CAC Benevolent Fund

Saturday Night Slam

Alicia's House Banquet

Today , Chris Kelly, wife of Gulf Coast Champ Cowboy Bob Kelly, suffered a massive heart attack . She was given open heart surgery and is holding her own at Mobile Infirmary in Mobile, Alabama. Please remember them both in your prayers--Percival

I had gone from my home near Toledo, Ohio with fellow Great Lakes manager Dave Burzynski to help out Alicia's House at a golf outing. The evening hours seemed to just float on by as the miles clicked away westbound.

We arrived in Peotone, some 35 miles south of Chicago, and feasted at Die Peotone Bierstube. Many of the celebrities were there that would be a part of the next day's festivities. Following a great meal and plenty of fellowship, Dave and I returned to our suites at a local hotel right near I-57. A restless night was in store for me as I got butterflies about the event.

We started out the day with a wonderful breakfast and then went to the Cardinal Creek Golf Club in Beecher, some 10 miles away. For nearly the next hour, we met and greeted some of the best people in the entertainment, sport and golf worlds.

Following some five hours on the course, we went back to the main room at the clubhouse and began a two-hour meet and greet session with fans and friends. George Gunderson came forward with his wife and gave me a beautiful picture from the CAC in Las Vegas a few months back. It was when I was on stage accepting the award. Glen Rylko and son Patrick came up and gave me a wonderful surprise of a photo of all the 2004 honorees in caricature. Diesel Desperado, a mainstay in Championship International Wrestling, came forward and gave me a huge handshake and hug.

One by one, fans began to come to the tables to get autographs from all that came to help this cause out. Rich Tito and the rest of the Chicago seven came forward to not only congratulate me but also to buy items for their collections. I was seated between Lee Roupas and Milt Pappas for a while until The Chief came to join our table with items from the police department.

Following an exhaustive session, I refreshed for a few moments and went into the main ballroom to ready myself for the banquet. In a matter of 20 minutes, the room filled to capacity to dine with us. Milt Pappas asked me to join him at his end of the table, and we were also joined by 2005 CAC honorees Paul Christy and Bunny Love. Ox Baker and Lee Roupas were near the center, and Dave Burzynski, Kevin Hughes, Buddy Roberts and Scott Schwartz were some that held down the other end of the front table.

Following a beautiful prayer offered by Lee Roupas, we were served our meals in an old fashioned style. Mounds of chicken, loaves of bread, vegetables galore, potatoes and prime rib were just a small amount of the main meal. We also had side plates of Italian, German and Mexican foods. It was a truly enjoyable delight that any gourmet would have drooled to be a part of.

After the meal was served and consumed, Juan and Stella Hernandez began a series of announcements pertaining to winners in the silent auction and other contests held during the day. They were very humbled by the massive turnout and the amount of affection that was shown by everybody attending this year's function.

Juan took the podium and began to thank the members of the front table one by one in a way that only he is capable of doing. His way with words is a Godsend, and it is no wonder that he chose the ministry following his accident of breaking his neck. He started with Milt Pappas and spoke how he had overcome many odds to become an outstanding player on many teams, and that he appreciated him being there for Alicia's House.

He then spoke of me and how I had been honored so many times during the past 18 months that it was a wonder that my head fit over the halo I must be wearing. I had asked Juan to call me to the podium earlier in the day, as I had a special gift that I would like to have him help me present. Following a great ovation from everybody in the room, I went and began my presentation.

I spoke of how Juan and I had been friends but only a few years, and that he touched me as an Angel here on earth. I thanked both him and Stella and said that ANY time they needed me, to not hesitate, but just pick up the phone and I would be there for them. I began to talk about wrestling and how one of the main things a new performer longed for is to be the very best that they could be and to ultimately become heavyweight champ. I then turned to Juan and said that he carried that title for a decade.

It was then that I told a shocked audience that we were going to make one of us in that room Heavyweight Champ for a day. I reached down for my briefcase, and someone hollered out, watch out for the BRICK. I was accused of carrying one in my case many times during my years as a manager, but it was never proven. I opened the case and took out the framed document and turned to Juan and asked him to announce whom the winner was.

He turned to the audience and looked around and said the winner and heavyweight champ for a day, July 17, 2004, is ... Chief Paul Farber. We presented him with the award, and then he had a chance to thank everybody but then said, in the words of Bobby Heenan at the last CAC, "I thought it would be bigger".

Next, Juan thanked Paul Christy and Bunny Love and mentioned again that they would be honored in Las Vegas at the CAC in 2005. Then, Juan went down the list of people at the head table, one by one, thanking them for coming out. Lee Roupas, Buddy Roberts, Dave Burzynski and Kevin Hughes all received ovations that brought many smiles to tired faces after a long day. They all spoke with reverence to Juan and Stella for the hard work they do.

It was then that Juan began to talk about the huge man holding down the center part of the table, Ox Baker. He spoke of the many years of friendship that they have had and how he was always there whenever Juan needed a helping hand. It's hard to believe that so many good things can be said about a man who rocked arenas with an uncontrollable vengeance towards opponents.

Next and last to be announced was Scott Schwartz … movie actor, wrestler, and a nice guy, to boot. He got a standing ovation from everyone at the meal for his efforts. It was then that he also asked to come forward to do something for Alicia's house. He brought forth three cardboard tubes that had posters in them from movies he had been a part of. These had not been issued to the public, and only a few existed beyond these he had brought to the event. Scott auctioned them off to the highest bidder and then signed them personally.

The evening concluded with a stop back in Peotone to the Bierstube and a short nightcap and a few more thank you's to Karl and his entire crew for a wonderful evening the night before. Dave, Scott and myself told road stories about the wrestling business for nearly two hours. I learned a lot more about these two great men during that special time than I could have ever imagined.

Following a good night's rest after being up again for nearly 20 hours, Dave and I returned to my home, and then he returned to the Detroit area. It was a great weekend, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to spend it with so many nice people doing something good for those that need help. This is a time in my life that I will remember for many years to come.

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