The first time i saw him was at the state series and was like dang. now doing these questions i can relate, my parents barely came and supported, my mom never came and my dad would come once in awhile so i know how he feels i give him mad props.

[Extreme_Cardinal]

EXTREME CARDINAL are u juss as big of a fan watching stepfon scales wrestle as much as demetrios mitchell?


Yes sir but we felt Demetrios should get more of the Highlight due to the fact that he is a Senior. Steph'fon has the chance to break his brothers records, and also be a 3 time qualifier.

people try too say I seperate them but I have gone to State with Steph'fon and cheered just as hard.

The only difference is Demetrios was primed and ready and it was his year, maybe Steph'fon grows up fast and decides he can be as good as we constantly tell him he is.

[qwiktkdwn150]

do you ever think your cheering gets out of hand.... like at conference with the Smith family for example?

[LHSBIGFANDAD]

after reading so many posts this year about EC and all of his detractors - I had the opportunity to obsevre and then introduce myself to him at U of I last weekend. I must say He is definitely a proud dad and a great fan as well as a gentleman. I was pleasantly suprised and therefore I would like to say to know him changed my opinion that was formed through this season Forum posts. I wonder how many naysayers really know him? And his son is an unbelievable wrestler I can't remember the last 50+ wins wrestler,in one season, going into the Finals

[Extreme_Cardinal]

do you ever think your cheering gets out of hand.... like at conference with the Smith family for example?


Maybe I can get a little loud but never out of hand, all I did is yell 2 when I though Luke was scored on, is that so wrong? I was not the only person to yell 2 but because I have a great set of pipes, people got offended.

I cheer for Luke just as I did at State, it shouldnt be a issue if I yell 2 against him once should it?

That's all I did is yell 2 then I was attacked, and cheering should never warrant an attack by another fan. If I were disrespecting a kid then I could understand people telling me off, but cheering it's a sport come on.

[redskinwrestler]

The ref said he heard something pop and waved the match off, which was far worse than the injury itself (In Demetrios eyes).


With this comment from the other day, I am just curious how not having enough injury time cost your son at the state series?

[Extreme_Cardinal]

The ref said he heard something pop and waved the match off, which was far worse than the injury itself (In Demetrios eyes).


With this comment from the other day, I am just curious how not having enough injury time cost your son at the state series?


Well the X-rays show nothing broken, so I don't know if there was a pop, but I can't question the Ref's call.


Demetrios felt that he could finish, and would have rather let Max throw him again, than to lose via injury default. Ending the match this way bothers him the most he wanted to finish, because he will never wrestling in a IHSA title match again. If there wass more injury time he could have showed the Ref he could stand on the ankle, or maybe I'm fishing.

[AllState123]

DB: If you could change ONE thing about the IHSA state series, what would it be??
EC: Adding more injury time per bout, I think it really cost my son at this year’s series.


Really? Over the new format and all the classes etc... you would let wrestlers have more injury time?

Honestly then matches would last forever and kids could take breaks.

[redskinwrestler]

Well the X-rays show nothing broken, so I don't know if there was a pop, but I can't question the Ref's call.


Demetrios felt that he could finish, and would have rather let Max throw him again, than to lose via injury default. Ending the match this way bothers him the most he wanted to finish, because he will never wrestling in a IHSA title match again. If there wass more injury time he could have showed the Ref he could stand on the ankle, or maybe I'm fishing.


That explains it. By the way any hints as to what colleges are interested in Demetrios?

[mcc119]

Thanks for the insight. This is a good blog. Perhaps you could give us insight into more posters (Cub84, Journeyman, Maximus, Lock Jaw, MckBln, etc).

[tossNturn]

DB: If you could change ONE thing about the IHSA state series, what would it be??
EC: Adding more injury time per bout, I think it really cost my son at this year’s series.


Really? Over the new format and all the classes etc... you would let wrestlers have more injury time?

Honestly then matches would last forever and kids could take breaks.


Did you not watch the state finals to know why he answered this way?

[Cubs84]

Thanks for the insight. This is a good blog. Perhaps you could give us insight into more posters (Cub84, Journeyman, Maximus, Lock Jaw, MckBln, etc).

started a fight by going after anothe kid with his spikes!!!!!!!!!!!!111

[mcc119]

started a fight by going after anothe kid with his spikes!!!!!!!!!!!!111


Hold on different sport.

[Cubs84]

Hold on different sport.


throwing pickles on the window of the Lombard white castle. Oh happy days

[TimeToPin]

Yes sir but we felt Demetrios should get more of the Highlight due to the fact that he is a Senior. Steph'fon has the chance to break his brothers records, and also be a 3 time qualifier.

people try too say I seperate them but I have gone to State with Steph'fon and cheered just as hard.

The only difference is Demetrios was primed and ready and it was his year, maybe Steph'fon grows up fast and decides he can be as good as we constantly tell him he is.

Is it true that you, during the championship match, you mimicked Max having a hurt shoulder??? In fact, I'm being told that there is film that will be posted of you doing so......Why would you do that? You are supposedly this great father figure from the inner city that doesn't mean any harm.....Well I say BS.....You acted like an inner city fool throughout the year and you acted like an uneduacated inner city kid during the championships as well. Anyone that thinks a grown man holding his shoulder pretending that another kid is full of it during a match is just plain and simple....SICK. Maybe in the inner city that is acceptable, since you grew up in such a rough environment....and maybe your antics are suitable for most of the inner city and red neck fans of wrestling, but you are just a number...Good luck to your son, he showed so much more class than you. I only wish that the articles were for him and by him....not for some inner city slacker such as yourself. JOKE!!!!

[hawkeye815]

do you ever think your cheering gets out of hand.... Like at conference with the smith family for example?

it was the heat of the moment he has a point it would nice to see smith lose once in a while and the way he was winning in the matches leading up to the championship match was dumb he had the right to do what he did

[hawkeye815]

db: If you could change one thing about the ihsa state series, what would it be??
ec: Adding more injury time per bout, i think it really cost my son at this year’s series.


Really? Over the new format and all the classes etc... You would let wrestlers have more injury time?

Honestly then matches would last forever and kids could take breaks.

yea its to short and knowing him hes a bulldog he would and got up and finish it one way or another no wrestle wants to lose by injury

[Extreme_Cardinal]

Is it true that you, during the championship match, you mimicked Max having a hurt shoulder??? In fact, I'm being told that there is film that will be posted of you doing so......Why would you do that? You are supposedly this great father figure from the inner city that doesn't mean any harm.....Well I say BS.....You acted like an inner city fool throughout the year and you acted like an uneduacated inner city kid during the championships as well. Anyone that thinks a grown man holding his shoulder pretending that another kid is full of it during a match is just plain and simple....SICK. Maybe in the inner city that is acceptable, since you grew up in such a rough environment....and maybe your antics are suitable for most of the inner city and red neck fans of wrestling, but you are just a number...Good luck to your son, he showed so much more class than you. I only wish that the articles were for him and by him....not for some inner city slacker such as yourself. JOKE!!!!

1st things 1st I really have no idea of what you are talking about, mimicked Max? are you serious, maybe someone took it as that but I assure you if it looked that way it was not my intention to mock mimic or insinuate that he was not injured. I knew he was hurt prior to the Series and I knew he was hurt prior to the match but so was my kid.

Secondly when you see or hear about this video of me mimicking Max point it out so I can watch it to, ok?

Now let's get into me and my background since you seem to be such a great evaluator of Who I am. Sure I come from what you call the inner city, I simplify that by just saying DA HOOD, where I come from if you talk about it then it’s simple you have to be about it, so I take it you have issues with my style of cheering, coaching, and overall attitude towards the sport, but I say...ASK ME IF I CARE? I'll let you in on a little secret, I am far from uneducated. Oh and wishing my son good luck after trying to put me on blast is kind of like committing a crime on Saturday then going to church and asking for forgiveness on Sunday, just stop the back-sliding.

The worst part is in your post you say you were told, which means you didn't see me doing anything you are going off what someone else said, so if they are wrong then what will you be running to this blog to apologize or are you one of those oh well guys (UH UH I THOUGHT). How does an inner-city fool act? What did I do all year say my kid was one of the best? Yep that’s crazy, as a matter of fact all I did is predict he would wrestle for the title, and a few other things in which he accomplished, so why does that bother so many people? Oh last time I checked he has plenty of articles written about him and there is no mention of me anywhere, would you like me to send you the links?

Lastly are we going to really question what type of father I am again? Ask my kids when is the last time they were abandoned, hit, molested, abused, went hungry, had no electricity, no water, no place to lay their head then ask them when is the last time we actually cared about what some guy hiding behind a blog site thinks?

[HeadHunter130 MSHS]

I believe TimeToPin is what internet lingo refers to as a "Troll". I sat 3 rows up from EC, and he did no such thing. Now, granted I may not have seen what he was doing most of the time, the majority of the time he was moving or being loud was in support of his son and the match.

EC, you keep doing what you're doing. I do, however, feel a little bit sad that you had to type all of that to satisfy TTP's hunger for attention. These trolls must be stopped!

[coachgonzalez]

just wanted to say thanks for showing my boy support at ikwf state this weekend. that's right ec ranted and raved for my boy the way he did all year for his boy at the finals march. once again thanks and for all you doubters aka haters ec is a true wrestling fan

[Tilted Kilt]

Extreme Cardinal 4 Life!

Keepin it real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[will-I-am]

Why is everyone on EC's nuts, didn't his son have the great season? He is basically being commended for being another out of control wrestling fan. Also, doesn't every dad in the world think his son's gone win it at the beginning of each year, great prediction! Well at least tilted kilt supports you.

[Extreme_Cardinal]

Why is everyone on EC's nuts, didn't his son have the great season? He is basically being commended for being another out of control wrestling fan. Also, doesn't every dad in the world think his son's gone win it at the beginning of each year, great prediction! Well at least tilted kilt supports you.


Hey Will-U ain't seems as if you are a bit of a hater, but that's just a guess. Why O Why must hating be so obvious? let it go.