Drexel and Lehigh this weekend

[El_Jefe]

I’m guessing you’re saying Mendez is a 3-time champ after this year? Same with the “undefeated” (this year). God I hope not. Haven’t been able to stand that kid since the stupid, tacky music and bad dancing his whole family did at Nationals a few years ago. Wish he had a Dad like mine to slap that nonsensical idea of premeditated histrionics out of his head.

The original assertion was that Duke would be in Hodge contention with Mesenbrink, Levi, and Mendez all still in the field. I don't think Duke beats out Mesenbrink or Levi for it either, but that was low-hanging fruit on a PSU board.

2x champ Mendez winning again this year is a reasonable assumption. Remaining unbeaten is less clear, as he's lost 5 matches in the last 2 years (though 4 were to Bartlett and Matthews; only Hardy returns).

As far as cheering against him goes, nothing will beat Tan Tom hyperventilating about him being more skilled than Bartlett. At least it inspired that great joke: I wish that I had Jesse's skill.

 

[Nitlion1986]

Yes. Since when do the voters follow the criteria? There's no way True Freshman Duke gets Hodge ahead of an undefeated 3x champ Mendez.

Maybe Duke should face one ranked opponent before we throw out the "what if he pins out" scenario? He didn't pin Sealey, and lots of better guys remain ahead.

Depending on the circumstances, last year proved being an all time (5 X champ) means jack if there is preferred narrative.

 

[King of Poland II]

The original assertion was that Duke would be in Hodge contention with Mesenbrink, Levi, and Mendez all still in the field. I don't think Duke beats out Mesenbrink or Levi for it either, but that was low-hanging fruit on a PSU board.

2x champ Mendez winning again this year is a reasonable assumption. Remaining unbeaten is less clear, as he's lost 5 matches in the last 2 years (though 4 were to Bartlett and Matthews; only Hardy returns).

As far as cheering against him goes, nothing will beat Tan Tom hyperventilating about him being more skilled than Bartlett. At least it inspired that great joke: I wish that I had Jesse's skill.

Can't disagree with any of those points. I take Levi and Mitch over anyone. I also agree with your earlier post. They never use the criteria (or they make the criteria fit their narrative). I just really can't stand Mendez... maybe it's just the stench of Columbus that has adulterated his singlet?

 

[King of Poland II]

Depending on the circumstances, last year proved being an all time (5 X champ) means jack if there is preferred narrative.

Ha... the criteria is that "Hodge" awards pinners. Let's stick with that nonsense. Wyatt was great, but Steveson never even made it to 4-time (or 3). Let's get together and sponsor the "Sanderson" trophy/medal/belt and award it to the "Best" collegiate folkstyle wrestler. Don't really care for Carter's off-mat persona, but he deserved the Hodge. In addition, I'm really tired of the way it seems everyone is conspiring against PSU guys. To paraphrase the great Richard Fliehr, "Penn State wrestling - whether you like it, or don't like it, learn to love it, because it's the best thing going today!"

 

[SleepyLion]

Ha... the criteria is that "Hodge" awards pinners. Let's stick with that nonsense. Wyatt was great, but Steveson never even made it to 4-time (or 3). Let's get together and sponsor the "Sanderson" trophy/medal/belt and award it to the "Best" collegiate folkstyle wrestler. Don't really care for Carter's off-mat persona, but he deserved the Hodge. In addition, I'm really tired of the way it seems everyone is conspiring against PSU guys. To paraphrase the great Richard Fliehr, "Penn State wrestling - whether you like it, or don't like it, learn to love it, because it's the best thing going today!"

 

[The Pitchfork Rebel]

Ha... the criteria is that "Hodge" awards pinners. Let's stick with that nonsense.

The pin is the objective of wrestling.

 

[King of Poland II]

Ha... the criteria is that "Hodge" awards pinners. Let's stick with that nonsense.

The pin is the objective of wrestling.

No doubt, but we've seen a lot of "pinners" that aren't the best wrestlers, so I'm not sure I can follow your shot down range. Ryder Rogotzke is a perfect example of this to me. It's fraudulent if some years the best wrestler gets the award, while other years we decide it based on falls. If anyone truly believe Wyatt was better than Carter at any point in his career, then I don't know if I can help them. On the other hand, it's really no different than any of the major awards in any sport though. How many years did Barry Larkin win an undeserved Gold Glove?

 

[Lil Nicky Scarfo]

No doubt, but we've seen a lot of "pinners" that aren't the best wrestlers, so I'm not sure I can follow your shot down range. Ryder Rogotzke is a perfect example of this to me. It's fraudulent if some years the best wrestler gets the award, while other years we decide it based on falls. If anyone truly believe Wyatt was better than Carter at any point in his career, then I don't know if I can help them. On the other hand, it's really no different than any of the major awards in any sport though. How many years did [Derek Jeter] win an undeserved Gold Glove?

Minor correction

 

[King of Poland II]

Minor correction

I'm not a Yanks fan, but Jeter is about 5 levels above Larkin in every baseball metric. Which isn't to say that I don't get your point. The Captain definitely benefited from some of the same thinking.

 

[El_Jefe]

Minor correction

Rafael Palmeiro.

I mean, at least Larkin and Jeter actually played the position.

 

[King of Poland II]

Rafael Palmeiro.

I mean, at least Larkin and Jeter actually played the position.

I like that one.

 

[El_Jefe]

I like that one.

Palmeiro winning the Gold Glove while playing < 30 games at 1B ... plus Mo Vaughn winning MVP because Albert Belle was an a-hole ... those 2 awards really opened my eyes about how ridiculous a lot of our sports awards are.

Also Rashaan Salaam Heisman.

And then the long standing tradition of journalists voting against a clear Hall of Fame player simply because they don't think he's a "first ballot guy" or "shouldn't be a unanimous first ballot guy" -- there's no First Ballot Wing in Cooperstown or Canton. Just a bunch of pretentious jerk wannabe gatekeeper voters. The 3 jackasses who voted against Ken Griffey should've had their credentials revoked on the spot, and been tased in public.

 

[Lil Nicky Scarfo]

Palmeiro winning the Gold Glove while playing < 30 games at 1B ... plus Mo Vaughn winning MVP because Albert Belle was an a-hole ... those 2 awards really opened my eyes about how ridiculous a lot of our sports awards are.

And then the long standing tradition of journalists voting against a clear Hall of Fame player simply because they don't think he's a "first ballot guy" or "shouldn't be a unanimous first ballot guy" -- there's no First Ballot Wing in Cooperstown or Canton. Just a bunch of pretentious jerk voters. The 3 jackasses who voted against Ken Griffey should've had their credentials revoked on the spot, and been tased in public.

Voters who voted against Ted Williams and Mike Schmidt, among others, because they weren’t nice to them - same deal. Fatass Bill Conlin voted against Schmitty for that reason - ridiculous

 

[El_Jefe]

Voters who voted against Ted Williams and Mike Schmidt, among others, because they weren’t nice to them - same deal. Fatass Bill Conlin voted against Schmitty for that reason - ridiculous

No matter how mean Schmidt was on Conlin, he went easy on that slob. Big part of Schmidt's quip about "the thrill of victory and the agony of reading about it in the paper," and Schmidt was basically speaking in behalf of every athlete in Philly.

Schmidt always struck me as aloof at best, and probably more realistically a bit of a pompous jerk. But still, so what? Voting against him for the Hall of Fame doesn't reflect on Schmidt at all. It advertises the lack of professionalism of those voters.

The problem with tasing Conlin, other than tasers not existing then, would've been finding blubber-penetrating probes.

 

[King of Poland II]

No matter how mean Schmidt was on Conlin, he went easy on that slob. Big part of Schmidt's quip about "the thrill of victory and the agony of reading about it in the paper," and Schmidt was basically speaking in behalf of every athlete in Philly.

Schmidt always struck me as aloof at best, and probably more realistically a bit of a pompous jerk. But still, so what? Voting against him for the Hall of Fame doesn't reflect on Schmidt at all. It advertises the lack of professionalism of those voters.

The problem with tasing Conlin, other than tasers not existing then, would've been finding blubber-penetrating probes.

Well-played Boss. “Blubber-penetrating probes” is one of the funniest things I’ve read in some time.