Only and stunt; you guys have the stories; you could each easily write a book
and I'll tell you I'd be first in line to buy one from each (but only if I got both
your autographs).
Anyway, a little snooze break.
Dateline: 1974, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV; The National Wristwrestling
Championships. ABC was there to film with Frank Gifford as MC. The officating
body was World Wristwrestling, Inc., Petaluma, California. Bill Soberanes,
president and official, self-proclaimed, "Peopleologist." Bill was the "other" guy
who armwrestled Governor Ronald Reagan (besides Dan "the man" Lurie).
I was on assignment by Billie Jean King's "Women's Sports" magazine (the first
male they told me, to get an assignment), to cover the women's event
(which is another BIG story in its own right but not for here, now...).
Anyway, I was there for the weekend and had some down or lull time. One of
the heavyweight contenders whom I had met, needed some extra practice
so he asked me to turn a wrist with him. My egO wouldn't let me say NO,
so after the auditorium was empty, we adorned the wrist table (everyone
else was eating at one), and locked up.
Long story short. I held my own to a degree but he always turned me over
and spanked my hand good. Each turn burned! My arm was getting pumped
but also sore. But we kept it up, over and over again. He said he just needed
the resistence to help him overcome his sticking point. I had done a little
wrist-turning with world champ Jim Pollock, who I had written about, so in
a small respect I gave this heavy a little challenge for his money (little would
be the key word). But I went with him to the end (I was nearly praying
silently that he'd quit). Afterwards, my arm was nearly frozen in pain and I
couldn't hardly bend it straight (made it hard to take notes and write).
The next day it was worse. But I asked for it. And I got it.
What a weekend. Besides the women, I interviewed Bobby Riggs, who had
just recently lost that "Super" tennis match with Billie Jean, and I saw
a famous bodybuilder approach the table out of the crowd (MMI article I
did in October/November '04 exposed this) and LOSE. Twice in a row!
By the way, it took me a full two weeks to recover from that wrist assault
on my innocent arm. But guess what. It greatly increased my ability in that
particular endeavor, and in overall arm strength (in my right arm).
The weekend itself and memories stayed with me a lot longer.