This was the second year in a row I've covered Iredell County athletes at the state wrestling championships in Winston-Salem, and the event is one of my favorites to cover. The state tournament had 672 wrestlers and 1,218 matches in three different classifications, which always makes for plenty of storylines.
My story that ran Sunday is here, and my follow-up notebook of information I didn't have room for the previous day is here.
I never wrestled growing up - unless you count the occasional trampoline match with my buddies - and wasn't too familiar with the sport until I began writing for newspapers out of college.
The one thing I like about wrestling is that a match is never over - unless, of course, someone gets pinned or the match is stopped due to a technical fall. But I've seen kids losing 13-0 get a pin out of nowhere and win the match with 10 seconds remaining. That's not possible in other sports. In basketball, if you're down 80-65 with 20 seconds remaining, you aren't going to win.
The athletes are incredibly invested in their matches as well. If you lose a match, most of the time it's because you got outworked, you did something you shouldn't have done or you didn't do something you should have. And it's all on you.
True story: In the depths of the LJVM Coliseum, the warm-up area consists of several mats put together.
This is one of my favorite areas to observe. Kids warm up with others they've never met, talk with teammates and curl up and sleep. I stepped over three sleeping heavyweights to get back upstairs, and I can't say I blame them. The tournament is a grueling two-day event, so some of those guys asleep had been at the Coliseum for at least 12 hours.
When I got over the mat to go upstairs, I noticed one wrestler as far away as possible from the crowd, singlet pulled down and absolutely bawling over what must have been a tough loss. \\
So I went to the concourse, ate some pizza (surprising, I know) and walked back down about 20 minutes later.
The same wrestler, still crying, hadn't moved an inch.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Don't expect Wharton to play guard
The popular theory around the Carolinas is that the Panthers resigned Travelle Wharton, who played left tackle last season, with the intent of moving him inside to a guard position. Carolina would then spend a high draft pick - or a lot of money in free agency - on a left tackle.
To me, logic seems to dictate Wharton will remain at left tackle next year and in the future.
Think about it this way: Carolina just cut Mike Wahle, an effective yet injury-plagued guard, to save about $4 million toward its salary cap. Wharton signed a six-year deal with $36 million. I'm not sure if that contract is backloaded or carries incentive clauses (I assume it does), but it doesn't make much financial sense to give someone $6 million a year to play guard, especially when you just cut someone making $4 million.
Compare Wharton's contract to some of the best guards in the league: Steve Hutchinson, who signed a mammoth deal with Minnesota, has a cap figure of $6.7 million. Buffalo's Derrick Dockery has a cap figure of $6.8 million a year. Pittsburgh's Alan Faneca, one of the best offensive linemen in the league, will probably leave Pittsburgh because the Steelers - who currently pay him about $6 million a year - can't afford, or don't want, to resign him.
Wharton played left tackle last year, and struggled at times. But he underwent a major knee operation the year prior, and offensive linemen usually do much better the second year after a surgery. Especially with right tackle Jordan Gross unsigned, I don't think the Panthers have the luxury to pay a guard that much money.
To me, logic seems to dictate Wharton will remain at left tackle next year and in the future.
Think about it this way: Carolina just cut Mike Wahle, an effective yet injury-plagued guard, to save about $4 million toward its salary cap. Wharton signed a six-year deal with $36 million. I'm not sure if that contract is backloaded or carries incentive clauses (I assume it does), but it doesn't make much financial sense to give someone $6 million a year to play guard, especially when you just cut someone making $4 million.
Compare Wharton's contract to some of the best guards in the league: Steve Hutchinson, who signed a mammoth deal with Minnesota, has a cap figure of $6.7 million. Buffalo's Derrick Dockery has a cap figure of $6.8 million a year. Pittsburgh's Alan Faneca, one of the best offensive linemen in the league, will probably leave Pittsburgh because the Steelers - who currently pay him about $6 million a year - can't afford, or don't want, to resign him.
Wharton played left tackle last year, and struggled at times. But he underwent a major knee operation the year prior, and offensive linemen usually do much better the second year after a surgery. Especially with right tackle Jordan Gross unsigned, I don't think the Panthers have the luxury to pay a guard that much money.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Panthers cut two
The Carolina Panthers cut MLB Dan Morgan and OG Mike Wahle yesterday in an effort to clear up some cap space.
Morgan's departure saves the Panthers about $2 million, while releasing Wahle will save around $4 million.
Cutting Morgan makes sense both on the field and in the salary cap. There was always a slim chance Carolina could move Morgan to the outside and keep Jon Beason in the middle, but this felt like the right time for the player and organization to part ways.
I did expect an offensive lineman to be cut, but was surprised it was Wahle. He's been one of the most reliable and consistent linemen, but with Carolina looking to make a splash in free agency and the draft, this was a cost-cutting move.
How could the offensive line look next season? There are a bunch of different scenarios, and most revolve around whether or not the Panthers draft or sign an offensive tackle.
With the roster now, my best guess to the starting offensive line right now would be (from left tackle to right tackle): Travelle Wharton, Justin Hartwig, Ryan Kalil, Jeremy Bridges, Jordan Gross.
Keep in mind, though, that both Wharton and Gross need to be resigned, and general manager Marty Hurney suggested there may be more moves along the offensive line.
I'd expect Carolina to sign a tackle or draft one in the first round, with the intent of playing him on the left side. Then they'd resign Gross to play right tackle. I think Ryan Kalil will be the opening-day center, and I'd expect either Wharton or Bridges - perhaps both - to be gone next season.
Morgan's departure saves the Panthers about $2 million, while releasing Wahle will save around $4 million.
Cutting Morgan makes sense both on the field and in the salary cap. There was always a slim chance Carolina could move Morgan to the outside and keep Jon Beason in the middle, but this felt like the right time for the player and organization to part ways.
I did expect an offensive lineman to be cut, but was surprised it was Wahle. He's been one of the most reliable and consistent linemen, but with Carolina looking to make a splash in free agency and the draft, this was a cost-cutting move.
How could the offensive line look next season? There are a bunch of different scenarios, and most revolve around whether or not the Panthers draft or sign an offensive tackle.
With the roster now, my best guess to the starting offensive line right now would be (from left tackle to right tackle): Travelle Wharton, Justin Hartwig, Ryan Kalil, Jeremy Bridges, Jordan Gross.
Keep in mind, though, that both Wharton and Gross need to be resigned, and general manager Marty Hurney suggested there may be more moves along the offensive line.
I'd expect Carolina to sign a tackle or draft one in the first round, with the intent of playing him on the left side. Then they'd resign Gross to play right tackle. I think Ryan Kalil will be the opening-day center, and I'd expect either Wharton or Bridges - perhaps both - to be gone next season.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Oh Snap!
Attention coaches, parents and athletes in Iredell County.
We've added a new feature to our Around Iredell Web site, a user-submitted photo system called Snap!
You can access it from www.aroundiredell.com/sports, or simply click the link below.
http://aisnap.mycapture.com/mycapture/photos/index.aspx
You can submit a variety of sports photos - signings, banquets and shots from the game. We already have some really good photos of South Iredell softball games, and one of South running back Anthony Thwaites' signing his letter of intent.
We've added a new feature to our Around Iredell Web site, a user-submitted photo system called Snap!
You can access it from www.aroundiredell.com/sports, or simply click the link below.
http://aisnap.mycapture.com/mycapture/photos/index.aspx
You can submit a variety of sports photos - signings, banquets and shots from the game. We already have some really good photos of South Iredell softball games, and one of South running back Anthony Thwaites' signing his letter of intent.
Monday, February 4, 2008
I knew the Giants had a real shot to win when ...
So the New York Giants are world champions, and Eli Manning is the Super Bowl MVP (did I really just type that?).
They deserve it, though. They weathered through some bad losses - like 41-17 to Minnesota - played hard throughout games and, most importantly, got hot late in the season when it matters most.
I was at work on the desk at the R&L, but watched the game through the magic of TiVo today.
Here's the first point in my mind when I really thought the Giants had a very good chance to win. It's kind of out there, so bear with me.
On New England's first play of the game, Tom Brady faked a hand-off to Laurence Maroney, then faked an end around. He kept the ball with the intent of throwing a screen pass back to Maroney. He was hit hard, and the pass fluttered incomplete.
Seriously, that's the play New England drew up to start the game? That's either really, really arrogant or really, really stupid. Or both.
Let me explain.
For that play to work properly, there are a couple of things that needed to be in place. First, the Patriots needed to have already established a running game up the middle. Secondly, New England needed to show the ability to run a reverse or end around with its dangerously fast receivers. And the Giants would have needed to overpursue tackles throughout the game. All those things happen and it's the perfect play.
That's why it made no sense to call that on the first play of the game. New York was playing its gaps, and didn't bite on either play-action because nothing was established. It was an easy blitz to the quarterback, an easy incompletion.
New England's coaching staff and players were off the entire game, and that first call sort of set the tone for the rest of the night.
They deserve it, though. They weathered through some bad losses - like 41-17 to Minnesota - played hard throughout games and, most importantly, got hot late in the season when it matters most.
I was at work on the desk at the R&L, but watched the game through the magic of TiVo today.
Here's the first point in my mind when I really thought the Giants had a very good chance to win. It's kind of out there, so bear with me.
On New England's first play of the game, Tom Brady faked a hand-off to Laurence Maroney, then faked an end around. He kept the ball with the intent of throwing a screen pass back to Maroney. He was hit hard, and the pass fluttered incomplete.
Seriously, that's the play New England drew up to start the game? That's either really, really arrogant or really, really stupid. Or both.
Let me explain.
For that play to work properly, there are a couple of things that needed to be in place. First, the Patriots needed to have already established a running game up the middle. Secondly, New England needed to show the ability to run a reverse or end around with its dangerously fast receivers. And the Giants would have needed to overpursue tackles throughout the game. All those things happen and it's the perfect play.
That's why it made no sense to call that on the first play of the game. New York was playing its gaps, and didn't bite on either play-action because nothing was established. It was an easy blitz to the quarterback, an easy incompletion.
New England's coaching staff and players were off the entire game, and that first call sort of set the tone for the rest of the night.
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