Announcers Part 2

This is from the Manchester , England newspaper 4-5-2005 . A relative of Angus that reads my column sent it to me.

HOY (FRANCES PATRICK) (WILD ANGUS) -
On 21 April 2005 peacefully passed away in a hospital in Stranraer, Scotland.
Husband, Father, Grand Father, Great Grand Father, Brother and Friend.
Requiem Mass 10am on 27 April 2005 at St
Josephs Stranraer, Followed by burial at Kirkholm, Scotland.

Appeared in Deaths on 25/04/05.--Percival

When I left you last … I had gone into an interview with Angus and Kirby puffing away at a hand-rolled Havana cigar that had been given to me. One of the boys had a son born to him and his wife, and he handed out cigars for the birth. I was not a smoker, but the thought of the obnoxious smoke created by this beautiful little tool of nature’s giving could create some fun for me.

Bill Kersten was doing the promos for the upcoming matches in the area. He was babbling on about all the great super drawing cards that promoter Gust Karras and Heart of America would be bringing to cities like Des Moines, Topeka, Wichita and, of course, Kansas City. We approached him with all three cigars going and puffing away. Bill started to gag, as he was not a smoker and was coughing real badly.

I drew a big lungful of smoke and blew it straight into his face, causing him to stop talking. He stepped back and punched me right in the arm as he said, "Don't do that!!!" Angus and Kirby both grabbed him and were going to beat the heck out of him. I stopped them and just took the microphone, and with cigar in mouth, began my own program. Gust Karras and three big goons that he called his associates changed my mind out of continuing. I gave the microphone to Karras and left the announce area.

Later that night, while Bob Geigel was fighting for his life in a match with Angus, I had jumped up on the ring apron to protest a side headlock hold that Geigel had on Angus. I saw that Geigel had a hand full of hair along with the hold, and the referee was doing nothing about it. Bill Kersten reached up from his announce table and grabbed my pant leg and jerked me from the ring apron to the floor, telling me to mind my own business. I reminded him that Angus WAS MY BUSINESS and for him to never put his hands on me again.

The match ended up with Angus being disqualified. It was just another biased, one-sided effort by NWA referees to deprive me of making the winner’s share of the purse. As Kersten was giving the announcement of the winner of the match, I came from the blind side of him behind Angus and leveled him with one swing of my briefcase. The case was filled with important documents and did have a little heft to it.

Karras and his goons were coming up to the ring when Kirby and Harley Race came from the dressing room area and evened the odds. It took 12 uniformed officers to get me and the guys back to the dressing room.

I left the arena with good thoughts in mind that I had taught that dribbly mouthed, loud talking, vociferous little pipsqueak a small lesson in manners. That was not to be the case.

The following morning at 9 a.m., my private phone rang. Only six people had that number, and it was used for emergencies only. Who could it be … what had happened … I rose from the silk sheets and grabbed the phone with baited breath. "Hello," I called into the receiver. On the other end of the line was the huge voice of Gust Karras telling me to get down to KCMO TV-5 studios by 11 a.m. … Or else … and then he hung up.

What a heck of a thing to do to a nice guy like me. I had been hoodwinked by Karras before, and the odds were always against me when I went to these private meetings. I called and got Angus out of bed and said to him ... "Gust Karras wants us at the TV studios at 11 o'clock. Get some clothes on, and I will pick you up at 10:30 in the lobby. I don't know what they are up to, but I want you to be there for me."

Arriving at the studios of KCMO at about 5 minutes of 11, I was met by security guards at the front door. They stated to me that I was to go to studio W and have a seat … and that Mr. Karras would be there in a few moments. I couldn't for the life of me think of why everything was in such a turmoil. Angus and I took a seat on the huge brown velvet couch in the rear of the office area of the studio.

A few minutes later, Gust came in with Rufus R. Jones, Omar Atlas and Bill Kersten. Gust came over to me with a huge stack of papers in his hand and told me to come over to the desk. He said it would be easier to do OUR work there. I asked him, "When is OUR work involved with MINE?" Angus started to grab Karras when I told him to sit down behind me and just watch my back.

Gust began … “Last night, you did the greatest Cardinal sin that could be done in our business … You put your hands on an announcer in Kansas City.” I said, “YES I DID … after he pulled me off the ring apron and nearly broke every bone in my body.” Gust was not interested in my anatomy being broken apart and said, furthermore, that he wished it had happened. “You will have to pay for your striking an official of Heart of America Sports. Your fine is $5,000 … and how did you want to pay for it? By cash … or I will have it taken from your earnings.”

My face went blank, and I was speechless for one of the few times in my career. Angus had risen to his feet and was spouting words at Karras that would make a sailor on leave blush. Omar and Rufus just sat in front of Kersten and had big smiles on their faces. They didn't move … just sat there.

I asked if there were an alternative to this volatile situation. Karras seemed to have everything worked out in his favor as he started. “If you’re sincere about getting this matter resolved … then just sign this contract for two weeks from last night.” As I looked at the contract … it had a match involving six men … I read further down, and it stated that on one team would be Angus Campbell, Roger Kirby and Percival A. Friend. The other team would be Omar Atlas, Rufus R. Jones and Bill Kersten.

I looked at Gust and said, "Kersten isn't a wrestler … what are you trying to do?”

To be continued...

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers
2004 CAC Honoree