This Week in Wrestling #13: 02/09-02/15
Guten Abend Everyone.
Postseason is finally here, and is already off to a great start with last weekend’s Suffolk League finals, as well as the Nassau/Suffolk, NYC, and Buffalo CHSAA League tournaments. If the intensity shown last week is any indication, the next few weeks of wrestling are sure to be action packed and full of excitement. As wrestling fans, what more could we ask for?
While I love doing what I do, writing this weekly column, as well as contributing in any other way feasible, I must say that the last few days, I’ve found myself a little pressed for time. A lot of you who know me in a personal capacity away from this and the LIWA board are aware that I am in the process of beginning my applications to graduate school. Therefore, if any readers are proud alumns of either NYU or Fordham, and want to help a brother out, I am currently in the hunt for letters of recommendation.
In addition to taking care of those academic responsibilities, I am also trying to find time to write match previews for HU’s duals against Edinboro (Saturday) and Buffalo (Sunday). Since I will be leaving for Buffalo on Saturday morning, the plan right now (and it often changes depending on whether or not my mother needs a helping hand watching my niece and nephew), is to write the Edinboro preview tomorrow morning (which will require me to get my lazy butt up by around 7am; very unique to me nowadays), and then spend my Saturday night in a room at the Holiday Inn pounding away at the keys in an attempt to get the Buffalo preview completed sometime prior to the start of Sunday’s festivities. Lucky for me, all hotel rooms now come equipped with wireless access. Hence, unless I get taken in by a really good movie on HBO, finishing the article should not be much of a problem.
Similar to a few weeks ago, last Sunday left a lot to be desired for me wrestling wise. While I was at the Mack watching the Pride drop their second consecutive home dual (granted the opponents have not been slouches by any stretch) to Cornell, my other alma mater, Chaminade was finding themselves in second place for the first time in quite a while at the CHSAA League tournament. But, with 14 (I think) Catholic State qualifiers, the big prize is still within reach should the Flyers pick February 15th and 16th to do their best wrestling of the season.
Anyhow, I found myself reading the comments section of LHW a lot this week. To me, it seemed that the big topic of the past five or so days has been, was Jordan Leen correct in what he did at the end of his match against Jon Bonilla-Bowman? For those of you who did not attend the dual, the debate resolves around the defending National Champion’s decision to go for the pin against an already beaten and seemingly helpless opponent. Those of us at mat side could visibly see JBB’s hand shaking uncontrollably from the pain. It was scary to say the least.
Because the individuals on both sides of the discussion made extremely compelling arguments, I felt that it would be only appropriate that I voiced my take on the situation. To me, I felt that Leen’s actions, while 100 percent legal and justified, may have fallen into the category of unnecessary. Even with the score so close (10-9 in favor of the Big Red at the time), I have a hard time thinking that settling for the major would have been a huge loss for either Leen or his teammates. Any way you look at it, even if Cornell headed into the intermission with only a five point (as opposed to seven) lead, they still would have been firmly in the driver’s seat. In fact, for HU to have won, the Pride would have likely needed to win four of the final five bouts. This would have been a tall order, considering that on paper, they were underdogs in all five…..In hindsight, the fact that they would go on to lose four of the next five (congrats to Jordan Enck on his win over #12 Zach Hammond) does not matter one way or the other.
Now, before anyone excuses me of being soft and all of that, it is important to remember (or pay attention) to one fact— I came to the sport late in life. Therefore, as competitive as I am by nature, I have never viewed wrestling as a blood sport. While I do think that it is a wrestler’s duty to make it as uncomfortable as possible on his opponent, I also believe that there is a difference between hurting one’s opponent and injuring them. While certainly not his intention, I viewed Leen’s aggressiveness as walking a fine line between the two. I have spoken (unless someone created a fake facebook opponent with his name) Cornell Coach, Rob Koll, since the incident happened, and to me, he does not come across as the kind of individual that subscribes to the philosophy of no mercy. In fact, call it a gut feeling, but my guess is that if it meant assuring that JBB’s season would not be put into jeopardy, I would like to think that Koll probably would have been fine with Leen riding out the period to win 9-0.
I absolutely understand that in all likelihood, I am probably in the minority on this one. This does not bother me. I am not here looking to try to win anyone over to my side. We all have our beliefs which we are loyal to (and we should be).
Fortunately, for all parties involved, it appears that Hofstra is going to dodge a bullet. Despite all of the agony that was on his face Sunday evening, for now, there is no reason to think that Jon B-B will not make a full recovery and be ready to go in time for March. I chatted with the Pride junior a few days ago and he seemed to think that he would be back rolling on the mat by this coming Monday. This is fantastic news for any Pride fan. It is no secret that with such a young team representing the Pride this season, the leadership responsibilities fall onto the shoulders of men like Jon, Lou Ruggirello, and Alton Lucas. The team will only go as far as their veterans take them.
Another issue that I want to tackle is the belief that my summary came across as extremely harsh towards certain members of the Pride. While going negative was not (and for the most part, never has been) a direction that I feel comfortable going, it is important to remember that when I sit down at press row, I am no longer a fan or a friend. Just like many of you, I do have an off the mat relationship with several of the guys on the team. It makes me feel incredibly guilty and almost sick to my stomach when I have to write about them in a less than flattering manner. But (and it is a huge but), it is my job and my obligation to the people who did not see the match to report it from my point of view. After the dual with tOSU, I personally found my commentary to be flattering to both teams. In a perfect world, I would like nothing better than to have all of my articles take on this puppies and sunshine tone. However, it’s not realistic.
I honestly have no idea what everyone’s interpretation of the piece was. However, I can say that the intended message was that something was missing Sunday that was present when the Pride and Buckeyes squared off a few weeks earlier. If you took anything other than this message from what I wrote, my apologies. Again, I have a deep respect for every individual who takes the mat and puts it all on the line. I take no joy in putting people down. But, as Jason Bryant told me publicly and privately, you can ill afford to let personal feelings get in the way of reporting what you observed. As soon as you compromise your point of view, you are doing more harm than help.
I am the biggest Pride fan (in all sports) on the planet. I have missed one home match in seven years. I have not missed a CAA tournament in the past six years. Trust me when I say, I believe I have earned the right to be critical once in just under a decade of following the team.
To close on a much happier and less controversial issue, allow me to take this opportunity to wish all of the wrestlers in Suffolk County and the CHSAA the very best of luck at their representative State qualifiers this weekend. As a reminder, for anyone who is unable to attend the Suffolk tournament, LHW wrestling will be broadcasting the finals. Join me (from my hotel room) in tuning in for what is sure to be a great night of competition. May the best wrestlers get their hands raised !!!
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Matt, the Hofstra article was a great article. Those of us who were present all witnessed what you wrote about. If you wrote it differently, we’d all have noticed.
I, also, reacted in horror to JBB’s match when I saw his arm uncontrollably shaking in spasm as he was grimacing in pain after a very brutal headlock by Leen.
As you know, I saw it a little differently as to whether it was unsportsmanlike, but you made a point that makes me rethink my position when you write, “While I do think that it is a wrestler’s duty to make it as uncomfortable as possible on his opponent, I also believe that there is a difference between hurting one’s opponent and injuring them. While certainly not his intention, I viewed Leen’s aggressiveness as walking a fine line between the two.”
I think there is a difference too, and perhaps Leen crossed that line. One could reasonably argue that he certainly came close to it. Not only is your writing entertaining, but you make us think. Thanks.
I’m happy to learn that JBB will be back in the lineup shortly. How about PJ? Will he be back shortly?