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This Mississippi Thanksgiving weekend trip has become an annual thing and I enjoy it for several reasons. One, being that there are always a few talented veteran wrestlers there that realize you never get too good at our business and training with them soaking everything up like sponges is mucho fun. Don’t get me wrong I still enjoy exposing the rookies to the right way, but too often recently many of those on the indie circuit take the stance that if they have had two dozen matches and watched an equal number of tapes or DVD’s then they have arrived. But arrived where, is the question?
Anyway as much as I belly ache about traveling that’s what it takes to be who I am, and do what I enjoy. Hope some of you can come join us for the camp or at least stop by to say hello.
You always hear the stories of “unsung heroes”. I thought to do something positive for this holiday season which is about sharing and giving. I would do a few sentences about such a man who showed up on the door step of my gym about nine years ago, and became a very important part of my company.
This hero isn’t your average run of the mill hero. Joe Kopasz weighs about a buck thirty, and is an average looking, balding, late thirties guy, from Texas.
Joe had a passion for wrestling and had moved to Cincinnati to learn the trade of referee with me. Kopesz wasn’t your average referee trainee either. He showed up from the beginning every day for practice and ran all the blow up drills and did all the workouts with the athletes training to wrestle. If I needed someone to demonstrate a bump, his hand would shoot up to be the guy taking the fall. He wanted it, and he wanted it bad. He took every criticism without complaint and used it to improve his refereeing skills.
Over time Kopesz became so much more to the company then a referee. When he wasn’t working his real job he was at the gym helping clean the rings, helping repair the equipment, and anything that needed done. He became our ring expert and took charge of it being transported to and from shows and its set up. If any small thing was wrong with a ring, you started looking for Joe. Quiet, unassuming, and never a problem he was always there if someone needed help. Bottom line; he was whatever you needed him to be.
Currently Joe referees for some of the area hobbyist promotions, and travels to Nashville to officiate for Reno Riggins' SAW promotion. His dream of working for one of the major companies may never be realized, but still he busts his butt and gives a hundred percent at whatever he does in the business. To this day we are still close. Since selling my business in 03 some of my former trainees have stayed in touch, some have lost contact, and a couple even abused the relationship, Joe has been a loyal friend who I could trust with my life. I have told him before, but publicly I would like to say how much I respect and love him as a person, friend and former employee.
If you are looking for a referee to do a great job for you, please let me know and I’ll put you in touch with one who truly loves and respect his job inside the ropes. My dear friend Joe Kopasz is truly an “unsung hero”.
I was very sad to hear of Brock Lesner being hospitalized after collapsing in Canada over the weekend. No matter your personal feelings about this young bull; he is a great athlete and had begun to help elevate the MMA/UFC public profile. To be struck down like this so young and with so much future potential is truly sad. Let’s all hope that he is able to recover a hundred percent and come firing back on all cylinders. I for one was looking forward to many more title matches out of the big Minnesotan. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
While on the subject of prayers I was just informed that one of my oldest and dearest friends in the business, Sandy Scott of the legendary team George & Sandy the “Flying Scotts” was operated on this past Monday for pancreatic cancer at a hospital in Winston Salem, North Carolina. I’m told they feel it was caught in time. Sandy is one of the great ribbers of all time, and also one of the great good guys. Please add him to your thoughts and prayers as after fifteen hours under the knife the recovery will be a long haul and he won’t make it home in Roanoke, Virginia with his family for the holidays.
Glad to hear that the WWE European tour was a great financial success. I have watched a lot of MMA this past ten days and overall, it’s far more compelling then anything I am seeing with the major wrestling companies. There is enough showmanship, build up, and hype that when the bell rings the seriousness of the match and the fact you really can’t anticipate the out come makes it even more compelling and entertaining. Also with the end of the year so close no matter the opinions or direction of the creative people the most talked about matches this year and the ones I have seen, have been good solid wrestling and the window dressing or vaudevillian embellishments surrounding them haven’t much mattered. It’s been the artists, and masters of psychology, pacing, and the little intricacies who have drawn the most attention, reaction, and buzz after the fact.
Speaking of artists, etc what can I say but that Desmond Wolfe and Kurt Angle just flat out kicked ass on the TNA pay per view. I’m as excited as a proud father could be, and they go a long way in proving the point that great wrestling on a wrestling show just plain gets it done. My hats off to the both of them. Also big thumbs up to the trio of AJ, Daniels, and Joe who had to turn it up to follow Angle and Wolfe and they did.
Before closing I want to say enjoy your holiday, and I wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Share with family and friends, as I will, and I hope to meet some of you on this road trip.
For a unique training experience and to up your game book your seminar
or weekend training camp with Elite Pro Wrestling Training. EPWT’s instruction
is based on the principles of the founders Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, Les
Thatcher and former staff member Dr. Tom Prichard. To learn more about the
company go to www.epwt.com. To book a seminar
or training camp 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 Super Store.
Harley will be appearing at these World League Wrestling events. 11/21 Richmond,
MO. For details go to www.harleyrace.com.
Thanksgiving weekend Les returns to the Gulf Coast and Pascagoula, MS. For a
weekend training camp and show. For more information contact John Saxon at
johnsaxon4@yahoo.com or call
228-327-7098.
Join Les and Host Rich Tate every Wednesday evening at 9: PM EST with their
special guests on “Peach State Pandemonium” by clicking on
www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com.
