It's been over a month. The obsession about Spencer here is weird and frankly pathetic. You guys talk about him twice as much as HR.
JS - I am really starting to feel bad for you on this one. "It's been over a month.... ". REALLY? Not only is that stoakng the coals in the wrong fire, but it's as if you have no introspection when typing something so idiotic.
It's seems you are in for an very uncomfortable period my friend. How long is unknown, but it won't be brief. Maybe I can help, probably not. I remember some Steelers missques like a punt return after a penalty vs New England that probably cost them a trip to the Superbowl, that hung with me for years, until I matured and got a much stronger sense of the greatest perspective, especially as this applies to what are just games. I hope your journey there is quicker.
Some self reflection is in order, before helping the rest of the wrestling world getting over it's "obsession" with Spencer Lee.
When you think about it, it's been 50 years, and Dan Gable's last match is still brought up here an there on the all of the more prominent boards and venues, at least every now and then. I am sorry my friend but this one ain't just going away, and Spencer did it twice to help reinforce the point.
I first heard of Spencer when he was still a freshman in highschool, and my fandom was brought to a crescendo that came crashing down with the revelation he chose Iowa. I remained a fan, granted less emotionally involved with that decision.
Spencer was and remains arguably the most prominent and provactaive (in some respects) 'personality' in folkstyle wrestling over the past couple of decades, more so than Gable S, Yanni, DT, and other GOATS, with better records by the way. Some of this due to a carefully crafted Rambo like persona. No doubt he is incredibly 'navy seal' like tough. What he has accomplished and what he has overcome is truly amazing.
However, when his very words result in the printing of Tee shirts, one can start to see the persona out pace the real thing. "Excuses are for wusses" probably can be copyrighted back to Spencer, if that hasn't already happened. You can't walk that kind of thing back, and that magical very public proclamation is as indelibly etched in the minds of wrestling fans, as much so is his mom's unfortunate meme. Both now are part of the Spencer Lee experience forever. Just as Tiger Wood's 7 iron to the head from his wife, remains at the forefront along with every Master's victory. For some the 7 Iron episode may be that very first thought when you hear the name Tiger Woods. Fair? Certainly not. 'With great power comes great responsibility'. You can't simply walk back the stuff that bites you in the ass when you walk in the spotlight.
Spencer gave credit where credit is due of course to Ramos which was excellent, but he and his surrogates have also continued to reinforce the notion he is injured and not 100%. So even though Ramos earned it, a fully healthy Spencer would have easily taken him out. Probably so. Personally I don't think he has been 100% his whole college career, certainly this past year he was far from optimal. I also think he came back too early, and should have taken a medical.
That said he has pulled all excuses off the table with his famous words. His even allowing his father to go out with this interview in an attempt to do god knows what, was simply foolish. Bailing out on two straight tourneys was both a bad idea and a bad look, probably not quite as bad on the idea front of having ever entered them in the first place.
Unfortunately for Spencer and his legacy, being a 4xer in the State and then Nationally is not his truth, not his story. A testment in some respects to just how difficult that achievement is, even if someone like Yanni got there via a seemingly less spectacular path. I also think it dissrespectful and disingenuous to think this Spencer Lee would have and should have been a 4xer and arguably the GOAT if not for Covid. This claims he is good enough for the 'label' in the face of this year's failure, but no matter it would have been good enough for them since this year should never have never happened?
Could Spencer have been good enough to get there? Given the right timing and circumstances I think Spencer had the foundation to have gone both undefeated and be a 4xer, but those same circumstances coupled with the decisions he made, eliminated both possibilities.
So back to 'it's been a month'.... In my youth my obsession and fervor for the Steelers was very intense and as a result unhealthy. For more than a decade, when they lost and it affected my life far too materially. When I was really young, I used to go to the games with my dad, and not so many years later after he died, that team served as my strongest connection to him in those days.
Today there are parts of me where I am still the same little kid who had to stand on the seat just to get a glimpse over the heads of the fans in front to experience glimpses of Franco Harris's immaculate reception live and in person with my dad. Today when they win, I really appreciate it, but when they lose it doesn't bother me so much. It's part of the game, and I no longer let games hold so much power over me.
Wrestling is just a game, and there has only been one to never lose. Only one, Nonetheless, all wins and losses are indelibly recorded in history. They can not be altered, asterisked, or obliterated. Spencer will forever be amongst a forever growing collection of the many 3xers. Here's a secret, every 3xer has a woulda, coulda, shoulda story that makes them a 4xer, the line between 3 and 4 is both razor thin and as wide as the grand canyon at the same time.
Bo Nickal tosses Miles to his back for what should be a 6 point lead or maybe fall like in their prior match, only to have Miles roll though for his own 6. A 12 point swing in the blink of an eye, which ended up being much larger than the difference in that championship match. Bo shoulda been a 4xer. He was certainly a LOT closer than Spencer. That said, he's not, Bo is one hell of a 3xer and he and his fans bask in that achievement. None of us fans look at Bo as if that loss signaled his failure. When I look at Bo and Yanni, I am confident today Bo is the better wrestler. Does being a 2xer or 3xer or 4xer matter that much? Not unless that's how you choose to define the person. Who doesn't think DT isn't one of the best wrestlers on this planet? Does it really matter he only got 2 instead of 4? It certainly doesn't matter to me when I see those gold medals around his neck.
At the end of the day Spencer got 3, at his peak he was the best 125 lber I have ever seen. I hope his knees are up to the challenge of putting him on a path to a World or Olympic gold. From where I stand I have doubts about both.
In the end, there can be no regrets. Sure he lost two of the biggest matches in his life, as did David Taylor. Don't let those matches define him in your mind. People will talk about those matches and some of his failures for years to come.
Thinking the bad will just fade away in a month is just plain silly. Don't wait for HVI to move on, you should do so first.
PS - that has to be my longest one. To those who made it though, we need to talk about Internet addiction. Noone sits on the toilet that long without the wife banging on the door.
