Olympics drop wrestling

[VeloClone]

Is the IOC losing money or something?? One of the oldest sports known to man and they are dropping it. This sounds like title 9 but only on the international scale.

Two of the four criteria that they based their decision on were ticket sales and television ratings. So, yeah, it is mostly about the money. I'm sure badminton's television ratings are through the roof.

[Knownothing]

Yeah I know something. I know your sport get's no ratings. I know it's freakin boring and they are getting rid of it for that reason. You may say I know nothing. However, you guys sit here and defend a sport that obviously only a few people care to watch. So don't act like you know so much when your sport is getting cancelled in favor of Fencing.

[VeloClone]

Yeah I know something. I know your sport get's no ratings. I know it's freakin boring and they are getting rid of it for that reason. You may say I know nothing. However, you guys sit here and defend a sport that obviously only a few people care to watch. So don't act like you know so much when your sport is getting cancelled in favor of Fencing.

That doesn't change the fact that you post as fact things that are clearly wrong and not even in the same neighborhood as right. You don't like the sport, great. Don't post ******** as fact to back up your case. It just makes you look like an idiot.

[thatguy]

Two of the four criteria that they based their decision on were ticket sales and television ratings. So, yeah, it is mostly about the money. I'm sure badminton's television ratings are through the roof.

it does in other parts of the country. Bigger world out there than the ol USA.

And as someone that wrestled at a very high level, and still coaches high schoolers, this might do it for the sport. Thinking that our program is rubbish right now, the sport isn't going to be in the Olympics now, perhaps its time to drop it and seriously consider bringing back baseball.

[brett108]

I have to wonder if there isn't at least a little bit of a "political correctness" aspect to this, in getting rid of a "combat" type sport. Boxing is probably first choice of that type of sport to get the PC axe, but I suspect there would be quite a backlash from some of the smaller countries that are strong in boxing, especially since some of those same countries are strong in baseball, which already got the axe...

This would make sense if there weren't alot of smaller eastern europe and middle east freestyle wrestlers as well. Check the freestyle standings for the London games. You will see alot of small countries represented.

[brett108]

it does in other parts of the country. Bigger world out there than the ol USA.

And as someone that wrestled at a very high level, and still coaches high schoolers, this might do it for the sport. Thinking that our program is rubbish right now, the sport isn't going to be in the Olympics now, perhaps its time to drop it and seriously consider bringing back baseball.

ISU will never add another mens' sport. Not until Title 9 is repealed so just stop. Why do you always come in and post this same sentiment?

[IAStubborn]

This is shocking, it is thee original sport going back to greek mythology. Water polo, sycranized swimming, horse dancing, really folks wtf

[thatguy]

ISU will never add another mens' sport. Not until Title 9 is repealed so just stop. Why do you always come in and post this same sentiment?

settle down doofus. I haven't said anything about bringing back baseball in a very long time. But without Olympic funding wrestling is now going to die off. Its already struggling. Trust me i'm just as upset about this as everyone else, but there is nothing I can do about it, and nothing you can do about it, so its beneficial to the University to start looking around at some things.

And its not Title IX's fault. Only ignorant rednecks point to Title IX and scream about it, its the way Title IX is interpreted not written that is the problem.

[psyclone51]

My initial reaction to this announcement was shock. A wonderful sport that, contrary to some uniformed posters, is popular in many countries, especially in eastern Europe and western Asia, where it draws huge crowds. And others have noted the number of nations sending wrestlers to the Olympics. As angry as we may be, there are some nations where their only hope of earning a medal is in wrestling, so this must really tick them off. They are often poor countries with little political or financial influence in the Olympics.

As others have said, it is an original sport, going back to the original Olympics. Few sports have that history behind them.

Having said all this, we all know how money and politics influences sports decisions; we live it every day in the NCAA and professional sports. The realignment of D1 conferences is a perfect example. The NHL lock-out is another. It is a fact of life. So now, politics and money is kicking us in the gut in our sport - and it hurts.

The real question is how will this affect D1 wrestling here. Will the absence of an Olympic opportunity - if it is not re-instated - impair recruitment of young people into the sport? Will the absence of an Olympic opportunity affect the commitment to wrestling on the part of the D1 schools? Will the abscence of an Olympic opportunity reduce sponsorship of wrestling at the D1 level? I think these are the important questions.

But it still sucks. And I'd love to know the real reason for the decision!

By the way, how many of you posters are going to write the IOC and express disappointment in their decision. A strong outcry from fans will most certainly help getting wrestling back in. The members of the IOC are very political - dah!! - and listen to the winds of public opinion.

[VeloClone]

settle down doofus. I haven't said anything about bringing back baseball in a very long time. But without Olympic funding wrestling is now going to die off. Its already struggling. Trust me i'm just as upset about this as everyone else, but there is nothing I can do about it, and nothing you can do about it, so its beneficial to the University to start looking around at some things.

And its not Title IX's fault. Only ignorant rednecks point to Title IX and scream about it, its the way Title IX is interpreted not written that is the problem.

Well, there is a small thing you can do. You can pressure the US Olympic Committee to voice their opinion to the IOCC that Wrestling be the sport that is added back in for the games.

[Judoka]

This was 100% politics. Modern Pentathlon had a guy on the board. That's it.

[thatguy]

This was 100% politics. Modern Pentathlon had a guy on the board. That's it.

The guy that was on the board, is the President of the IOC's son. The IOC is corrupt? You dont say!

[jbhtexas]

Then why keep modern pentathalon that includes fencing and shooting?

Unless they use real sabres and are shooting at each other, it's probably not likely that the competitors could injure and bloody each other up in those events, which is the gripe that the PC crowd has with "brutal" sports like boxing.

Although using real sabres and shooting at each other might be a boon for the modern pentathalon TV ratings...

[Isuska]

Online petition to the IOC to reinstate Wrestling

http://www.change.org/petitions/inte...o-the-olympics

[aeroclone]

ISU will never add another mens' sport. Not until Title 9 is repealed so just stop. Why do you always come in and post this same sentiment?

If you have been following the bring back baseball threads that closely, you probably should remember that JP has stated on multiple instances that Title 9 is not an issue to adding baseball back at ISU, it is just an AD funding issue.