Cauliflower Alley Club Sapphire Event Prelude
The “Million Dollar Man†Ted DiBiase will be receiving the Iron Mike Mazurki Award during the Sapphire Event Awards Ceremony during the 45th Annual Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion April 19 – 21, 2010 at the Gold Coast in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Prior to the grand finale there will be a 3 day training seminar for current wrestlers by some of the leading Legends of the mat. There will be a ring psychologist performing classroom-like study on the art of the business, plus an insight on how to hypnotize the fans as well as opponents. On the Monday night of the seminar Pro Wrestling Revolution will be putting on a live card. There will be cribbage and bowling tournaments to enhance the brotherhood atmosphere.
During the Awards ceremony Former UFC Champion and NWA Champion Dan Severn is to receive the Lou Thesz Award.
Jim Ross is to receive the Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award
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Joyce Grable at a prior CAC reunion
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The 2010 CAC Women’s Wrestling Honoree Award goes to Joyce Grable.
Men’s Honorees include:
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Rip Hawk in action
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Rip Hawk
Dean Ho, aka Dean Higuchi deemed “This upstart Kiwi who hails from Hawaii!†by the late Grand Wizard during a backstage Boston Garden interview in August of 1974. From the 1960s through the 1980’s Dean favored the “Full Nelson†as a finisher and has been out of the spotlight since his retirement from the sport.
Roger Kirby – He wrestled his first match in Dayton, Ohio under the name Wild Bill Baker in 1960. He was a former tag team partner and “cousin†to CAC trainer Les Thatcher and former protégé of CAC member Percival A. Friend. On May 20, 1971 he defeated Danny Hodge for the NWA Jr. Heavyweight Title. His final match took place in Brunswick, Georgia in 1991 when he wrestled Rufus R. Jones.
Reel Friend Award will be granted to Lifetime Member Magic Schwarz. He was trained in Judo by Legendary Gene LeBell, and Magic has served as bodyguard to Brooke Shields, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Mickey Rourke, Michael Landon and Sylvester Stallone among others.
The International Award will be given to “Irish†Pat Barrett.
The Red Bastien Friendship Award will go to Vince Fahey.
The Posthumous Award will go to the late Lee Fields when his wife Ida accepts the plaque on his behalf.
The James C. Melby Historian Award will be awarded to Vance Nevada by Jim Melby’s daughter.
The Future Legend Award winner will be announced at a later date.
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Terry Funk in action
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JJ Dillon at an earlier CAC Reunion
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Previous Award winners serving as Masters of Ceremony for the Sapphire Event will be J.J. Dillon and Terry Funk.
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Sassy Stephie
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Sassy Stephie tells us that she has entered herself into the Pro Wrestling Revolution matches to take place the Monday night of the Sapphire Event.
In addition, Manny Fernandez who has helped train during past training seminars has spoken of his interest in returning in 2010. Amber Gertner (Joel’s ex) said last March during IWC’s Night of Legends V that she will be in Vegas during the 2010 CAC celebration.
The social atmosphere is what makes this mega event a once in a lifetime experience. For some of us it is inadequate to merely be a wrestling fan and yet some of us may find it difficult to sell tickets to wrestling events in this depressed economy and as George “the Animal†Steele recently commented, “You cannot call yourself a promoter if you can’t sell tickets.â€
So that leaves us with tackling the creative aspect of trying to produce for the wrestling community. Oh sure, you can spend top dollar to visit your local WWE, TNA, or independent wrestling event center and watch pay-per-views but what about that empty feeling that you get once the event is over? What about your desire to meet the wrestlers if you are not a wrestler or promoter? How then do you appease your wrestling addiction? To get closer you must get involved and the Cauliflower Alley Club provides just that for the diehard fan or promoter wannabes out there.
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Sassy Stephie in action
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As a Lifetime member of this organization I am honored to be sponsoring the “Sassy One†(as Mr. Lauer calls her) to CAC this coming April as she trains with the Legends, continues to live her dream of meeting new contacts in unfamiliar wrestling environment and just plain excels in the sport.
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Don Fargo, Fargo's son, & Paul Stratoti at a past CAC reunion
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What else makes it really worthwhile in attending is reuniting with your wrestling comrades.
In November 1973 Dean won the WWWF Tag Team Championship with Tony Garea and lost the titles to the Valiants that following May. Jimmy Snuka and Don Muraco both worked out in Higuchi’s gym.
Ricky Steamboat also has said that he was inspired by his martial arts and incorporated it into his own wrestling style.
… and ‘Welcome back,’ Hank Garrett! Hank became involved with CAC during the early years in the 60s after meeting CAC founder Mike Mazurki during which time he starred with Fred Gwynne in the TV series Car 54, where Are You? He remained loyal to the TV industry working in several major motion pictures and several TV series. As a wrestler he began his career under Toots Mondt and wrestled Jimmy Snuka during his final match in the 70s. Last May, he met Karl Lauer at the 2009 PWHOF convention where his interest in CAC was rekindled.
See http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/ for more information.
* – Did you know?
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Harley Race at a past CAC Reunion
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Ted DiBiase, the 2010 recipient of the Iron Mike Award is the son of “Iron Mike†DiBiase, a well trained wrestler who died in the ring and in the arms of Harley Race in 1969, upon suffering his fatal heart attack. His son, Ted DiBiase Jr. currently wrestles for WWE.
The Stratmandu Fan Club would like to give its condolences to the family and friends of fellow Cauliflower Alley Club member and former NWA Worlds Champion Harley Race in the loss of his lovely wife. I remember meeting her at the coffee express on the morning of June 10, 2006 during the 2006 CAC Reunion. I had asked her for change for a 20.00 bill and she bought the coffee instead. She was a lovely lady for our Handsome one and to all who knew her.
Article and photos by Paul Stratoti
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