I know that this forum is about wrestling and I love wrestling - but having read the threads about the kids state tourney this year - I think we can all learn from what I saw during the KS vs. Maryland national semi-final.
Gooden and a Maryland went crashing out of bounds together go for a ball. Gooden got up first, then he extended his hand and helped the Maryland kid up. Classy stuff. Here they are battling before millions (TV audience) and battling for a chance to play for the national title and they still take the time and have the class to be kind to each other (yes, I know - wrestling is more intense because of the nature and individuality of the sport - yet it is possible - I saw kids at this year's state HS tourney in the finals - that after losing - many could still handle themselves with class and dignity - if I remembered their names -I'd post them - praise be to them and the parents and coaches that raised them!). If only we could see more of this with wrestling. Ohhhhh for the world of wrestling to have more people like Cael Sanderson. Humble, humble, humble...
And, it all starts with the parents and the coaches...If we want our great sport of wrestling to grow then we must have our young men acting like civilized people instead of arrogant jerks.
If we want to see it die out - then continue to allow the wrestlers to act like jerks.
If Rhodes get booed - maybe somebody needs to teach him the simple principle of reaping and sowing.
