To jrob--I understand your dismay regarding the Rhodes-Johnson match. I am on the Rules Committee and that match started out with two problems from the beginning- the ref didn't keep the mat clear and didn't keep the number of coaches to two per wrestler. Sometimes it seems like the sport of wrestling is turning into WWF, what a shame. I love wrestling for the true competitive spirit, and the beauty and grace of 2 athletes. This match was just that until
the crowd and coaches erupted with feelings.

The calls against Rhodes were a bit much, considering the heavyweight wrestler in a match before this one yelled out, "This is f***ing bull****!", and threw his headgear. This wrestler was not reprimanded at all and apparently had already been warned about his sportmanship by the previous ref on that mat.

I teach my wrestlers, along with many other coaches, not to stop until the ref touches you. This is not high school and in kids wrestling there are too many whistles being blown to distinguish one from another. I coached Thomas when he was a small kid. I have seen him blossom into a fierce and aggressive wrestler, which by the way, this sport asks of you. The real problem is not the wrestler but the attitude of the crowd. No one likes a dominant wrestler with an aggressive attitude. You need to be around Thomas when he is not on the mat. He is very well-mannered, unlike many wrestlers in this state. We should look at the whole kid, not just his actions on the mat with a hostile crowd. I would venture to say that if this were my child, he would not have acted like Thomas on the mat, but my child is not a Thomas Rhodes!!!!!!!!!! .....but if he had to compete under those circumstances, he may react in a manner that is not pleasing to me and the crowd.

I give you all this challenge...pretend you are a 16 year old young man, black no less, and how would you feel if everyone in the crowd would boo when you executed a good move and cheer when the other wrestler did his move? Think about it.