Many of you know this. Nine months after we started dating my, now wife, gave us Iowa wrestling season tickets as a Christmas present. It took me a little while, but I finally came to my senses and asked her to marry me. Thankfully, she said, “yes”. This coming Saturday is our wedding anniversary.
When you hang around wrestling you hear a lot of macho guy stuff, but – some of the most interesting people I’ve met in wrestling are women.
The first 15 years that we had seats GG, 12, 1 & 2; Gretchen Goodwin sat next to my wife. When we got those seats she and her husband, Don, had already been ensconced in seats 3 & 4 for a while. Over the years we became friends and attended Big Tens in Wisconsin and Nationals in Ames together. Gretchen loved Royce Alger and swooned every time he entered the arena – as an athlete or as a coach. Sadly, a few years ago Don contracted a rare congenital liver disease and passed away after a long, painful battle. We’ve not seen Gretchen since then and I now have their old seats. I think of them every time I give those seats away.
Debbie Connell has been my good friend for 40 years and she’s been a Hawkeye wrestling season ticket holder since the Field House days. If you’ve ever attended a meet in Carver Hawkeye Arena, you’ve probably seen her. When the Hawks run out of the tunnel look in the middle of the first row just above the tunnel and the woman you see is either Deb or her sister Jody. Debbie worked with me at the Dairy Queen the Sunday morning when the state of Iowa was crushed by the Des Moines Register headline, “Gable Fails”.
When I started this blog I really had no clue about what I should write after the first couple of editions. Then, Danielle Hobeika agreed to an interview. Danielle is one of the most fascinating people around the sport. A Harvard psychology grad, Danielle wrestled in the room on the Crimson team and became a top level freestyle wrestler. She is the goddess of wrestling websites and one of the sport’s best photographers. You know that photo you love with Brent Metcalf and Bubba Jenkins “on their heads” – that’s Danielle’s. She’s still doing the photography and web development, but is now also an MMA fighter.
Sandy Stevens taught my wife as a substitute English teacher at Cedar Rapids Kennedy more than a couple of years ago. If you don’t know the name, you surely know the voice. She has been the voice of Fargo, DI Nationals, the California high school championships and the Olympics. I first met Sandy in person the night before she was announcing the Division III Championships in Cedar Rapids – her home town. I’ve met very, very few people as passionate about wrestling as Sandy.
Maggie Hendricks had been an online “friend” for at least three years when she introduced herself to me at National Duals last year. Maggie was a manager for the Missouri Tiger wrestling team and loves to write about wrestling, football and MMA. Her blog in memory of her grandfather, who taught the whole family to box, is still one of the best online pieces I’ve ever read. “Thumbs up, pointed to God” is a phrase I’ll remember the rest of my life.
One day before I met Maggie, I also met Tammy Tedesco from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Among her many duties, Tammy is the tournament director for National Duals. This upcoming season she is planning to engage wrestling in the “Coaches Against Cancer” campaign. Please stay tuned for further details.
I met Dee Pollard in a bar in 2008. The mother of TCNJ assistant coach, Joe Pollard, she was sitting at the bar as I was hosting my first Division III Championships fan reception. We struck up a conversation and have become good friends and have met after every session of the past three NCAA DIII Championships. Every Saturday night after finals Joe has joined us. Last March the three of us made our plans to meet in La Crosse next spring. Yes – my wife and Dee’s husband know about this. After all – it’s all about the wrestling. (As an aside – one of my happiest moments as a marshal at the DIII Championships was handing one of Joe’s wrestlers his All-American trophy.)
I still haven’t yet met Julia Labua face-to-face. She’s all over the wrestling internet with at least 3 online identities and her posts are among the most intelligent you’ll ever see. Last winter she pulled off her own wrestling promotion coup when she emailed the entire staff at her place of employment, offering them free tickets, hot dogs and sodas for a Hawkeye dual meet. Eleven co-workers took her up on the offer and attended their first ever wrestling meet. When one of her friends asked about one of the finer points of wrestling Julia responded, in part, with a phrase that has become popular on the internet, “There will be answers. They may not be right answers, but there will be answers.”
There are many adjectives that would describe Gail Rush. “Dynamic” is at the top of my list. Since the flood of 2008 she has responded to several of my requests to help wrestlers and wrestling. In those years I’ve heard from several people that she and her husband, Rick, have done that for years. This past week her efforts led to the Coe College Kohawk wrestling fans taking the lead in the Tickets for Kids fan challenge.
But - it still comes back to my darling wife. I don’t know how it happened, but I won the marriage lottery. If I’d never met her there would probably be no season tickets, no blog and no Tickets for Kids. Thank you dear. I love you and may we grow old watching wrestling together. Happy anniversary.
Showing posts with label amateur wrestling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label amateur wrestling. Show all posts
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, June 8, 2009
Dear Mary Alumnus
This week brought one more online request for money for a wrestling program. Norwich University announced the reinstatement of wrestling as a varsity sport, but it was added that they still need to raise $20,000 to meet this year’s financial obligation.
Last week I gave some basic tips on fund raising. This week I’ve written a sample letter from a fictional former wrestler at Smallville College to a hypothetical alumnus who has a history of giving to Smallville, but who has never donated to athletics. In this imaginary scenario the athletic director has just mandated that the team itself raise $100,000 a year or face future removal from the roster of varsity sports.
“Dear Mary Alumnus,
I’m a fellow Smallville College alum (Class of ’96). I loved my time there – the campus, the friends I made and the education I got will always be a part of me. Is Smallville as important to you as it is to me? It’s a great school, isn’t it?
Do you know what part of my Smallville experience I treasure the most? I wrestled. I spent four years on the varsity team and in my senior year I won a conference championship. I have never been prouder of any other accomplishment.
There are those who want to take that same opportunity away from future Smallville students. The athletic department has mandated that the wrestling team become more self-supporting or face elimination. The team must raise $100,000 a year or it will be dropped.
Mary, did the alarm just go off in your head? Did you just think, “Uh-oh, he’s about to ask me for money – for WRESTLING”? Mary, you’re one of our most generous alumni. You’re one of the elite few who help make a Smallville education a priceless investment in a young person’s future. But WRESTLING?!?! Why WRESTLING?
Wrestling taught me things that I never would have learned in any classroom – anywhere. Wrestling taught me to get off my back – literally and figuratively. I have faced adversity in my life since Smallville and the lessons I learned on the mat helped me fight on and overcome. The discipline I learned as a wrestler made me a better student. Today I own a small business and things I learned in the wrestling room contribute more to my success than anything I learned in Jones Hall.
Wrestling is the most democratic of sports. You don’t have to win some type of genetic lottery to be a champion. The competitor that works the hardest and learns the most almost always triumphs. A bi-lateral amputee- Nick Ackerman – won an NCAA Division III national championship. Wrestling embodies The American Dream – and there are those who want to take it away. Are you going to let them get away with it or will you join my fight?
I’m not the only one who believes in the value of wrestling. Nobel laureate, Dr. Norman Borlaug – the man who fed billions – credits wrestling with teaching him the discipline and tenacity he needed to continue his research. Thirteen American presidents have wrestled – from Washington to Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt. Congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle – Dennis Hastert, Jim Leach, Paul Wellstone - and others - wrestled. Wrestling has been a part of the educations of countless teachers, scientists, humanitarians, business leaders, military heroes – even Plato wrestled.
Won’t you join me in this fight? Won’t you help me perpetuate and strengthen this invaluable educational tool?
Your gift of $1,000 would cover travel expenses to our 2010 conference meet. A $200 check will buy meals for one wrestler for all of our road events this season. A $5,000 donation pays our insurance premium for the year. Please write your check today and return it in the enclosed reply envelope. You can use your credit card if you like.
Or - there’s an easier way for you to help - join the Smallville Mat Clan. It’s simple, go to www.smallvillecollegewrestling.edu and click on Join the Mat Clan. For a minimum pledge of $25 a month for the next 12 months I’ll send you a Smallville wrestling tee shirt and our quarterly newsletter. Why not join today?
Future generations of Smallville students thank you.
Sincerely,
John Doe
Smallville College, 1996
BA Finance
President
Metrowebtech, Inc.
PS FYI – The football and basketball teams are not being asked to make the same sacrifices.”
Last week I gave some basic tips on fund raising. This week I’ve written a sample letter from a fictional former wrestler at Smallville College to a hypothetical alumnus who has a history of giving to Smallville, but who has never donated to athletics. In this imaginary scenario the athletic director has just mandated that the team itself raise $100,000 a year or face future removal from the roster of varsity sports.
“Dear Mary Alumnus,
I’m a fellow Smallville College alum (Class of ’96). I loved my time there – the campus, the friends I made and the education I got will always be a part of me. Is Smallville as important to you as it is to me? It’s a great school, isn’t it?
Do you know what part of my Smallville experience I treasure the most? I wrestled. I spent four years on the varsity team and in my senior year I won a conference championship. I have never been prouder of any other accomplishment.
There are those who want to take that same opportunity away from future Smallville students. The athletic department has mandated that the wrestling team become more self-supporting or face elimination. The team must raise $100,000 a year or it will be dropped.
Mary, did the alarm just go off in your head? Did you just think, “Uh-oh, he’s about to ask me for money – for WRESTLING”? Mary, you’re one of our most generous alumni. You’re one of the elite few who help make a Smallville education a priceless investment in a young person’s future. But WRESTLING?!?! Why WRESTLING?
Wrestling taught me things that I never would have learned in any classroom – anywhere. Wrestling taught me to get off my back – literally and figuratively. I have faced adversity in my life since Smallville and the lessons I learned on the mat helped me fight on and overcome. The discipline I learned as a wrestler made me a better student. Today I own a small business and things I learned in the wrestling room contribute more to my success than anything I learned in Jones Hall.
Wrestling is the most democratic of sports. You don’t have to win some type of genetic lottery to be a champion. The competitor that works the hardest and learns the most almost always triumphs. A bi-lateral amputee- Nick Ackerman – won an NCAA Division III national championship. Wrestling embodies The American Dream – and there are those who want to take it away. Are you going to let them get away with it or will you join my fight?
I’m not the only one who believes in the value of wrestling. Nobel laureate, Dr. Norman Borlaug – the man who fed billions – credits wrestling with teaching him the discipline and tenacity he needed to continue his research. Thirteen American presidents have wrestled – from Washington to Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt. Congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle – Dennis Hastert, Jim Leach, Paul Wellstone - and others - wrestled. Wrestling has been a part of the educations of countless teachers, scientists, humanitarians, business leaders, military heroes – even Plato wrestled.
Won’t you join me in this fight? Won’t you help me perpetuate and strengthen this invaluable educational tool?
Your gift of $1,000 would cover travel expenses to our 2010 conference meet. A $200 check will buy meals for one wrestler for all of our road events this season. A $5,000 donation pays our insurance premium for the year. Please write your check today and return it in the enclosed reply envelope. You can use your credit card if you like.
Or - there’s an easier way for you to help - join the Smallville Mat Clan. It’s simple, go to www.smallvillecollegewrestling.edu and click on Join the Mat Clan. For a minimum pledge of $25 a month for the next 12 months I’ll send you a Smallville wrestling tee shirt and our quarterly newsletter. Why not join today?
Future generations of Smallville students thank you.
Sincerely,
John Doe
Smallville College, 1996
BA Finance
President
Metrowebtech, Inc.
PS FYI – The football and basketball teams are not being asked to make the same sacrifices.”
Monday, December 22, 2008
Dear Santa
Dear Santa,
I’m a wrestling fan. No, not that steroid laden soap opera you see on “Smackdown” – or whatever. I love the “world’s oldest and greatest sport” – the sport of Socrates, Plato and Lincoln (Abraham or McIlravy)… the sport of Gable, Smith and Sanderson.
I know it’s late for sending you my “wish list” – but here it is.
Santa, I want wrestling to become an urban sport. It is the most democratic of all sports. You don’t have to win any kind of genetic lottery to excel – no excessive height, blazing speed or unusual hand/eye coordination is required. The competitor that works the hardest and learns the most almost always triumphs. Don’t we need to teach those lessons to more kids? Yet, young people in most of our largest cities have no opportunities to wrestle. I even know how you do it. You simply clone Al Bevilacqua from Beat the Streets in New York and drop an “Al” in Detroit or Los Angeles - wherever hundreds of thousands of kids are spending more time on the Wii than on the mat.
Santa, we need more opportunities for girls to wrestle. The lessons taught by wrestling are lessons of empowerment – you can control your own destiny. In all but a few states here in America (Washington, Texas, Hawaii and California) we make it almost impossible for girls to compete. We put unnecessary roadblocks to success in their way - and when someone like Tricia Saunders or Patricia Miranda or Michaela Hutchison fights through it all and does the extraordinary, we frequently fail to give her due credit. Let’s start here in Iowa, Santa. I’ve lived in this state for 56 of my 58 years. Iowa was a pioneer in providing interscholastic athletic competition for girls and has one of the richest wrestling histories in the world. Why can’t we join those two heritages together?
May we please have more college wrestling programs – men’s and women’s? If we believe in the value of wrestling’s lessons, we need educators that can teach those lessons. As youth participation on the mats continues to grow we will need more and better coaches. From where will they come if we continue to eliminate intercollegiate opportunities?
Santa, please make FILA give us back exciting freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. I want to see John Smith turning guys like a top again. How many fans can we bring to a sport where the most riveting action has become the selection of a colored ball from a bag?
Speaking of fans – could you make them more active? Would you get them out from behind the keyboard and in the seats at five or six events a year. I don’t care where – kids’ tournaments, high school meets or the Olympic Trials – just make them pay a few bucks and actually support the sport. And what about the millions of ex-high school wrestlers in America – could you sprinkle them with some kind of magic dust that would convert them into active fans?
Santa, please bring us more and better coverage of the sport. I understand the television Catch 22 – you can’t get air time without a profitable audience and you can’t build an audience without air time. You’ll probably have to mend the fences between the “mainstream” and the “underground” to make this happen, but it can be done. And while you’re at it, please make those providing the coverage give the sport the respect it has earned. After all, Frank Gifford once called Dan Gable “the most dedicated athlete I have ever seen”. John Smith was once named America’s top amateur athlete. Cael Sanderson’s undefeated career and bi-lateral amputee, Nick Ackerman’s Division III national championship are included on the list of the NCAA’s 25 defining moments. These great athletes, and the thousands of others toiling in wrestling rooms around the world, deserve better than to be compared to an entertainer like Hulk Hogan – as was done by the ESPNU in-studio “talent” prior to the broadcast of the Iowa/Iowa State dual meet.
Finally, Santa, I want a new Division III Championships attendance record in Cedar Rapids this March.
I’ll wait a couple of years before I ask you for the Olympic Trials.
I’m a wrestling fan. No, not that steroid laden soap opera you see on “Smackdown” – or whatever. I love the “world’s oldest and greatest sport” – the sport of Socrates, Plato and Lincoln (Abraham or McIlravy)… the sport of Gable, Smith and Sanderson.
I know it’s late for sending you my “wish list” – but here it is.
Santa, I want wrestling to become an urban sport. It is the most democratic of all sports. You don’t have to win any kind of genetic lottery to excel – no excessive height, blazing speed or unusual hand/eye coordination is required. The competitor that works the hardest and learns the most almost always triumphs. Don’t we need to teach those lessons to more kids? Yet, young people in most of our largest cities have no opportunities to wrestle. I even know how you do it. You simply clone Al Bevilacqua from Beat the Streets in New York and drop an “Al” in Detroit or Los Angeles - wherever hundreds of thousands of kids are spending more time on the Wii than on the mat.
Santa, we need more opportunities for girls to wrestle. The lessons taught by wrestling are lessons of empowerment – you can control your own destiny. In all but a few states here in America (Washington, Texas, Hawaii and California) we make it almost impossible for girls to compete. We put unnecessary roadblocks to success in their way - and when someone like Tricia Saunders or Patricia Miranda or Michaela Hutchison fights through it all and does the extraordinary, we frequently fail to give her due credit. Let’s start here in Iowa, Santa. I’ve lived in this state for 56 of my 58 years. Iowa was a pioneer in providing interscholastic athletic competition for girls and has one of the richest wrestling histories in the world. Why can’t we join those two heritages together?
May we please have more college wrestling programs – men’s and women’s? If we believe in the value of wrestling’s lessons, we need educators that can teach those lessons. As youth participation on the mats continues to grow we will need more and better coaches. From where will they come if we continue to eliminate intercollegiate opportunities?
Santa, please make FILA give us back exciting freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. I want to see John Smith turning guys like a top again. How many fans can we bring to a sport where the most riveting action has become the selection of a colored ball from a bag?
Speaking of fans – could you make them more active? Would you get them out from behind the keyboard and in the seats at five or six events a year. I don’t care where – kids’ tournaments, high school meets or the Olympic Trials – just make them pay a few bucks and actually support the sport. And what about the millions of ex-high school wrestlers in America – could you sprinkle them with some kind of magic dust that would convert them into active fans?
Santa, please bring us more and better coverage of the sport. I understand the television Catch 22 – you can’t get air time without a profitable audience and you can’t build an audience without air time. You’ll probably have to mend the fences between the “mainstream” and the “underground” to make this happen, but it can be done. And while you’re at it, please make those providing the coverage give the sport the respect it has earned. After all, Frank Gifford once called Dan Gable “the most dedicated athlete I have ever seen”. John Smith was once named America’s top amateur athlete. Cael Sanderson’s undefeated career and bi-lateral amputee, Nick Ackerman’s Division III national championship are included on the list of the NCAA’s 25 defining moments. These great athletes, and the thousands of others toiling in wrestling rooms around the world, deserve better than to be compared to an entertainer like Hulk Hogan – as was done by the ESPNU in-studio “talent” prior to the broadcast of the Iowa/Iowa State dual meet.
Finally, Santa, I want a new Division III Championships attendance record in Cedar Rapids this March.
I’ll wait a couple of years before I ask you for the Olympic Trials.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Brother, can you spare a dime?
When it comes to wrestling I’m just a fan. Oh sure, I know the difference between an inside trip and a fireman’s carry – but it’s knowledge gained from watching countless matches at all levels of competition – not actual experience.
Because a few people read this blog every week, and some seem to like it, I occasionally get emails asking to support various wrestling-related causes. I’m also a denizen of several wrestling forums where I will encounter posts asking for some kind of help. (How many of us own tee shirts supporting our favorite Olympic athletes?). Clubs need mats, colleges need money to save programs or to start new ones, the Dan Gable International Wrestling Museum needs money to recover from the flood, etc. All are worthwhile causes.
I may just be a wrestling fan – but I’m a pro at asking for money. Yep, I’ve been a direct marketing consultant for almost 30 years. I’ve sold you or your friends jewelry, shoes, magazines, pizza, air conditioners, router tables, dresses, hotel rooms, etc, etc, etc – all by putting paper in your mailbox. I’ve also raised a lot of money for charities. So, this week I’m not going to talk about wrestling. Instead, I’m going to offer “Fund Raising 101”
A person gives to another person – not organizations or causes.
This is the most fundamental rule of fund raising – and the most ignored. Perhaps the most famous (and one of the most successful) of all fund raising letters is the Frank Deford “65 Roses” letter for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In that letter, Deford tells the story (legend) of how some kids came to call that awful childhood disease, “65 Roses”. He also tells you that his daughter suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and asks you to help him fight the disease.
Save Oregon Wrestling did a reasonably good job of this. Their email efforts are always personal appeals from Coach Ron Finley and do a good job of projecting a “David vs. Goliath” image. The website also makes solid use of individual wrestlers.
This rule applies to all fund raising efforts – not just direct mail. You’ll sell more candy, wash more cars and get more golf swings if you can make the event about an individual instead of the club, team, institution or sport.
Faces
A person will respond to a “face”. As you create your materials be sure that your audience can tie a face to your cause.
Make curing cancer “trivial”.
Passion, passion, passion! Your listener, reader or candy buyer has to believe at the very moment of receiving your message that those new mats for Jimmy and Susie are more important than curing cancer. Most donors make a first gift on impulse.
Al Bevilacqua is a perfect role model. His passion for Beat the Streets jumps off the page or screen at you.
Use the “motivators”. We “evil marketers” know that there are only nine prime motivators that will move a person to spend money:
Greed
Sex
Fear
Guilt
Anger
Exclusivity
Belonging
Salvation
Flattery
The more of these you appeal to, the more successful you will be. Guilt, exclusivity, belonging and flattery work especially well in fund raising. Anger and fear can be powerful, but can also backfire.
Get the second donation.
After years of testing, the great direct mail guru, Dick Benson, found that a 2X donor is twice as likely to respond to all future efforts than is a 1X donor. That makes the second donation crucial. Here’s a pattern that works.
Get the initial donation.
Send a thank you note within a week of the first donation (do not yet ask for the second donation).
Thirty days later ask for the second donation.
Women write more checks – men write bigger checks.
This is not sexism – it’s data. Think about your particular need. If you’re asking for a one time, major donation you might consider strategies that are more appealing to men. If long term support is your goal, create a message that reaches out to women.
Tell them what you need and ask for a specific amount.
One of my most successful campaigns was for a small town youth recreation center that needed new stairs up to the gym. When I saw the construction estimate I realized that each stair was going to cost $370. I simply asked the readers to donate “a half stair, a full stair, or 2 stairs”. We still received several $25 contributions, but the overall average gift was much higher than previous appeals.
We also put a plaque in the stairwell recognizing all of the donors that gave “at least one stair”.
If you need $10,000 for new mats – tell them. If you need $1,000 per wrestler to go to Fargo – tell them. The “every little bit helps” approach is generally ineffective.
Ask more often.
Most organizations simply don’t ask for donations often enough. Why? That’s just like scoring one takedown at the beginning of a match and never taking another shot. Keep asking. Let your donors decide how frequently they’re willing to give – but they won’t give unless you ask.
Once again, I point to Save Oregon Wrestling as a positive example. If you gave to them, you know how frequently they will contact you.
I hope this helps a little. Now – go out there and raise some money.
Because a few people read this blog every week, and some seem to like it, I occasionally get emails asking to support various wrestling-related causes. I’m also a denizen of several wrestling forums where I will encounter posts asking for some kind of help. (How many of us own tee shirts supporting our favorite Olympic athletes?). Clubs need mats, colleges need money to save programs or to start new ones, the Dan Gable International Wrestling Museum needs money to recover from the flood, etc. All are worthwhile causes.
I may just be a wrestling fan – but I’m a pro at asking for money. Yep, I’ve been a direct marketing consultant for almost 30 years. I’ve sold you or your friends jewelry, shoes, magazines, pizza, air conditioners, router tables, dresses, hotel rooms, etc, etc, etc – all by putting paper in your mailbox. I’ve also raised a lot of money for charities. So, this week I’m not going to talk about wrestling. Instead, I’m going to offer “Fund Raising 101”
A person gives to another person – not organizations or causes.
This is the most fundamental rule of fund raising – and the most ignored. Perhaps the most famous (and one of the most successful) of all fund raising letters is the Frank Deford “65 Roses” letter for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In that letter, Deford tells the story (legend) of how some kids came to call that awful childhood disease, “65 Roses”. He also tells you that his daughter suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and asks you to help him fight the disease.
Save Oregon Wrestling did a reasonably good job of this. Their email efforts are always personal appeals from Coach Ron Finley and do a good job of projecting a “David vs. Goliath” image. The website also makes solid use of individual wrestlers.
This rule applies to all fund raising efforts – not just direct mail. You’ll sell more candy, wash more cars and get more golf swings if you can make the event about an individual instead of the club, team, institution or sport.
Faces
A person will respond to a “face”. As you create your materials be sure that your audience can tie a face to your cause.
Make curing cancer “trivial”.
Passion, passion, passion! Your listener, reader or candy buyer has to believe at the very moment of receiving your message that those new mats for Jimmy and Susie are more important than curing cancer. Most donors make a first gift on impulse.
Al Bevilacqua is a perfect role model. His passion for Beat the Streets jumps off the page or screen at you.
Use the “motivators”. We “evil marketers” know that there are only nine prime motivators that will move a person to spend money:
Greed
Sex
Fear
Guilt
Anger
Exclusivity
Belonging
Salvation
Flattery
The more of these you appeal to, the more successful you will be. Guilt, exclusivity, belonging and flattery work especially well in fund raising. Anger and fear can be powerful, but can also backfire.
Get the second donation.
After years of testing, the great direct mail guru, Dick Benson, found that a 2X donor is twice as likely to respond to all future efforts than is a 1X donor. That makes the second donation crucial. Here’s a pattern that works.
Get the initial donation.
Send a thank you note within a week of the first donation (do not yet ask for the second donation).
Thirty days later ask for the second donation.
Women write more checks – men write bigger checks.
This is not sexism – it’s data. Think about your particular need. If you’re asking for a one time, major donation you might consider strategies that are more appealing to men. If long term support is your goal, create a message that reaches out to women.
Tell them what you need and ask for a specific amount.
One of my most successful campaigns was for a small town youth recreation center that needed new stairs up to the gym. When I saw the construction estimate I realized that each stair was going to cost $370. I simply asked the readers to donate “a half stair, a full stair, or 2 stairs”. We still received several $25 contributions, but the overall average gift was much higher than previous appeals.
We also put a plaque in the stairwell recognizing all of the donors that gave “at least one stair”.
If you need $10,000 for new mats – tell them. If you need $1,000 per wrestler to go to Fargo – tell them. The “every little bit helps” approach is generally ineffective.
Ask more often.
Most organizations simply don’t ask for donations often enough. Why? That’s just like scoring one takedown at the beginning of a match and never taking another shot. Keep asking. Let your donors decide how frequently they’re willing to give – but they won’t give unless you ask.
Once again, I point to Save Oregon Wrestling as a positive example. If you gave to them, you know how frequently they will contact you.
I hope this helps a little. Now – go out there and raise some money.
Monday, June 23, 2008
If the great sports movies were about wrestling
If the great sports movies were about wrestling
It’s the twentieth anniversary of one of my favorite all-time sports movies – Bull Durham.
I’ve always loved sports movies. I suppose Brian’s Song was one of my first contemporary favorites. The sappier the ending – the better. I’ve seen the ending of Rudy at least 100 times. I know that he’s going to finally “get to dress”, that he’s going to play, that he’s going to sack the Georgia Tech quarterback and that the team is going to carry him off the field – and yet – I cry every single time.
(BTW – Does anyone know if the Ruettigers that have wrestled at Northern Illinois over the past few years are related to Rudy)?
What if some of my favorite sports movies had been about wrestling.
Pin Durham
Scene: Office of Durham University wrestling coach, “Cement Mixer” Jones. Coach Jones speaks to his assistant, Bud Cauliflower.
Jones: “Bud, we gotta do something about LaMat. He’s either scoring spectacular pins or getting pinned himself. I never know before a meet whether to expect six points for us or six point for them.”
Enter Terry “Crash” Brands.
Crash: “Cement Mixer, what in the heck am I doing back on a college campus. I’ve been working the last few years at the Olympic Training Center.”
Jones: “Have you ever heard of “suspension of disbelief?”
Crash: “What?”
Jones: “Never mind. Crash, we got this kid – Nuke LaMat – I’ve never seen anyone with more potential. He has a complete arsenal of skills and he’s as quick as all get out. He just can’t stay under control. He’s the ultimate “pin or get-pinned” wrestler. The big club (USOC) wants you to see if you can bring him along.”
Scene: Durham University student union. Nuke is the center of attention among a group of college co-eds. Crash walks up to Nuke.
Crash: “Hey – I hear you’re the wrestling stud around here. Ya wanna go?”
Nuke: “You don’t wanna go with me, Old Man.”
Crash: “Come on kid – I gotta hunch about you.”
They tie up, circle for a few seconds and Nuke tries an inside trip. Crash
counters, throws Nuke to his back and pins him.
Nuke: “Wow, that was some move. Who are you?”
Crash: “I’m your new workout partner.”
As the movie progresses Nuke gets under control and he starts beating
better and better opponents. The Olympic Trials are nearing. Crash sits down
for one last talk with Nuke.
Crash: “Nuke, at first some of these guys are going to light you up. They’ve wrestled a lot more freestyle than you have – but you’re going to be great.”
“You need to start working on your clichés.”
Nuke: “My what”
Crash: “Your clichés – for the interviews. Here – write these down.”
“I love the sport because it’s just you and your opponent. There’s no place to hide. There are no excuses.”
“I don’t worry about my opponent’s style. I just try to force my style on him.”
“I’m just focusing on the next match.”
Rams (Hoosiers)
Scene: Coach Paul Scott leads his team from Cornell College into the gym on the University of Illinois campus.
Scott: “Lowell, take this tape measure. How wide is the mat?”
Lange: “40 feet, coach.”
Scott: “How long is the mat, Lowell?”
Lange: “40 feet.”
Scott: “That’s exactly the same size as our mat at home.”
Coach Scott, Lowell Lange, Dick Hauser and the rest of his team from Cornell
College in Mount Vernon, IA would go on to become the smallest school ever
to win the NCAA wrestling championship.
Jesse (Rudy)
Scene: Hallway outside of the University of Iowa wrestling room. Kindly janitor speaks.
Janitor: “You are so fulla crap! You’re five foot nothin’ – a hundred and nothin’ – and you ain’t got a speck of athletic talent. Yet you hung in there for four years with the best wrestlers in the country. Now get out there and let’s see what you can do.”
“Strongest man in the world!”
Pac-Ten (Major League)
Scene: College dropout athletic director walks into the office of his wrestling coach.
AD: “I want a baseball team and I don’t like wrestling. You guys are gone.”
The ending of this movie is not yet written. You can help with the script. Go
to http://www.saveoregonwrestling.com/ to find out how.
It’s the twentieth anniversary of one of my favorite all-time sports movies – Bull Durham.
I’ve always loved sports movies. I suppose Brian’s Song was one of my first contemporary favorites. The sappier the ending – the better. I’ve seen the ending of Rudy at least 100 times. I know that he’s going to finally “get to dress”, that he’s going to play, that he’s going to sack the Georgia Tech quarterback and that the team is going to carry him off the field – and yet – I cry every single time.
(BTW – Does anyone know if the Ruettigers that have wrestled at Northern Illinois over the past few years are related to Rudy)?
What if some of my favorite sports movies had been about wrestling.
Pin Durham
Scene: Office of Durham University wrestling coach, “Cement Mixer” Jones. Coach Jones speaks to his assistant, Bud Cauliflower.
Jones: “Bud, we gotta do something about LaMat. He’s either scoring spectacular pins or getting pinned himself. I never know before a meet whether to expect six points for us or six point for them.”
Enter Terry “Crash” Brands.
Crash: “Cement Mixer, what in the heck am I doing back on a college campus. I’ve been working the last few years at the Olympic Training Center.”
Jones: “Have you ever heard of “suspension of disbelief?”
Crash: “What?”
Jones: “Never mind. Crash, we got this kid – Nuke LaMat – I’ve never seen anyone with more potential. He has a complete arsenal of skills and he’s as quick as all get out. He just can’t stay under control. He’s the ultimate “pin or get-pinned” wrestler. The big club (USOC) wants you to see if you can bring him along.”
Scene: Durham University student union. Nuke is the center of attention among a group of college co-eds. Crash walks up to Nuke.
Crash: “Hey – I hear you’re the wrestling stud around here. Ya wanna go?”
Nuke: “You don’t wanna go with me, Old Man.”
Crash: “Come on kid – I gotta hunch about you.”
They tie up, circle for a few seconds and Nuke tries an inside trip. Crash
counters, throws Nuke to his back and pins him.
Nuke: “Wow, that was some move. Who are you?”
Crash: “I’m your new workout partner.”
As the movie progresses Nuke gets under control and he starts beating
better and better opponents. The Olympic Trials are nearing. Crash sits down
for one last talk with Nuke.
Crash: “Nuke, at first some of these guys are going to light you up. They’ve wrestled a lot more freestyle than you have – but you’re going to be great.”
“You need to start working on your clichés.”
Nuke: “My what”
Crash: “Your clichés – for the interviews. Here – write these down.”
“I love the sport because it’s just you and your opponent. There’s no place to hide. There are no excuses.”
“I don’t worry about my opponent’s style. I just try to force my style on him.”
“I’m just focusing on the next match.”
Rams (Hoosiers)
Scene: Coach Paul Scott leads his team from Cornell College into the gym on the University of Illinois campus.
Scott: “Lowell, take this tape measure. How wide is the mat?”
Lange: “40 feet, coach.”
Scott: “How long is the mat, Lowell?”
Lange: “40 feet.”
Scott: “That’s exactly the same size as our mat at home.”
Coach Scott, Lowell Lange, Dick Hauser and the rest of his team from Cornell
College in Mount Vernon, IA would go on to become the smallest school ever
to win the NCAA wrestling championship.
Jesse (Rudy)
Scene: Hallway outside of the University of Iowa wrestling room. Kindly janitor speaks.
Janitor: “You are so fulla crap! You’re five foot nothin’ – a hundred and nothin’ – and you ain’t got a speck of athletic talent. Yet you hung in there for four years with the best wrestlers in the country. Now get out there and let’s see what you can do.”
“Strongest man in the world!”
Pac-Ten (Major League)
Scene: College dropout athletic director walks into the office of his wrestling coach.
AD: “I want a baseball team and I don’t like wrestling. You guys are gone.”
The ending of this movie is not yet written. You can help with the script. Go
to http://www.saveoregonwrestling.com/ to find out how.
Monday, May 12, 2008
But, Mom - I really want to wrestle!
But, Mom – I really want to wrestle!
Several years ago my wife and I were at the Big Ten Championships at Wisconsin. We were watching the late first night consolation rounds when my wife poked me in the arm and said, “Look.” She then pointed, literally, up into the rafters of the old “Barn” in Madison. There, by herself, was the mother of a wrestler from Purdue whose match was going on at that moment. You know the scenario, win and maybe you go to nationals, lose and your season is over. She paced, she covered her eyes, she yelled – she agonized. Eventually her son won and moved on to wrestle the next day. I wish I could tell you the rest of her story, but I didn’t pay enough attention.
However, that was the moment when my fascination with the mothers of wrestlers began.
I met Dee Pollard at the 2008 NCAA Division III Championships. Her son, Joe, (a former wrestler at the Peddie School and then Rider) is on the coaching staff at The College of New Jersey. I mentioned to her that earlier in the evening I had watched the mother of a TCNJ wrestler as her son had scored a late takedown to ensure himself All-American status. Dee then talked a little about being the mother of a wrestler. I recently asked her to share a few of those thoughts.
“Joey was eleven years old when he started with Hamilton (NJ) PAL league. He was excited to join because his dad wrestled in high school. Joey got serious with wrestling when he was fifteen years old. That is when he began wrestling year round and attending clubs. Wrestling was number one to him instead of soccer. Wrestling started to take over his lifestyle. He was always working out or lifting or running. He was always doing something that pertained to wrestling, even watching wrestling tapes when he could. I was always there for his matches. It didn't matter what part of the state or the country he was wrestling in, I was there. I did the videoing of all his matches. If it got tense I handed the camera over to another mom and she did it for me. I think it would drive me crazy if I wasn't there because then I would worry if he (was) ok, did he win or lose, is he hurt. I couldn't stand not being there. I had to watch him wrestle because I'm his mom. I had to make sure he was ok win or lose.”
I asked Dee if she ever got over being nervous.
“No I don't think i stopped being nervous from the time he started to now. Because he is coaching now … I'm still nervous because now I have ten weight classes I have to watch and be nervous about. But there is a bonus, my son is the coach … I'm so proud of my Joey. He makes me, as his mom, proud everyday of my life. I couldn't of asked for a better son. I love both of my kids equally. I enjoy wrestling and would miss it if he ever gave it up.”
By definition, no relationship is one sided. Here are some thoughts Joe shared about his mother.
“My moms influence on me as it pertains to wrestling takes up many facets. She was a caretaker, a motivator, a provider and she was even part of my high school superstitions. Now, don't get me wrong my father played just as important a role in my development as a wrestler and an individual, but this is for Mothers Day, so I will focus on her.”
“Caretaker- she was there for me win or lose. Although, it did take a while for her to understand the "wait time" after a loss. You know, the time every wrestler needs to evaluate (aka "explode with emotion") their performance. At first she used to want to come up and give me a hug and tell me I wrestled hard. Then she realized that I knew I wrestled hard, but a loss was a loss. As my career grew on, she knew the wait time did also, as my training grew losses hurt even more. So, after a while she would just casually walk by and wink at me and that allowed me to put things into perspective, that a loss is a loss and it is supposed to hurt, but I would be able to train and compete again the next day, so it was not the end of the world.””Provider- she was at every single match I ever wrestled I think. I can't remember one match looking up into the stands and not seeing my parents there. The sacrifices they made to allow me to train and achieve and wrestle at the level I have are amazing.””Motivator- She may not give Vince Lombardi or Dan Gable worthy motivational speeches, but all she had to do was tell me "good luck and this is why you train the way you do" and it was more than enough.””Superstitions - In high school I used to look up in the stands at her just before stepping on the mat and she would wink at me and that was just another indicator that it was "go time".””My mom is an amazing person, wrestling fan, caretaker, motivator, provider and of course … mom. I could never repay my mom and dad for they have sacrificed in order for me to live the "wrestling lifestyle", because that’s what wrestling is, especially in New Jersey, it is a lifestyle. You have to allow the sport and the training (both physical and mental) to consume you and then and only then will you feel a true sense of accomplishment.” ”… I'm sure you could ask any number of wrestlers and they would have very similar stories about their moms! Wrestling moms are one of a kind, there is no question about it.”
I took Joe’s suggestion and asked some “friends of the blog” to write about the influence their mothers have had on them as individuals and wrestlers.
From 1988 Olympian and wrestling instructor extraordinaire, Ken Chertow…
“Both of my parents were integral to my success. My mom was always there for me throughout my childhood, while my dad was busy working intensely to support our family and pursue his career goals. My mom saw a beginners wrestling program advertised in our community and encouraged me to try it. She took me too my first practice and I have been hitting the mats ever since. Though I was not successful in my initial years wrestling in the Midwest, I kept wanting to do more and she was always willing to get me to the wrestling room.””Without my parents unwavering support throughout my teenage years, none of the success I achieved on or off the mats would have been possible. I went to junior high and high school in West Virginia and there was not access to a lot of high-level competition and coaching, but I made the most of it. I would spend my summers at camps to learn as much as possible, and my mom would help me plan the schedule and budget so I could benefit as much as possible.” ”Not too many WV wrestlers go to college, let alone earn the opportunity to go to Penn State, so I was very proud that was able to excel in school and wrestling and earn a scholarship to Penn State. When I went away to college, my mom gave me a good luck card that said
"Don't settle for being good...when you dream of being great!"
I kept that card on my dresser throughout college. I even took it with me to the Olympic Trials in Florida, and I still remember vividly reading it multiple times before I would leave my hotel room to go to the arena for sessions. My mom's words of encouragement definitely helped me live my dreams and make our Olympic Team. I often share my mom's words of encouragement with my dedicated campers and strive to motivate them to think big and work hard so their dreams will come true too.”
Cornell College coach, Mike Duroe, sent this …
“Being the oldest of five boys, (all wrestlers) my mother influenced me in a very strong way about being independent and standing on my own two feet. I had to do a lot of things in terms of work around the house, helping with my younger brothers and in general "being in charge." Constantly hearing, "if you want to be better you have to work at it" forced me to develop a strong work ethic early on. For sure some of that on the job training and being in charge has definitely influenced my coaching.”
Growing up in a small Iowa town, Charles City, which had a rich wrestling tradition was also a part of it, but the family support system, Mom being at everything she could be, practices, games, meets, etc., encouraged me and my brothers to excel in everything we did in terms of sports. School and academics were important too but sports and specifically wrestling is what made a huge difference in my life. I'll always remember one of my first few practices for wrestling I brought home my sweaty, smelly workout gear and my mom said, "if you're going to do this you better learn how to run the washing machine and dryer because I'm not touching that stuff!" That tough love at an early age helped shape our futures and pushed all five of us to become successful adults.”
According to Lee Roy Smith, the mother of the most successful “brother act” in the history of American wrestling had a slightly different approach to the laundry than Mike’s mom …
“My mom (Madalene Volturo Smith) is the best… I was the first of four boys in my family to take up wrestling. Mom did not warm up to the sport at first because she didn’t like the fact that I had to diet and control my weight. She comes from a third generation Italian immigrant family whose culture is to celebrate mealtimes, holidays and church feast days. However, once she realized what the sport did for our self-esteem and confidence she embraced it. She drove us where we needed to go, even though she had her own full-time nursing career. She made sure our workout gear and uniforms were clean and ready for matches and tournaments. If we needed some type of pregame meal, she would make sure it was prepared. She was always compassionate and sympathetic to our needs win or lose, but would never allow excuses to get in the way of being the best. After all, how could she while managing a full-time job and giving birth to 10 children! She never really liked to watch me or my brothers wrestle because it would make her too nervous, so she would leave the gym before our matches and return once it was over. Even though we mostly enjoyed success on the mat, she wanted us to have a humble heart. She and my father made for a good team that provided us with many blessings and an unconditional pro-life spirit.”
Thank you to all who contributed to this blog.
I hope you remembered to thank YOUR mom.
Several years ago my wife and I were at the Big Ten Championships at Wisconsin. We were watching the late first night consolation rounds when my wife poked me in the arm and said, “Look.” She then pointed, literally, up into the rafters of the old “Barn” in Madison. There, by herself, was the mother of a wrestler from Purdue whose match was going on at that moment. You know the scenario, win and maybe you go to nationals, lose and your season is over. She paced, she covered her eyes, she yelled – she agonized. Eventually her son won and moved on to wrestle the next day. I wish I could tell you the rest of her story, but I didn’t pay enough attention.
However, that was the moment when my fascination with the mothers of wrestlers began.
I met Dee Pollard at the 2008 NCAA Division III Championships. Her son, Joe, (a former wrestler at the Peddie School and then Rider) is on the coaching staff at The College of New Jersey. I mentioned to her that earlier in the evening I had watched the mother of a TCNJ wrestler as her son had scored a late takedown to ensure himself All-American status. Dee then talked a little about being the mother of a wrestler. I recently asked her to share a few of those thoughts.
“Joey was eleven years old when he started with Hamilton (NJ) PAL league. He was excited to join because his dad wrestled in high school. Joey got serious with wrestling when he was fifteen years old. That is when he began wrestling year round and attending clubs. Wrestling was number one to him instead of soccer. Wrestling started to take over his lifestyle. He was always working out or lifting or running. He was always doing something that pertained to wrestling, even watching wrestling tapes when he could. I was always there for his matches. It didn't matter what part of the state or the country he was wrestling in, I was there. I did the videoing of all his matches. If it got tense I handed the camera over to another mom and she did it for me. I think it would drive me crazy if I wasn't there because then I would worry if he (was) ok, did he win or lose, is he hurt. I couldn't stand not being there. I had to watch him wrestle because I'm his mom. I had to make sure he was ok win or lose.”
I asked Dee if she ever got over being nervous.
“No I don't think i stopped being nervous from the time he started to now. Because he is coaching now … I'm still nervous because now I have ten weight classes I have to watch and be nervous about. But there is a bonus, my son is the coach … I'm so proud of my Joey. He makes me, as his mom, proud everyday of my life. I couldn't of asked for a better son. I love both of my kids equally. I enjoy wrestling and would miss it if he ever gave it up.”
By definition, no relationship is one sided. Here are some thoughts Joe shared about his mother.
“My moms influence on me as it pertains to wrestling takes up many facets. She was a caretaker, a motivator, a provider and she was even part of my high school superstitions. Now, don't get me wrong my father played just as important a role in my development as a wrestler and an individual, but this is for Mothers Day, so I will focus on her.”
“Caretaker- she was there for me win or lose. Although, it did take a while for her to understand the "wait time" after a loss. You know, the time every wrestler needs to evaluate (aka "explode with emotion") their performance. At first she used to want to come up and give me a hug and tell me I wrestled hard. Then she realized that I knew I wrestled hard, but a loss was a loss. As my career grew on, she knew the wait time did also, as my training grew losses hurt even more. So, after a while she would just casually walk by and wink at me and that allowed me to put things into perspective, that a loss is a loss and it is supposed to hurt, but I would be able to train and compete again the next day, so it was not the end of the world.””Provider- she was at every single match I ever wrestled I think. I can't remember one match looking up into the stands and not seeing my parents there. The sacrifices they made to allow me to train and achieve and wrestle at the level I have are amazing.””Motivator- She may not give Vince Lombardi or Dan Gable worthy motivational speeches, but all she had to do was tell me "good luck and this is why you train the way you do" and it was more than enough.””Superstitions - In high school I used to look up in the stands at her just before stepping on the mat and she would wink at me and that was just another indicator that it was "go time".””My mom is an amazing person, wrestling fan, caretaker, motivator, provider and of course … mom. I could never repay my mom and dad for they have sacrificed in order for me to live the "wrestling lifestyle", because that’s what wrestling is, especially in New Jersey, it is a lifestyle. You have to allow the sport and the training (both physical and mental) to consume you and then and only then will you feel a true sense of accomplishment.” ”… I'm sure you could ask any number of wrestlers and they would have very similar stories about their moms! Wrestling moms are one of a kind, there is no question about it.”
I took Joe’s suggestion and asked some “friends of the blog” to write about the influence their mothers have had on them as individuals and wrestlers.
From 1988 Olympian and wrestling instructor extraordinaire, Ken Chertow…
“Both of my parents were integral to my success. My mom was always there for me throughout my childhood, while my dad was busy working intensely to support our family and pursue his career goals. My mom saw a beginners wrestling program advertised in our community and encouraged me to try it. She took me too my first practice and I have been hitting the mats ever since. Though I was not successful in my initial years wrestling in the Midwest, I kept wanting to do more and she was always willing to get me to the wrestling room.””Without my parents unwavering support throughout my teenage years, none of the success I achieved on or off the mats would have been possible. I went to junior high and high school in West Virginia and there was not access to a lot of high-level competition and coaching, but I made the most of it. I would spend my summers at camps to learn as much as possible, and my mom would help me plan the schedule and budget so I could benefit as much as possible.” ”Not too many WV wrestlers go to college, let alone earn the opportunity to go to Penn State, so I was very proud that was able to excel in school and wrestling and earn a scholarship to Penn State. When I went away to college, my mom gave me a good luck card that said
"Don't settle for being good...when you dream of being great!"
I kept that card on my dresser throughout college. I even took it with me to the Olympic Trials in Florida, and I still remember vividly reading it multiple times before I would leave my hotel room to go to the arena for sessions. My mom's words of encouragement definitely helped me live my dreams and make our Olympic Team. I often share my mom's words of encouragement with my dedicated campers and strive to motivate them to think big and work hard so their dreams will come true too.”
Cornell College coach, Mike Duroe, sent this …
“Being the oldest of five boys, (all wrestlers) my mother influenced me in a very strong way about being independent and standing on my own two feet. I had to do a lot of things in terms of work around the house, helping with my younger brothers and in general "being in charge." Constantly hearing, "if you want to be better you have to work at it" forced me to develop a strong work ethic early on. For sure some of that on the job training and being in charge has definitely influenced my coaching.”
Growing up in a small Iowa town, Charles City, which had a rich wrestling tradition was also a part of it, but the family support system, Mom being at everything she could be, practices, games, meets, etc., encouraged me and my brothers to excel in everything we did in terms of sports. School and academics were important too but sports and specifically wrestling is what made a huge difference in my life. I'll always remember one of my first few practices for wrestling I brought home my sweaty, smelly workout gear and my mom said, "if you're going to do this you better learn how to run the washing machine and dryer because I'm not touching that stuff!" That tough love at an early age helped shape our futures and pushed all five of us to become successful adults.”
According to Lee Roy Smith, the mother of the most successful “brother act” in the history of American wrestling had a slightly different approach to the laundry than Mike’s mom …
“My mom (Madalene Volturo Smith) is the best… I was the first of four boys in my family to take up wrestling. Mom did not warm up to the sport at first because she didn’t like the fact that I had to diet and control my weight. She comes from a third generation Italian immigrant family whose culture is to celebrate mealtimes, holidays and church feast days. However, once she realized what the sport did for our self-esteem and confidence she embraced it. She drove us where we needed to go, even though she had her own full-time nursing career. She made sure our workout gear and uniforms were clean and ready for matches and tournaments. If we needed some type of pregame meal, she would make sure it was prepared. She was always compassionate and sympathetic to our needs win or lose, but would never allow excuses to get in the way of being the best. After all, how could she while managing a full-time job and giving birth to 10 children! She never really liked to watch me or my brothers wrestle because it would make her too nervous, so she would leave the gym before our matches and return once it was over. Even though we mostly enjoyed success on the mat, she wanted us to have a humble heart. She and my father made for a good team that provided us with many blessings and an unconditional pro-life spirit.”
Thank you to all who contributed to this blog.
I hope you remembered to thank YOUR mom.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
A video history of modern freestyle wrestling
Growing up in Davenport, Iowa in 1960 I had never heard of Olympic wrestling – heck - I’d never even heard of the Olympics. I was ten years old and on every Monday in the summer, because the Davenport Times-Democrat published baseball statistics every Sunday, I could tell you the batting averages of Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews and the ERAs of Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette.
When school began we started reading about the Olympics in our Weekly Readers. I still remember how impressed I was reading about Wilma Rudolph. In those days we still all new kids who were crippled by childhood diseases that have long since been defeated – like polio. Then one day this wrestler did a Wheaties commercial on TV - we’d all been so used to seeing the Reverend Bob Richards that it was a shock to see someone else. Our gym teacher made a point to tell us that this man was Terry McCann and that he had wrestled at the University of Iowa, won an Olympic gold medal and that the two of them had been classmates. At ten, in 1960, that was just like living right next door to greatness.
If you have read my previous blogs, you know that it was watching Dan Gable that really built my interest in wrestling – but I never forgot about Terry McCann and the 1960 Olympics. Recently, there has been a lot of online discussion about how much freestyle wrestling has changed over the past several years. For Pete’s sake – the sport is at least 2,500 years old – some change was bound to happen! The United States had been winning freestyle wrestling Olympic gold medals since the twenties. Since “seeing is believing”, I’ve created a short video history of modern American freestyle wrestling.
To no avail, I’ve looked everywhere for footage of Terry McCann. Here’s the next best thing – the end of the finals match in Rome, 1960, of McCann’s teammate – fellow gold medallist Doug Blubaugh.
For many, the 1972 Olympics was a watershed for American freestyle wrestling – gold medals by Gable, Wayne Wells and Ben Peterson, silver by “funk-master” Rick Sanders and John Peterson and a bronze by Chris Taylor.
Thanks to Martin Floreani at flowrestling.com we can see much of the action from 1972.
Rick Sanders
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/coverage.php?c=66&w=0&id=4381
Wayne Wells
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/coverage.php?c=66&w=0&id=4383
Dan Gable
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/coverage.php?c=66&w=0&id=4386
Ben Peterson
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/coverage.php?c=66&w=0&id=4386
In 1978 Lee Kemp began his extraordinary freestyle career by winning his first world championship. He would go on to win seven national freestyle titles, two more world championships, four consecutive world cups and two Pan Am Games championships. The only thing that kept him from an Olympic gold medal was the 1980 boycott.
Here is Lee winning his 1979 world championship. Please note – Ed Aliverti is the announcer.
1984 to 1992 was my personal favorite era. It wasn’t just that John Smith, Bruce Baumgartner, Dave Schultz, Kenny Monday, Nate Carr, et al, were winning all of those medals – it was the way they were doing it.
John Smith vs. Sergei Beloglasov 1989
Kenny Monday 1988 Olympic gold medal match
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/matches.php?vid=4587
In 1996 the US won 3 Olympic freestyle gold medals or more for the fifth time in the post-war era.
Tom Brands vs. Jang Jae-Sung (1996 Olympic gold medal match)
Then along came Cael. Winner of 159 matches without a loss in college, America fully expected him to come home with gold in 2004. No one was disappointed.
Around since the 1990s, women’s freestyle became an Olympic sport in 2004. Unfortunately, I can find no video of the US women’s medal matches. Here are Tela O’Donnell and Sally Roberts from the 2005 Schultz International.
FILA rule changes have stirred a lot of controversy in the last couple of years.
Bill Zadick vs. Otari Tushisvili (2006 World Championships gold medal match)
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/matches.php?vid=3497
Henry Cejudo vs. Nick Simmons 2007 National Championships
Now – if you haven’t already lost your job – go back to work.
When school began we started reading about the Olympics in our Weekly Readers. I still remember how impressed I was reading about Wilma Rudolph. In those days we still all new kids who were crippled by childhood diseases that have long since been defeated – like polio. Then one day this wrestler did a Wheaties commercial on TV - we’d all been so used to seeing the Reverend Bob Richards that it was a shock to see someone else. Our gym teacher made a point to tell us that this man was Terry McCann and that he had wrestled at the University of Iowa, won an Olympic gold medal and that the two of them had been classmates. At ten, in 1960, that was just like living right next door to greatness.
If you have read my previous blogs, you know that it was watching Dan Gable that really built my interest in wrestling – but I never forgot about Terry McCann and the 1960 Olympics. Recently, there has been a lot of online discussion about how much freestyle wrestling has changed over the past several years. For Pete’s sake – the sport is at least 2,500 years old – some change was bound to happen! The United States had been winning freestyle wrestling Olympic gold medals since the twenties. Since “seeing is believing”, I’ve created a short video history of modern American freestyle wrestling.
To no avail, I’ve looked everywhere for footage of Terry McCann. Here’s the next best thing – the end of the finals match in Rome, 1960, of McCann’s teammate – fellow gold medallist Doug Blubaugh.
For many, the 1972 Olympics was a watershed for American freestyle wrestling – gold medals by Gable, Wayne Wells and Ben Peterson, silver by “funk-master” Rick Sanders and John Peterson and a bronze by Chris Taylor.
Thanks to Martin Floreani at flowrestling.com we can see much of the action from 1972.
Rick Sanders
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/coverage.php?c=66&w=0&id=4381
Wayne Wells
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/coverage.php?c=66&w=0&id=4383
Dan Gable
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/coverage.php?c=66&w=0&id=4386
Ben Peterson
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/coverage.php?c=66&w=0&id=4386
In 1978 Lee Kemp began his extraordinary freestyle career by winning his first world championship. He would go on to win seven national freestyle titles, two more world championships, four consecutive world cups and two Pan Am Games championships. The only thing that kept him from an Olympic gold medal was the 1980 boycott.
Here is Lee winning his 1979 world championship. Please note – Ed Aliverti is the announcer.
1984 to 1992 was my personal favorite era. It wasn’t just that John Smith, Bruce Baumgartner, Dave Schultz, Kenny Monday, Nate Carr, et al, were winning all of those medals – it was the way they were doing it.
John Smith vs. Sergei Beloglasov 1989
Kenny Monday 1988 Olympic gold medal match
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/matches.php?vid=4587
In 1996 the US won 3 Olympic freestyle gold medals or more for the fifth time in the post-war era.
Tom Brands vs. Jang Jae-Sung (1996 Olympic gold medal match)
Then along came Cael. Winner of 159 matches without a loss in college, America fully expected him to come home with gold in 2004. No one was disappointed.
Around since the 1990s, women’s freestyle became an Olympic sport in 2004. Unfortunately, I can find no video of the US women’s medal matches. Here are Tela O’Donnell and Sally Roberts from the 2005 Schultz International.
FILA rule changes have stirred a lot of controversy in the last couple of years.
Bill Zadick vs. Otari Tushisvili (2006 World Championships gold medal match)
http://www.flocasts.com/flowrestling/matches.php?vid=3497
Henry Cejudo vs. Nick Simmons 2007 National Championships
Now – if you haven’t already lost your job – go back to work.
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