Freestyle: The Victories of Dan Gable

He is not The Rock. Baseball has Mark McGwire, football has Kurt Warner, basketball, Michael Jordan, and sports' ugly stepsister, legitimate wrestling, has its own superstar: Dan Gable. Providing an interesting glimpse into an under appreciated sport, Freestyle follows the triumphs and tragedies of Gable's life from his boyhood school career in Waterloo, Iowa, through his college successes and eventual Gold medal win at the 1972 Olympics. Stepping off the mat as contender and embarking on a new career as wrestling coach at the University of Iowa, Gable would lead his team to the climactic 1997 National College Championship. A fascinating story of an unsung athletic hero in love with the sport and not the glamour, this absorbing documentary also features interviews with Gable's parents, friends, and wife, as well as cameos from wrestling fans Al Franken, John Irving, and Leroy Neiman, among others. A solid portrait of a life dedicated almost exclusively to excellence in his chosen field, this homage to the legendary Dan Gable is recommended for larger sports collections. Aud: P. (E. Druda)