Kick'in the tires

My greatest mentors in the wrestling business were Jody Hamilton and Tom Renesto. Tom was the first booker I worked for and Jody took me under his wing and taught me how to act, how to talk , and how to keep from getting killed. I was not a hoodlum or badass by any stretch of the imagination. I was however a green kid, thrilled to be in the business and living out my lifelong dream. With all of that it is very easy to get caught up in the moment and forget you are a professional and need to act like one. I am so glad when I broke into the business guys still had respect for the business and the new guys were reared into that respect. You learned it the easy way or you were taught it the hard way. So I can never thank Jody enough for all he did for me. My first child, a son is named Joseph Anthony Simmons and is called Jody. (Anthony was Tom's middle name). I knew of no better way to honor and thank these two fine gentleman...

We had worked Savannah, Ga which was our longest trip in Ga., 262 Miles one way. Not long by other territories trips but nonetheless our longest. I had ridden with Jody and his son Joe, Jr. who was about twelve or thirteen at the time. He grew up to become Nick Patrick a pretty darn good ref in his own right. As we were packing up to leave the civic center Jody says that Tom is gonna ride back with us. This was good news for me because these guys could tell some of the funniest stories I have ever heard. I can't tell it in this forum but if you ever meet Jody ask him about the monkey at the roadside zoo.

As we loaded our bags into the trunk Jody tossed me the keys and tells Tom that the kids are gonna chauffer us home tonight. So with Joe, Jr. and myself in the front seat and the world famous Assassins in the backseat off we go to Atlanta. The trip home was a long dark ride.

You had about thirty miles of interstate and then about one hundred miles of two lane highway. The final hundred and thirty was interstate again. It was on that dark two lane highway that this story unfolds. We were riding along talking when Tom shouts stop and pull over NOW!! I hit the brakes and slid to a halt and moved over to the side of the road. Jody says get out and kick the tires. I did not move at first, and he yelled at me again, get out and kick the tires. I thought it was a rib and they were gonna drive off and leave me, so I did not want to get out. Tom says, get out and kick the tires or we are gonna throw you out and kick you!! Well, guess what? I got out and started kicking the tires. I kicked the drivers side front tire and went to get back in and they hollered kick them all. I must admit I had no idea what they were doing or what I was doing.