Podcast w/ Ben Askren

JacobRaschka · April 23, 2024, 07:35:35 PM

We are going live tomorrow at 9:30am with Ben Askren. Comment below with any questions you got for him.

Podcast will be live on Rokfin and Facebook

leg turk · April 23, 2024, 08:02:55 PM

Do you want to be the Wisconsin Badgers wrestling coach?

No One Cares · April 23, 2024, 08:28:54 PM

Do your feet get chaffed by wearing sandals?

sidmyster · April 23, 2024, 08:51:08 PM

Why did you resign from the RTC? Why are you telling your club not to go to Wisconsin? What is your beef with Bono?

Numbers · April 23, 2024, 10:47:25 PM

Any idea if any Wisconsin college or university might transition to a D1 mens or womens wrestling team in the next 3-4 years?

Numbers · April 23, 2024, 10:48:39 PM

And what are you going to do with your free time without FRL?

Wisconsin Wrestling Fan · April 24, 2024, 08:30:09 AM

Are there any actual names for funk moves?

gwmiller44 · April 24, 2024, 08:47:47 AM

What are your thoughts on NIL in college?

BadgerOne · April 24, 2024, 09:49:48 AM

What is your favorite and your most commonly used nickname for Coach Bono?

Would you be willing to wrestle Jon Reader in a folkstyle or freestyle match?

BadgerOne · April 24, 2024, 06:50:22 PM

Pretty interesting podcast. Ben talks Bono and UW about half way into podcast. For all who blame Ben for the state of UW's wrestling program, its worth a listen. He also talks about NIL. He also talks about Barry.

BadgerOne · April 24, 2024, 07:42:04 PM

https://rokfin.com/stream/47924/WIwrestle-75-w-Ben-Askren

Go to 27 minute mark to listen to Forum questions and Ben's response.

vsmf2010 · April 24, 2024, 10:13:34 PM

Quote from: BadgerOne on April 24, 2024, 07:42:04 PMhttps://rokfin.com/stream/47924/WIwrestle-75-w-Ben-Askren

Go to 27 minute mark to listen to Forum questions and Ben's response.

Thanks, that is an interesting listen for sure!

npope · April 25, 2024, 06:31:05 AM

Quote from: BadgerOne on April 24, 2024, 06:50:22 PMPretty interesting podcast. Ben talks Bono and UW about half way into podcast. For all who blame Ben for the state of UW's wrestling program, its worth a listen. He also talks about NIL. He also talks about Barry.

I listened to that particular part of the interview and while some pointed questions were asked, I didn't hear a particularly enlightening response from Ben. For example, "why did you leave the UW RTC?" The response was that "Bono crossed and unspecified line and so I quit. Subsequently, he says "Bono apologized for the (unspecified) transgression and I forgave him." I'm sorry, but

?.

And too, when asked why he drives kids away from the UW his response was basically "If a kid wants to go to the UW it is fine with me - but it is the kid's choice." I think that's a fine position, but it really doesn't address the accusation that he has been recommending that these kids go elsewhere (assuming they are undecided) - he really kind of danced-around that answer.

All that said, I think it is great of Ben to pony-up for an interview like this, even if some answers aren't really answers. He has no real responsibility to be transparent on his opinions/experiences with the UW wrestling scene.

charteroak1 · April 25, 2024, 09:42:40 AM

I thought it was a very good interview. If you have an hour I would strongly suggest listening. Some great questions and some very honest answers by Ben.

Thanks Boys!!!

Ghetto · April 25, 2024, 10:03:37 AM

Quote from: npope on April 25, 2024, 06:31:05 AMAnd too, when asked why he drives kids away from the UW his response was basically "If a kid wants to go to the UW it is fine with me - but it is the kid's choice." I think that's a fine position, but it really doesn't address the accusation that he has been recommending that these kids go elsewhere (assuming they are undecided) - he really kind of danced-around that answer.

All that said, I think it is great of Ben to pony-up for an interview like this, even if some answers aren't really answers. He has no real responsibility to be transparent on his opinions/experiences with the UW wrestling scene.

It IS great that Ben put himself out there. He certainly doesn't have to.

He and Max are smart guys. They know full well that if they guide a kid towards college X, that 9 times out of 10 the kid is going there. Those kids have put their wrestling lives in the Askrens' hands. Why would they go against the thoughts of the people who got them there (and have helped others succeed as well)? If the talk in the room is anti-Wisconsin, the kids aren't deaf. They all talk to each other.

The other side to this coin that doesn't get talked about is that the grind it out style that Coach Bono seems to be paired with doesn't jive with what AWA kids do directly. It's not an "out" for why AWA kids don't go there, but Reader and Bono are sorta the same style. Gross is the outlier in the coaching group. While we would love for say, O'Toole to go to Wisconsin, it never would have fit his wrestling style. Others, like Parker, might have fit that style a bit better.