When will the wrestling community admit there's a problem?

[Tripnsweep]

We had the Ohio State scandal. We're in the midst of this thing with Starocci. We have had many other issues like this that get ignored or swept under the rug. We have an impotent and or incompetent governing body that has a toothless apparatus to deal with these things. 

This is even more of a problem now than ever with women's wrestling being a big thing. Nobody is looking into things. Why did Moorman leave King University? The thing with the Southern Oregon coach was hardly noticed. The various issues with Mark Perry were ignored because of who he is. I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting. 

So when are we going to admit there's a problem and do something about it? 

[flyingcement]

Do you think its a wrestling-specific problem?  Or a problem that exists in power dynamics everywhere.  It's a genuine question.  

[Tripnsweep]

1 minute ago, flyingcement said:

Do you think its a wrestling-specific problem?  Or a problem that exists in power dynamics everywhere.  It's a genuine question.  

I think it's wrestling specific because we tend to cover our own. Especially if it's somebody who is really good or well liked. 

[flyingcement]

  

4 minutes ago, Tripnsweep said:

I think it's wrestling specific because we tend to cover our own. Especially if it's somebody who is really good or well liked. 

I say this as a person whose family has ties to the Catholic Church.  Of course we have seen what what down there.  

Separately, as a supporter of other sports like basketball, baseball, and football, I have seen the types of crimes the athletes are being convicted of there: and its not pretty.  And thats only whats reported.  Lots of domestic violence.  

My anecdotal observations lead me to believe that power dynamics warp a person's sense of right and wrong - and it hasn't been contained to one aspect of life.  Maybe I'm cynical, but I see it everywhere.

That's not to say wrestling doesn't have our own culture and ways that we get it wrong.  But at least from where I'm sitting, the wrestling world is not a whole lot more egregious than other similar communities.  

[Fletcher]

OSU situation happened 30+ yrs. ago. Current situation involves one person. That's actually a pretty good track record for the sport.

[Saylors_Tiny_Willie]

37 minutes ago, Tripnsweep said:

We had the Ohio State scandal. We're in the midst of this thing with Starocci. We have had many other issues like this that get ignored or swept under the rug. We have an impotent and or incompetent governing body that has a toothless apparatus to deal with these things. 

This is even more of a problem now than ever with women's wrestling being a big thing. Nobody is looking into things. Why did Moorman leave King University? The thing with the Southern Oregon coach was hardly noticed. The various issues with Mark Perry were ignored because of who he is. I'm sure there are other things I'm forgetting. 

So when are we going to admit there's a problem and do something about it? 

When the principals, Rich Bender, get sued into the ground and not a moment before.

[skandar]

19 minutes ago, flyingcement said:

Do you think its a wrestling-specific problem?  Or a problem that exists in power dynamics everywhere.  It's a genuine question.  

I think wrestling has the same issues as any group that has similar power dynamics and probably has a similar rate of “issues.” Where wrestling really struggles is holding people accountable and changing things to prevent similar things from taking place. There are several current D1 coaches that shouldn’t have those jobs because of past misdeeds. At high levels, it’s a very small sport full of conservative and traditional “guy’s guys.” They don’t want to be the one to punish their friends and acquaintances; and there’s no real pressure from media or anyone else to do anything since it’s so small.

[Saylors_Tiny_Willie]

16 minutes ago, Fletcher said:

OSU situation happened 30+ yrs. ago. Current situation involves one person. That's actually a pretty good track record for the sport.

OSU womens' wrestling team happened THIS YEAR.

Gabrielle Weyhrich

Wake up.