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To start with, a quick shout out to my long time buddy Blackjack Mulligan who suffered a mild stroke this past weekend. Whether or not he is inducted into the “Hall of Heroes” this weekend in Charlotte; he’s in my personal hall. Got you in my thoughts and prayers big guy, hang tough, and God bless.
We have started cleaning house here at Thatcher Manor and part of that is sorting through my collectibles and wrestling memorabilia. I plan to sell some of this stuff and what I know about EBay and that type of site you can hide under your thumb nail; so I will probably list a lot of these things here in my column and on my web sites.
To give an idea of what will be available I will have magazine, programs, photos, posters, and maybe even ring jackets, and custom made wrestling boots. I have a fair bunch of sports collectibles also. Here is an example; a 1948 Cincinnati Reds yearbook in good shape, a 1952 Brooklyn Dodgers yearbook in good shape, and a 53/54 Harlem Globetrotters yearbook with the autographs of players JC Gibson and Seton Hall U. All American and NBA star Walter Dukes. I may be wrong, but I believe that Dukes was the first seven foot center in the National Basketball Association.
Wrestling wise here is an example of things to come. I have a 6 1/4 x 8 1/2 84 page book printed and edited in London Ontario, Canada in 1957 called “The Wrestling Circle” by Don Mitchell. It is autographed by Mitchell to my former fan club president Jean Schulte and along with posed and action photos of the stars of the times; there is also a listing for fan clubs of the time, of which believe it or not my sixteen year old self was a member of a few. The cover has photos of Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers, Pat O’Connor, and an action shot. There are pics and bios of the above named plus wrestlers such as Don Eagle, Hans Herman, Roy Shire, Antonio Rocca, plus promoters, midgets, and a rare group shot of the five Baillargeon Brothers and their bio. The book is in good condition and made from quality paper stock.
Now I’m not trying to bump heads with the PWI Super Store, and if they have any of these things I will pull mine. If any of you readers might be interested feel free to e-mail me, and tell me what they may be worth to you, and if it isn’t attractive to me, then they will stay in my collection and my wife will punish me! I haven’t come across it yet, but there should also be a “1948 NWA Magazine” in the mix somewhere.
If I were to write a book about my experiences on the independent wrestling scene I feel that I would title it “Even a Cattle Stampede has a Leader” (I’m sure someone will use that before I ever have a chance) because from my very first experience with this level back in 1992 right up until a week ago with refreshing exceptions along the way; the feeling is that there is no direction nor anyone with a clue as to finding one and leading the way to the promise land.
Here we go again; as I became upset to hear that a one time high level/high profile independent company had sunk a notch or two lower then I thought possible by allowing unharnessed policing of their dressing room, and roster by a person who didn’t have the credentials, resume, or tenure to be in that position, and even more sad is that the person or persons who are in charge of “Running” this company let it happen with no apparent fine, punishment, or reprimand.
Now I don’t mean that two legitimate tough wrestlers had a dispute and settled their differences physically. I mean a young fellow decided he was the king of the locker room, and after having to be pulled off a small referee whose nose he broke while doing ground and pound on him because that official had brushed against him, a week later announced to the roster that he was the guy who ran the dressing room, decided not to get dressed until his match was announced, had his opponent cutting a fifteen minute promo, when he wasn’t capable of cutting a two minute spot, then changed the match and went longer then scheduled, then head butted and broke the teeth of an inexperienced first time manager for running in at the wrong time, since he was confused about what he was suppose to do since tough guy had changed the match around to begin with.
I mean does this sound like a well run tight knit professional organization or what? I know a little about the company, and the people involved, and to say it was senseless would be an understatement, and to think that if anything remotely like this were to happen in my locker room, I wouldn’t have disciplined, and fired someone within 30 minutes of it taking place, you would be sadly mistaken. Please take my word for the fact that the only person standing up in front of my roster and declaring that he is the boss would be an old dumb ass named Les Thatcher, and anyone else would be looking for another promotion to work for as quickly as I could escort him out the door. I have known a few legitimate real tough guys in my time, and they wouldn’t fight this kid…instead they would turn him over their knee and spank him. Which is in truth what I think he needs along with a reality check as to who he is and where he’s been. As I stated earlier, even a cattle stampede has a leader. Great PR for future roster additions, and they will wonder why no one takes them seriously! Duhhhhh!
The industry media is all a twitter with the release of Dutch Mantel from the TNA creative team, and shocked since “The Dutchman” has been with the promotion almost since day one. I first worked with Mantel in the mid-seventies when he and his partner John Foley worked a very long and successful program/angle with my partner Nelson Royal and me in the Knoxville territory for the Southeastern Tag Team Championship in 1974/75. The last time Dutch and I spent time together was as the broadcast team for the Reno Riggins/Steve Doll promotion based in Nashville in the late nineties and in between we were the broadcast team for Smoky Mountain Wrestling. If you didn’t know he also was the booker for both major promotions in Puerto Rico at different times, and made each the top company during his run.
The point I’m getting to here is that Dutch is given credit and or blame for a portion of the very bad storylines that show up on the TNA program. I can’t say for sure, but my personal feeling is that may be true, but it is also because he like others of our generation in the same position are doing as the company wants, covering their ass and their job, and not doing what they actually know is right and best for the industry and their company. I say this with the knowledge that having worked with Mantel, I feel safe in saying he has a better mind creatively for the business then the stuff I am seeing on Thursday nights.
The talk is that TNA needs Paul Heyman, but without complete control he wouldn’t be interested (I don’t blame him). Well in that same light make Cornette and Mantel co-bookers (tell Jim to book as he did in OVW and Dutch as he did in Puerto Rico) and give them complete control, and you would get a similar positive effect. Understand there are some very fertile minds currently with the big two, but in that controlled, micro managed environment they have nowhere else to earn that nice weekly paycheck so they are harnessed with doing things that are against the grain of what they know to be smart pro wrestling business. Isn’t this fun?
Train hard and master your craft.
Till Next Time,
Les
Les and Harley Race form Elite Pro Wrestling Training along with the principles left by former staff members Ricky Steamboat and Dr. Tom Prichard. For details on the company go to www.epwt.com. To book an EPWT seminar, camp, or trainer contact Les at les@epwt.com.
Get your copy of “The Professional Wrestler’s Workout & Instructional Guide” by Harley, Ricky, Les, and Alex Marvez published by Sports Publishing LLC at your local bookstore or the PWInsider SuperStore.
The annual Harley race/Pro Wrestling Noah training camp is set for September 28th thru October 2nd at Harley’s school in Eldon, MO. This year’s special guest is Ric Flair. You can sign up now. For information go to www.harleyrace.com.
Join Les and Host Rich Tate every Wednesday night at 9: PM EST with their special guest for “Peach State Pandemonium” by clicking on www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com.
