1973 Dan Gable article by John Irving

[ThunderDunk]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

While most of us have NIT fever right now, I thought I'd share this article I ran across about Dan Gable shortly after he won the gold medal in Munich. What's cool about it is that this was written before he got into coaching. Really insightful and technical. I didn't know John Irving was such a wrestling fan.

Dan Gable article by John Irving

 

[ThunderDunk]

Obviously this should be in the wrestling forum but I don't know what I'm doing

 

[EddyP]

Boat, that you?

 

[big10fan]

my dad has a great Gable story about when he came back after winning gold to promote wrestling in the US. my dad was wrestling in college at the time (D2) and said Gable made a point to talk with each wrestler, gave lots of great advice, and even got on the mat with them in practice. He said that Gable destroyed everyone like it was still the Olympics!

 

[ThunderDunk]

Cool story, big10fan. This article says that in practice the Hawk wrestlers would line up to go at Gable. Each wrestler would get 2 minutes or so, then a fresh one would come in, etc. John Irving, who wrestled at Pitt, had one good move and tried it against Gable. Some sort of bait and switch move with his leg (I know little about wrestling moves). Gable would toy with him, sometimes taking the bait, sometime not, but always taking him down.

 

[ColoradoHAWKEYE]

If you remember, I johnathon irving wrote " the world according to Garp" , which the main character was a wrestler (I don't remember the specifics of movie/book). Anyhow, because of Irving's fascination with Gable and love for wrestling, he taught at the iowa writers workshop like in early eighties, like 1984 ish (or it made it easier to get him to commit). Again not sure of specifics, nonetheless, thanks for the article.

 

[trapperjon]

GreAt read, thanks

 

[ThunderDunk]

You know I think there's a wrestling scene in A Prayer for Owen Meany too. It's all making sense now.