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?”
Iowa History Journal Volume 2, Issue 1 Now Available
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
The January, 2010, issue features articles on the great career of Iowa basketball legend Murray Wier, former movie Tarzan Jock Mahoney of Davenport, the Younkers store dynasty, the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Spirit Lake Massacre of 1857!
Also columns by regulars Mike Chapman, Arvid Huisman and John McNeer; Iowa History Quiz, and a book review on the best-selling book “The Girls of Ames.”
The feature article in the issue is about the great Corn Palaces of Iowa.
Inside the Issue:
- The Day Tarzan came to Iowa
- Natural Royalty, Iowa’s Palaces – by Bill Sherman
- Murray Wier, the Magic Man – by Buck Turnbull
- Iowa Country Roads – Memories live on in farmhouses – by Arvid Huisman
- Rock ‘n Roll Museum … Here to stay – by Michael Swanger
- Jock Mahoney, King of the Jungle – by Mike Chapman
- Iowa Book Review on “Girls from Ames” – by Jessica Lowe
- The Way We Were – Phones once shared by everyone – by John McNeer
- Memory of the Spirit Lake Massacre – by Pete Hussmann
- Younkers’ 150-Year Heritage – by Staff Writers
- When Sleighs took over Council Bluffs – by Frank Heath
- What’s in a Name: Waverly & Bremer County
- Iowa History Quiz
- Nile Kinnick Quotes: The Power of the Bible
- Letters to the Editor
Visit IowaHistoryJournal.com to subscribe!
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!
Iowa History Journal Issue 6 Now Available
Monday, December 7th, 2009 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
Issue number 6, December 2009, of the Iowa History Journal is now available.
Inside the issue:
- USS Iowa Firepower Still Felt Today
- The Borlaug Legacy
- Bump Elliot: Hawkeye Leader
- Historic Blacksmith Shop
- The Day the Pope Came
- Heisman Trophy Contenders
- Honoring Columbus in Iowa
- Columns by Iowans
Visit IowaHistoryJournal.com to subscribe!
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.
Iowa History Journal Issue 5 Now Available
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 | Iowa History Journal | No Comments
Issue number 5, October 2009, of the Iowa History Journal is now available.
Inside the issue:
- Saga of the USS Iowa
- Old Chapel Resurrected
- Rocky Marciano’s Fatal Trip
- Three Baseball Books
- Recalling the Big Peach
- Iowa History Quiz
- Columns by Iowans
Visit IowaHistoryJournal.com to subscribe!
IHJ Featured in Tuesday’s Des Moines Register
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 | Iowa History Journal, Newspaper | No Comments
The Des Moines Register did a short piece on the Iowa History Journal in its Biz Buzz section on Tuesday. The blurb reads:
Iowa writer and promoter Mike Chapman has a new venture, Iowa History Journal, which he began publishing with a soft launch last winter and which is now promoting its fifth issue.
The inaugural issue in January featured University of Iowa football legend Nile Kinnick. Subsequent covers featured former Iowans Herbert Hoover, Donna Reed and actor George “Superman” Reeves.
The October issue features Fred Becker, the first U of I football player to win All-American status. He died on a World War I battlefield.
Chapman is a former publisher of the Newton Daily News and founder of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum.
The Iowa History Journal is distributed to high schools and libraries. The October issue will be available soon in some bookstores, said publicist Donna Johnson. For subscription information, call (641) 792-0920 or go to IowaHistoryJournal.com.
(Source: www.desmoinesregister.com)
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