Caliendo refused to shake Mesenbrink's hand on the podium

[scourge165]

23 minutes ago, Le duke said:

I'm talking about the one 10 seconds into the second period. At no point in time did he have MM on his back; he was either going to choke MM out or get decked himself, because he made no attempt to roll through, at all. 

 

I'm talking about... the time he rolls through and... Mesenbrink is on his back(briefly). 


It's at 7:15. Caliendo rolls through... he's clearly going for something. Mesenbrink rolls through. 

Wasn't successful, but... he was on his way to a tech. They seldom work like they did for Rob Rohn...
 

 

Edited March 22 by scourge165

[Southend]

1 hour ago, ChickenWing said:

Imagine Eddie Haskell as a champion wrestler 

Mitchell does have that Eddy Haskell look. 
And,I guess ,starting to take on the Haskell demeanor. 

[VakAttack]

This is the stupidest storyline imaginable.

[Threadkilla]

I saw Pat Glory shake everybody's hand after he beat Ramos and Spencer Lee shook Ramos hand and congratulated him.   I guess you just have to nut up and not be a bitch.

[VakAttack]

1 minute ago, Threadkilla said:

I saw Pat Glory shake everybody's hand after he beat Ramos and Spencer Lee shook Ramos hand and congratulated him.   I guess you just have to nut up and not be a bitch.

Ahh, the online tough guy routine.

[strange_daze]

Mesenbrink is the one who broke convention here. Maybe it's a sporting thing to do, but it's also a little bit like the mayor of the weight class trying to force everyone's hand (no pun intended) in a very public moment. Caliendo had every right to be stoic and reserved in that moment.

More generally: this seems to be part of PSU's game. They are dominating on the mat, and guys like Mesenbrink try to carry that authority into interviews. I don't mind it in some ways--and kind of enjoy these young people talking about wrestling with artfulness and soul--but it can also come across as sanctimonious and presumptuous, as if they have the answers to some of life's most difficult questions. The award stand moment is just a small example of where their model of 'right action' met with individual agency and, in this case, rejection of PSU's attempt to dominate the culture. 

[BarSeries]

2 minutes ago, Threadkilla said:

Spencer Lee shook Ramos hand and congratulated him. 

If Ramos went up to Lee to shake hands it would be a little weird, no?? I'm guessing it was the other way around. 

[Gene Mills Fan]

Mikey Caliendo doesn't have to enjoy being beaten by anyone, or celebrate it. Ask Jordan Burroughs why he couldn't be nice to Dake until his own father died.

Edited March 22 by Gene Mills Fan

[ionel]

2 hours ago, mr.nonothingatall said:

Stayed in his row. They shook hands after the match and after every match. Why is is mitchell even shaking everyone ones hands again anyway.

Is it true that during each handshake he was heard saying "hello I'm Mitchell Mesenbrink, that's with one s." 

[Mr. PeanutButter]

Can't believe I'm saying this, but Bo Nickal had a good take on this 

[Threadkilla]

9 minutes ago, VakAttack said:

Ahh, the online tough guy routine.

Shuddup lardass.

[BarSeries]

 

[Rassling]

full disclosure- I didn’t read any of the previous posts from this thread. But I watched enough of Caliendos interviews over the years to say with confidence he seems to be a wonderful young man. Each interview I walk away thinking how well this guy expresses an attitude of gratitude. I just think he was so overwhelmingly disappointed in losing the way he did. His stance and facial expression on the 2nd place block says it all. I firmly believe it was not a slight against MM. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. 

[OMW]

Mesenbrink doesn't seem to be worked up about Caliendo not shaking his hand - so why is anyone else?

Nickal's insight on it is probably spot on...

[Southend]

59 minutes ago, VakAttack said:

This is the stupidest storyline imaginable.

 

29 minutes ago, ionel said:

Is it true that during each handshake he was heard saying "hello I'm Mitchell Mesenbrink, that's with one s." 

 

37 minutes ago, strange_daze said:

Mesenbrink is the one who broke convention here. Maybe it's a sporting thing to do, but it's also a little bit like the mayor of the weight class trying to force everyone's hand (no pun intended) in a very public moment. Caliendo had every right to be stoic and reserved in that moment.

More generally: this seems to be part of PSU's game. They are dominating on the mat, and guys like Mesenbrink try to carry that authority into interviews. I don't mind it in some ways--and kind of enjoy these young people talking about wrestling with artfulness and soul--but it can also come across as sanctimonious and presumptuous, as if they have the answers to some of life's most difficult questions. The award stand moment is just a small example of where their model of 'right action' met with individual agency and, in this case, rejection of PSU's attempt to dominate the culture. 

Starting a new trend! Pennsylvania state has been the trend setter for the last 5-10 years in wrestling culture. Why not jump on the bandwagon here? Everyone wants to be a Lion!

[ionel]

2 minutes ago, Southend said:

 

 

Starting a new trend! Pennsylvania state has been the trend setter for the last 5-10 years in wrestling culture. Why not jump on the bandwagon here? Everyone wants to be a Lion!

 

[boconnell]

Who cares?  If a guy refuses to shake after a match when the rules tell you to, I have a problem with that.  If a guy refuses a random handshake at the podium, I don't care.   It might mean something, but it's way beyond what I care about. 

[VakAttack]

47 minutes ago, Threadkilla said:

Shuddup lardass.

And again. 

[Southend]

5 minutes ago, boconnell said:

Who cares?  If a guy refuses to shake after a match when the rules tell you to, I have a problem with that.  If a guy refuses a random handshake at the podium, I don't care.   It might mean something, but it's way beyond what I care about. 

Who cares? I guess everyone posting on this thread. Like you , who doesn’t care. 

[ChickenWing]

I think Caliendo is just worried about germs.

[boconnell]

50 minutes ago, BarSeries said:

 

I am a Nickal fan.  He makes all of Texas wrestling very proud.  

But when Bo Nickal is the grownup voice of reason, everyone needs to seriously look at themselves.

[MPhillips]

57 minutes ago, strange_daze said:

kind of enjoy these young people talking about wrestling with artfulness and soul--but it can also come across as sanctimonious and presumptuous, as if they have the answers to some of life's most difficult questions.

I feel like most of us one day, decided we knew something and believed we should say it. But it was only a revelation to the one saying it.

"It's the journey, not the destination" is a great message.

[BigTimeFan]

[BigTimeFan]

Just now, BigTimeFan said:

He doesn't look in a hand-shaking mood ... 

[strange_daze]

5 minutes ago, MPhillips said:

I feel like most of us one day, decided we knew something and believed we should say it. But it was only a revelation to the one saying it.

"It's the journey, not the destination" is a great message.

I actually think it's an interesting time for wrestling, and I believe the current/upcoming generation of wrestlers is bringing positive attention to themselves and the sport. I also like some of the messaging: it's often very thoughtful, and smart, and articulate, especially for guys who just walked off the mat and spend lots (and lots) of time wrestling rooms.

Way more mature than I was at their age.

I should clarify: I really like watching Mesenbrink wrestle, and I've followed a great deal of his content, including pretty much every interview he gave over the past few days. He's a thoughtful guy. My point here, on this thread, is that he and the PSU team don't own the concept of sportsmanship, even if, in some cases, their version may be worth adopting.

I'm not defending Caliendo per se, but he's also taking a lot of heat/hate on social media (not just here), and I think it's unwarranted. The PSU faithful, literally thousands of them, are using the clip as a means to castigate him and Iowa more generally, and in doing so, elevate themselves, through their team, as being on the moral high ground. I find it distasteful and self-aggrandizing.

I should add: it's 'just' wrestling, but to give credit to Mesenbrink and the way he talks about the sport, life, and so on, there are really important themes here that are worth discussing in a meaningful way. This message board may not be the right locale for it exactly, but it's a community space, and I think injecting some nuance is worth the effort.