SHOULDERING A HEAVY BURDEN

By Peter Vuono

     A few days ago, my buddy, Paul sent me a short story on Olympic caliber weightlifter Sarah Robles.
Sara competed in the 2012 games in London and is one of the strongest women in the world. She can elevate overhead more weight than most male athletes and yet she was living on $400.00 per month leading up to the Olympics because she couldn't get sponsors. Many think that it was because Sarah, being a plus sized girl, couldn't get sponsors because her body type does not match the perfect feminine physique that has been pushed on American girls by the media for decades.
     This bothered me greatly on a personal level as I have a close relation who has struggled with weight for most of her life. Because of this she has always been prejudged and not for the better. To say the least, her life has been a struggle.This is why, whenever I see a heavy set child in one of my magic shows I will ALWAYS choose that child in an attempt to lift his spirits if only for a minute above the pain of life's prejudices.
    A few days later, I had some free time. When I do, I sometimes pop in one of my favorite movies. On this day it was a 70's cult film entitled"I Like To Hurt People". It was made in the mid 70's by cult director, Donald G. Jackson who was called the Ed Wood of the video age. Jackson was more than that and his talent got him a job on most of James Cameron's major films. This humble movie was shot in Detroit and centered around the NWA wrestling stable that belonged to American born veteran Eddie Farhat. Eddie led a double life as a very astute promoter and one of the most notorious  wrestlers that ever lived- The Sheik. He gave Jackson full cooperation to film this documentary because Jackson agreed to not break the secretive code of silence that wrestlers live by known as "Kayfabe".
   There were many famous wrestlers in the film but the most poignant and cathartic part was the interview of psychologist Dr. Sonya Freidman with wrestler Peggy Jones. Farhat gave Jones the ring name of"Heather Feather" and made Peggy a "face" or fan favorite. She had the distinction of being the heaviest female wrestler of all time at 367lbs.
   When Dr. Friedman asked"What's a nice 23yr. old girl like you doing in this racket?" Peggy answered," It's really kind of hard to say. There's a lot of reasons why I'm in it. Mainly it's a way of proving myself. A way of making me something in my life. I guess have you ever seen a girl  built like Rosie Grier? I've been this tall and this weight since I was 12 and it's no lie and it's been awfully hard growing up. You have to try extra hard to be cool".
   When I heard this painfully honest answer, I realized that Peggy was speaking for every person who was ever challenged by being overweight. She, like everyone else of this size would have to spend the rest of her life proving to the bigoted public and to herself that she was  indeed a person of worth and feelings. And prove it, Peggy did!
   Peggy was asked to wrestle the 8 foot tall, 650lb. wrestling bear Victor. Victor was an orphan and rescued Alaskan Brown who can still be seen on YouTube. He was rescued and trained by pro wrestler Tuffy Truesdell. Victor had a record with the men of 10,000 and 0!! Peggy wrestled Victor to a draw and became the only woman to ever wrestle Victor. She then went on to become the first woman to wrestle and pin a man long before the WWE's Chyna. This humble woman, in this humble movie made a most profound statement. Plus sized people are not lazy, they are not uncomely, they are not untalented and they do deserve the same respect and consideration as anyone else despite the ideal body type that has been wrongfully foisted upon us for so long.
   Peggy Jones' career lasted for about 12 years. It is unknown what happened to her other than her quietly slipping into anonymity. Because "I Like To Hurt People" is a cult film, her message will be heard by a precious few.However, this blog may intensify her voice and make it  somewhat louder so that the next time a person of her size is viewed by others they will look not with antipathy but with a smile. Just maybe.

""I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folks are like leaves on a tree, and live and die unnoticed"- The Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz

DELIVERED FROM EVIL
By Peter Vuono

     It was reported by the FBI in 2013 that law enforcement reported over 6,800 cases of hate crimes. These all dealt with race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disability. Also, according to the Department of Health and Human services 1 in 3 school children are bullied each year in a variety of ways. It is unfortunate  that we have not gotten away from this type of behavior which made a huge mark on American history from June 10- Sept 22, 1692 in Salem, Ma. Here 19 people were hanged as witches and one man pressed to death because of a non-threatening  eccentricity of their personalities. Since I've been involved with strength training for most of my life, the case of George Burroughs was of great interest to me.
    Burroughs was born in Suffolk , England before moving to the Colonies. He was raised in Roxbury, Ma and became a congregational pastor. He graduated from Harvard and became minister of Salem shortly after.
   For a very long period of time, Pastor Burroughs was not paid a salary by his congregation and fell into debt with the inclusion of his first wife's burial expenses. He borrowed money from the well to do Putnam family and although the money  was paid back years later it created a great deal of antipathy from the Putnams.
  Burroughs moved to Falmouth, Maine and took up practice there but the French and Indian Wars and the Wabanaki Tribe pushed him to setting up practice in Wells Beach. However, the animosity created by his debt sent constables to Wells Beach to bring him back to Salem and be charged as a "Wizard" which was the male counterpart to "Witch'. However, an eccentricity was needed to show that George Burroughs was not like any other "normal" man. In his case, he was in possession of great physical strength in his hands and grip.
  Burroughs was accused of"Lifting weights beyond what could be humanly possessed". In the days of Salem, the weapon of choice was the William III Flintlock Rifle which was approximately 61" long. It was made of brass, iron and wood and was quite heavy. Burroughs could place the index finger of his hand in the muzzle and hold the flintlock strait out completely to the side supporting all the weight with his index finger.
  Burroughs was tried as a "Wizard" and was condemned to die on August 19,1692. As Burroughs mounted the ladder to the scaffolding, journalist Robert Calef was present. According to Calef, Burroughs gave a "Speech of innocence  and recited the Lord's Prayer so well worded and uttered with such composure and such fervent of spirit as was affecting and drew tears from many". It was also said in many Puritan courts that it was impossible for a "Witch" to utter the Lord's Prayer aloud. Nevertheless, the intrepid Pastor was put to death and buried in a shallow grave so poorly dug that his chin could still be shown.
  I sometimes think about the way things are today and I really don't believe that we've come a long way in these 322 years. We all have gifts and personality traits that set us apart from everyone else. Now, thanks to the bravery displayed by Pastor Burroughs, when I see these eccentricities, I try to look at them differently rather than allow my prejudices to become inflamed and aroused as they did with my New England predecessors. Maybe someday, all persons who possess the same antipathy as did the architects of the Salem Witch Trials will have their thoughts delivered from evil.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS-

Story by Peter Vuono, Title by John Donne

     One of my favorite movies as well as my son's is director Chris Bell's "Bigger, Stronger, Faster".
Every time we see it( and we watch it about 3 times per year), we go out to our broken down garage gym and train all the harder. The gist of the movie which is about the use of anabolic steroids is that steroids themselves are not the real villain; rather the true problem revolving around them is the "Win at all costs", attitude which has gripped America. Perhaps the most passionate and interesting character in the film is Chris Bell's older brother Mike.
    Mike was born in Poughkeepsie on March 18, 1971. He was the oldest of three brothers who relished sports and weightlifting. Mike excelled in football, powerlifting and professional wrestling. During the movie Mike was quoted as saying that he "Would rather be dead than average". Clearly, this feeling of inferiority plagued Mike as he had survived a suicide attempt. However, I think that the mistake that Mike had initially made is one that we all make. None of us is average. We are all made in the likeness and image of God.
     In addition to this, Mike had achieved a cache of  successes that only few can boast of achieving. He played division I football for the University of Cincinnati. He powerlifted  and built his body to Hurculean proportions and succeeded in working for the biggest wrestling organization of all time- the WWF.
    More importantly than this, he successfully found the right woman to become  his wife and life partner; something equally notable as all of the above. Mike's  fighting spirit to succeed never failed. He moved to a different environment, took on a new job,and became a teacher of pro wrestling . He revivified his life and succeeded in being the devoted husband, son and brother that he had always been. So you see; he had never really been average at all.
   When Mike tragically passed away on Dec 14, 2008 at the age of 37, his passing was greatly mourned by family, friends and all those who he inspired through the movie. However, we must remember that although his body ceased to function, his fighting spirit continued and never really gave up.
   Another great athlete who passed away in his 30's(Bruce Lee), once said"The key to immortality is by living a life worth remembering". I believe that Mike Bell did exactly that.

"Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know
for whom the bell tolls,
it tolls for thee."  - John Donne

BIG MAN, BIGGER HEART

By Peter Vuono


    Mother Teresa once said that there are three routes to follow in how we should treat others.
She said,"The first is to be kind, the second is to be kind and the third is to be kind". Brockton Special Ed. teacher, Carl Yancey was an avid proponent of this credo. Carl, who on Sept. 28th was hit and killed by a hit and run driver had all the attributes to be a man who was feared. He was big, and tall with an imposing stature. However Carl decided to listen to the scriptures and entered the narrow gate. Unlike so many others who are led astray, Carl was kind, gregarious and caring. He had a knack of making both his students and his customers at his second job smile.  Rather than becoming an entity to be feared he became an ordained minister and was an example to all. He was a bulwark of living for others.
    Just as importantly, Carl taught in  a Brockton Public School which catered to some of the most needy Special Children. He used his imposing figure coupled with his ebullent personality to assist, teach, mold and inspire. He was a flag ship of the golden rule.
   So, today as I drove down the highway and had the temerity to ask God, why the good die young, like Carl, the Lord was patient with me and answered my question. I now knew why Carl passed so early with the words of Jesus ringing in my ears-"As long as you did it for these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me". Carl has received the reward that the rest of us so anxiously wait for.

OF MIGHT AND MORALS

By Peter Vuono

     Most of us would agree that nowadays more than ever both Hollywood and pro sports are devoid of the type of male role models which were seen so prevalently in the 1960's. This is a shame because I firmly believe that these men help to shape and mold the character of many of the young men who watch their work. One such person who had a great impact on me sadly passed away Sept 9th from ALS. This was character actor, Denny Miller.
     Miller, who was from Indiana moved to California in the 1950's to play basketball for UCLA. His dad was a Physical Education instructor at the same school. Miller, who was tall, blond and handsome worked for the Bekins Furniture Company as a mover to help make ends meet at home. He was discovered by a casting agent and without any acting experience, portrayed the first blond Tarzan in 1959 opposite Joanna Barnes in Tarzan, the Ape Man.He would go on to do over 200 television appearances and 14 years as the Gorton's Fisherman.
    Denny portrayed many tough guys but also many roles of character and strength. I believe that 3 in particular have affected my life for the better. In an episode of Gilligan's Island, Miller, who switched from basketball to bodybuilding did such a good and unique posing routine it caught the attention of Muscular Development Magazine and made him the subject of their Muscles in the Movies column. When I saw him pose way back in the 60's, I knew I wanted arms like his.
    More importantly, some of his roles are indelible in my mind for moral reasons and I do believe had much to do in molding my young personality. Miller was exceptional in portraying different types of people who are disabled.
     In 1971 in an episode of Gunsmoke he portrayed a deaf mountain man who risked his life to save kids who had fallen into a well. The role, however, which I have thought about for much of my life was his portrayal of a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair in the 1981 Incredible Hulk episode- "The Harder They Fall". I'll NEVER forget the line Miller spoke in the episode to Bill Bixby when he stated," This wheelchair doesn't mean my life ends; it just changes".
   I don't pretend to have the same type of serious disability but when poor health befell me, I thought of Denny Miller's role and realized that I should adapt and change rather than quit and give up. This is the kind of role model we children of the 60's were fortunate enough to have and it is just as  unfortunate that today's youth haven't this luxury.
   In Miller's Gunsmoke episode entitled "Lijah", he was seriously injured in rescuing the children from the well. I remember the final line he delivered when he told them."Don't worry, I'm not going to die". His words were prophetic because although Denny is gone his influence of strength, courage and wholesomeness has remained in the personalities of all those that he has inspired. Denny Miller will always remain a beacon of might and morals.

TESTOSTERONE DREAMING -

By Peter Vuono

   The following piece of my personal medical history is being published to help men everywhere who encounter the same problem. If you haven't yet, you will and I urge you to see an endocrinologist or at the very least, speak to me.

   My whole life, I wanted to be strong. When I was finally turned on to weight training and specifically, powerlifting, I decided to compete in contests starting in 1973 and I continued up to 1996. At some of those early meets, I had a buddy lift whose name was Paul. He was in his mid fifties and had an enormous deadlift of about 550 at 165 bodyweight! What always stymied the younger crowd, however was why was it that Paul ALWAYS did 550 and never improved. When I went back to powerlifting in 2004 at age 51, I would soon find out the answer!
   I deadlifted 500 at age 51 and at  a bodyweight of 189. I was happy as I won the Master's Division,and the Best Lifter award for Masters(over 40). However, I thought about why it was that I was nowhere near the 567 that I did at age 35 at only a 178 bodyweight. I went to the laboratory to find out, in addition I read EVERY book I could find on steroids, testosterone and hormonal replacement. I had a few articles published and went through(at this writing),  5 endocrinologists. I became a 21st century Ponce deLeon!
   What happened to me was exactly what happened to Paul and every other man on the planet since time began. At first it would be called aging but the name would evolve to Manpause, Andropause, and hypogonadism. A rose, however, by any other name, is still a rose.
   Men lose one to two percent of all testosterone per year each year after the age of 30! Through blood tests two levels are checked. First the total testosterone and next the free testosterone. Your body uses a very small amount of all the testosterone you have due to a hormone known as sex hormone binding globulin(SHBG).The SHBG binds to testosterone and every bit that is bound to it CANNOT be used by the body. Every year more and more SHBG binds to testosterone in your blood to a point where not enough is made. The symptoms are legion. They include, depression, low libido, ED, loss of strength , loss of muscle mass, indecisiveness,loss of energy  and loss of height!
  Total levels of testosterone run from 300 ng/dl  to 1100 ng/dl. Mine was in the low 300's and I had EVERY one of the above mentioned symptoms except ED. It was time to do something.
   The first endocrinologist I saw asked me to take the precurser DHEA, which is a weak androgen. It's supposed to precurse into testosterone in the blood and increase testosterone levels BUT, I explained to my doctor that there was documented research showing that DHEA CAN bind to testosterone recepters in the cells and PREVENT testosterone from binding with it's own receptors. He disagreed  with me and my DHEA level went up 600 percent and my testosterone fell to about 251! I was put on Androgel.
  In six days, too much of the Androgel converted into dihydrotestosterone which is found abundantly in the prostate. I incurred benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH), which is akin to a yeast infection on steroids! I went off the drug and went on a regimen of lycopene, saw pallmetto and stinging nettles herbs and I was relieved of the symptoms. The NEXT endocrinologist had NO idea for an alternative . I then turned to brilliant endocrinologist, Dr. Andre Guay.
  Dr. Guay put me on Clomid, which is a fertility drug which I have been on for 4 years. I won't bore you with the chemistry but generally, it caused the pituitary to excrete more gonadotropins which, in turn will produce MORE estrogen in women and MORE testosterone in men. My testosterone levels went up to 400 ng/dl and eventually to 613! Then tragedy struck. I incurred a heart attack and a quadruple bypass.
  For unknown reasons, my levels started to fall. In 2013 they were 430 and in 2014-348. Dr Guay suspected that I was no longer responding to the drug. He suggested a weight loss(which does raise testosterone levels) and the posibility of Depo-testosterone injection. However he retired!
  World renown Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Harrison"Skip" Pope who is seen in the movie "Bigger, Stronger, Faster" directed me to his colleague at Harvard, Dr. Shalender Bhasin who is regarded as the world's foremost authority. With Dr. Bhasin, I also consulted with his very astute colleague, Dr. Anna Ross.
   Much to my disappointment, Dr. Bhasin said that there was research which cited that cardiac events DO occur in elderly men on testosterone replacement and that there were also studies stating the opposite! He said it was a VERY gray area where he could not at this time make a recommendation. This tale is not yet over. I was asked to go off Clomid to get my own system(HPTA) working again and levels would be checked. If I  descend to, say 100 ng/dl a plan would be put into effect. The future is unsure for me as it is for you. However, I learned that I cannot reanimate myself, I can't turn back the clock, or get my strength back as ancient Samson did. I have come to the realization that I must accept my body and all it's intricacies as God had made it and not be so desirous of the fountain of youth. As the Greek philosopher Epicurus once said,"Him who a little will not content, nothing will content".

THE DRAGON

By Peter Vuono


     When we see or hear about Bruce Lee, most of us think about martial arts. To those of us who practice it, we think about how Lee was the originator of Jeet Kune Do or "The Way of the Intercepting Fist". Others think about the Green Hornet, or his cinematic battles with Chuck Norris in Return of the Dragon or with Kareem Abdul Jabar in Game of death. However, Lee's entire life was a continuous contribution to his fellow man.
    Lee Jun Fan was born Nov. 27, 1940 at  Jackson Street Hospital in SanFrancisco between the hours of 6:00AM and 8:00AM. This is both the year and the hour of the Dragon. The Dragon is the symbol of strength, power, good fortune AND HEAVEN. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Hoi Chuen were entertainers performing in SanFrancisco.The baby was Christened Lee Jun Fan because it means"Return Again". Lee's mom had always hoped that he would one day again return to America.
   Although a nurse in the hospital nicknamed him "Bruce', his parents called him by a feminine name,"Sai Fon", which means "Small Phoenix". 
In the Chinese culture, men are typically given feminine names to fool the evil spirits from taking their souls.
    Bruce returned to America to Seattle as his mom had hoped and graduated from Edison Technical High School. He then enrolled in the University of Washington majoring in philosophy. In 1964 he would start teaching gung fu in Oakland and marry his college sweetheart Linda Emory.
    Lee's life entailed so much more than just being a martial artist. He was a director, writer, artist and teacher as well as being a husband and loving father. However to this author two of his accomplishments warrant special note. Bruce Lee gave the Asian people a face. It was a face of strength, honor, pride and dignity. A face that has and will always endure. His other notable contribution was his philosophy of life. Lee, like many in the Asian culture believed in seeking the Tao(pronounced Dow), which is interpreted as the "Way of the Universe". In one of his published works- Striking Thoughts- Lee comments on every aspect of life from his personal interpretation of the Tao. I have found that reading and embracing what he has said has made me a better person.
    There is a Chinese proverb that states,"If the dark element seeks to achieve a position in which it is not entitled and tries to rule instead of serving,it draws down upon itself the fury of the dragon". 
   I am convinced that any person who reads and embraces Lee's Striking Thoughts of philosophy will walk a path of righteousness  which will ultimately lead to the paradise of the Dragon.


AFTER THOUGHT- The following is a letter of comfort from Bruce Lee to his closest friend Taky Kimura after Kimura had sustained an enormous hardship. Kimura would later become Lee's caretaker after Bruce Lee was laid to rest July 31, 1973 at Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle.

" Life is an ever -flowing process and somewhere on the path some unpleasant things will pop up- it might leave a scar- but then life is flowing on and like running water, when it stops, it grows stale. Go bravely on , my friend because each experience teaches us a lesson".

GEORGE FRENN- TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY

By Peter Vuono

     In 1975 I trained at the bob Backus Olympic Health Club in Pembroke Ma. This studio, which was one of the first of it's kind was the invention of Bob Backus who was an Olympian in 1952, a Pan Am champ in 1955 and a track and field hall of famer in 1965. Bob was kind and gregarious. This, coupled with his extraordinary resume drew strong men and super athletes from all over the country. Ken Patera trained there for the world's strongest man contest with club member Steve Sanderson, who in the 80's did an official 920 high bar squat!
    The immortal Dave Draper visited and brought with him a magnificent bench made of driftwood that Dave constructed himself. This bench adorned the lobby and was admired by all. Gold medal winner Harold Connolly visited frequently as did Olympian Al Hall. Last but not least was the Californian superman whom Bob mentored in the hammer throw, George Frenn.
    When it comes to strength, George was synonymous with legend. In 1967 he won the senior national powerlifting championships in York  with Bob Backus and Bill West of the original Westside Barbell Club at his side. At this meet Frenn won his class, became the first heavyweight to squat 700lbs. and broke 9 American and National records in one meet, a feat which I do not believe was ever duplicated by any other man.
   In July of 1970, his picture appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated and again in 1972 on the front cover of Strength and Health. George competed in the Pomona Police Officer's Power Meet in Pomona Ca. in 1971 at Garey High School. As a heavyweight(242) George bench pressed 520, squatted 853 and deadlifted 740 to become the first man to total 2100. Although only a heavyweight, George's record surpassed Jon Cole's superheavyweight record by 40 lbs.
   Frenn went on to compete in the 72 Olympics in Munich in the hammer throw and competed in one of the early World's Strongest Man competitions. Perhaps one of George's most valiant milestones was that he was one of the first Olympians to compete in the very first Gay Olympics in 1982. Shortly thereafter, George retired from the school dept. after teaching Science for 32 years. He later received another well deserved accolade by being inducted into the California powerlifting hall of fame along side of the immortal Pat Casey.
   I remember training with George in 1975 at the Backus Gym. I'll never forget the thrill of meeting an idol who would become one of history's greatest athletes. On June 26th, 2006, George Frenn's life abruptly, unexpectedly and sadly came to an end. There was much conjecture in the strength world as to how and why this occurred. I would rather dwell on the thought that George Frenn was an inspiration and a valiant warrior who insisted on being himself in a world that too often demands that we all become something else

"No one day will erase you from the memory of time"-Virgil

DON'T LOSE YOUR DINOSAUR
By Peter Vuono

    

DON'T LOSE YOUR DINOSAUR

By Peter Vuono

   On May 16th I took my 25 year old son to see, of all things, Godzilla. We didn't care in the least that movie reviews were not too favorable. We were just as excited to see this remake now as we were seeing the 1999 remake when my son was only 10. I'll never forget how excited he was when I immediately went out and bought him the lifelike doll. However, now, at age 61, I thought it odd that I still had this excitement.
   I couldn't get  enough of dinosaurs as a kid. Toys, games, play sets were my favorites as long as they were dinosaur related. I still have King Kong, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, Planet of the Dinosaurs, One Million Years BC , Gorgo and the somewhat cheesy but endearing flick Dinosaurus. My favorite stories were without question Ray Bradbury's Fog Horn , Sound of Thunder and Other Than a Dinosaur, Whatta Ya Want  to be When You Grow Up.
   Similarly, Mike followed suit. He was just like me but I don't ever remember pushing this genre on him. He innocently fell into it just as I did. So here are two grown men, one a senior citizen who are driving down route 24 with great passion in our hearts for what we were about to see. I wondered if there something wrong with me and if I had erroneously imparted a fantasy onto my son that could be detrimental until I thought of a short YouTube clip that he showed me nearly a year ago.
   Mike showed me a clip of a Will Ferrell/ John C. Reilly film entitled "Stepbrothers". I had never seen the film. However in a very poignant moment in the film, Richard Jenkins, who played the part of the father told Farrell and Reilly ,"Don't lose your dinosaur". He told them that as a child he wanted to be a dinosaur. When Jenkins' father heard of   it he vilified and reviled his son. He told him to abandon childish thoughts and to get a job. Jenkins continued to tell his sons that he went on to get an education and a job but could never return to the mindset that once made him so happy.
   Not losing your dinosaur simply  means this: never lose your inner child. Children are more loving, less angry, more accepting and more generous than most adults. They don't start wars.In the New Testament, Jesus told  his apostles" Let the little children  come to me and do not hinder them. For unless you become like a little child, you will not enter the kingdom of God"
   Not losing your dinosaur is a great way to walk on this path. For some it may be maintaining a love for dolls, or dresses or another childhood refuge.Remember Citizen Kane's Rosebud? However, it all means the same. To stay on this path is to stay on a road which will lead to both salvation and redemption.


ADDENDUM-
   Some people will be dissatisfied that I didn't write about someone who was strong and brave so here goes; According to Dr. Jack Horner's book, The Complete T-Rex, the small and diminutive arms of Tyrannosaurus Rex were much stronger than one would think. The claws were turned up in a "curl" position and had bones in them as large as the largest bones of a race horse. Horner suggested that each arm could curl approx. 400lbs! Try this sometime in the gym on your bicep days. Of course it would help if you weighed between 7 and 8 tons.

THE PRODIGAL SON

By Peter Vuono

   One of the most magical times of my youth was certainly the 80's. It was a happy time where we were all bombarded with various types of creativity from the media. American households were flooded with with MTV, Nickelodeon, Madonna, Max Headroom and the B52's. We were given new heroes such as Mr. T, Hulk Hogan , Arnold, Stallone and the Karate Kid. Part of this culture was the hit TV show The American Gladiators. Larger than life regulars such as Nitro, Zap, Malibu and Gemini became household names.Dan Clark- a.k.a. Nitro tells of an amazing life in his book Gladiator, which is rife with money, fame and women .In addition, it is  compounded  with addiction and the inability to face the truth about himself.
   Clark was born in Japan to a Japanese mom and an American dad. After spending only a few years in the states his parents divorced and Dan, along with his older brother and"protector' Randy, were taken to Viet Nam where their dad attempted to open a business.
   Life did not go well there. To paraphrase  Clark's story, by the time he was ten, he witnessed his father beating his brother, his father bludgeoning another man,  his father  writhing on the floor in the throes of a heart attack and his dad entertaining two prostitutes in the same bed where young Dan slept! This was exacerbated by Dan witnessing his beloved brother perish from an accidental electrocution. His father then sent him back to the USA alone. Upon arriving he sought a venue where he could excell and promote his self worth.He found it in football.
   Dan played football in high school at Santa Ana High. From there, he became an  lineman for Santa Ana Junior College . It was here that he sustained a hamstring tear. He was determined to come back and took a drug that he knew nothing about to accelerate his healing- anabolic steroids. He received a scholarship to San Jose State and then a pro contract with an Italian team.
  Upon leaving Italy, he had a brief stint as a LosAngeles Ram. When his career was over, he stayed on steroids and auditioned for various movie parts. At 6'2'' with strikingly good looks, the handsome Clark secured several bit parts and finally won the part of the popular American Gladiator series playing approx. 95 episodes and coming back later as a commentator.
   During Dan's tenure as a Gladiator, he had the kind of life that was so salacious, violent and gut wrenching that it couldn't possibly be made up by Hollywood's best script writers. At 6'2" his weight had risen to a solid 260lbs. of solid muscle. He had many a female companion and had brawls with people ranging from night club patrons to, strangers and best friends. He could bench press 500lbs for a double and was at the top of his world. Yet, he stated that he was never happy and could never figure out   why. There was certainly a good man inside of the armor. He never refused a photo, autograph or conversation with a fan. And when a child of 5 was dying from cancer he asked that his hero"Nitro" come to visit him. Clark was at his side just days before he succumbed.
   When the Gladiators ended, he could not get off steroids. He had bouts of depression and crying when he swore as a child never to cry. After he filled out a survey which suggested he was an addict  he went to counseling.
    Dan's councilor was a brilliant woman that told Dan that the root of his sadness was that he could not confront the mystery of himself. Dan realized that he tormented himself about why he survived when his 12 year old brother was killed.. He had to constanly prove his worth because he was living for two.
    Once Dan made this realization, he had the courage to forgive his dad, rid himself of guilt and go off steroids. He continued to act, write screenplays and tour as a motivational speaker. Although he no longer was a user, the hunger never completely went away.
    Dan's book- GLADIATOR- A True Story of 'Roids, Rage and Redemption is a book that should be read by all. It's not just a story of addiction, athletics or a Hollywood dream. Much more importantly, it's a story about the horror that we all must experience when we are faced with the mystery of ourselves.
    It was reported in Dec. of 2013 that Dan Clark incurred a heart attack while working out. He blamed the years of steroid use in his football and Gladiator days. His artery was cleared and a new stent was put in.

     He convalesced beautifully and went on to write about this experience in his self help book "F---Dying", which is highly recommended. He travels the nation lecturing and helping those who need answers. to quote Dan, "Big boys don't cry; but men do!".

" Son thou art always with me and all that is mine is thine.; but we were bound to make merry and rejoice for this thy brother was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found". Luke15: 31-32
 
   

OTHER THAN JACKIE CHAN, SCORPION AND SUB ZERO, WHATTA YA WANNA BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? by Peter Vuono

     I dedicate this article, of course, to my beloved son; to Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen whose influence on me filtered down to Michael and to Michael's teachers- Master Steve Arsenault, Master Ian Bucklin, Master Brian Diffley, Master George Fumo and to the icons of martial science who inspired my son.

NOTE: The title is a revamping of a Ray Bradbury short story as a homage to the great fantasy writer.

OTHER THAN JACKIE CHAN, SCORPION AND SUB-ZERO, WHATTA YA WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
By Peter Vuono

     November 7th, 1988 was a cool crisp sunny day.  A beautiful late fall day that one could enjoy in any capacity. I however, was cold and gripped by fear of the impending birth of my second child. I should have been worried about the health and welfare of my wife and child but no; that was not the case; I was afraid of having a boy!
     I was such great pals with my daughter, Amy that I just couldn't see myself as a father to a son. I had no confidence that I could impart the necessary"machismo" that every "man" has to have. However my gut told me that it was going to be a boy. Michael was born and my fears intensified.
    Micheal was exceedingly laid back and never gave us trouble. At 4, he fell in love with video games. His favorite characters were those that projected power and strength. It was no surprise to us that he soon fell in love with dinosaurs. Ray Bradbury once rhetorically asked,"Have you ever met anyone who didn't like dinosaurs? I have not".Michael was certainly part of this club. He could name them all and, of course, his favorite was the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
    Time passed and one day in his 9th year, he saw an advertisement for a movie entitled: Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Mike asked me to take him to see it. I complied and thought nothing of it. Little did I know that Mike would ask me to take him 8 more times!!
    After the 9th viewing, I brought home the original Mortal Kombat. The final catalyst, however, in creating a love affair with martial arts was "Rumble on the Bronx". Mike was in awe of the world's greatest stunt man, Jackie Chan and from that moment on I knew that martial arts were for him.
     Mike was always shy and timid. Many of the dojos intimidated him and years went by without him consenting to joining. I then took him to see Master Steve Arsenault of New Bedford Ma. I had done a few magic shows in Master Steve's dojo and I was hoping Mike would take a shine to him. Mike did and agreed to join with a huge contingency. Mike stated ,"Dad, I'll join but I want private lessons and NO classes and YOU have to be there beside me". He was afraid of faltering in front of other students so he at age 15 and I at age 51, signed up together!
     Nine years went by and on Sept 14, 2013, Mike was to be tested  for the coveted Black Belt by the number one ranked Kenpo karate artist in the world, Master Larry Tatum of Pasadena. Mike was nervous. I was too but I refused to show it. I rather hit him with every reassuring movie reference I could think of from Visionquest to The Warrior and on to Lord of the Rings .I committed to memory and recited verbatim, Aragorn's speech at the Black Gate.
    All the training, all the teaching, all the practice and all the prayers came to fruition- Mike passed; the Black Belt was finally his! There was something else, however, that occurred 6 months earlier which showed to me that Mike didn't just attain a physical milestone but he did something that showed me that  he had the proper 'balance" that a martial artist should have.
    Out of the blue, Michael showed me a movie clip showing actor Richard Jenkins talking to his fictional sons in the movie"Stepbrothers" withWill Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Jenkins told the boys that he always wanted to be a dinosaur. Later in life, his dad reviled him telling him to abandon childish thoughts and to get a job. Jenkins told his sons that he abandoned wanting to be a dinosaur but after his education and career were had, he could not return to it.He told them,"Don't lose your dinosaur"
    I knew what my son was trying to tell me. He hadn't lost his inner "dinosaur" or in other words his inner child. I then had an epiphany.I remembered that Mike was born in 1988, the year of the Dragon and between 7 and 8 AM- the hour of the dragon. I recalled how Bruce Lee was also born in the year and hour of the dragon .Could this be an hour and year in which magical things can happen? I'll never know. What I DO know is that Michael had attained balance; his training was complete. I don't know where his final destination will lead to but I DO know that he has chosen the correct path in his journey towards it.


"Success is not the destination, it is the journey"- Lee Jun Fan- Bruce Lee

The following story is dedicated to the memory of Colleen Cahill -1994-2014

"Remembrance is the only paradise out of which we can not be driven away".- Bruce Lee

BEAUTY AND STRENGTH-

By Peter  Vuono

     In 1977 I witnessed in Nashua NH the very first national weightlifting tournament for women. We were all in awe of these gifted women who were displaying a gift which is usually associated with men. I wondered what I would have done if I had a gift that  could potentially  make me an outcast.. Would I hide it? This is a story of a woman who decided not to.
     Katherina Brumbach was born in 1884  in a circus wagon to performers Philippe and Johanna Brumbach. Katherina(or Katie as she would later be called) was the second oldest of the Brumbach's 15 children! All the children were requisitioned and trained in the family business of circus performance. At first, Katie was trained in acrobatics but as she entered her teen years she started to morph into something else. Katie's dad, Philippe was 6'6'' and 260 pounds. Katie took after him and gained a height of 5'11" and a solid weight of 210. With her size came strength which was not  seen by any woman on the planet .
     Katie was so strong that Philippe offered a cash prize to any man who could out wrestle her. Circus acrobat Max Heymann who was a mere 5'6" and 160 pounds was flat broke and gave it a try. Needless to say,Katie won handily but in doing so, she lost her heart to Max. They were soon married and went off together in their own strength act appearing all over Europe. The greatest bodybuilder in the world at that time was the Bavarian Eugen Sandow. A hundred years later, every winner of the Mr. Olympia contest was given the"Sandow Trophy". To honor Sandow, Katie changed her name to Sandwina and thus a strength legend was born.
     Katie could break chains and horse shoes with her bare hands. She could withstand the pull of two horses and backlift two horses off a bridge which was held up by trestles. She could also juggle small cannonballs! During her act she would lift her husband Max above her head with one hand. Even when her older boy Teddy(who would become a pro boxer) reached a weight of 200, his mom, Katie could easily lift him overhead with one hand!  Perhaps her best known feat was a record which stood for 77 years. Katie shouldered 264 pounds and jerked it overhead!  This feat which was done in 1910 would not be broken until 1987 by New Jersey chiropractor, Dr. Karyn Marshall.
     Katie was the epitome of the working mom and worked her strength act right up to the day she gave birth!! After a brief stint in America where they played the major vaudeville outlets such as the famed Orpheum, Katie and Max returned to Europe. It was here that they serendipitously met John Ringling who hired them on the spot. They returned to America for good and performed for Ringling Brothers and other small circuses.
     Upon retirement, Katie and Max opened a restaurant in Queens where Katie would gracefully do feats of strength while serving her customers. She sadly passed away from cancer in 1952 but left behind one of the greatest of legends.
     Most strength historians look at Katie Sandwina's strength when they think about her and that is all well and good. However her real strength came from within. She had a unique gift which could have caused her to be a pariah.She could have hidden  it but rather, she boldly displayed it. In doing so, she became a legend but more importantly, Katie Sandwina was an inspiration and a beacon  of hope to those of us who only want to be ourselves in a world that wants us to be everything but!  Her life was truly a great example of brawn and bravery.

WILL THE REAL "DROPKICK" MURPHY PLEASE STAND UP.
By Peter Vuono

     About 5 years ago, I entertained at a block party in the predominantly Irish part of Dorchester Ma. As I was setting up, I listened to  a different and pleasant type of rock which combined Celtic roots and hard core punk. I asked the kids who was playing and they immediately said,"The Dropkick Murphys". I, of course, had heard of them being from the Boston area but I wondered if anyone who ever heard of the name knew from where it's true origin came.
     John Murphy was born in Malden, Ma. a northern suburb of Boston on May 12,1912. As a young man he excelled in football but was later drawn to an academic route and entered the Mass. College of Medicine.
John graduated  with an medical doctorate in osteopathy. John grew up tall and strong and had strikingly  good looks. He had natural blond hair and in spite of his handsome and chiseled  appearance he wasn't afraid to risk it and turned to boxing.
    Although he was successful in this venture, his athleticism and fan appeal with the Boston audience caught the attention of Boston wrestling promoter, Paul Bowser. Bowser persuaded Murphy to train as a pro wrestler at  the famed Boston Arena on St. Botolph St. Decades later this arena was renamed the Matthews arena and would host a complete AWA show staring the Road Warriors.
    Murphy's good looks, athletic background and fan  appeal took off and he wrestled all over the country and in Canada. He wrestled well named opponents in the 30's and 40's such as legendary actor/wrestler/stuntman Hard Boiled Haggerty, Lee Henning, Tarzan White and Baron Mikel Leone.
    After garnering enough money, Murphy decided to expand his business pursuits and bought an estate at 40 Davis Road in Acton, Ma. It was called Bellows Farm and it was purchased as the new site of Dr. Murphy's boxer/wrestler training camp where Dr. Murphy, himself would do all the training. Much to his surprise, however, too many of the trainees would arrive hung over and far too frequently.
   It was then that Murphy realized that perhaps his skills of being an MD were more important than his athletic enterprises. He turned Bellows Farm into a hospital for those with alcoholism. In those days alcoholism was considered a character disorder and not a disease. Therefore all clients who were serviced by Dr. Murphy and his wife were kept confidential.
  Murphy abandoned wrestling completely to service those suffering with addiction. Bellows Farm remained in operation until 1971. Dr. Murphy passed on  Oct. 17, 1977. The farm was removed and the only clue of it's existence is that a street in Acton is named Bellows Farm Rd.
  Dr. Murphy left behind an amazing albeit unknown legacy. He was one of only two pro wrestlers to have a legitimate MD.( Dr. Sam Sheppard had the other and Dr. Big Bill Miler was a Vet, and Brit Baker is a DMD) and more than that, he abandoned his dream of a training camp to help service those who suffered.
  Dropkick Murphy bass guitarist Ken Casey had mentioned that he heard many an old timer mention a dry out place named Dropkick Murphy's. He mentioned that he and the band loved the name even before they had a band. This author can tell you that the name Dropkick Murphy means a lot more than that.
 

GO TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS

By Peter Vuono

     In 2003 my son Mike entered Brockton, Ma. High School. Like any freshman, he was laden with trepidation about what he would have to face. A true oasis for him was Mr. Kenny Heenan, his Science teacher. Mr. Heenan was friendly, funny and open. The kids knew he was there to help. However at the same time, Mr. Heenan possessed a background where if push came to shove, he wouldn't back down and he'd enforce discipline. When Mr. Heenan left teaching, there was an enormous gap in the dept. Shoes had to be filled that not even Wilt Chamberlain could fill; until dept. chairman Rich Poirier, wisely hired John Bergonzi.
   At 6'5" and a solid 220,  the handsome rookie was the perfect choice. The kids, who were very needy and demanding in every way, took to John like flies to honey. They knew that this was a friend who was on their side but who was also strong enough to set boundaries which the kids needed. No one ever would have thought that Mr. Heenan would ever be replaced with the proper substitute but fortuitously, that is exactly what had happened.
     John more than proved himself in the classroom. He became an exemplary teacher, a loyal colleague and found his future wife, Angie, teaching beside him. Things were going great until one morning in mid April of 2011. It began like any other day with the magnificent sunrise shining off the waters of Flagg Pond providing the thousands of incoming students and staff with a beautiful , picturesque landscape to greet their arrival. What no one knew, however was that something else would arrive to school that day.
    An evil wind blew down the street, past the garbage and through the school yard fence. With it, was brought a young man with fire in his eyes, vengeance in his heart and a knife in his hand. His only mission was to do bodily harm on someone who wronged him. As he entered the cafeteria, the only line of defense between him and the student body was John Bergonzi.
    Instinctively, John knew what to do. He quickly grabbed the weapon hand and hauled the boy down pinning him to the floor. The cacophony brought several personnel to the area but the first responder was John and John alone.
     Only God knows what could have happened or who could have been injured if he didn't intervene. But I knew that we had a hero amongst us. For reasons unknown this story of heroism never went national. John later received an award but it was in front of his peers only and the award was soft pedaled in this author's estimation.
    Still, John had accomplished great things. He became  a model teacher, a great friend  and a great colleague. He found the love of his life and exhibited Spartan heroism in protecting the innocent. In every way, John Bergonzi had gone to the head of the class.

BLOND AND BRAVERY
By Peter Vuono

     When my son was young we watched together a plethora of kids' TV shows. One of our favorites was "Hey Arnold". In the second season there was an episode called "Eugene Goes Bad". The gist of the story is that Arnold's  pal, Eugene finds out first hand that an action star he admires is just an actor and not really a hero at all. Eugene acts out and is disruptive at both home and school. One evening as Eugene walks the streets of NYC, he sees his hero,"Maurice" risking his life to save a child who is dangling from a fire escape. Eugene's faith in his hero is restored and he goes back to being the great person he once was.
     I am certain that some film or sports heroes would do the right thing if the opportunity arose but these incidents are rare in occurring in front of the eyes of a child or fan. This is a rare story of a time in the 90's when a king of the ring proved himself to be an avenger of the bullied.
     Herman Rhode Jr .who was the son of German immigrant parents was born in 1921 in Camden NJ. Herman loved sports and immediately joined the Camden YMCA. There he started wrestling  at age 9! He later expanded his interests and excelled in boxing, track and swimming. As he grew older he was incredibly handsome with the kind of chiseled body that a top bodybuilder would have. In a chance meeting with promoters Ray and Frank Hanley, Rhode became a professional wrestler and changed his name to Buddy Rogers.
     Rogers took the formula of the great Gorgeous George and pushed it up several notches. He bleached his hair, became a "heel" and developed an arrogant strut and swagger that made even the most docile fan incensed! Rogers became a fan favorite and was later dubbed"Nature Boy" by promoter Jack Pfefer. He became so popular, that he became world heavyweight champion in both of the major wrestling organizations, the NWA and the WWWF. When Rogers won his title at Comisky Park against Pat O'Conner on June 30, 1961 it registered an attendance record of 38,622. A record which would not be broken until 1984. After beating O'Conner, Rogers defiantly grabbed the microphone and yelled,"To a nicer guy, it couldn't happen!"
     Shortly before Buddy lost the belt to Bruno Sammartino in 1963, he incurred a mild heart attack. He continued to wrestle for the Jim Crockett Promotions in the Carolinas but suffered a broken arm and broken hip. The hip injury made him retire from actual competition and he would from there on walk with a cane. He decided to do color commentary for two big leagues, the AWA and of course, the WWF.
    Rogers retired  to Lauderdale-By-The- Sea at age 69. By this time he had suffered, a heart attack, a by- pass operation and walked with a cane. He , at this time, was about to participate in an incident that would prove to all that he was much more than a ring icon.
   According to an article in the July 6, 1992 issue of the Brockton Enterprise, authored  by famed Chicago columnist, Bob Greene, the following occurred.: " It happened in a sandwich shop called LaSpada's Original Hoagies.near his house. As Nature Boy waited for his turkey hoagie, a huge, angry 29 year old man burst through the front door.According to local police, the man started screaming obscenities and calling the female employees vulgar names."
    " As the man turned to leave the sandwich shop, he noticed Nature Boy. The 29 year old allegedly said to Nature boy,'What are you looking at'? Nature Boy replied,'I don't think you talked to those girls very nice'. The 29 year old allegedly cursed at Nature Boy and then said,'If you want a piece of me, old man, let's go!"
  Greene goes on to say,"As Nature Boy recalled for me later, 'He was a big dude- I'd say 6 foot 4, 235lbs.,but nobody calls Buddy Rogers an old man.'
     "According to the police, the 29 year old lunged at Rogers.'I shoved him against the wall' .Nature Boy said. 'Then he grabs a metal chair. A big folding metal chair. He swings the chair and hits me in the mouth with it. I'm bleeding pretty bad. So I unload on him. The first thing I do is slug him in the solar plexus. He goes back against the refrigerator. I'm an old man, right!'
     'Then I give him another shot, and he goes flying into the kitchen and lands against the sink. I grab him again. He's holding on to my hair and he's screaming'Please stop it!' The guy's begging for mercy By now he's got me so tuned up.I'm ready to go some more. This guy; he's all mouth. This guy, he can't go'.
     Nature Boy walked away from the sandwich shop fight in great shape. The 29 year old was a scared mess. The Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Police praised Nature Boy. Sandwich shop employee Cynthia Marshall told reporters."Buddy was definitely a gentleman come to our aid".
     Two years later, Rogers would incur three strokes; two in one day. He was hooked up to life support but succumbed June 26, 1992 at age 71. He would later be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1994.
     Arnold's fictional pal Eugene would have loved Buddy Rogers for he was a champ both in and out of the ring. I'm sure he doesn't strut any longer in the hereafter as heroes who have received their reward don't have to. "To a nicer guy, it couldn't happen".

STANDING IN THE CORNER OF JUSTICE

By Peter Vuono

     I've been a wrestling fan since 1965. Back then there was no cablevision or internet and so the only way to find out about wrestlers from other regions of the country were through magazines and photos. I purchased a picture book of wrestlers from Texas in 1966 and it displayed a photo of a man with  a white Mohawk style hairdo and his eyebrows covered with stitches! It was the kind of guy that I sure would never want to meet in a dark alley! Little did I know that decades later I would find that this man, Sputnik Monroe ,was one of the greatest white civil rights activists of all time!.
     Roscoe Monroe Merrick was born on Dec. 18th 1928 in Dodge City Kansas. His dad perished in a plane crash shortly before he was born and young Roscoe was passed back and forth between grandparents. When he turned 17, his mom remarried and his step dad adopted him His name was now Roscoe Monroe Brumbaugh. The new family moved to Wichita and Roscoe hung out at the local YMCA where he saw famed pro wrestler, Everett Marshall. Roscoe was impressed with the fancy suits and cars that wrestlers had and it always stayed on his mind. However, the war and Uncle Sam were calling.
     He entered the United States Navy during WWII and wrestled amateur while in the Navy at a slim 180 lbs. When his hitch was over, he toured the mid-west at carnivals, rodeos and fairs in "shoot" matches challenging anyone to pin him. A "shoot" match is one that is not orchestrated or predetermined. Some nights it was tough for Roscoe to get matches. As he put it,"Some nights I'd have chicken and other nights, just feathers." It was at this time that Roscoe changed his name to Rocky Monroe and trained under the auspices of noted wrestler/trainer Jack Nazworthy.
     Monroe started his pro career as a "face"(good guy), and toured the south and the mid-west. One evening, Monroe was beaned over the head with a wooden chair. Pieces of the chair remained imbedded in his head causing an infection. When his hair finally came back, it turned pure white in the middle in stark contrast to the black on the sides. He had an odd Mohawk long before it came into vogue in the 80's. After this incident, he decided to turn "heel"(bad guy). One evening in 1957, Rocky Monroe wrestled in Mobile using his usual rough style. An elderly woman at ringside was incensed by his tactics and called him every name in the book. The McCarthy era and phobias against communists were very much prevalent across the US. Therefore, the elderly woman, having run out of names shouted."You're a communist Sputnik". Monroe heard it as did the ring announcer and rather liked the new name. Monroe adopted it and from that moment on, he was called Sputnik Monroe.
     From Mobile, Monroe settled in Memphis which in the late 50's was rife with prejudice and segregation. However, Monroe was a different kind of person and he preferred to spend all his free time on Beale Street which was a predominantly Black area. Local authorities were dead set on enforcing segregation and Monroe was arrested a miasma of times for vagrancy.At about the same time, he was becoming the number one wrestling star of Tennessee and in a match with Billy Wicks(refereed by Rocky Marciano), Monroe sold out Ellis Auditorium in Memphis with 13,000 people, a record that stood in the South until the year 2001!
    Monroe had often said that he was"Rough, tough and hard to bluff". He put this tenacity to good use in a successful coup to thwart Memphis segregation.
     Ellis Auditorium would not allow blacks to sit anywhere they wanted. Segregation was enforced and the black fans were forced to sit in the balcony or "Crows Nest" as it was called. They were not allowed to sit amongst white patrons down closer to the ring. Monroe concocted a three tiered plan to end this. He gave out hundreds of reduced rate passes to ensure that there would be more black patrons than the balcony would be able to accommodate. He then bribed the gate keeper into lying about the number of black tickets sold so as to fool the promoters. If there were 500-1,000 black patrons who would have tickets, the gate keeper would report that there were far fewer. Finally, Monroe exercised his star power as insurance. He was the number one draw in Memphis and boldly told promoters that he would not wrestle if the promoters refused to allow black patrons to sit where they wanted.
    For fear of seeing their profits plummet, the promoters relented and Ellis auditorium was integrated for the first time ever and would stay that way. In a similar incident, a Memphis auto dealership enforced segregation for viewing an auto show. Blacks would have to enter when told to and view the cars from a "colored only" section. Monroe proceeded to call the dealership and threatened to buy a dealership and place it on Beale St. in the black area. Needless to say, segregation was terminated at this event.
    Years later at a match in Louisville, Monroe was approached by a young woman in her 30's. She told him that they never met but because of his tenacity and desire for justice, she and her family were for the first time in their lives treated like equals. It was said that it was the first time in wrestling history that anyone had ever seen Sputnik Monroe break down and cry.
    Sputnik wasn't done there, however. In 1972 he put together the first ever interracial tag-team with wrestler Norvell Austin who had a blond streak in his hair to match the Mohawk of Sputnik's. At the end of one match, Monroe dumped a bucket of black paint on a vanquished opponent and screamed"Black is beautiful". Austin then hugged Monroe and yelled"White is beautiful". This in turn led to other interracial tag teams in several leagues around the country.
     It took a great deal of courage to impose integration by oneself in an area which had for so long practiced the antithesis. However, Sputnik always said that he was" A piece of twisted steel and sex appeal. A heavenly body that women craved and men feared". Perhaps he was right.
    Monroe retired from the ring to New Smyrna Beach Florida. In his latter years he had part of his lung removed and several bouts with lung cancer. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 3, 2006 at the age of 77.
    There is an urban legend in Memphis that in the 1960's every African American household had three pictures displayed. One was of Jesus, the second of Martin Luther King and the third of Sputnik Monroe. I don't know if the legend is true or not but I am convinced of one thing- it should be.

This author acknowledges the Monroe Brothers online fan club website, the Wikipedia Library and an online article by Mike Morgan as the major sources for the composition of this article.