Dan Gable on MMA, wrestling, and pro wrestling

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                            <h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=445789" target="_blank">
                                Dan Gable on MMA, wrestling, and pro wrestling

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                        <a href="/go=news.detail&gid=445789" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=70&q=75&x=57&y=-2&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=dab-gable.png" /></a>



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                    <p>Dan Gable is at the very least the greatest wrestler and the greatest wrestling coach in US history. And he even coined the derisive term &quot;butt scoot&quot; during John Peretti&#39;s The Contenders wrestling vs. martial arts submission grappling event in 1997.&nbsp; Gable has has expressed ambiguous and contrary feelings about mixed martial arts in the past. However, in an interview with Michael Schiavello, he seems to have come around some.</p>

"Is mixed martial arts good for wrestling?" asked "The Voice."

Gable waited a moment to compose his thoughts.

"It's good for wrestling for the people that want to stay in it and earn a living," said Gable. "It gives a wrestler more opportunity. I would like to see wrestling become more like we had out own leagues… and you could still have that too. But it's the best opportunity right now for a wrestler that wants to stay in that type of competition, to go on.

"Now, from a  school and education point of view, we have to make sure that people understand it is only a select few that go on and are capable of doing this. Kind of like the NFL in football. It's not that this is out main goal, but it's another opportunity."

Then Schiavello asked a hypothetical about a wrestler who had done it all going into MMA or going into pro wrestling.

"You know, I would say the same thing about pro wrestling," said Gable. "Only from the point of view that it is another opportunity. But I will say that if this (hypothetical) guy loves competition, he's not going to get it in pro wrestling.

"It's more of an entertainment factor, which we all want entertainment. In fact that's one of the things that we have to do more in our sport right now - get more entertainment.

"But pro wrestling is for those that would want to be more into Hollywood, and the movie industry, as compared to the real competitive edge, and that's the MMA."

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The GOAT!

He has come around a little bit. I agree with him that wrestlers should keep their expectations realistic, if they plan on going into MMA.

One of the things that pisses me off the most is that wrestling, specifically college wrestling, isn't televised more. You can't even find it on ESPN the ocho for christs sakes. I hope that changes in the future.

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Ttt Phone Post 3.0

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Agento777 - The GOAT!

He has come around a little bit. I agree with him that wrestlers should keep their expectations realistic, if they plan on going into MMA.

One of the things that pisses me off the most is that wrestling, specifically college wrestling, isn't televised more. You can't even find it on ESPN the ocho for christs sakes. I hope that changes in the future.

What drives me bananas is when you search for wrestling on cable, the internet, etc.

You have to sift through link/channel after link /channel of pro wrestling. It sucks balls. If I wanted to search "Soap opera for men," I would have.

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ausgepicht - 
Agento777 - The GOAT!

He has come around a little bit. I agree with him that wrestlers should keep their expectations realistic, if they plan on going into MMA.

One of the things that pisses me off the most is that wrestling, specifically college wrestling, isn't televised more. You can't even find it on ESPN the ocho for christs sakes. I hope that changes in the future.

What drives me bananas is when you search for wrestling on cable, the internet, etc.

You have to sift through link/channel after link /channel of pro wrestling. It sucks balls. If I wanted to search "Soap opera for men," I would have.

yep, can't stand it now that I'm not 12 anymore

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i doubt there will ever be a wrestling league like gable is talking about...at least on tv, as not many people enjoy watching amateur wrestling..

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Worth the watch if you can make it through the intentionally misleading opening paragraph.

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He came out here for a wrestling clinic a few years ago my dad put together and stayed around to watch a UFC card with my pops, pretty cool Phone Post 3.0

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Bry Bry - i doubt there will ever be a wrestling league like gable is talking about...at least on tv, as not many people enjoy watching amateur wrestling..

that's what's sad, people actually watch play wrestling

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Sub Phone Post 3.0

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I think a wrestling league could work if marketed right to the right audience on the right network. It'd fit nicely in with UFC programming IMHO.

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Aaron Becker - 
Bry Bry - i doubt there will ever be a wrestling league like gable is talking about...at least on tv, as not many people enjoy watching amateur wrestling..

that's what's sad, people actually watch play wrestling

You know what though? The networks always say "Wrestling isn't popular enough, so we don't televise it."

It IS popular enough, it's just that they don't televise and promote it. It's frustrating. I remember one year turning on ESPN, what was listed as a meet, but turned out to be a Magic: The Gathering tournament. ESPN!!!

Wrestling is popular all over the world. It's popular in America. The networks have their own agendas - they'd rather have the vapid, lame shit like Lizard Towing, the Kardashians, and Magic: The Gathering.

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You could probably make wrestling work on tv if they added some bs story line.

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he cornered Royce when Eugene Jackson Ko'd him right?

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Kirik -


You could probably make wrestling work on tv if they added some bs story line.

I think I read somewhere that the ratings for the NCAA finals have been improving steadily year by year so that's a good sign. Also ESPN has been adding more and more coverage. Only problem is that's the only time it's on a good channel w/ a good timeslot. Phone Post 3.0

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auspegicht-you honest think amateur wrestling is a popular enough sport to get a solid tv audience??i dont, it is like watching BJJ or Abu Dhabi...they would have to add some sort of gimmick to it to make it more interesting..