The Mangled Ear: Sports, Stories, Rants

From the Vault: Greg Urbas

Living legends are rare. Greg Urbas is the best kind of them.

May 17 • 

Nick Corey

April 2025

What's Missed Most

Former athletes reminisce. A few years ago, I talked with some former wrestlers about what they miss most from their competing days. I'm betting their…

Apr 27 • 

Nick Corey

On Sean Miller's Exodus, and a Toast to Saturday Workers and a Former Boss

"Another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody..." -Sam Cooke

Apr 13 • 

Nick Corey

Settled Dust: A Look Back at (Yet Another) Penn State Title

How has PSU been dominating college wrestling for a decade and a half? Well...

Apr 4 • 

Nick Corey

March 2025

Marc Edwards: Norwood's Bruising, Blue Collar Back

Edwards rose from a struggle-filled childhood in Norwood, OH, to heights that included graduating from Notre Dame, becoming a Fighting Irish…

Mar 28 • 

Nick Corey

'Lunatic Fringe' and Louisville's Pat Kelsey Wins ACC Coach of the Year

Plus, a theology lesson thrown in for good measure.

Mar 13 • 

Nick Corey

Hawkeye Hospitality and a Trip to be Remembered

Proud locals, an electric college match and three generations take time in front of Dan Gable's statue before returning home.

Mar 4 • 

Nick Corey

February 2025

"If you can dream it, you can achieve it!" and other untrue -isms

Unless you're UC's Luke Kandra, who has the dream and the talent. Plus, the continued ridiculousness of the NFL/refs/Chiefs conspiracy theorists.

Feb 20 • 

Nick Corey

Anthony Robles: Still Inspiring

No NCAA finals' contest - before or since - did what Anthony Robles' match did to fans and viewers. Now there's a movie of Robles' life, starring…

Feb 1 • 

Nick Corey

January 2025

How to be an Adult, 101: Stop Saying the Chiefs Get Special Treatment

Plus, White Death visits Cincinnati and (one of) Penn State's staggering wrestling stats.

Jan 17 • 

Nick Corey

Bengals Fans Gifted a Week to Dream

Imagining unlikely what-ifs is one of sports' greatest charms.

Jan 2 • 

Nick Corey

November 2024

Remembering Dad

Last week, retired Cincinnati Post and Cincinnati Enquirer columnist, Paul Daugherty, invited me to write about my dad. It's contained in Doc's TML link…

Nov 16, 2024 • 

Nick Corey