Wrestling
History of the W.I.N. Memorabilia Show
Sunday, March 7th, 2010 | Columns, WIN Magazine, Wrestling | No Comments
Mike’s column from the latest issue of WIN Magazine talks about the history of the Memorabilia Show. This show will mark Mike’s 20th and last show.
He writes:
The 1991 NCAA championships in Iowa City stand out in my mind as one of the most memorable ever, for many reasons.
…It was the scene for an experiment I tried with two friends – Mike DeAnna, former Hawkeye star, and Bob Steenlage, Iowa’s first four-time state champion and an All-American at West Point.
We wanted to develop an event that would offer fans a gathering spot between sessions of the tournament. We were tired of trying to meet friends in smoke-filled bars or crowded restaurants, or jammed into motel lobbies. We felt other fans would embrace the concept of a general gathering spot between sessions, as well.
That tournament marks the debut of what has become known as the “WIN Memorabilia Show.”
We hope to see you there this year!
W.I.N. Memorabilia Show for 2010 NCAA Wrestling Championships
Saturday, March 6th, 2010 | WIN Magazine, Wrestling | No Comments
On March 18-21, Mike will be appearing at the WIN (Wrestling International Magazine) Memorabilia Show during the 2010 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Omaha, Nebraska, along with many legends from the world of wrestling. Mike and his wife Bev created the show 20 years ago and it has been a tremendous success. Last year, the show drew nearly 8,000 fans over three days.
This year’s show wil be held at the Hilton Omaha (details), right across the street from the Qwest Center, the arena where the wrestling will take place. There is no admission charge and many of Mike’s books and posters will be on sale at greatly reduced prices.
Jack Brisco Passes Away at Age 68
Friday, March 5th, 2010 | Columns, WIN Magazine, Wrestling | No Comments
Two WIN Magazine issues ago, I wrote about the passing of Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, who attended the WIN show two years ago in St. Louis. This issue, I am sad to report on the death of Jack Brisco, who was a guest at our WIN show in 2004.
Brisco died February 1 at age 68, from complications of heart surgery two weeks previous. He had been in ill health for the past several months. He was a star of the great Oklahoma State teams of the mid-1960s, winning the NCAA title at 191 pounds in 1965 after finishing second the year before. Jack only lost one match his entire college career and was a three-time state champion at Blackwell High School in Oklahoma.
Jack turned professional in 1965 and eventually became world heavyweight champion. He was a huge star for two decades. He was long retired and living in Tampa, Florida, when he died. Jack loved amateur wrestling and was extremely proud of his career in Oklahoma. He was the subject of a terrific biography written by Bill Murdock, called BRISCO, published in 2003.
Jack Brisco was an engaging, friendly man and a true champion of sport. He will be missed by all who knew him.
The Day Tarzan Came Home to Iowa
Thursday, January 14th, 2010 | Columns, Iowa History Journal, Wrestling | No Comments
This is the Publisher’s Perspective column from Volume 2, Issue 1 of Iowa History Journal:
During my long career in journalism I’ve had the opportunity to meet many interesting personalities … from President Ronald Reagan to boxing legend Muhammad Ali, from actors like Robert Redford and Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk” of TV fame) to super athletes like Dick Butkus and Bob Mathias.
But one of the most memorable moments came when Tarzan visited Iowa City.
I was editor of the Voice of the Hawkeyes newspaper in 1985 when Dan Gable, Iowa’s wrestling coach at the time, called me and asked if I had any ideas on who he could get to be an “honorary coach” at the upcoming wrestling match between the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones. The meet was already a very big deal back then, but he was trying to put a little extra excitement into the event and thought it would be fun to have someone special with his team on the bench.
I said, “How about a former movie Tarzan?”
“That sounds interesting,” he replied, “but what’s the connection with Iowa?”
The Day Gable Wrestled ‘Goober’
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 | Columns, WIN Magazine, Wrestling | No Comments
There have been many great wrestling showdowns through the decades, such as Caruso-Fehrs, Behm- Sanders, Lewis-Smith, Fraser-Houck, Perry-Hendricks. They were all classic matches, to be sure.
But one match that never makes the list is Gable-Goober.
And for good reason. It was a pure mismatch from the outset, and there was nothing important about the match at all.
But it surely was the funniest wrestling match of all time!
Mike Retires from the Wrestling Museum
Sunday, December 6th, 2009 | Wrestling | No Comments
Mike retired on October 31st from the Wrestling Museum. After founding the museum, he spent 11 years as the Executive Director. Here is a press release from the Museum:
The executive director of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum (DGIWIM) is stepping down after leading the organization for over a decade. Mike Chapman founded the museum in 1998 following a successful career in journalism that spanned three decades to become the museum’s full-time executive director in 2002.
“I have devoted a large part of my life to preserving the history of wrestling at all levels, amateur and professional, and the museum was the culmination of that effort,” said Chapman.
First Ever Alan Rice Hall of Fame Inductions to Take Place October 16 and 17 at the Wrestling Museum
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 | Wrestling | No Comments
From the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum’s website:
Five of the greatest stars in Greco-Roman history and one of the most important political figures of the past decade – along with an Iowa family with a sensational wrestling background – will be honored on Oct. 16-17, 2009, at the inaugural inductions into the Alan and Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions.
The hall is located in the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum here, and is named for Alan and Gloria Rice, a husband-and wife team that has been one of the most influential forces in American wrestling history. Greco-Roman wrestling is a style that allows only holds above the waist, and Alan Rice has been one of its staunchest advocates for half a century.
Continue reading for more details on the event as well as the featured guests and inductees…
Glen Brand Hall of Fame to Honor Mike
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 | Wrestling | No Comments
From the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum’s website:
April 17-18 three great wrestlers, two legendary coaches and a contributor who has devoted nearly 40 years to promoting wrestling will be inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa, Class of 2009.
Along with Leon “Champ” Martin, Franc Freeman, Jim Craig, Vic Marcucci, and Eric Voelker, Mike Chapman is being inducted and honored for his numerous contributions to the sport. He has devoted four decades to promoting the sport. He has been named National Wrestling Writer of the Year five times, and in 2007 was given the Order of Merit by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma, for lifetime achievement. He has written 13 books on wrestling, and has given speeches all over the nation. He is the founder of WIN magazine, the Dan Hodge Trophy, and the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. A native of Waterloo, he lives here part-time.
Along with the inductions that weekend are MATMAN Wrestling Clinics, featuring Randy Lewis, Olympic champion, and Steve Knight, former Pan-American Games champion.
A schedule of events for the weekend is as follows:
Friday, April 17: Steve Knight Coaches Clinic, 7-9 p.m. – $25, includes free tour of museum and social afterwards and admission to hall of fame inductions on Saturday.
Saturday, April 18: Randy Lewis Kids Clinic, 9:30-11:30 a.m. – $20 per wrestler, limited to first 20 who sign up; includes free tour of museum and admission to hall of fame inductions
Saturday – Inductions to Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa, 1 p.m.
More information can be found on the Museum’s website here.
WIN Memorabilia Show at NCAAs This Weekend
Monday, March 16th, 2009 | Wrestling | No Comments
The annual WIN Memorabilia Show, a showcase of wrestling memorabilia and products, will be held during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis this weekend.
The show is located in Union Station (1820 Market St, St Louis, MO) between sessions of the NCAA wrestling on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Guests are:
- Dan Hodge, subject of the new book, “Oklahoma Shooter: The Dan Hodge Story”, written by Mike Chapman
- Olympic champions Dan Gable, Rulon Gardner, Ed Banach, Steve Fraser, Brandon Slay, Doug Blubaugh, Bruce Baumgartner, John and Ben Peterson
- World champion Lloyd Keaser
- Dan Hodge Trophy winners Steve Mocco and Mark Ironside
- Wade Schalles, one of the greatest pinners of all time
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