New book offers wrestling trivia & history

Friday, April 19th, 2013 | Books, Wrestling | No Comments

“How much do you know about Mankind’s Oldest Sport?”

That is the question posed on the cover of the new wrestling book written by the sport’s most prolific writer. Mike Chapman’s Super Book of Wrestling Trivia brings to the reader some of the most memorable events in the history of Mankind’s Oldest Sport.

“The three main goals of the book are to educate young people about the grand heritage of the sport and to entertain older readers with a nostalgic trip into the past,” said Chapman. “And to have a little fun along the way.”

Wrestling has been around for at least 5,000 years. The book has separate chapters on wrestling in antiquity, in early America, in the NCAAs, and international wrestling, including the Olympics. There are also sections on professional wrestling, wrestling as a part of mixed martial arts, wrestling in the military, and wrestling in pop culture.

The 176-page book features nearly 50 photos. Included are a classic sketch of the Hebrew patriarch Jacob wrestling the angel of the Lord, as described in the Bible in Genesis; photos of Kirk Douglas wrestling in the 1955 movie “Ulysses,” about the Greek hero during the time of the Trojan War, and Tom Cruise wrestling in the 1989 film “Born on the 4th of July.”

Read more and order today!

Tags: Ben Askren, Cael Sanderson, Jim Jordan, Pat Smith, Steve Fraser, Tom Brands, Trivia, Wrestling

Mike at Dedication of Earl Caddock Memorial Drive in Walnut

Monday, May 28th, 2012 | Books, Wrestling | No Comments

The city of Walnut has announced the dedication of Pearl Street in Walnut to be designated the Earl Caddock Memorial Drive in honor of the town’s most famous citizen. Author Mike Chapman will be a part of the ceremony on Sunday morning, June 17, giving a short address and signing copies of his book on Earl.

Earl Caddock came off an Iowa farm to become a great amateur wrestler and then won the world heavyweight championship of professional wrestling, back when the sports was a true athletic contest. He was an AAU national champion, in 1914 and 1915, but the cancellation of the 1916 Olympics ended his amateur career. With Frank Gotch of Humboldt, Iowa, acknowledged as the top athlete in America at the time, Caddock decided to follow Gotch into professional wrestling. On April 9, 1917, he took a perfect record of 79-0 (53-0 as an amateur and 26-0 as a pro) into the ring in Omaha to take on the world champion, Joe Stecher. After more than two hours of grueling wrestling, Earl Caddock emerged as the heavyweight champion of the world.

In 1919 and 1920, Caddock was one of the nation’s most popular athletes, standing alongside such legendary figures as Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey and Jim Thorpe.

At the peak of his sports career, Caddock enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in World War I and served gallantly in France as a doughboy, suffering lung damage from gas attacks. He returned to make his home in Walnut, Iowa. After three more years of wrestling, Caddock retired from the ring and began a successful career as a businessman in both Walnut and in Omaha. Caddock is buried in the Layton Cemetery just east of Walnut on Pearl St.

A new book, CADDOCK: Walnut’s Wrestling Wonder, was written by Mike Chapman, noted wrestling author and historian, and published by Culture House Books of Newton, in cooperation with the city of Walnut. Mike will be on hand for the dedication and available for book signing after the event. Members of the Caddock family will also attend.

The dedication is June 17, at 9 AM, in conjunction with the Walnut Antique Show. The dedication ceremony will be held in front of the Village Blacksmith Shop antique store located one block east of Antique City Drive on Pearl Street. Earl Caddock built this building as one of his businesses during the early part of the 20th century.

For more information about Walnut or the Walnut Antique Show, go to:
www.WalnutIowa.org or www.WalnutAntiqueShow.com

Tags: Earl Caddock, Walnut Iowa

A Touching Letter

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 | Books | No Comments

Mike received the following letter recently from a reader. It was really touching. Thank you sincerely, Mr. LaVeck, for the kind words.

Mr. Chapman,

I wanted to let you know how much my son and I have enjoyed your books, but in particular our experience reading “Gotch: An American Hero.”

My son just turned 12 and is an avid wrestler. We live in Maryland and he competes all over the mid-Atlantic and we both love the sport.

We have several of your books, but this week we were on spring break and Alexander and I decided to finally get to your novel about Frank Gotch. We sat on the balcony of an oceanfront condominium every day for the past 6 days and completed the entire book together.

It was a rewarding experience to read the book and allow the fictionalized account of Gotch’s life to illuminate what we had already learned through your non-fiction materials.

We often read together, but I know this will likely be a joint reading experience that we both remember for the rest of our lives, not only because of the beautiful location, but because we both enjoyed the story, and the writing so much and we now are both huge admirers of Frank Gotch…and we both have you to thank for that.

Thank you very much…we already have “Caddock” but we are looking forward to all of your future titles.

Sincerely,

Art LaVeck (and Alexander)

Mike Discusses Earl Caddock on No Holds Barred

Sunday, February 19th, 2012 | Books, Radio, Wrestling | No Comments

Mike was interviewed last Thursday on the podcast No Holds Barred, with host Eddie Goldman. You can listen to the interview below:

The interview focused on Earl Caddock, his place in wrestling history, Mike’s new book, and what was going on in pro wrestling at the time he competed. The discussion continue into the long heritage of wrestling, the Caddock-Stecher match of 1920, the importance of real wrestlers like Frank Gotch, and how the era of real matches faded quickly after Caddock lost his title. Also examined is the current revival of catch-as-catch-can wrestling and what it would take to bring back a form of real pro wrestling.

Goldman also links, on his site, to a youtube video of the match in which Caddock lost his title to Joe Stecher, on January 30, 1920 at Madison Square Garden in New York:

Tags: Earl Caddock, Eddie Goldman, Joe Stecher, No Holds Barred

Mike Chapman Speaks on His new Book Earl Caddock: Walnut’s Wrestling Wonder

Saturday, February 11th, 2012 | Books, Radio, Wrestling | No Comments

Mike was on Takedown Radio with Scott Casber on January 17, talking about his new book Earl Caddock: Walnut’s Wrestling Wonder. Click the arrow below to listen to the interview:

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Earl Caddock emerged from an Iowa farm to become a great amateur wrestler and then heavyweight champion of the entire world of professional wrestling.

In 1919 and 1920, Caddock was one of the nation’s most popular athletes, standing alongside such legendary figures as Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey and Jim Thorpe.

At the peak of his sports career, Caddock enlisted as a doughboy and served gallantly during World War I, then returned to make his home in Walnut, Iowa.

Earl Caddock was world champion for nearly three years then retired from the ring. He was a devoted husband, father, Christian, and highly successful businessman. His story is both heroic and inspirational.

Tags: Earl Caddock, Scott Casber, Takedown Radio

Earl Caddock is Subject of Mike’s Latest Book

Saturday, January 14th, 2012 | Books, Wrestling | No Comments

A new book tells the story of the life and athletic career of Earl Caddock, one of the greatest wrestlers in American history who lived most of his life in Iowa and is buried in his adopted hometown of Walnut. Frank Gotch also plays a large role in the book.

CADDOCK: Walnut’s Wrestling Wonder, was written by Mike Chapman, noted wrestling author and historian, and published by Culture House Books of Newton, in cooperation with the city of Walnut.

Earl Caddock came off an Iowa farm to become a great amateur wrestler and then won the world heavyweight championship of professional wrestling, back when the sports was a true athletic contest. He was an AAU national champion, in 1914 and 1915, but the cancellation of the 1916 Olympics ended his amateur career.

With Frank Gotch of Humboldt, Iowa, acknowledged as the top athlete in America at the time, Caddock decided to follow Gotch into professional wrestling. On April 9, 1917, he took a perfect record of 79-0 (53-0 as an amateur and 26-0 as a pro) into the ring in Omaha to take on the world champion, Joe Stecher. After more than two hours of grueling wrestling, Earl Caddock emerged as the heavyweight champion of the world.

Continue reading the press release…

Tags: Earl Caddock, Frank Gotch, Walnut IA

Reagan Birthday Celebration and Book Signing

Friday, February 4th, 2011 | Book Signing, Books, Radio | 1 Comment

Fort Des Moines is hosting a special celebration this Sunday at 2 p.m. in honor of Ronald Reagan’s 100th birthday, and Mike Chapman has been invited to participate and hold a book signing. While working at WHO Radio in Des Moines, young Ron Reagan earned his commission at Fort Des Moines as a Second Lieutenant in 1937. Featured films include “Rear Gunner”, “For God and Country”, and “Jap Zero”. There will be birthday cake and jelly beans! Tickets are $5 per person and are available at the door.

Mike is the author of 22 books, one of them an historical novel about Ronald Reagan as a lifeguard in the summer of 1932. The book, entitled Lowell Park, tells of a young Iowa graduate student, Jenny Brix, who gets a chance to travel back in time and meet Mr. Reagan when he was known as “Dutch.” However, the time machine malfunctions and Jenny goes to the same very same location in 1832 — where a young Abe Lincoln is serving in the Black Hawk War. Jenny eventually winds up in 1932 and falls for Dutch, and then the trouble begins!

Click for more details…

Tags: Fort Des Moines, Lowell Park, Ronald Reagan, WHO Radio

New Book About Legendary High School Coach Bob Siddens

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 | Books, Wrestling | No Comments

Working in collaboration with Don Huff, longtime wrestling coach at West Waterloo High School, Mike Chapman has co-authored a new book entitled SIDDENS! Win With Humility, Lose With Dignity… But Don’t Lose!”

The book is the biography of Bob Siddens, regarded in some circles as the greatest high school wrestling coach in American history!

Bob Siddens led West Waterloo High School to 11 Iowa state wrestling championships and seven second-place finishes in his 27-year coaching career. Along the way, his teams had 14 undefeated seasons and a winning streak of 88 in a row! His coaching style and leadership impacted thousands of young students.

Read for details about the book and ordering…

Tags: Bob Siddens

Mike on WHO Radio to Discuss Triumph and Tragedy

Friday, October 15th, 2010 | Books, Radio | No Comments

Mike will be a guest on the very popular “Two Guys Named Jim” sports talk show this Sunday night on WHO Radio, starting around 7:30 pm. He will be talking about his new book, Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright.

He will also be sure to mention the new book Jim Zabel: I Love It, I Love It, I Love it.

“Two Guys Named Jim” is hosted by legendary sportscaster Jim Zabel and former Iowa State football coach Jim Walden. It has been on the air for 8 years and gets a huge audience, due to the broadcast power of WHO Radio. You can listen on the radio at 1040 AM or on WHO’s live radio streaming online here.

Tags: Jim Walden, Jim Zabel, Two Guys Named Jim

Triumph and Tragedy Book Signing

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010 | Book Signing, Books, Speaking | No Comments

Mike Chapman will hold a book signing for his new book Triumph and Tragedy: The Inspiring Stories of Football Legends Fred Becker, Jack Trice, Nile Kinnick and Johnny Bright, at Beaverdale Books in Des Moines on Monday, October 25.

Beaverdale Books store, a beautiful store located at 2629 Beaver Avenue in Des Moines. The event starts at 6:30 with a brief speech by Mike about the four Iowa icons, and then a question-and-answer period, followed by the book signing.

Click for more info on the event…