Packed up, but hardly ready to go … the Blazer’s gassed up, oil’s changed and it’s almost time to hit the road. The Turf Mug is packed and ready for the trip too. It’s 88 degrees, gas is expensive and I’m listening to Weezer’s “Pork and Beans.”
Kocer wins ESPY Award
Spoiler Alert! The ESPY Awards, ESPN’s version of the Oscars, Emmys or whatever, were taped on Wednesday with Justin Timberlake as the host. This is why I don’t watch this type of thing. Bill Murray was the best host the ESPY’s ever had. Anyway, Ryan Kocer, a three-time South Dakota State Champion who lost his leg last year in an accident on his farm, was nominated for Best Male Athlete with a Disability. He didn’t win a fourth title this year, but he managed a fourth-place finish and came back to wrestle in January at The Clash. He’s the second wrestler in recent memory to win the award — Kyle Maynard was the other. For the local story, click here. To check out the ESPY’s … (at your own risk), watch Sunday on ESPN.
Congrats to Ryan and the wrestling community for supporting him in the vote!
Former wrestler killed in Afghanistan
Former Campbell University wrestler Pruitt Rainey was killed on Sunday July 13 in Afghanistan. The Haw River, N.C. native was on the Camels wrestling team during the 2004-05 season. While his collegiate career wasn’t as successful as his high school one was at Graham High School, Campbell coach Billy Greene said: “Pruitt was a peacemaker and a very caring, loyal spirit, and that came out in his actions.” For the full details on Rainey, click here.
Team Takedown taking WEC by storm
Several stories have come out in the past two days about the trio of fighters from Team Takedown who have signed on with World Extreme Cagefighting. The WEC, another Zuffa promotion like the UFC, has been picking up momentum and has been finding many of its rising stars via wrestling. Urijah Faber and Frankie Edgar are two who have come through the WEC. Faber’s the face of the organization right now, but you can now add Johny Hendricks, Jake Rosholt and Shane Roller — all former Oklahoma State All-Americans — to the mix. Here’s Sherdog.com’s Jordan Breen’s take on the deal.
Research Project
Folks, I’m still going to be working on this research project in identifying when all the dropped programs were cut. Right now, it’s about 200 teams I have found dates for, but I’m still 400 short. Here’s the list: http://www.intermatwrestle.com/college/dropped_project.htm click on the “dropped” tab. If you know when any of the dates in yellow were cut, drop me a line at jason@bryantwrestling.com (yes, I’ve got a wrestling domain, Why? I dunno).
1 Comment
July 18, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Condolences to Cpl Rainey’s family and to the families of the others who were killed.
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