GRECO!!!

Swedish Wrestler Tosses Medal

Swedish Wrestler Ara Abrahamian tosses away his Olympic bronze medal after being disqualified in the semifinal round.

By News Video

Thursday, August 14, 2008

During the ceremony, Abrahamian took the medal from around his neck, stepped from podium and dropped it in the middle of the mat before storming off.

IOC officials promised a disciplinary hearing, while the victorious Minguzzi said his celebration had been spoiled. "Certainly one can always question decisions made in the course of refereeing, but in sports it is appropriate to show sportsmanship and accept the results," he said.

When I reffed middle school matches in New Mexico, some parents treated it as if it were the Olympics. In that instance, their overreaction was not justified.

At the Empire State Games, some dudes took it WAY TOO SERIOUSLY. Vestal, New York is a long way from Beijing, 40-year-old dude that takes Greco a little too seriously.

Today, as a reformed referee and Greco afficionado, I'm all for good sportsmanship. However, I do feel that when a guy feels that he gets screwed in the actual Olympics, sometimes you have to make your statement. For example, the US was justified in refusing the silver medal in 1972. Ara probably overreacted a little, but was pretty gangster by walking off the way he did.

In related news, congrats to Adam Wheeler, the lone US Greco competitor to medal. It should be noted that Wheeler graciously accepted his bronze medal with pride during today's ceremony.