Anyone have a fag?

Just kidding - I don't smoke and haven't for over 12 years. I can't say I still don't have the urge now and then. I guess it will always be like a recovering alcoholic. Fag means cigarettes in London but here in the U.S., it is slang for gay.

The guy above was a wrestling machine. To the best of my knowledge he didn't take steroids. After a certain age in life, I am not even sure he even lifted weights. It didn't matter! This guy was box office and could work with a broom or mop. He would have fit in Northern Californi perfectly today in the 21st century because as best I can see, most of the guys in these backyard promotions in Northern California have the ability of a broom or mop! Even with no television, this guy could take Indy crowds from 70 range to 1,000 fans because he was a WORKER! By the way, for the idiots that have no pro wrestling history, Ray Stevens is the guy on the left...

I want to thank Viktor Berry for use of the pictures. For those that don't know Viktor, he was a great photographer for Roy Shire in the 60's and 70's and still is a great photographer. I want to also direct fans from that era that want to be educated to go to: http://homepage.mac.com/viktor2/btw/index.html

Viktor did an outstanding job with this website and I personally thank him for making these memories be relived every time I visit the site. He has some great history and pictures about Northern California. I only wish he had videos on his website for all fans to watch and young wrestlers today to learn.

Now, on to my topics this week. Here is what I will try to cover.

1. Gays in pro wrestling - Do they belong?

2. Drugs and Alcohol in pro wrestling and how it might not kill the sport but it is killing its participants

3. IDIOTS... I always try to talk about my favorite topic - IDIOTS!

GAYS - I don't know how many follow the NBA as religiously as I do but I am an NBA mark. Off and on when time permits, I have been a Golden State Warrior season ticket holder for 15 of the last 30 years. This year, it has been fun and I don't know whether they will make the playoffs but prior to the All Star Break a former NBA player came out of the closet and said he was gay. I believe he played in the 70's but don't ask me his name. He was writing a book so you can understand his timing of coming out of the closet. Many had comments about what they thought about this topic including some huge stars like LeBron James and even former stars like former GS Warrior guard, Tim Hardaway. Tim said, "I don't like gays and I wouldn't want them in my locker room during my playing days". It caused a stink and he was in Las Vegas at the time for All Star weekend and the NBA Commissioner, David Stern didn't take to strongly to the comment and although Timmy was a great player in his day and an important ambassador during this weekend, he was sent home. Why? Timmy probably would feel uncomfortable walking around a locker room naked knowing there was a gay fellow teammate possibly staring at his package. What do you think? Recently, pro wrestling even had a former WCW star come out of the closet and state he was gay. He was another no-name and his statement didn't carry much impact. It is a known fact Pat Patterson, former pro wrestler and VP of Titan Sports and WWE was gay. I wonder how the boys felt in the 70's when they knew he was gay and they were walking around the locker room naked after a shower after their match? I used to hear some of the boys always bad mouth him for being gay but they all respected his in-ring abilities. Why? He was good in the ring and he was the booker for Roy Shire in Northern California. Pat was not the greatest wrestler in the ring. His fundamentals like arm drags and dropkicks sucked but he knew the business. He was a mastermind at psychology and was over as a heel or babyface. The boys respected him. I wonder how they handled him in the locker room? Pat was a tremendous draw and talent in the 70's for Shire and later for Verne Gagne and the AWA teaming with Ray Stevens and continuing the success they had in San Francisco. Pat later went to WWF and was a huge draw and later took over as a ring announcer for television and did interviews. Why wasn't there such an uproar back then. I know had I been a wrestler, I would have befriended the guy and tried to pry as much knowledge as possible from him and it wouldn't have mattered if he were gay or not to me. I learned alot watching the guy work and the fact he was gay never bothered me but then again, I wasn't walking around the locker room naked with him staring at my package. Pat Patterson is an asset but What would your thoughts about him being gay with his presence in the locker room while you walked around naked after a shower?

DRUGS and ALCOHOL and STEROIDS - I must have smelt the heavy news this week when I announced this would be my topic this week. I don't know if I ever did steroids although in the 70's when I wanted to be a pro wrestler, the popular steroid was dyanabol. Most of the boys in the 70's partaked in dyanabol. I know so little about it, I don't know if it was in pill form or if you shot it in your ass. If you could take it in pill form, it is possible I took it by having one of the boys slip it in my shake as a rib. I certainly never realized any gains from it. I have never been a believer in steroids but I must admit when I was a kid, I was always in awe of those big arms and chests on pro wrestlers and a part of me wanted to be a pro wrestler for the very same reason. I guess because I was the little guy that lettered in basketball and although I was 3rd string, I still lettered my junior year. I wasn't supposed to make the team and that could be why I have always rooted for the underdog and small guy. When I founded Pacific Coast Sports in 1991, I always had a dream of producing small wrestlers that could wrestle and didn't have the body. What causes the business to require that look? Is it the fans that demand that look or the promoters that feel they can't make money with ordinary looking bodies with talent. What many young people don't realize is you can't build a body on steroids alone. You still have to lift weights and eat right and do supplements. It is obvious the wrestling body takes lots of punishment and especially when you do it night in and night out and I know the other part of steroids is how it might make the body recover in time. The problem with steroids or any drug is it becomes lethal when you mix it with other drugs and/or alcohol. I believe that is where pro wrestlers have their problem. Being on the road is tough and it can be a lonely time even when you have DVD players, women, X-Box, play stations etc... The guys tend to drink. When you can't get painkillers prescribed to you, they are not cheap on the black market. I hear many stories about how the boys drink and mix it with painkillers so they don't have to spend as much on painkillers and they can take less of them. Now add steroids to the mix and this is when it becomes lethal. I am no expert but I believe those that are dying young are doing so because of the above. The lucky ones die later but still too young. How can pro wrestling avoid this problem. It seems the other sports have taken care of the problem or at least know how to punish for the problem and are willing to. Until only recently, it seems the wrestling business has rarely addressed the problem. Where does the problem lay? Would wrestling fans still continue to follow wrestling if there were talented wrestlers but they didn't have the chiseled look? This is a problem that needs to be addressed probably moreso than is it okay to have gays in locker rooms. In APW, we don't try to tell anyone what they can do in their spare time. I know wrestlers like to party and always will. We just don't feel it is a good thing when a wrestler does any drugs, smokes pot or drinks 4 hours prior to a match. Remember, this business is about trusting your body to your opponent and it wouldn't be possible for an opponent that has partied prior to the match to be safe with someone in a competitive wrestling match. What do you think the solution is? I am curious to hear your comments on these topics...

I ran out of time and don't have time to discuss idiots. You know - idiots like those that post on the NorCal boards.

RANDOM THOUGHTS...

(Credit Photo to Mike Lano)

I just wanted to give you my random thoughts about the weekend but before doing so, let me say two things. One, I believe the great computer people at APW have made it possible to have you comment on the blogs now without going to the message boards and without registering to do so. Secondly, I always brag about how 12 of 16 King of Indies participants went on to become stars in pro wrestling and more importantly, earn a living. I'd like to think APW played a huge part as did the tremendous abilities of the wrestlers themselves. They just needed a break to showcase their talents. King of Indies was merely a vehicle in trying to point out great young talent to those important decision makers in major promotions. Some took advantage while other promotions snoozed. Always support young Indy wrestlers and the promotions or training schools that try to bring them the exposure necessary to make it to the major leagues! Now, how many do you recognize in the picture? Who are they? Where are they now?

Gym Wars on Saturday 3/10 was awesome. Sometimes, shows that don't look good on paper end up being pretty damn good. I didn't think this was a good show on paper and it ended up being a very good show. Vennis DeMarco and Chris Colione might have bitten off more than they could choose when they accepted a "Loser leave APW" match but not without causing some stress. In the locker room, J. J. Perez didn't seem to mind the stipulation and he was telling some of his friends that he didn't think him and Melissa would lose and if they did, he knew how he would deal with the loss. I overheard him telling people he would still wrestle for NWA Pro and although his championship aspirations in APW would be put on hold for 6 months which might be detrimental to his career, he would let his body heel. Melissa on the other hand was very stressed out and the stress didn't seem to come from losing and not wrestling in APW for 6 months because her schedule always seems filled with Shimmer and ChickFight bookings. As a matter of fact, she is getting ready to go to the U.K. again very shortly. Her concern seemed to stem from if she lost the fall and cost J. J. the match and 6 months away from APW. I was actually very entertained by her stress as she seemed to be having heated words with Jason Deadrich in the locker room regarding putting her in this type of situation. Melissa has to remember, she accepted the stipulations and match and APW just helped put it together. As for the Mafia, they were a very good team for a very long time in APW but now what? I guess Vennis gets enough bookings in Northern California, he'll stay busy during those six months but boy are those loser promotions he wrestles for sometimes. I'll actually miss Vennis around the locker room. As for Colione, I don't interact with him much because he always seems to be in line at the concession purchasing something for his brother Bill and we barely talk.

"Shooter" Tony Jones had his usual good match and seemed to finish off Mike Rayne quickly. The difference in that match was good training and experience. Let me say this on behalf of Mike Rayne. He attended the pro camp that afternoon. The pro camp is run by Oliver John, MPT and J.J. Perez. I actually took some time to give him a tryout during the training session. It wasn't very good. He is not very fundamentally sound in the ring but what a nice guy and I appreciated the fact he was humble and knew he wasn't that good but is willing to learn. With that attitude, I don't see how you won't see a change in Rayne's ability over the next 6 to 12 months and I can almost guarantee it. Here I thought all of Northern California consisted of only Indy wrestlers with egos who don't understand you always learn in this business and the strike you as "I know it all" kind of wrestlers. I apologize for stereotyping as Mike Rayne proved to me he is different. Pro Wrestling abilities are no different than a drug abuser or alcohol abuser. They first must be able to admit their problem. Then they need to address it. I think it took a special man to go through a tryout in front of wrestlers, students, production staff and whoever else happened to be in the garage at the time. It took an even bigger man to admit he is not that well trained and has lots to learn and is willing to learn without letting his ego get in the way. I tip my hat to him. Hopefully, Mike Rayne isn't the only one to step forward. He sometimes takes a beating on the NorCal boards but I think he is going to have the last laugh.

I know there are many in Northern California that need additional training and could use the type of training one always seems to receive in APW. Besides, it isn't a bad way to get on the shows and get yourself on the radar. Most APW guys are on the radar and are respected. Think about Monday Night Raw in Fresno and all the guys who were there and didn't get invited to go to Smackdown. There was a huge APW presence in the Smackdown locker room although nobody wrestled that night and that was the original intent and always has been with Smackdown. But they don't invite every jabronie backstage at Raw to attend the Smackdown tapings! Anyone interested in joining the APW pros and receiving some training from the 3 best wrestlers in California (MPT, Oliver John and J. J. Perez), give APW a call or drop me an e-mail at roland@allprowrestling.com

I was in a business meeting during the Oliver John match VS. Billy Blade but was told that it was a very good match and how Billy Blade was very competitive. Sometimes, being on the road can do a wrestler some good. I hope that continues with Billy Blade because I'd love to see him improve on his in-ring ability because he is such a nice guy and I always pull for nice guys. Afterall, I am a nice guy!

The MPT match with Scotty Aboot was good. When I look at a match, I love the technical stuff and they delivered there. I also look at fan reaction as I always try to listen to the fans and they didn't take to that match as they did to some of the others that night. But fans don't know how good that match really was. It might have been better than MPT's match with the Japanese kid last Gym Wars but the fans liked the unknown factor with the Japanese wrestler and the fact he traveled from Japan to Gym Wars and because of that, were more into the match. There were many more arial moves in that match also. The gym wars fans always want to cheer or boo a wrestler and it is difficult to boo either MPT or Aboot based on their skill level. I think Aboot can be a player in the wrestling business with body development and some charisma. MPT has it all, he just needs to fine tune the body and he is already there. It is such a pleasure having him as one of the trainers in the pro camp and he has an edgy attitude and isn't completely a babyface so I can live with him, it is the midget Perez I sometimes have problems with - too bad, I could have used a six month break from the midget.

I thought the six man was the show stealer. Please keep in mind, I didn't see the Oliver John match and everyone kept telling me how good it was and how it may have been one of the better singles matches Billy Blade has ever competed in. Something about being ringside for a wrestling match. Everything escalates. When I see a bad match on the monitor, it is worse when I am at ringside. Same goes for good matches on the monitor in my office, they are good but so much better when I am there at ringside. I can tell you I was at ringside and I was so entertained by the match and enjoyed watching it that I sometimes forgot to do my job as a manager. Of course my job isn't exactly the easiest job in the world. Kafu is a tough wrestler to manage. This guy can't decide whether he wants the fans to cheer him or boo him. One moment he will chant horny, horny, horny and then later he is chanting hungry, hungry, hungry. He can go from holding a baby in his arms to beating the crap out of a friend or foe. I seriously think he doesn't realize what he is doing half the time and my toughest thing as a manager with him is to keep him focused on the job at hand. Now we have been having bigger problems. Kafu has always looked up to me as a trainer and a friend and listened to what I tell him. Now that he is that close to stardom, he is letting other people in his ear. Great look, great friend but he might be a few fries short of a happy meal. Of course, he probably teamed up with Ground and Pound because he sees how popular they are with the fans. Some agent backstage at WWE convinces him to team with Oliver John where I would have much preferred a singles match but I was out of town and couldn't control the situation.

The six man tag was very entertaining and everything seemed to be going great until Tito Aquino gets in his head that if he defeats one of the Ego wrestlers, Gabe Ramirez and the booking committe might give him and Dana Lee a tag-title shot.

I also thought it was refreshing to hear from Tom Castor. The interview was good and I would like to see more of those where we get to know some of the personalities in APW. Maybe we can have someone host a future segment... What do you fans think? Would you like to know more about the behind-the-scenes with some of the personalities in All Pro Wrestling?

All in all, I still feel disrespected by fans at Gym Wars and I guess those things will never change no matter how much success I bring to wrestlers, students, and APW and how many fans are entertained by the house shows and Gym Wars. The Internet fan and Gym Wars fan obviously have their minds made up about me although I'd like to think most everyone respects my contributions to the wrestling world but won't admit it. Some of the success that ChickFight is having came from the very same success at King of Indies but there has been some major growth to it compared to KING OF INDIES. ChickFight is now worldwide and is on the tip of many wrestling fans tongue. Go check out the happenings at www.chickfight.tv as there are some really cool things going on over there. Help APW spread the word about everything from Gym Wars to ChickFight to OneStop to ClickWrestle. Support the people that make APW work and purchase your wrestling merchandise at www.onestopwrestleshop.com and if online wrestling footage is what you desire, there is none better than www.clickwrestle.com

I know I haven't given you the final chapter to the Pro Wrestling Noah blog but I have something on my mind right now and I want to talk about it in a blog before I lose my thoughts. Have you ever heard anyone say, "I want a fag"? Fag is a term used for cigarette in London. In the United States it has a different meaning. As many of you know, I am a huge NBA and Golden State Warrior fan. Recently during the All Star Break, former Warrior Tim Hardaway said he would not want a gay basketball player in his locker room. There was some heavy criticism from that statement and the NBA sent him home during the All Star Break where he was sort of an embassador for the NBA. I started thinking to myself whether I agreed with his opinion or not and then I started thinking about pro wrestling and how there had to be gays in locker rooms in the regional days. Just because it is just starting to come out of the closet today with a former NBA player saying he is gay and very recently the talk started with pro wrestling. I am going to give my opinion on the topic and tell you about a huge star in pro wrestling that was gay and to the best of my knowledge, Pro Wrestling handled it much differently than the NBA did - or did they? I will also discuss drugs and alcohol and how it plays a roll in pro wrestling today but not so much so in pro wrestling during the 70's when wrestling was regionalized. These are HOT TOPICS you won't want to miss reading and commenting on.

Take care until my next blog...