The word amateur has at least two connotations. In the first, more widely used manner, it means someone performing some task without pay, in contrast to a "professional" who would be paid for the same task. In this sense, labeling someone an "amateur" can have a negative connotation. For example, amateur athletes in sports such as basketball or football would not be regarded as having ability on par with professional athletes in those sports.
Where this can be interesting is in the case of the Olympic Games. Most Olympic events required that the athletes be amateurs, or non-professionals. To receive pay to perform the sport could have disqualified an athlete from an event, as in the case of Jim Thorpe. Such regulations are now nonexistent for all Olympic sports with the exception of boxing.
Also in the areas of computer programming and open source, as well as astronomy and ornithology, many amateurs make very meaningful contributions equivalent to or exceeding those of the professionals. To many, description as an amateur is losing its negative meaning, and actually carries a badge of honor.
More on [ Amateur ]

The Web's Best of Amateur Wrestling - Contains images and photos, collectables, and a wide variety of links to information and resources.
Meta Description: [ The Web's Best of Amateur Wrestling by Tom Fortunato. ]
USA Wrestling - Governing body for freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. USAW also promotes youth wrestling through its state affiliates and its sanctioning of local, regional and national tournaments. Includes results, news, articles, schedules, and links.
Meta Description: [ The Mat.com is the ultimate source for real wrestling! Find international college, high school, and youth wrestling results, schedules and links, wrestling education tools, as well as wrestling products and merchandise. ]
Amateur Wrestling News - Offers information about the sport and related camps, links, results, and rankings.
AmateurWrestlingPhotos.com - Photo galleries from amateur wrestling competitions, including national tournaments. Photos and video clips are used to illustrate the scoring techniques of top athletes.
Meta Description: [ AmateurWrestlingPhotos.com contains photo galleries from many premiere amateur wrestling competitions, including national competitions in men's freestyle, men's greco-roman, women's wrestling, and youth wrestling competitions. Photos and video clips are also used to illustrate the scoring techniq... ]
National Wrestling Hall of Fame - Offers a calendar of events, awards, history, newsletters, a virtual tour, and announcements.
The Amateur Wrestler - Offers a forum, eCards, training tips, and health information.
Meta Description: [ A place for real wrestlers, the Amateur Wrestler provides articles specific to amateur wrestlers and coaches including free e-mail, greeting cards, and the Amateur Wrestling Forum. ]
The Guillotine - Minnesota's amateur wrestling newspaper.
Meta Description: [ Minnesota's Amateur Wrestling News ]
The Predicament - Internet counterpart to the Iowa based publication. News, results, events, and rankings.
Totallywrestling.com - Coverage of amateur wrestling, including: history, timeline tributes, chatrooms, interviews with champion/Olympic wrestlers and renowned coaches, college recruiting forms, and electronic postcards.
Wrestling USA Magazine - Information, news, and resources for high-school and college wrestling.
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