Dissed

ideamark · 04-01-2008, 03:12 PM

With all the discussion in this forum about how bad The Other Forum is*, there was a thread worth sharing involving "denny" and "BigApple"...

The topic: Tommy Evans' passing not being acknowledged/mentioned at the 2008 NCAAs.

For those who didn't know, Jay Thomas Evans was a legendary wrestler for the Oklahoma Sooners in the early 1950s -- a two-time NCAA champ @ 147 (1952 and '54), and winner of the Outstanding Wrestler award in '54... then a member of the US Olympic team for the 1956 Melbourne Games... then the long-time head coach of the Sooners in the 1960s and early 70s. He died at age 77 after a long illness just before the 2008 NCAAs.

His passing was reported in the notes provided to the wrestling media on Day One of the tournament. But, to my knowledge, it was NOT reported to the crowd. There was no mention of it... nor no moment of silence. (And I was there during all six sessions.)

Wrestling describes itself as being "the oldest and greatest sport." However, when the death of one of the past greats is not honored or even acknowledged, that speaks volumes about a lack of respect of history.

Mark

* I agree... but then again, I've been banned, so I'm biased

Zapp Brannigan · 04-01-2008, 04:13 PM

It's sad that he passed and wasn't even mentioned or honored to the crowd at large. I wish I had a better appreciation for the history of the sport, as most of what I know of the older greats is through written word and not through visual memory, it's hard to appreciate. A sad day for wrestling to lose one of it's legends, and a sad display by the tournament organizers to not publicly acknowledge it.

JPOConnorFan · 04-02-2008, 07:08 PM

I did not hear it announced either after all six sessions. Sad.

Dissed

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