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IOC cuts wrestling from 2020 Olympics.
By Maggie Hendricks
In a shocking move, the International Olympic Committee voted to drop wrestling from its schedule for the 2020 Games. The unexpected decision was made via secret ballot during a Tuesday meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland where officials were discussing ways to "streamline" the Olympics.
Though many assumed modern pentathlon would get the boot, the committee instead decided to eliminate wrestling, which has roots in the ancient Greece games and has been a part of every modern Olympics since they began in 1896. The vote was completed over several rounds and the final totals were not released to the public.
Each of the Summer Games' 26 "core sports" were reviewed and at risk:
"This is a process of renewing and renovating the program for the Olympics,"
IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. "In the view of the executive board, this was the
best program for the Olympic Games in 2020. It's not a case of what's wrong with
wrestling, it is what's right with the (other) 25 core sports."In a shocking move, the International Olympic Committee voted to drop wrestling from its schedule for the 2020 Games. The unexpected decision was made via secret ballot during a Tuesday meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland where officials were discussing ways to "streamline" the Olympics.
Though many assumed modern pentathlon would get the boot, the committee instead decided to eliminate wrestling, which has roots in the ancient Greece games and has been a part of every modern Olympics since they began in 1896. The vote was completed over several rounds and the final totals were not released to the public.
Each of the Summer Games' 26 "core sports" were reviewed and at risk:
Now wrestling will have to face off with seven other sports that are fighting for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics. The list includes includes baseball and softball, which were dropped from the Olympics after Beijing in 2008 and sports trying to make the Olympics for the first time, including karate, squash, roller sports, sport climbing,wake boarding and wushu. The Associated Press said it is "extremely unlikely" that wrestling would be brought back so soon after the committee voted to eliminate it.
Wrestling has been an Olympic sport since the ancient origins of the games in Greece. The United States is the most successful active nation, with 50 all-time gold medals and 125 overall. The US team won two gold medals in the 2012 Games in London. Russia currently dominates the sport, but wrestlers from Japan, Turkey, Finland, South Korea, Iran and Cuba have all won their country dozens of medals.
Sports that will continue to be a core sport for the Olympics include the aforementioned modern pentathlon — a goofy mix of shooting, horseback riding, fencing, running and swimming. Also still included are tae kwon do, which rarely has winners who are not from South Korea, China or the US, and cycling, which has been plagued with doping scandals.
So much for IOC's alleged standard of universality for sports:modern pentathlon had athletes from 26 countries in London; wrestling, 71
— Philip Hersh (@olyphil) February 12, 2013It's hard to think that the IOC could make such a decision when wrestling has provided many of the Olympics' memorable moments. During the 2012 Olympics, American freestyler Jordan Burroughs beat Iranian Sadegh Saeed Goudazri to win gold. Afterwards, the two men hugged and smiled on the medal stand, despite the fact that they come from two countries that have tense international relations. Wrestling did what diplomacy could not, but the IOC apparently doesn't want that to be a part of the 2020 Olympics.
It's also difficult to estimate just how big of an impact this decision will have on the sport at the high school and college levels. The prospect of an Olympic gold medal has been the ultimate goal for so many wrestlers getting into and sticking with the sport and again, it's hard to imagine the IOC just took that prize away when no one saw it coming.
Marion P. Jelks, CS&T/AA blog editor's take: Wrestling was one of the original sports of the first Olympic Games. It takes strategy, strength, determination and perseverance to participate in this terrific sport. Even though individual wrestlers participate in the actual event, it is still based on a team concept including the coach, trainer and individual wrestler. While professional wrestling may be more showmanship than actual wrestling, high school and college wrestling are the real deal, a true and very competitive sport. It's really fun watching the wrestlers vying for points and pinning the opponent. There's an old American saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Someone should tell the IOC that. If you think I'm wrong, please enlighten me. I'd love to hear your thoughts........
How 'bout them Chicago Blackhawks?
Overall Record 10-0-3. Still undefeated in three period regulation play!!! How about that? 23 points in thirteen games, not bad, not bad at all. The Anaheim Ducks came to town last night and we lost in overtime but we still got a point. It's all about the points and the way we're playing. Never giving up, never giving out and most of all, never giving in. Our best is just going to get better. As CS&T/AA has said, We have a great feeling about this team. This is our year, remember, you heard it here first!!!!! Go Hawks!!!
Donald turns to Michael Jordan to improve mental approach.
Reuters (Writing by Tom Pilcher in London, editing by Tony Jimenez)
World number three Luke Donald, desperate to shrug off the unwanted tag of 'one of the best golfers never to win a major', has turned to NBA great Michael Jordan in a bid to improve his mental approach.
Briton Donald dominated golf in 2011, becoming the first player to win the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic and spending the bulk of the year at the top of the world rankings.
He starts his season at the Northern Trust Open in California this week and has been explaining his work with Jordan who won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls between 1991-98.
"He's good for the mind. He's been making sure I'm ready mentally," the Englishman told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
"It's been good to pick Michael's brains and find out what he was thinking about when he was playing basketball. He's always trying to play mind games, he doesn't like to lose."
Jordan, who averaged 30.1 points per game during a phenomenal basketball career, is also an accomplished golfer with a handicap of four.
Donald hopes fellow Chicago resident Jordan can unlock the key to playing his best at the year's four majors, starting with the U.S. Masters in April.
"Although I was content with how I played last year - I won three times on three different continents - I was once again disappointed with how I performed in the majors," said the 35-year-old.
"I played solidly enough at the (British) Open," said Donald, referring to his tie for fifth place. "But the other three were nothing to write home about. I've got to figure out a way to be competitive at the majors - that's the main aim this year.
"The plan before the majors this year is to go to each course early and have a few days to get familiar with it. I've not played Merion (U.S. Open course) and haven't played Muirfield (British Open) for years."
The Masters takes place from April 11-14, the U.S. Open in Pennsylvania is from June 13-16, the British Open in Scotland is from July 18-21 and the U.S. PGA Championship in Rochester, New York will be contested from August 8-11.
PROPER REST
Donald said he felt refreshed and recharged having not competed since the European Tour's season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November.
"It is exactly what I did in 2011 and it seemed to work," he added. "Professional golf pretty much has a 12-month season nowadays and I find that if you just take a few weeks off you can't have a proper rest or a long enough period to work on your game.
"It is a little difficult watching the other pros playing competitively and, in the case of Tiger (Woods) and Phil (Mickelson), winning. But I've used it as extra incentive to work harder on my improvements."
Donald said he felt his days as number one were not over despite Rory McIlroy's excellent form in 2012 when he emulated his Ryder Cup team-mate and won both the PGA Tour and European Tour orders of merit.
"I still believe I can get back up there and have the chance to be number one again," said Donald.
"If I have a year like 2011 it is possible. The rankings are tough because you basically have to at least match what you did in the season previously not to fall back.
"Last year was solid for me but I lost so many points because I had such a great year in 2011. It's very hard to keep up - Rory's going to see that this year."
Are the U.S. home venues set for World Cup qualifying?
By Steve Davis
On top of Sunday reports that a Sept. 10 World Cup qualifier was bound for Columbus, SI.com’s Grant Wahl says today that Salt Lake City, Kansas City and Seattle are also leaders for coming matches in the final round of regional play.
Citing an unnamed source, here is how Wahl says things might break:
Source: USSF aiming for home WCQ venues
June 11, (PAN) Seattle;
June 18, (HON) Salt Lake;
September 10, (MEX) Columbus
October 11, (JAM) Kansas City
The first U.S. final round World Cup qualifier at home is set for Denver (March 22 against Costa Rica.)
Let’s discuss the others (as we hope that U.S. Soccer gets these things singed and sealed so we can all move on):
If CenturyLink Field in Seattle is indeed awarded a match, that indicates a significant shift in U.S. Soccer thinking. Previously, the federation seemed dead-set against the idea of a home match on artificial turf (or on one of the notoriously sketchy temporary grass fields covering the fake stuff.)
Salt Lake City has served the purpose quite well over the last two qualifying cycles, with important wins at Rice-Eccles Stadium en route to Germany 2006 and at Rio Tinto Stadium on the road to South Africa 2010. Both matches were well-attended.
Mexico at Crew Stadium? Yup. Hits the perfect note.
The United States is likely to need a result down the wire, so Sporting Park in Kansas City as the venue to face Jamaica would be a great choice. The Americans have positive, recently created memories of the place. They went into Kansas City last fall knowing they quite possibly needed a win or draw against Guatemala and got one fairly easily – after an early Guatemalan goal, that is. The United States punched its ticket into the final round of qualifying that night.
Antawn Jamison: 'MJ Could Still Play In NBA'
In fact, it appears that only one player has played after the age 44, and that was when 45-year-old Nat Hickey played in one game in 1948 and missed all six of his shots from the field for the Providence Steamrollers.
The oldest players of the modern era were Kevin Willis (44 in 2007) and Robert Parish (43 in 1997).
But at least one current NBA player thinks Michael Jordan could shatter those age marks. His Airness, who will turn 50 on Sunday, last donned an NBA uniform 10 years ago.
So if Jordan was to suit up this week, how would he fare? Los Angeles Lakers forward Antawn Jamison said Jordan could surprise some people.
"I wouldn't doubt that in the right situation with a LeBron (James) on his team or with a Kobe (Bryant) on this team, he could get you about 10 or 11 points, come in and play 15-20 minutes," Jamison told ESPN LA. "I wouldn't doubt that at all, especially if he was in shape and injuries were prevented and things of that nature."
Jordan still takes an active role with the Bobcats, and has even participated in practice.
During his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2009, Jordan mentioned playing at age 50, and despite laughter from the audience, he wasn't joking.
"One day you might look up and see me playing the game at 50," Jordan said. "Oh, don't laugh. Never say never. Because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion."
Could Jordan really come off the bench as a contributor at age 50? Probably not. But, hey, weirder things have happened.
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