Cyclone85

The content of this rather longish post covers several possible forums, however, it directly involves my weekend long over-reaction to the Cyclones disappointing 5th place finish at the '08 NCAAs. During the 07-08 wrestling year, I fell into a Cyclone wrestling trap based on last year’s strong 2nd place performance @ the NCAAs. I was convinced they would make a very serious title run despite early set backs to Iowa and the Midlands. When it started to go south on Friday night at the STL, my hopes were dashed and my mood soured very quickly. As a result, I'm certain that I broke one of the Ten Commandments last weekend along with other possible ‘violations’ involving swearing and such. I admit – I take this stuff way too seriously and I will work on it. Read on for your own amusement as I have been put in my place.

To relieve some of my Cyclone wrestling frustration on Sunday afternoon, I set out to do my daily Metallica -- Master of Puppets 3.5 mile run that I’ve been doing for years. Unable to find my iPod Shuffle, I had to ‘borrow’ my son’s much more expensive iPod Nano; the video model. Amazingly, I recognized most of the songs that he had despite the fact that he is 1/3 my age. One of the songs had some of the most amazing face melting guitar solos that I have ever heard (Through the Fire and Flames??). The song made me feel old as I knew that my good friends Slash and EddyVanH would never be able to rip those chords and notes out. Back to the wrestling connection.....

As I am running along trying to warm up my already tender right ankle, the only thing I can think about are all of those close Cyclone losses Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. As I was contemplating the depressing criteria loss against Varner, out of absolutely nowhere, a freak gust of wind comes blasting through the neighborhood and knocks me slightly off course. My tender right foot catches a void between the sidewalk and grass (and with the vengeance of a demon) my ankle turns hard. I go down like a rock, but not before feeling horrifying pain. I haven’t felt pain like this for at least 10-years and I can only classify it as weapons grade pain of the highest order. Naturally, I lose the grip on my boy’s Nano, and can only watch it as it catapults and flips ass-over-tea-kettle smashing and skittering on the unforgiving concrete below like a Mexican jumping bean on steroids. Almost as an angry final gesture, on the last step of the dance, a mean neighborhood dog starts to charge me. It’s a Rottweiler and he is furious at me for daring to get injured on his watch. I faced him down quickly and it backs off (thankfully). This beastly beast could carry off Kevin Darkus into a gully and you'd never hear from him again.

My heart in my throat, I gimped over to my kid’s iPod (which is now in the middle of the street 12-meters away) and cradled it in my arms for a brief moment before being able to build up enough nerve to look her over. After taking stock of a nasty gash on the back side and dings on all four corners, I noticed an even worse one on the front side -- right in the middle of the screen. With kind of a stubborn resignation, I put the buds back in, only to be disappointed as it spat out a fuzzy song with an air of disgust. It is ruined!! (Read – another Commandment broken).

Walking like an older version of Buddy Epsen back to my car, I came to the conclusion that winning national championships are not life and death matters. On a scale of 'life and death' at the top and 'important' on the bottom, I place it just below 'gravely serious'. It is a baby step for me, which is about all I can do with my black and blue ankle.

May I inquire when Cyclone fans can reasonably expect a championship when viewed against the backdrop of a serious Iowa resurgence?

matclone

Sorry to hear about your descent into the void but I wasn't disappointed in the Cyclones overall performance at all. The Hawkeyes had an extraordinary tournament. The Cyclones did at least as well as expected (save for Varner's loss). They crowned seven All-Americans (including David Bertolino which no one, no one at all, was expecting). Six of these AA's as well as two national qualifiers (Clark and Mueller) are coming back next year. With the addition of Jerome Ward at 184 or 197 and whoever they put at 174, I'm feeling rather optomistic.

IowaState2007

Reader will likely be the "whoever" they put at 174. Look to see Nate Carr Jr. in the lineup at 165.

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cyclone10

whatever the lineup, I can't wait to get back in Hilton to watch em next season!

RYou

Being one of two with ten heading into the tournament, a little season end motivation and the memory of the '07 spirit, I had ISU to win the whole enchilda. T'was not to be. There were as many disappointments as there were surprises this year. Unfortunately the disappointments seemed a bit closer at heart then the surprises.

Taxbean

I like you felt disappointed Saturday evening, in fact the disappointment was being felt Friday night. Discussing this with my brother though and my wife (yes, she scareingly has come to understand wrestling) they put it into a different light. Had someone told me Wednesday that we were going to have 7 (SEVEN) All-Americans would I be happy, the answer would have been THRILLED! Now being able to look back and see the end result, I can see both joy and disappointment.

We return 6 of the 7 AA's. We go into next year knowing that the possibility of doing better isn't a possibility, but a reality.

We were spoiled perhaps with the finish we got last year and have gone so far as to become the in-state rival's philosphy of We Should Win Every Year. Don't get me wrong, I would gladly take the dominance and hatred from other fans towards our program with the continual wins. I don't think the Cyclones will ever become as arrogant as the Black & Gold, so hatred could be a strong word.

In reality only three guys DIDN'T wrestle to their seeds. Fanthorpe, Reader and Varner. Now had they, we still wouldn't have beaten Iowa, but rather been a solid 2nd. If I have to hold back and wait for my beloved Clones to wrestle above their seeds and perform outstandingly I would choose the next two years.

Better things are ahead and I have no doubt the next team title is before this decade is over. If not, meet me at the bar, I will be buying.

grapplefan

Great post! You are so right about priorities. I hope that your ankle mends soon, I have an ankle like that myself. Did it make that popping sound too? I hate that.

Unfortunately, the answer to your final question is rooted in another: How long has it been since you won one?. Fortunately, your coach may be one of the best recruiters in college wrestling right now, and that really helps. Next year will tell you a lot.

Cyclone85

It was more of a 'crunching' sound! I have an upset stomach thinking about it. Aaaackk.

Point taken below, and I do understand. I hope I'm not becoming one of those ChiCub fans that constantly fantasize about a championship. Either way, let's hope we don't have to wait 100-years for the next one!

BonnieJ2

Sorry you're havin' a pity party there, Cy, but you don't have to dis the Cubs! Opening day is less than a week away. Spring is in the air. Hope springs eternal!

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"You can't have a light without a dark to stick it in." -- Arlo Guthrie

BonnieJ2

The Chicagoan

He had been a horrible man his entire life and has been sent to HELL.

The devil puts him to work breaking up rocks with a sledgehammer. To make it worse he cranks up the temperature and the humidity.

After a couple of days, the devil checks in on his victim to see if he is suffering adequately. The devil is aghast as the Chicagoan is happily swinging his hammer and whistling a happy tune.

The devil walks up to him and says, "I don't understand this. I've turned the heat way up, it's humid, you're crushing rocks; why are you so happy?"

The Chicagoan, with a big smile, looks at the devil and replies, "This is great! It reminds me of August in Chicago. Hot, humid, a good place to work. It reminds me of home. This is fantastic!"

The devil, extremely perplexed, walks away to ponder the Chicagoan's remarks. Then he decides to drop the temperature, send down a driving rain and torrential wind.

Soon, Hell is a wet, muddy mess. Walking in mud up to his knees with dust blowing into his eyes, the Chicagoan is happily slogging through the mud pushing a wheelbarrow full of crushed rocks.

Again, the devil asks how he can be happy in such conditions. The Chicagoan replies, "This is great! Just like April in Chicago. It reminds me of working out in the yard with spring planting!"

The devil is now completely baffled but more determined to make the Chicagoan suffer. He makes the temperature plummet. Suddenly Hell is blanketed in snow and ice.

Confident that this will surely make the Chicagoan unhappy, the devil checks in on the Chicagoan. He is again aghast at what he sees.

The Chicagoan is dancing, singing, and twirling his sledgehammer as he cavorts in glee.

"How can you be so happy? Don't you know its 40 below zero!?" screams the devil.

Jumping up and down the Chicagoan throws a snowball at the devil and yells, "Hell's frozen over!! This means the Cubs won the World Series!!"

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"You can't have a light without a dark to stick it in." -- Arlo Guthrie