I already did after he went 1 and done at Baku. We are so weak on top it's not even funny. During the trial finals there were hardly any exposures to speak of. This will be realized as a disturbing trend come olympics.
Sorry, but I don't see US taking even one gold. There was a time when US won 2, 3 golds easy and at occasions winning the medal count like in 93 & 95. I think that time is gone.
I will say this: Schwab looked better this year as he seemed more confident but he still lacks freestyle skills.
Rowlands looked worse than usual with Mocco. He was getting tired and hurt. Mocco looked solid but it just doesn't seem right to me that a wrestler with no offense can be in the finals of Olympics. Taymazov, Mussulbes, Rodriguez, Tasoev, the Turk, Mutalimov and the Iranian can all give Mocco problems.
I think Mocco can pull off an upset at Olympics but beating 2 or 3 of the above guys in a row will be tough.
How in the hell do you "lack freestyle skills" and win the National Open and Olympic Trials against a 2006 World Champion? Big, get a grip and stop hating on the hawks, Schwab is wrestling well, he has learned the freestyle game, his defense has improved a lot and there is no reason he cannot be a factor at his weight.
It's simple. With these rules you can win by staying in good position and shutting down your opponent. A takedown or a pushout can win big matches
By lacking Freestyle skills Big means not having some good throws, not being great at scoring 2 or 3 point defensive throws, not being able to turn your opponent on the mat and/or susceptible to being turned.
I'm not hating on anyone but some of the best Hawks I've seen lacked "freestyle skills" and this included Tom & Terry Brands. Though not a Hawk, Cael Sanderson lacked Freestyle skills.
It's simple. With these rules you can win by staying in good position and shutting down your opponent. A takedown or a pushout can win big matches
By lacking Freestyle skills Big means not having some good throws, not being great at scoring 2 or 3 point defensive throws, not being able to turn your opponent on the mat and/or susceptible to being turned.
I'm not hating on anyone but some of the best Hawks I've seen lacked "freestyle skills" and this included Tom & Terry Brands. Though not a Hawk, Cael Sanderson lacked Freestyle skills.
Tom Brands and Cael Sanderson were so bad at freestyle that they only won gold at the Olympics. Correct me if I am wrong but doesnt that make you the best in the World?
Tom Brands and Cael Sanderson were so bad at freestyle that they only won gold at the Olympics. Correct me if I am wrong but doesnt that make you the best in the World?
The were so good at wrestling that they were able to win Gold in FS despite thier lack of world class freestyle skills. Cael basically wrestled a Folkstyle match and was able to still win gold.
Brands was good at defending freestyle moves but he sucked at freestyle offense. The same for Sanderson. They almost never did any moves that were strictly freestyle, i.e gut wrenches, leg laces, headlock throws, arm throws and so on. Ever saw Sanderson or Brands do an arm throw on anyone?
No but I've seen Terry Brands arm thrown several times. It was easy because he used to push in so hard. In fact Robert Dawson from Canada arm threw him on a few different occasions. It took him a year or two to figure it out, which is an example of lacking freestyle skills.
Last edited by quick_single; 06-24-2008 at 09:46 PM..
Re: US Chances In Beijing 
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