A Way of Life...

I am writing this after learning of the death of Lou Thesz. I am one of the lucky ones who knew Lou on a personal basis.  I first met him while working for Ann Gunkel in 1972. I found myself completely awe struck when he walked into the room.  I remember as a kid going to the City Auditorium in Atlanta to see him defend the NWA World title on many occasions.  The match between Lou and Gene Kiniski right after Gene won the title was a classic the likes of which today's fans would boo at. They worked a short arm scissors for about forty-five minutes of a sixty-minute draw. Today's fans would not like it because they were not jumping out of the balcony or hitting each other with chairs or tables, however when they walked out of the ring that  night everyone in the building thought they had witnessed a shoot and back then we did not know what a shoot and a work were. I can recall thinking if there had just been a little more time Lou would have beaten him.

Lou Thesz was the epitome of what our business was supposed to be. He carried himself like a champion inside and outside the ring. He never went out into public looking like a bum. He dressed like a champion. He either had a suit or was dressed in slacks and a shirt that were pressed and clean. It wasn't how he dressed that impressed people but the way he carried himself. He had enough pride in our business to want to be recognized for what he was, a champion.

I was taught when I started you should act like a champion. I never held any titles. I refereed far more than I wrestled, but I never went to a town wearing shorts or sweats. I always made sure my clothes were clean and sharp, and my personal appearance was neat. This sounds silly to some of you I know, but I was proud to be in the wrestling business.

I am venting a little today because it hurts my heart that we are losing the heroes I grew up with and worked with and the world doesn't seem to give a crap. Wahoo, Lou, Rip Tyler, Eddie Sullivan, Ray Candy, and the list goes on and on. Newspapers laugh at our business as not being real sport and yet promote Tom Cruise movies as if he was a real spy or super hero. I don't know Tom Cruise but I bet he could not have lasted five minutes with Lou or Wahoo.

We followed our dream to be a part of a business we loved. I missed my kids growing up by being on the road.  I missed a lot of family events by being away from home to pursue my dreams. When I would have a day off  my family would want to go and do things, and all I wanted was to stay home, because I was never there.  Spending countless hours on the road, the last thing you wanted to do on your day off was get in the car and go anywhere. I am not complaining about my choices, I would do it all over again. But I just need to let everyone know wrestling became not a way of life, but in those days it was our life.
 
We are losing our heroes much to fast. It is so refreshing to read this website and know that we are not forgotten and somebody remembers our efforts. Every bump I took my body reminds me about almost every day. Every trip I took some memory floods my mind every once in a while to let me know how much fun I had. Thanks to guys like Vince Fahey and Scott Teal maybe we'll live on for a while. Our business will never be like it used to be, but Thank God as long as he allows my memory to hold out it will never die.

Sorry for my rambling this month, but my heart hurts because I have lost friends and heroes and I care about their families as I know you do. It's funny, no other business in the world generates such love. Those of you that are fans and maybe never knew the boys on a personal basis share our loss and sorrow. What a business...

R I P  Champ,  R I P  Chief,   we'll never forget you......