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What this Olympics needed more than anything else was a bunch of Joe Rau head pinches. That is a lethal weapon that the US Greco could've badly used. Also, an Olympic weight for America's best Greco-Roman wrestler, Max Nowry. I hope they're both planning on Worlds.
Here's how I saw the Dake match with the Belarusian: Thanks to Flo and youtube and themat.com, the American has become synonymous with the "Dake Bomb." It was out there for everyone to see, including folks with internet in Belarus. He knew he was going to be scouted, especially after beating a legend like Jordan Burroughs. Was that left-leg pickup and hip heist counter very well known? I don't recall ever seeing it before the Belarusian used it against Dake.
You have to be ready for counters to your most famous hold. I just don't know how long that particular counter has been around. It reminds me of the FIDE World Cup in Chess that just concluded. Someone like Chess World Champion Magnus Carlsen has favorite openings that he will use while playing with the white, and others for when he's playing with the black pieces, and all of it depending upon what result he needs (win or draw). His opponents know that. And Magnus knows that his opponents know that, so he prepares for it. Either an entirely different opening, or a variation of one of his favorites.
The crying shame was that Dake tried the Dake Bomb a second time and got almost the same result. That was then a hole way too deep to dig out of. Perhaps he should've gone with an inside or outside trip that second time, or a throw that ties up his opponent's right arm. He is scheduled to wrestle Chamizo for Bronze later this morning. I'm looking forward to that.
As for biting, I think it should be allowed. Better yet, encouraged. This is supposed to be Freestyle wrestling, yet there is no freedom of the mouth, and there is no liberty in all of these no-bite rules. Moreover, most of us have two arms and 32 teeth. We get to use both arms, but not a single tooth? I cry foul!
I would consider a "No Bite Rule" above the shoulders. You have to draw the line somewhere.
One thing that has surprised me is that I have not seen any coverage of Gable Steveson's past trials and tribulations at Minnesota. I'm not talking about his losing in the NCAA championship match as a freshman. I'm talking about the allegations levied against him and another Gopher wrestler by a University of Minnesota co-ed. I was never interested enough to look into that matter, so maybe the silence is golden.
Here's how I saw the Dake match with the Belarusian: Thanks to Flo and youtube and themat.com, the American has become synonymous with the "Dake Bomb." It was out there for everyone to see, including folks with internet in Belarus. He knew he was going to be scouted, especially after beating a legend like Jordan Burroughs. Was that left-leg pickup and hip heist counter very well known? I don't recall ever seeing it before the Belarusian used it against Dake.
You have to be ready for counters to your most famous hold. I just don't know how long that particular counter has been around. It reminds me of the FIDE World Cup in Chess that just concluded. Someone like Chess World Champion Magnus Carlsen has favorite openings that he will use while playing with the white, and others for when he's playing with the black pieces, and all of it depending upon what result he needs (win or draw). His opponents know that. And Magnus knows that his opponents know that, so he prepares for it. Either an entirely different opening, or a variation of one of his favorites.
The crying shame was that Dake tried the Dake Bomb a second time and got almost the same result. That was then a hole way too deep to dig out of. Perhaps he should've gone with an inside or outside trip that second time, or a throw that ties up his opponent's right arm. He is scheduled to wrestle Chamizo for Bronze later this morning. I'm looking forward to that.
As for biting, I think it should be allowed. Better yet, encouraged. This is supposed to be Freestyle wrestling, yet there is no freedom of the mouth, and there is no liberty in all of these no-bite rules. Moreover, most of us have two arms and 32 teeth. We get to use both arms, but not a single tooth? I cry foul!
I would consider a "No Bite Rule" above the shoulders. You have to draw the line somewhere.
One thing that has surprised me is that I have not seen any coverage of Gable Steveson's past trials and tribulations at Minnesota. I'm not talking about his losing in the NCAA championship match as a freshman. I'm talking about the allegations levied against him and another Gopher wrestler by a University of Minnesota co-ed. I was never interested enough to look into that matter, so maybe the silence is golden.
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