Wrestling has been an Olympic sports...well...forever. It was an Olympic sports back in the ancient days and has been around at every modern Olympics as well. Now, The IOC is dumping wrestling after the Rio games so they can add another sport. Apprantly there is a rule that ther can only be 26 sports in the summer games so if something gets added then something has to be dropped. The board supposedly analyzed 39 criteria including tv ratings, ticket sales, anti-doping policy and global participation. Wrestling didnt make the cut. Over 200 countries have Olympic Wrestling programs and the United States team has boasted Olympians from right here in central Wisconsin. Both Dennis Hall and Ben Provisor are obviously dismayed that their sport is being eliminated. It seems to me that the 26 sports rule is arbitrary and is really a smoke screen for another agenda. The IOC may not want to deal with the doping issue anymore and the smaller countries (like many of the former Russian republics) who win most if not all of their medals in wrestling are not represented on the decision making board...while sports like modern penthalon survived the purge because it has support from older, more well-heeled members of the commitee.

Speaking of wrestling...the high school team sectionals were last night and Wausau West earned a trip to state with a 47-13 win over Menominee. The other area teams were not so fortunate. Rapids, Edgar and Witt/Birn came up short.

There were alot of blow-outs in first round hockey games last night. Antigo, Mosinee, Pacelli & Marshfield all scored double-figure goals to advance. Wausau EAst moved on in a much more competitive game, scoring two goals in the 3rd period to beat Lakeland 3-2. Eric Pulkinen, who has been hurt for a big part of his senior season, got the game winner.East will face West on Thursday. Antigo will play DC Everest, Mosinee faces Northland Pines, Pacelli will play SPASH and Marshfield will take on Eau Claire Regis. Wisconsin Rapids will play La Crosse.

The TV show "Southland" returns tonight on TNT. Its a solid, gritty look at policing in Los Angeles.

Songs Of The Day...(from my I-pod)

Living For The City-Stevie Wonder (1973) From the classic 'Innervisions" LP comes Stevie's look at fighting the poverty of the day and doing it with dignity. The period of 1972-1978 was his most fertile period and the music he was making was transcendent.

Living In The Past-Jethro Tull (1969) originally released in 69 but didnt become a hit until released on a compilation disc in 1972. great bass work in this one featuring an odd time signature...plus Ian Andersons flute work is always welcome