Two Wrestling Legends

Thursday, January 8th, 2026 | Other, Wrestling | No Comments

When Dan Severn, legendary MMA legend and former amateur star, visited us in Newton recently, I invited him to sit in the rocker chair once owned by the great Frank Gotch, and “The Beast” was happy to oblige. I purchased this chair and a writing table in an auction on June 29, 1996, at the house Frank owned in his hometown of Humboldt, Iowa, when he was the heavyweight wrestling champion of the world. Frank died in 1917 at the age of 39 of Bright’s Disease, but his house remained in ownership of extended family members until 1996.

In addition, I have written numerous books and articles about Gotch and produced a video about him 20 years ago. I also own his derby hat, 5 autographs by him and led the charge to have a handsome statue of him erected in Bicknell Park in Humboldt, and I was the main speaker at the unveiling on July 4, 2012. Bicknell Park is where Frank did his training for the his epic rematch with The Russian Lion, George Hackenschmidt, in Chicago, in 1911.

Dan was a national high school and college star before entering the world of MMA. He was the first athlete to show the world that wrestling is a martial art and able to compete with all other combative disciplines. We have been friends for 25 years, and I even worked his corner once in one of his top battles.

Tags: Dan Severn, Frank Gotch, Humboldt

KXEL IowaFest on August 2

Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 | Book Signing, Books, Other, Radio | No Comments

Mike and Bev will be among the special guests at IowaFest, “A Celebration of Food, Friends, and Fellowship” presented by News/Talk 1540 KXEL of Waterloo, on August 2.  The event is an annual celebration hosted by the popular radio station and there is no admission fee. All are welcome! 

The event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at the National Cattle Congress Pavilion in Waterloo. Snacks, soda and water are also free.

Mike has appeared on KXEL numerous times with Jeff Stein, station manager and well-known talk show host. He will have some of the 32 books he has written for sale, and will have several very unique items on display, including the framed letter that Ronald Reagan wrote to him back in 1990 when Mike was executive editor of the daily newspaper in Dixon, Illinois, the hometown of President Reagan. The letter was featured on Antique Roadshow earlier this year. He will also have items related to Waterloo legends such as the five Sullivan brothers, Fred Becker and Dan Gable.

Another special guest will be Van Harden, the retired legendary voice of radio station WHO in Des Moines, who has written several books and will have them available for purchase too.

Kinnick Documentary to Play in Newton with Q&A Session

Thursday, September 15th, 2022 | Other, Speaking | No Comments

Dawn and Paul Bleeker, owners of the Capitol II Theater in Newton, have announced that Mike will be a special guest for two showings of the Kinnick documentary on Wednesday, September 21, and will hold a question-and-answer session after each of the two showings. The first showing is at 6:30 pm and is open to the public, with the Q&A to follow. The second showing is just for members of the Newton High School football program, and starts at 7 p.m. with the Q&A session to follow.  Scott Siepker, known as the “Iowa Nice Guy”, is the producer of the documentary and will also be at the Q&A sessions.

In addition, Mike will have some rare Nile Kinnick items on display in the lobby prior to the showings, beginning at 5:30 pm.

Tags: Nile Kinnick, nile kinnick documentary

Mike and Nile Kinnick

Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 | Other | No Comments

A very professional film group in Iowa has made a stunning documentary about Nile Kinnick, Iowa’s 1939 Heisman Trophy winner who lost has life in World War II at the age of 24, and Mike was honored to play a key role in the production.

It has been getting rave reviews and sellout crowds at  a huge movie theater in Des Moines. In fact,  it drew the largest audiences of any movie playing in all the movie houses in the Des Moines area over the August 26-27 weekend.

Bev and Mike went with his son Jason and his wife Mindy on the opening night and were greeted by producer Scott Siepker, and given the red carpet treatment.

The film begins with Mike telling the story of what Ronald Reagan told him in a face to face meeting in 1990, about Nile Kinnick. President Reagan had worked at WHO radio station in Des Moines in 1937, broadcasting Iowa football  games,when Nile was a sophomore., and he is seen throughout the film.

“It’s a wonderful tribe to a great man, and takes us back to a time in America that we should all know about,” said Mike. It is available on Vimeo right now.

The trailer is viewable below:

Tags: Kinnick Documentary, Nile Kinnick, Scott Siepker