It was also a slightly different dynamic, as it was the older, displaced guys complaining in Iowa, while it's the rising generation that's still in Happy Valley that's complaining now.
DT and Starocci/Brooks beef
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It was also a slightly different dynamic, as it was the older, displaced guys complaining in Iowa, while it's the rising generation that's still in Happy Valley that's complaining now.
Correct. Plus you had the Iowa guys blasting the coaches.
This is athlete v athlete - with nary a criticism (public) of the coaches.
I agree. That different dynamic may be why. If Brooks and Starocci were leaving, the criticisms may be directed at both Taylor and the coaches for what they feel was preferential treatment.
And there are some other PSU wrestlers that are liked and respected here. Off of the top of my head, I would say Nico, Cenzo and Nolf. Maybe Hall and a couple of others that I can't think of now.
Many times we don’t “like” them until they graduate and represent the US on the international stage. Not sure this new duo will ever cross that threshold.
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By now PSU has a whole lot of successful wrestlers so there's bound to be a little friction between various folk. We don't know how these guys relate to each other. I mean PSU's second 4x guy beat an Olympic gold medalist. I don't consider Starocci the face of the program, honestly I'd say it's Sanderson. There are too many great guys in the last 15 years to have a face IMO.
Always liked Nick Lee and Zain. Brooks seems like a good dude.Star is ok as well...first guy to break radio silence and show a bit of personality. I respect the hell out of DT's wrestling but he strikes me as being a bit disingenuous irl. Don't forget the great brick assault of 2017:
DT is a great guy but many of these guys are about themselves. They're incredibly competitive and driven. For example I met Kijana carter at a signing, he and the other PSU football guys were great but some people in the business alluded to him being a little tough to deal with saying, Kijana is about Kijana first. And that's how business is. So we have 23 yo guys who are up and coming like Brooks and Starocci vs Taylor, the old guard. I can see some friction.Always liked Nick Lee and Zain. Brooks seems like a good dude.Star is ok as well...first guy to break radio silence and show a bit of personality. I respect the hell out of DT's wrestling but he strikes me as being a bit disingenuous irl. Don't forget the great brick assault of 2017:
Let's also add that there is no such thing as humility these days. These kids are making 6 figures, in the prime of their life, and think they own the world. They are bound to think their opinion is important and that people want to hear it. They are bound to think that the world revolves around them or at the very least, they have to remind themselves that it does not revolve around them.
The egocentrism and inhuman competitiveness that makes a few people genuinely great athletes, often makes them less than great human beings.
Here's an excerpt from a fascinating profile of John Smith that I read years ago:
"I make a commitment that no other wrestler does. There are probably a few wrestlers out there who think they make a commitment. But I really make a commitment.
Anything that gets in my way, I pretty much eliminate. I don’t have too many close friends. I don’t have too many close relationships. I just can’t afford to have them to go where I want to go, to do what I want to do. I really focus on myself. I really figure out and find a way how I can win, how I can beat everybody. I’ll do whatever it takes.
Put it this way: I’ve never had a girlfriend I’ve been good to, you know. Because I’d blow them off when it was time to go to work. I’d say, ‘Don’t come around. I don’t want to (see you).’ It’s been hard on some of those girls. They don’t understand it. But it’s like, ‘Hey, I’m in love with this more than I am with you.’
I’ve probably hurt a lot of people because of this. But you gotta do what you gotta do if this is what you want.”
John Smith in the Los Angeles Times. July 19, 1992
Wrestling With Himself : Olympic Champion John Smith Blocks Out Everything Else, Then Beats Everyone Else
"C ommitment. "I make a commitment that no other wrestler does.
www.latimes.com
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He egged his coach on to show some emotion that's for sure.Always liked Nick Lee and Zain. Brooks seems like a good dude.Star is ok as well...first guy to break radio silence and show a bit of personality. I respect the hell out of DT's wrestling but he strikes me as being a bit disingenuous irl. Don't forget the great brick assault of 2017:
That dude has exposed himself as being a complete douchebag.
But at Iowa, and Iowa and Iowa...................................................happens everywhere....not a big deal at psu
That's a good post, during the moment or close to the time we cringe at these actions, when time goes by people often talk what a fierce competitor a fellow was.The egocentrism and inhuman competitiveness that makes a few people genuinely great athletes, often makes them less than great human beings.
Here's an excerpt from a fascinating profile of John Smith that I read years ago:
"I make a commitment that no other wrestler does. There are probably a few wrestlers out there who think they make a commitment. But I really make a commitment.
Anything that gets in my way, I pretty much eliminate. I don’t have too many close friends. I don’t have too many close relationships. I just can’t afford to have them to go where I want to go, to do what I want to do. I really focus on myself. I really figure out and find a way how I can win, how I can beat everybody. I’ll do whatever it takes.
Put it this way: I’ve never had a girlfriend I’ve been good to, you know. Because I’d blow them off when it was time to go to work. I’d say, ‘Don’t come around. I don’t want to (see you).’ It’s been hard on some of those girls. They don’t understand it. But it’s like, ‘Hey, I’m in love with this more than I am with you.’
I’ve probably hurt a lot of people because of this. But you gotta do what you gotta do if this is what you want.”
John Smith in the Los Angeles Times. July 19, 1992
Wrestling With Himself : Olympic Champion John Smith Blocks Out Everything Else, Then Beats Everyone Else
"C ommitment. "I make a commitment that no other wrestler does.
That is so true, when I met Carter it was over 10 years after his PSU days, My guess he was mid 30s and by then he was running a successful,. no football related business.
In ten years he'll be a colorful character, fierce competitors, etc. etc. Your own coach had a less than stellar rep back in the day. People grow up, we don't like these antics but down the road it will hardly be noticed.
Mmmmm….hell still be a douchebag. Likely with many more examples supporting that.
there might be some serious fallout from all this ... the PSU wrestling room may not be as *fun* as it used to be 😮
yeah. no.
If anything, that group is tighter. It's clear there was a DT and Brooks faction.
I'll give Dake some credit, he's managed to stay above it and really gel with the younger guys (starocci, nickal, etc)
How would you know if that group is tighter? Are you an insider there now aswell?
I know peoples. but, NO ONE is an insider at PSU. Carl runs a tight ship over there. I get nuggets here and there.
Exactly, when did Taylor start a Penn State? Wasn’t it approximately 15 years ago. Some of these young guys were in grade school then. And with the success that Penn State has had there isn’t just one guy who’s the face of the program.
Only if they can stick it to Penn State in the process.
Whar did Taylor do or say wrong that these other Lions are so upset about.
He knew brooks was on an illegal amphetamine and had some problems with it, I don't blame him and would be more bitter than DT
He knew brooks was on an illegal amphetamine and had some problems with it, I don't blame him and would be more bitter than DT
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IMO, this is the beginning of the decline, with fan boys making excuses for hard feelings at PSU on other team's websites. Sooner or later the clash of egos was going to catch up to them. It will get worse.
is this similar to, "when so and so graduate, PSU will come back to the pack?"
Definitely getting worse! As soon as Retherford and Lee finished embracing after Zain’s win to make the Olympics team, Lee agreed to be his training partner to travel to the Last Chance Qualifier to qualify the spot.
It’s not the end of the world that Brooks and DT don’t care for each other. DT is no longer in the room, and by all appearances, the cohesion amongst the PSU and NLWC guys is as strong as ever. Best of luck to DT at OSU, and best of luck to those who stayed in PA .
Yep. It didn't end well for the Old Lion in the movie either.
The problem with Carter is that he has no filter. He is also extremely loyal to his crew. Aaron is central to that crew.
Now DT gave the politically correct response to the question by FLO. But deep down I think Carter knows that DT will be quietly rooting for Yazdani if he meets Aaron. They have known and respected each other for a long time, and consider each other friends. And there is no way DT would ever admit that until the day he dies. It would be PR suicide. But Carter believes what Carter believes and he'll chirp about it.
Was him trying to quit after B1Gs part of his “extremely loyal” personality?
Actually, 100% yes, because his temporary interpretation of what transpired was that a disloyalty had been done to him.
I’m aware of the word. I’d describe Carter as more of a narcissist though.
Cool diagnosis from online activity without examining him. I describe him as a four time champ, something you're not very familiar with. Maybe an impulsive kid, emotional, maybe prone to A hole behavior without thinking. However his teammates seem to like and respect him so I doubt you're very accurate on your assessment.
