Listen to “5PM08: Spenser Mango returns to discuss the 2017 World Championships” on Spreaker.
The great Spenser Mango makes his return to the podcast just in time for some chaos. The principal topic for Episode 8 of the podcast is the fallout from the 2017 Greco-Roman World Championships, which took place last week in Paris, France. Despite several impressive performances, the United States found itself without a medalist for the second straight year at a World-level event, leading to questions, concerns, blame, and confusion. Co-host Dennis Hall believes that the problem is two-fold. In Hall’s view, there is a lack of support from the US national governing body in relation to the Greco-Roman program and that if more steps are taken and more resources expended, American athletes won’t be competing with their backs against the proverbial wall every year at a World-level event. Hall, as most are aware, is also unafraid to spit fire at the rules and the officiating, two points of interest that dominate the discussion, as well. ALSO: If you would like to donate to the United States Greco-Roman program, please click on this link — your support is appreciated!
Mango on the biggest positives coming from the Team USA performance in Paris
“I know our guys had been working hard. It took me a long time to finally kind of find my stride in Greco and I think for these guys, they got some great experience in over there and right when you feel like you kind of know what to do to win with the current rules, the rules are going to be changing. But our guys are relatively young and they are going to be able to adapt to whatever they come up with for Greco. I know we have a team full of guys who are willing to put the work in and who are willing to learn, and they’re excited to be out there.”
Hall on the approach US athletes should take in World events knowing the officiating isn’t going to help
“I’ve got to score points. I’ve got to score points. Because I’m not going to get helped. You know what? When you get that bad call and you get the first point given away by the referee and you’re (inaudible) the guy, you’ve got to say, Okay, I’m just going to continue, I’m going to smash this guy and I’m going to find a way to rip his head off and beat the hell out of him and find a way to score a takedown.”
Hall continues
“That’s where I’m frustrated as a coach, is why do we allow that to happen to our wrestlers with our national governing body? Why aren’t we bitching and complaining and helping our Greco team? As a national governing body, I have issues when they don’t stand up for our guys. I do. Maybe I’m a psychopath, I don’t know. But you know what? I have a problem! If some of those things happen with our freestyle team, you can guarantee they’re going to be up peoples’ asses. But because it’s Greco, it’s okay. You know what? A lot of people aren’t going to like what I have to say. I don’t really give a shit.”
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