Daily Madden: Wrestling Belongs In The Olympics
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - In a surprising move, the International Olympic Committee has cut wrestling from the 2020 Summer Games.
"That kind of upsets me," John Madden told the KCBS Radio morning crew. "That was kind of where it all started, wasn't it? You'd think that wrestling is kind of the base of the Olympics." Wushu, a Chinese martial art sport, is among the events that might replace wrestling.
"That's the problem right there," Madden said, "when you take wrestling out and you put in wushu, which I have no idea what wushu would be.... I'd rather see a good wrestling match than a wushu."
Madden noted many excellent football players had wrestling backgrounds.
"In looking for football players, I was always kind of a line expert...The real good centers were all wrestlers."
The NFL is reportedly looking at widening the field as a safety measure. Madden doesn't see it happening. "You start to look at the stadiums, and is there room to add the five feet? And in some places (near the corners) it becomes awfully tight... There's not a lot of room down there."
New Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly has said Michael Vick and Nick Foles will compete for the quarterback job. Madden said he's not surprised Vick is back in the picture.
"When you just look at it, and the type of offense (Chip Kelly) has, and the kinds of things Michael Vick can do -- again you throw that caveat in there, when healthy -- they kind of fit what Kelly does." (7:45)
Daily Madden
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