but does anyone agree that in the neutral position they stood straight up and either adjusted their headgear or just took a step back a little too much? Almost every wrestling match has a little of the standing straight up headgear-adjustment routine but I think coaches should try to minimize that as much as possible and at least get the wrestlers to stay in a decent stance while they adjust the headgear. Both could have capitalized on the other being out of position but they would both do it at the same time. I'm not trying to belittle anyone's performance but I do think this is a common problem in wrestling and I would like to hear some other thoughts on this.
I agree 100%. It was not just these two that wrestled like that, almost every other wrestler in the finals did. I'll get corny for a minute, but nobody looked like they had "the eye of the tiger." I would love to see two wrestlers really go at it, but I don't know how you teach that.
Good point. Do you see more 'eye of the tiger' intensity in the semi's and then they get to caution in the finals and wrestling in a style that says, "i don't want to lose" rather than in a style that says "I want TO WIN"?
Maybe one way of teaching it is to watch tape of how this 'wrestling not to lose' style, usually backfires -- and then supplement that with matches were at least one has 'the eye' wither they win or lose. Good question on how to teach it.
Watch a lot of the Metcalf/Caldwell match and the matches prior to it where the commentators said stupid things like, "Coming up soon -- UNDEFEATED and HODGE trophy winner Brent Metcalf who is all most guaranteed to win his title tonight..." Yeah, only problem is someone forgot to tell Caldwell that . . .
Or, go back even further. Teach them about 181-0 Gable vs. Owings (sp). You can watch the match on youtube.
Wrestle to WIN. Not to lose. Aggression pays off. Too much defense will catch up with you and sooner or later you will become toast.
I don't know. Those are just some thoughts.
I hope somebody has the 'magic formula' so we can present it to all so these finals will be more dynamite rather than a chess match.
