As I stepped off the bus at North Saginaw and Hamilton in front of the huge Hamady Brothers food store, I glanced across the street, and my eyes got as big as saucers. My young heart was beating as fast as it could. There was a huge crowd gathered in front of the Flint Arena around a big, powder blue Lincoln Continental convertible. As I crossed the street, the excitement was getting bigger with every step I took.

The large car had the top down despite the cold air. I finally got alongside the big car, and at the wheel, under the snowing skies, was Big Yukon Eric. He was quietly listening to an Opera station on the radio, which was at full blast, and smoking a big cigar. Eric had come to Flint to try to end the tyranny of Ricky "Crusher" Cortez, who had run roughshod over many men in the past 12 months. Ricky had beaten the best that had been brought to the table.

Men the likes of Dick "Mr. Michigan" Garza, Gentleman Jim Hady, Dante Pella, Wee Davey Duncan, Luis Martinez, and Leaping Larry Chene had been matched up against the brutal ring antics of Ricky Cortez. Ricky had handed them their heads in their hands, so to speak, as none had secured a clear-cut victory over him in a year's time.

I leaned over and wished Eric good luck with his upcoming battle. With a smile, he said, "Thanks, kid," and resumed listening to the music. It was as if he were in some kind of trance. It was only later in life, when I began my own career, when I learned that one of his biggest weaknesses was his love for soft, stimulating opera music, played very loudly. He claimed that it helped to get him ready for the big crowds.

As I went to the ticket booth, I was alarmed to see a SRO sign, as the building had been completely sold out from one end to the other. Capacity was around 2,500, and the place was jammed. Leo Donoghue had to hire extra security from the Flint Police to guard against any problems. I was glad that I had reserved my seat.

The bouts began at 8 p.m., and first on the card was Gino Britto, son of the matchmaker, Jack Britton, from the Detroit wrestling office. He had made an impressive showing in his first match just two months earlier. Tonight, he faced a pretty mean little guy by the name of "Dynamite" Johnny Gates. The two men battled to a 30-minute draw that had ringside fans nearly ready to climb into the ring. I might add that there were NO barriers around the ring. NO retaining ropes. And, NO metal rails separating the fans from the ring. All you had to do was reach out, and you could be in the ring if you were at ringside.

The second bout had Steve Zold from Sarnia, Ontario, Canada meeting a very young George "Crybaby" McCarther. George won the match in a little over 10 minutes with a huge body press. He had used a slam into the corner and then threw his 350 pounds to nearly try and drive Steve through the corner turnbuckle prior to the body press.

Dick "Mr. Michigan" Garza faced Don Fargo in the semi-main event, which went to a draw when time limit ran out. Dick had his famous Full Nelson on Fargo and nearly had him succumbing when the bell rang for the time limit. Blond hair was flying everywhere, and it almost seemed as if Fargo would give up.

After a short intermission, the dressing room door flew open, and Eddie, the Flint timekeeper, announced that the main event was next. Yukon Eric came out the door, dressed as he was in the car, and up the cement steps he went towards the arena floor and the ring.

Eric was met by a huge crowd of autograph seekers and people wanting to shake his hand. It took everything the Flint Police could do to prevent a riot before the match began. They finally got Eric to the ring, and he went to the far side of the ring near the front end of the building. He signed pictures and booklets that had been sold in the basement area. He also signed a bunch of autograph books as they were handed and pushed his way.

Suddenly, from the stairs coming from the basement, screams and boos started going. They got louder as the Crusher neared the top of the stairs. He just stopped and glared at the overflow crowd and ran a few kids away that had autograph books in their hands. One huge old black man started shouting as Ricky passed him, "You're gonna get yours now, Ol' Yukon is gonna tear you in half and send you packing back to Mexico City!"

Ricky stopped in his tracks, turned to the man who was shouting, and said, "You better shut your mouth, you old fool. if you know what is good for you." I was about five feet away from the guy and saw him turn very pale as Ricky talked to him. I knew that he meant business, as I had seen what he had done to a lot of guys in the ring.

Eight of Flint's finest had surrounded Ricky and urged him to go into the ring. By now, Yukon Eric had taken off the huge sleeveless flannel shirt and kicked off his logging boots and was barefoot. Eric had claimed that he got better traction on the mat by being barefoot.

After the introductions, Ricky jumped the gun and attacked Eric from behind, bringing two guys into the ring to try and make things even. The police dragged the hopeless souls to the floor, but not before Ricky got in a few good licks and busted one guy's head wide open with a single blow. Yukon grabbed Ricky and spun him around after the fan incident and was starting to really pound the daylights out of Cortez when, suddenly, Ricky drew a short breath and grabbed the huge, barrel-chested Eric in a bearhug off the ropes.

What Cortez did not realize is that this was also Eric's move to win matches. The two fought until Eric reached down, reversed the bearhug, and made Cortez give up. The second fall was a very quick one with Cortez winning with a thumb to the eye and a body press.

When the bell rang for the third fall, Cortez was quick to start out, trying to beat a black and blue mark in Eric's chest. He nearly succeeded and had Yukon in a bad way when Eric was thrown from the ring. Eric regained his composure and, after a few attempts, made it back into the ring and started beating the pulp out of Ricky.

Both men were on the mat slugging it out when Eric grabbed Cortez in a reverse bearhug, hoisted him over his shoulders, and pinned his shoulders to the mat. The referee, Gene Lyons, counted both men's shoulders to the mat for a two count, and then Ricky raised his shoulder as the arm hit for a three count. Yukon had been handed a huge loss by Cortez. He had not figured on the referee counting his shoulders. One thing about Ricky Cortez---he was ring smart and knew what was going on at all times.

Fans surrounded the ring and refused to let Cortez leave the ring. Police finally had to call on their six plainclothes officers to help the eight others to get Cortez back to the stairway steps that led back to the dressing rooms. Cortez had to be escorted from the building and driven to his car by police to ensure his safety.

Some six years later, on a lonely road on January 16, 1965, Erik "Yukon Eric" Holmbeck ended his life in the front seat of his car in Georgia by sticking a revolver in his mouth and pulling the trigger. It happened just off the main highway. And, yes, he was listening to loud opera music when time ended for him.

He was taken to Nebraska to be buried, and his coffin sat on the platform for two days, waiting for enough men to carry it to a final resting place.

A year before his death, I had the privilege to wrestle on a card in New York with Eric and had the pleasure of sharing some dressing room stories with him. He spoke of the battles he had with Cortez and with Killer Kowalski and others. He was a great family man who longed for his family every day he was on the road. He remembered his humble beginnings, and he was another of the wrestling greats who was overlooked.

Rest in Peace, Eric.