New book offers wrestling trivia & history

Friday, April 19th, 2013 | Books, Wrestling

“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.”

The front cover features photos of Cael Sanderson, Tom Brands, Ben Askren and Steve Fraser, while the back cover has a photo of Pat Smith moments after he became the first Division I four-time NCAA champion, in 1994.

The foreword was written by Jim Jordan, a two-time NCAA champion at the University of Wisconsin who is currently a United States Congressman from Ohio.

Chapman has attended 44 NCAA tournaments, two Olympics and two World Championships. He has been named National Wrestling Writer of the Year five times, by four different organizations. He was given the Order of Merit by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, OK, in 2007, and is a member of the National AAU Wrestling Hall of Fame.

His work in wrestling includes creating WIN magazine, the top wrestling publication in the nation; the Dan Hodge Trophy, often called the Heisman Trophy of wrestling; the WIN Memorabilia Show, and the International Wrestling Institute and Museum (now called the Dan Gable National Wrestling Museum).

He has appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports, the A&E Network, Fox & Friends and Iowa Public Television and has been a guest on over 200 radio shows. He given speeches all around the nation about the history of wrestling.

The book was published by Culture House Books of Newton, Iowa, in cooperation with Henson Group-Brute Wrestling of Sinking Spring, PA. It can be ordered by calling 641-791-3072, or sending a check or money order to Culture House Books, P.O. Box 293, Newton, Iowa 50208. The book is $14.95 and shipping and handling is an additional $5.

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

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