Hey everyone…It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to sit down and write one of these Matt’s Corner journal entries. However, now that my first semester of graduate school has officially been wrapped up (my last official class was thus past Monday, but all assignments had to be submitted by the previous Wednesday), today seemed as good a day as any to get back into the habit of sharing my personal thoughts, opinions, and suggestions about the sport that I love….With Christmas only a few days away (hopefully all of you were a lot smarter than me and did not wait until the 24th to begin your holiday shopping), it seemed appropriate that I dedicate this column to throwing out a few last minute ideas for the wrestling aficionado in your family….To my friends of the Jewish faith, I am sorry that I missed the Festival of Lights.  Had my research papers not conflicted, I certainly would have made the attempt to publish this article earlier. But alas, if any of you are looking for belated Hanukkah presents, this list might be of some assistance….In fact, several of the items that I will include are ones that came directly from the letter that I mailed to Santa this year (yes, I am just a big 27-year-old kid who still sends St. Nick a letter every year). I sincerely hope that all of you find these suggestions useful…Happiest of Holidays to all of you and your loved ones !!!

BOOKS
1) A Season On the Mat: Dan Gable and the Pursuit of Perfection (by Nolan Zavoral)- I read this book every year during the NCAA tournament.  In fact, during 2008 when my father and I were in St. Louis for the DI tournament, I read it cover to cover in three days.  It truly is the kind of book that once you pick it up, you will find it impossible to put back down again…It is perfect for the wrestling historian in you family…Come read about Dan Gable’s last season at the helm of the University of Iowa Wrestling dynasty.  Become immersed as the Hawkeyes overcome the odds—Gable’s  hip replacement, injuries to superstar Lincoln Mcllravy, inconsistencies on the part of a few of the starters—to rally from the role of underdogs to send their legendary coach out as a champion.

2. Four Days to Glory: Wrestling With the Soul of the American Heartland (by Mark Kreidler)- Another book that I have in my personal collection.  If you are going to read about the history of Iowa (A Season on the Mat), you might as well make it a double-play and venture into the stories of a pair of the current stars on the 2x NCAA Champion Hawkeyes.  In this book, the reader is introduced to the stories of Dan LeClere and Jay Borschel as each strives to win their fourth Iowa State titles.  While the majority of the writing deals with the trials and tribulations faced by these two talented young men, Kreidler does take time to make mention of some of the states other immensely talented wrestlers such as current U of I wrestlers Joe Slaton and Matt McDonough, as well as Iowa State’s Mitch Mueller…When I purchased this book a few years ago, I found that as hard as I tried, I could not stop reading it.  The stories were that interesting and the writing was of the highest quality.  If you are an individual who looks documentaries/biographies, this is one literary work that you need to have on your bookshelf.

3. The Silent Gladiators (by Nicholas Hopping)- Unlike the first two books on the list, I have yet to read this work yet.  However, I can tell you that for the past two birthdays and this Christmas, it has headlined my plethora of gift suggestions.  I am optimistic that this is the year that someone buys it for me…If you have ever wondered what it takes to make it the highest levels of our sport, this is the book for you.  Within the nearly 400 pages of this work, Hopping successfully chronicles the tales of those training to make the 2004 Olympic team.  In addition, the author incorporates his own personal observations regarding such topics as what makes the Russians so dominant in the sport, as well as identifies possible areas of improvement for the US team….While I have heard that the quality of writing (mostly grammar errors) is not as immaculate as one might desire, universal opinion is that the appeal of the stories is more than enough to make up for any shortchanging done in the editing process. 

4. No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and Life (by Kyle Maynard)- If you are a true wrestling fan from Long Island, than it goes without saying that you know the story of Rohan Murphy.  Like Murphy, Kyle Maynard never accepted his limits.  Instead, through hard word, dedication, and a positive attitude, he adopted the “it’s not what I can do, it’s what I will do” philosophy that has made him a success in every aspect of his life.  Kyle is an ESPY Award winner, an honor student, has a very attractive girlfriend, and lives every bit as normal a life as you or I do…At a time when we are encouraged to be grateful for what we were blessed with, Maynard’s story is a reminder of this lesson.  He is an inspiration to us all.  After reading this book, you will no longer take for granted the simplicities in life.  You will also never complain about how unfair your life might seem…In the most direct ways, this book will change your life for the better.

5. American Victory: Wrestling, Dreams, and a Journey Towards Home (by Henry Cejudo/Bill Plaschke)- Much like Kyle Maynard, Henry Cejudo’s path to success was one that was far from paved with the gold that he would eventually win in the 2008 Summer Olympics.  The son of illegal immigrants, Cejudo, the youngest American Gold medal wrestler in history, started his life in mean streets of South Central L.A….Up until he moved to Colorado Springs to train at the USOC, he had never owned his own bed or eaten three square meals on a regular basis….As I write this, I am reminded of all of the Oscar buzz that the movie “the Blindside” is receiving.  If stories of triumph and preservation, likes those of Henry Cejudo and Michael Oher appeal to you, than be sure to pick this book up for yourself or a loved one.  I promise, you will not regret it !

6. Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine (W.I.N)- You might not believe it, but I get asked quite often, ‘Matt, how do you know all of this information about college wrestling?’  The answer in part is that I am a 10 year subscriber to this amazing thorough amateur wrestling magazine…Created by the father of wrestling journalism, Mike Chapman, W.I.N. has everything that a devoted wrestling fan would enjoy.  If high school is your forte, than sit back and enjoy the monthly rankings/recruiting updates that will be delivered to your living room via this magazine.  If the collegiate scene is more of your bag, than I can assure you that you will learn more about college wrestling in all three NCAA levels (as well as comprehensive coverage of the NAIA) than you ever imagined…Editor Mike Finn does an awesome job of blending news with featured stories.  During a period of the year that I am slightly read out from all of the requirements of my grad school program, I always made sure to read the new issue of W.I.N. cover to cover as soon as it arrived in my mailbox.

Related posts:

1. This Week In Wrestling #15: 02/23-03/01
2. From On the Mat to A Book Review By Matt: “Wisdom From The Corner”

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