Oh the outrage! This generation is rubbing off on too many of us more seasoned veterans. It's unfortunate through the last decade or two of victimhood paraded around us daily has twisted our minds. We can become so easily provoked, to pile on with what we think is joining the virtuous side. If half of the stuff I have seen on a wrestling mat over the years that was much worse, including full on fist fights, riled me, I would have to stop watching. I have definitely seen many instances where kids went way over the line and most of the time it was dealt with appropriately by the proper local authorities. Instances that included sanctions and bans. Get real, this one was a nothing burger.
I don't think that it is all too difficult to throw one's knee right through your hands while snapping down much harder if the intent is really to take somone's face off.
That was not this.
No real contact indicates to me a reflex of frustration at the worst, or a futile attempt at something unconventional, but I am not even close to branding this kid as an Austin Desanto, or that he has a character flaw worthy of the black list.
I have seen Zain and Nolf put a far worse intentional beatings on someone's face via a legal cross faces, and the same crowd that is "sickened" by Luke's near miss, will probably comment with glee about the pain and punishment our GOATs have inflicted, then sit down to 2 hours of PPV MMA!
"But since he missed or stopped last second some will say whats the big deal??" = Yep that's me!!!
"Unreal. We saw this kids true colors. Sickening to see that." = Nope that's not me and I am thankful I don't possess the lynch mob mentality, but to take an authoritative stance on some 17 year old's character based upon that 1/4 second act? That to me is "unreal".
PS - Lilledahl and Hopke remain at the very top of my must get list