It's an interesting question. We (meaning the general sports-watching public) seem to draw a distinction between the use of performance-enhancing equipment to gain an edge and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. New tennis rackets, new swimsuits, new shoes all seem to get a free pass (the exception I can think of is golf, where I think the PGA keeps a pretty tight rein on allowable improvements in club and ball technology). So what is the difference? Is it really concern over athletes' health?

I wonder if the answer may lie in our culture's overall feelings about illegal drugs and the incessant "war on drugs" rhetoric that we are subjected to from kindergarten on. Drugs = Evil in many people's eyes.

This is one of the things that I think makes wrestling so wonderful. While there have been technological changes in the 45 years since I wrestled, they have been insignificant in their effect on the actual wrestling. I suppose that headgear changes one's approach to certain moves (or one's approach to looking human) and the improvement in mats has certainly reduced the number and nature of the injuries sustained, but what has really changed the basic nature of the sport?
The other sports that I participated back then, football and baseball (stone throwing, dinosaur wrestling, etc.) are completely altered because of equipment changes. Wrestling (and the other martial arts, but I cannot speak for them) is still one person attempting to physically dominate and control another.

Originally Posted by M Richardson

This is one of the things that I think makes wrestling so wonderful. While there have been technological changes in the 45 years since I wrestled, they have been insignificant in their effect on the actual wrestling. I suppose that headgear changes one's approach to certain moves (or one's approach to looking human) and the improvement in mats has certainly reduced the number and nature of the injuries sustained, but what has really changed the basic nature of the sport?
The other sports that I participated back then, football and baseball (stone throwing, dinosaur wrestling, etc.) are completely altered because of equipment changes. Wrestling (and the other martial arts, but I cannot speak for them) is still one person attempting to physically dominate and control another.

M Richardson, don't forget the leggings, knee & elbow pads we used way back when, especialily on those canvas mats.....Ouch....just remembering those canvas burns hurts me now.

And people think singlets are a little "strange" . . . .