Hey Uncle Jimmy!
Ok here goes my thoughts on this and I’ll try my best to stick to what I KNOW as fact from my time with Coach P and Carmel Wrestling as best I can.
First, please know I’m not in anyone’s inner circle and like Coach Vega said, I do not know any of the details other than what has been made public. I love wrestling and I love Carmel wrestling although I haven’t gotten to be part of it lately as much as I’d like. I’ve been to war WITH Coach P and FOR Coach P and I’m not going to abandon him now just cuz things are a little uncomfortable. Can he be a little stubborn? Yes. Can he be a little disorganized? YES. Can communication be a little frustrating with him from time to time? Hell yes! Can his shirt be a little too small as if it was his daughters before she outgrew it? Yes!!! Is he a cheater? NO! Not during my time there and I find it hard to believe that in the last three years that’s changed. Honestly, from my personal perspective the story doesn’t add up the way it’s being reported. When Clown Baby Jr. wrestled there, I asked specifically about sauna suits because I saw so many wrestlers using them in different programs and had no idea they were illegal. It’s something you can buy at Bloomingdales right off the shelf so why would I? You’d a thought I just walked across freshly disinfected wrestling mats with street shoes on. I was told absolutely not to put CBJ in one and not to bring it up again especially in front of parents who may be inclined to use them.
I hate that this is happening right before the state tournament starts, it’s terrible timing not that there is a perfect time for it to happen. I would make a plea to anyone calling for the wrestlers involved to be disqualified from the state series to think about what happened to those kids last week in Washington DC. They’re kids and the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Also, it could easily be your kid or program going through this and I for one promise you I would feel the same as I do now and I would stand up for them too. Even if said kid was in CBJ’s weight class.
I want to add also to what Coach Vega said about dealing with parents. I’m just going to put this out there, sometimes us parents can be huge assholes and very difficult to deal with. Unfortunately there’s a few who may be surprised to hear it and if so, you’re probably one of them. Can you imagine being a wrestling coach at any high school these days and dealing with the parents, the AD and the wrestlers and doing it for what they get paid? I’m out of line now but I’ll just say it takes a very special breed to do it and I appreciate every one of them.
Wrestling Scholar - Where are you drinking in Carmel for only $20 a pop? I shudder at the idea, you should be drinking at least $40 drinks here. Is it black market basement booze? Never mind, I’ll have to take you out for a good $65 top shelf drink sometime. You too Uncle Jimmy.