ILLINIWrestlingBlog

Want to give reactions to both these posts, they deserve it, but I'm expended, much like Franklin Gomez in the second period. That's right a 2008 Michigan State joke right there!

Well, I'm out of reactions today, as there's apparently a quota. So, if you say something brilliant, intermat says **** you! I love Helen. Hoping for another Olympic medal from her. I know folks have been asking about handicapping Lee vs. Higuchi. The way I see it is that Lee has given up takedowns to quick wrestlers. Higuchi is certainly a quick wrestler. However, if Spencer can slow any Higuchi finish just a little, Rei won't get the takedown. Too much strength. Both can turn, but that strength advantage goes to Spencer. Some folks have said that Higuchi will be able to add the water weight after weighins and be big. I think this is another advantage for Spencer. He looked absolutely jacked in his Semi. I have Spencer as the favorite. Still, a compelling matchup.

You can tell there is some ******* action when the notification pops up to indicate "12 new replies." That was a tough loss for Brooks. Bulgarian was a Yaruguin winner? Wow. Former Russian. Amine starts out strong, but Yaz, man, Yaz.

That was dominant from Spencer. Still thinks he's too big and strong for Higuchi. As long as he can keep Rei from finishing quickly, this should be a win for America in the finals. USA! That was a bullshit challenge.

Dang. I might have to eat this meme. Still think Spencer will be too big and strong.

When did NBC start pushing this Race-to-win-the-most-Gold-Medals versus the usual medal count? I know they want drama, and there is no drama when you just go by the overall medal count. But, my friends, it seems like that downplays Silver and Bronze medals, and a Bronze medal in the Olympics is ******* awesome. As for publicizing times, streams and such, when I'm doing an ILLINI preview for a dual (not on BTN) or the IRTC wrestling in a ranking series overseas, or college tournaments, I always include the stream/tv, the dates and times and the time zone. Additionally, I always include a paragraph about less familiar providers like UFC Fight Pass and Peacock, adding in whether they allow a monthly sub, an event-only sub, the price, and a link to sign up. If we harp on it, they might change. I think we got FloWrestling to use better cameras at Fargo because of criticisms. They even went out of their way to move cameras to follow the action when it went from side to side. Way to go Intermat forums! The better resolution and camera coverage was appreciated!

I love wrestling, but as a community, we do a terrible job of publicizing dates, times, streaming, television, providers, etc. When they do publish a time for an event, platforms frequently forget to indicate which time zone the event will happen. On the other hand, The JOMBO™ Comic Universe is always there with the deets. This Sunday at 5:00 am Eastern there will be a JOMBO™ comic specifically honoring Spencer Lee. For these couple of days of the Olympics, I don't hate Iowa. Well, okay, I still hate Iowa, but not as much as usual.

I thought Sarah was a leglace specialist. But in the semis and finals, not a single lace. Superb match! USA!

I actually thought Sarah would be disappointed not to have a chance to win the gold in a wrestling match. Reminded me of Zac Braunagel against Alan Vera in Final X, when Vera couldn't wrestle the third match. Now, in order to think that way, I have to think differently than Hildebrandt or Braunagel, who are true competitors. But as the "Forfeit King," who greatly appreciated, looked forward to, and heartily accepted all forfeits, that's how I normally would've felt.

Wicked throw from Serbia for four against Jacobson. Then, the American gets put down and gives up a gut. Was it a second gut? Were they out of bounds for the second gut? Or, was it a caution and one for fleeing? America challenges. Usually Payton is a ball of fire. He didn't start out that way in this match, but Komarov is a good-un and Payton could be pulled back in.

Fuji is amazing. So much pressure. Dom fights off the pressure for a minute, but Lord, that pressure. There's no doubt in my mind that Dom'll be pulled back for a chance at bronze. When you see Elor whupping a World Champion, and what Fuji can do, you see the levels.

Your "B" is what I thought. I feel that they do that sometimes as well. Unfortunately, it is virtually indistinguishable from unfair favoritism or abject incompetence. I think that refs do a great job 99% of the time, so I like to think the best of them. Appreciate your response!

PS Love the Rau!

Joe Rau fought like a dog, but he couldn't get past that first-period throw when he was put down. I don't understand why he was put down, as he was the guy moving the other one around, the 2-on-1s and the Greco ducks. He fought back and got within two, but his fav technique is the headpinch, and that's hard to get on a guy 4 inches taller than you.

I wake up at 4am Eastern to watch Joe Rau wrestle, and Peacock says wait another hour. Then, I find out that India's 50kg wrestler didn't make weight for the Gold Medal match, and that Debby is apparently going to plant herself over my house for three days and rain continuously. Are these all somehow related? Where is my corkboard!

Elor's skipping while carrying the flag around the arena! Sarah Hildebrandt smiling at the break. Love these Women!

Just watched her match with China. Very gritty. 7-4 winner without a single leglace from her. Three takedowns, reattacks only, I think. She got them long arms! Less grumpy now. Sarah also smiled during the break. I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen that happen before. I like it!

Joe Rau was 1-1 with the World Champion from Iran at the break. Then, it was downhill from there except for the shout out to his alma mater, Elmhurst University (Coached by ILLINI Legend Steve Marianetti). I expect repechage, then four years down the road, he'll get a medal when the then-latest technology finds the steroids hidden from current testing capabilities. Okay, I'm grumpy.

Yes, and an improv comedian in Chicago, as well as coaching wrestling. Renaissance Man!

Wow! The draw gods have it in for America. Can't wait to see Kamal Bey and Joe Rau give it their all! Fours and gives for both of them with lifts and tosses from Bey and head pinches from Rau. They are crafty veterans too.

Classic JOMBO™

University of Miami football players have been saying they're from "The U" for a long, long time. My armchair attempt at psychological etymology is that both OSU and Miami have premier state-school envy. Ohio State can never be the University of Ohio--that dream is dead--so they've added the "The." Miami is the university of a city, which is a big step down. There was an ILLINI all pro football player who was introduced during the Super Bowl or a conference championship, and he almost started a state-wide riot when he said he was from "The university of hard knocks." Simeon Rice?

Classic JOMBO™