The Day Gable wrestled ‘Goober’

Friday, August 17th, 2018 | Columns | 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!

It took place one June day in 1978, in Iowa City, Iowa.

For those of us who grew up in the 1960s, the Andy Griffith Show was a staple of family life. Griffith played Sheriff Andy Taylor in the small town of Mayberry, with Barney Fife (Don Knotts) and Opie (Ron Howard) at his side. One of the main characters was a bumbling gas station attendant named Goober Pyle, played to perfection by actor George Lindsey.

The re-runs of the show can be seen on some station somewhere every single day in America. Andy Taylor, Barney Fife, Opie and Goober have become a part of American culture.

In an effort to raise funds for the University of Iowa athletic program in the 1970s and ‘80s, Amana Refrigeration, just down the road from Iowa City, came up with the idea of the Amana VIP Golf Tournament. It enjoyed a 20-year run, bringing in such names as Gerald Ford, former president of the United States; baseball legends Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Stan Musial, and entertainers like Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, Dinah Shore and Charley Pride. › Continue reading

Weekly Radio Talk Shows, Starting May 9

Thursday, May 10th, 2018 | Radio | No Comments

Beginning May 9, Mike can be heard on radio station KXEL (1540 AM) in Waterloo each Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., talking about Iowa history. The show is hosted by Jeff Stein, KXEL news and program director and also an author and lover of Iowa history.

Weekly Columns, Coming Soon!

Thursday, May 10th, 2018 | Columns | No Comments

Mike has written over 600 columns and articles on the sport of wrestling through the decades and soon we will begin posting them on this web site, a new column coming each Monday. Look for them soon!

Joe Stecher Days – Dodge, Nebraska

Thursday, May 10th, 2018 | Speaking | No Comments

After a year-long battle with various health issues, Mike is finally getting back in action. Mike will be in Dodge on Saturday, July 14, to help honor Joe. Mike is being hosted by EAT restaurant at 327 2nd Street, a unique establishment with a great atmosphere and a wide variety of food. Mike will have Joe Stecher memorabilia on display from noon to 6:30 p.m.and will give a talk at 2:30, and then show a 20-minute documentary film of Joe Stecher wrestling Earl Caddock for the world heavyweight championship, held January 30, 1920, in Madison Square Garden. Mike will have various Stecher-related items for purchase, as well.

Tags: Dodge Nebraska, Joe Stecher