Alicia's House 2007 Part Two

This week's column is dedicated to Enrique Torres, 85, who just recently passed away in Calgary. He and his brothers Alberto and Ramon were an awesome trio in the early 50's. There is a marvelous story on his life at http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/04/02/3897543.html.--Percival

Rising early has been a trait of mine for many years. After all, the early bird … is ahead of the rest of the group by a few steps. Following a nice continental breakfast, compliments of the hotel, I returned to my room and watched an old movie while I read the local newspaper to catch up on all that was happening.

At 10 a.m., I met with Dave just outside the lobby area while he was enjoying a light breakfast. We spoke about the plan for the day and how we were going to go about raising money for Alicia's House.

Arriving at the Golf Club, we were about to go inside when a 12-passenger Lincoln Limo pulled up. The Russian Brute exited the car, and I went to him to welcome him to Chicago. With tree trunk arms, he hugged me and then shook my hand and thanked me for being here. I asked him to meet my friend Dave, and he said, in broken English, "Any friend of my comrade Mr. Friend is also a friend of mine … WELCOME Mr. Dave."

We went into the clubhouse and were met by Bunny Love and Paul Christy, 2005 CAC honorees. We chatted for a few minutes when I was grabbed from behind by two very large arms. I was lifted off my feet and spun around and came face to face with Lee Roupas, CFT, ACE and most other letters of the alphabet. He is the spokesmodel for the state of Illinois’ "We Card Hard" program.

What a role image he presents when speaking to groups. He is a motivational speaker and has been featured on many television and radio programs. Want to learn more about this gentle giant? Go to his website, www.leeroupas.com. It has a lot of in-depth articles on him.

As I turned toward the exit doors behind our autograph section of tables, I saw Milt Pappas come through the door in readiness for the morning. He went around the room shaking hands and renewing friendships with everybody. What a classy guy he is. To look at this legend, you would never think about all that he accomplished in his baseball career by the way he just blends into a crowd.

If you get a chance, do a web search on him and just read the many articles that encompass his glorious time on the mound. Pappas became the first pitcher ever to win 200 games without a single 20-win season.

Suddenly, there was a huge roar coming from the front door area. Fans of the Chicago Bulls had been lined up outside when we came in nearly a half hour before. Bob Love had arrived. Kids were running alongside of the near 7-foot giant of the basketball world. He had a smile that would have put mine to shame that morning on his face as everyone wanted their picture with the famous #10.

He finally made it over to the autograph tables, and fans were lined up 10 deep waiting to get their chance at shaking his hand. You can bet your boots that I took the same opportunity as nearly 500 before me did and thanked him for being there for Alicia's House. What a humble guy he is.

Every one of the celebrities went outside and got onto golf carts and proceeded to the greens, where some pretty stiff competition was taking place. These people were very serious about their game, despite being heckled by the Russian Brute throwing golf balls onto the putting greens and then laughing heavily about which was theirs. Then being stopped by Dave Burzynski for photos, they played their hearts out for the chance to win a top prize for the day.

We drove around all of the 18 holes before returning to the clubhouse to look over some of the 16 tables full of memories that were up for silent auction in a few moments. As I started to sit down, a face very familiar in the Martial Arts world came towards me. It was John Sharkey, an 8th degree Black Belt and trainer of many champions in that industry, including our own Juan "Mr. Karate" Hernandez.

I excused myself from the fans awaiting autographs to go and shake this man's hand. As I spoke to him, I reminded him that Juan had always spoke very highly of him and all that he had done for him in his youth. Then, jokingly, I said to him, "I bet if someone came at you with a .357 Magnum and shot a round at you, it would be nothing for you to catch it in your teeth". John laughed at my humor and then reminded me that mind over matter would prevail in that conflict.

I went to go back to my table, and who bumps into me in the crowd but Andy Gunderson, son of the late George and Claudia Gunderson. She came over and hugged me very hard and thanked me for making the trip to Chicago to be a part of this weekend. I still have the 5x7 picture that George gave me a few years ago following my induction into the 2004 CAC Honor Circle. It rests on my computer desk and always reminds me that there are super people like George out there that care.

George was a real wrestling fan that had the ultimate respect for the people in our industry. He showed that you were only a stranger to him just once. I also still have the Christmas Cards that he sent me. George was taken from us February 7, 2005, and left a huge void in many of our lives. Alicia's House has adopted a memorial award for George and Rose Rodgers to recipients that have gone out of their way to help out with feeding the hungry, just as George and Rose did.

We continued the autograph session until 6:30, when they decided they needed our tables for some extra guests that were being added to the overflow crowd attending the banquet. The dining hall was packed to capacity as the front table were escorted by members of Juan Hernandez's Karate school.

To be continued…..

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers

2003 BWC Hall of Fame Inductee
2004 CAC Hall of Fame Inductee
2006 LWA Hall of Fame Inductee
2007 TCCW Hall of Fame Honoree