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Almost a decade ago, I began to get re-acquainted with my other family in a place called Las Vegas. It took nearly four hours of flying time to get there and another hour by transport van to the Riviera Hotel and Casino.
Many of my heroes from the 50's and 60's were there, like Stan Kowalski, "Mr. America" Gene Stanlee, Killer Kowalski and Lou Thesz.
I had the pleasure of finally meeting boxing trainer Eddie Futch that weekend. He trained guys like Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, Trevor Berbick, Michael Spinks and Riddick Bowe. Of that prestigious group, four of the five men to ever beat Muhammad Ali. It was hard for me to imagine that, just a year and a half later, this man would be lying in state at Caesars Palace in the same ring that his champions had fought in.
Eddie Futch, manager extraordinaire of Boxing for over 60 years
I also got a chance to see Big Tex McKenzie and Flying Fred Curry, along with the wild man from the Pampas, Pampero Firpo. I had the opportunity to spend some time with Sputnik Monroe and Danny Hodge for the first time in nearly 30 years. I also had a chance to meet with a very young Kurt Angle as he was there to receive the Future Legend Award.
When they opened the curtains on the spectacle of the Las Vegas Strip in all her lighted glory, I was mystified by its beauty and grandeur. As I listened to each of the speeches that were given by the honorees, I only wondered what it would be like to be on that stage and have that honor bestowed on me.
I had time that weekend to play some cribbage with Fred Curry and had the most fun in a lot of years doing so. I wrote to Red Bastien soon after I was home in Ohio and suggested that a tournament be started to have a CAC champion Cribbage player.
The following year, Dick Beyer, "The Destroyer," took the reins, and a tournament was started. Initially, we had only eight players involved, but it gave the proceeds from the entrance fee to the CAC Education fund to help out. Over the next few years, the tournament grew to over 40 players, and it has been an uphill grind to beat some of these guys and gals at one of the older card games in the world today.
Just to give you an idea about the history of the game, I “borrowed” the explanation of the word Cribbage from the American Cribbage Congress website, and it reads…
cribbage (krib`ij), card game played by two persons with a deck of 52 cards and a scoring (pegging) device known as a cribbage board. The board contains four rows of 30 holes each (two rows for each player), plus additional holes, called game holes. Each player gets two pegs to keep the score. Suckling, Sir John, 1609-42, one of the English Cavalier poets, was educated at Cambridge and Gray's Inn. An accomplished gallant, he was given to all the extravagances of the court of Charles I. (1609-42) is credited with inventing and naming the game. Each king (high card), queen, jack, and ten represents a count of 10 points; each ace, a count of 1; each other card, its index value. Each player receives six cards and lays away two face down to form the crib. The stock is then cut by the pone (non dealer) to produce the starter, which is turned up by the dealer; the starter is used to determine the value of the players' hands. Cards are placed face up alternately, non dealer first, in front of the player, who announces the total count. The object of each series is to carry the total of the cards to 31 or as close as possible without exceeding it. A player pegs 1 for laying down the last card in a series before reaching 31, or he pegs 2 for adding a card that makes exactly 31. Points also are scored for making the count 15 and for playing cards in sequence or in pairs. When all the cards have been played, each player pegs additional points for the pairs, sequences, and counts of 15 that can be arranged from the cards in his hand and the starter; the dealer also pegs the score in the crib. Several hands are played until the game is reached when one player pegs 61 points (once around the board) or 121 points (twice around).
This coming June 9, 10 and 11, I have been asked by the Board of Directors of the Cauliflower Alley Club to oversee the 2008 Tournament at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. The entrance fee is only $20, and you get to play against some of the biggest names in our wrestling business.
The defending champ from 2007 will be Bill White. I am sure that Paul and Maurice Vachon, along with Ox Baker and J.J. Dillon, will be involved in the classic. Larry Hennig, Pat Patterson and myself will also be involved. It will be my honor to include your name on the list of contenders.
All you need to do is make your reservation either online or by mail for the banquet and then E-mail me at [email protected] and request your name to be placed in the tournament. Remember, the earliest spots are the best. Entrance fees are paid at the time of signup on Monday and Tuesday. All proceeds are tax deductible and help many fulfill their dreams.
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
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