Coming into my new job I knew nothing about wrestling. It sat as some vague idea in the corner of my mind; I knew more about the WWF than I did about legitimate wrestling—and I was pretty sure that slamming metal chairs across opponents back was not a part of prep wrestling.
It was my lack of knowledge on the subject that made me less-than-thrilled about having to report on an event that I knew almost nothing about.
What I didn't know is that wrestling basically writes itself.
Here are two competitors matched head-to-head. As simple as this concept sounds, it is rarer than one might think. Instead of having a ball flinging around or a body of water to swim through, the object of this sport is to pin a guy to the ground who is trying to do the exact same thing to you.
Talk about drama–this sport has it all. Strength, skill and speed. The anguish of defeat written out in the expressions of the losers, and the fluid grace of a wrestler at the top of his craft, pinning another on his way to victory.
I was a swimmer in high school. Back then, I thought to myself, "well it is just me against the other guys." However that was not entirely true. I was racing to beat a time and to set a record.
In wrestling, you are basically trying to get through another guy. Never mind times or records–the only thing that matters is if you have enough in you to pin the other guy down to the mat.
I tried wrestling once, I think I was nine years old, and I got creamed. For some reason I was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and the other guy just grabbed and yanked me around for a while. I had no idea of what I was supposed to do. What I remember from then and what I see now are the same thing: wrestling is hard.
More power to those who can do it.
Each sport has its own criticisms and saving grace. In basketball there is the beauty of team ball, the fluid passing and stifling presses. In swimming there is the ridiculous efficiency needed in each stroke and flip turn– and the unparalleled conditioning that is needed to compete in the long events.
Wrestling has a simple beauty, one of stripped down and raw competition. Take another guy down.
For me, this past month of watching Molalla and Colton compete has taken wrestling out of the corner of my mind, dusted it off and placed it on the shelf next to the other sports I already appreciate and enjoy.
The love you give comes back in the end.
--------------------------------------------------------
It was my lack of knowledge on the subject that made me less-than-thrilled about having to report on an event that I knew almost nothing about.
What I didn't know is that wrestling basically writes itself.
Here are two competitors matched head-to-head. As simple as this concept sounds, it is rarer than one might think. Instead of having a ball flinging around or a body of water to swim through, the object of this sport is to pin a guy to the ground who is trying to do the exact same thing to you.
Talk about drama–this sport has it all. Strength, skill and speed. The anguish of defeat written out in the expressions of the losers, and the fluid grace of a wrestler at the top of his craft, pinning another on his way to victory.
I was a swimmer in high school. Back then, I thought to myself, "well it is just me against the other guys." However that was not entirely true. I was racing to beat a time and to set a record.
In wrestling, you are basically trying to get through another guy. Never mind times or records–the only thing that matters is if you have enough in you to pin the other guy down to the mat.
I tried wrestling once, I think I was nine years old, and I got creamed. For some reason I was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and the other guy just grabbed and yanked me around for a while. I had no idea of what I was supposed to do. What I remember from then and what I see now are the same thing: wrestling is hard.
More power to those who can do it.
Each sport has its own criticisms and saving grace. In basketball there is the beauty of team ball, the fluid passing and stifling presses. In swimming there is the ridiculous efficiency needed in each stroke and flip turn– and the unparalleled conditioning that is needed to compete in the long events.
Wrestling has a simple beauty, one of stripped down and raw competition. Take another guy down.
For me, this past month of watching Molalla and Colton compete has taken wrestling out of the corner of my mind, dusted it off and placed it on the shelf next to the other sports I already appreciate and enjoy.
The love you give comes back in the end.
--------------------------------------------------------
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