Mike to be featured guest on “Bumps & Thumps: The Talk of Wrestling” Podcast, April 11

Sunday, March 27th, 2022 | Podcast, Wrestling | No Comments

On April 11 Mike will be the primary guest on the podcast “Bumps & Thumps: The Talk of Wrestling,” hosted by Brian Ferguson. The show is primarily about the early days of professional wrestling, dealing with stars like Frank Gotch, Lou Thesz and Dan Hodge. The podcast will be uploaded to YouTube and anchor.fmor.fm on Monday, April 11th at 8 a.m. CST. Learn more about Bumps & Thumps at anchor.fm.

Governor Branstad Visits Rocky Marciano Memorial Site

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 | Other | No Comments

On October 20, former Iowa governor Terry Branstad (left) and recent Ambassador to China, stopped in Newton to visit Mike (right) and see the Rocky Marciano Memorial site for the first time. The memorial was made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Governor Branstad History Fund. A ceremony was held on August 30, 2019, for the unveiling of the sign and rock but Ambassador Branstad was living in Beijing at the time.

Marciano was 49-0 with 43 knockouts when he retired in 1956 and he was on his way from Chicago to Des Moines for a private party when the small plane he was riding in crashed in Newton on August 31, 1969. Also killed were a Frankie Farrell, a family friend from Des Moines, and the pilot, Glenn Belz.

To mark the sad event and celebrate Rocky’s life, Mike led a charge to have an area, including an informational sign and rock with Rocky’s name and image on it, posted along Highway 14, entering the city. Governor Kim Reynolds declared August 30 as “Rocky Marciano Remembrance Day” and guest speakers were Mayor Mike Hansen, wrestling icon Dan Gable, former national Golden Gloves boxing champion Steve Eden of Cedar Rapids, and Mike, who also read a letter from Rocky’s son in Florida.

Tags: Governor Branstad, Rocky Marciano, Terry Branstad

Mike to Speak at January 7th HAWK Party

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2021 | Speaking, Wrestling | No Comments

Following the Iowa-Minnesota wrestling meet at Carver–Hawkeye Arena, Mike will be the guest speaker at the H.A.W.K. party at the Coralville Radisson, located at 1220 1st Ave Coralville.  There is a cover charge of $20, which includes food and drinks. H.A.W.K. was formed in 1978 and is the oldest collegiate wrestling fan support organization.  According to its officers, the club’s goal has always been to enhance the Hawkeye wrestling fan’s experience and support Hawkeye wrestlers.  In that pursuit, H.A.W.K. provides an avenue for fans, athletes, parents, and coaches to socialize and celebrate all that is Hawkeye wrestling.  The club has over 300 members across the country. Mike will have some of his 17 wrestling books for sale and give 50 percent of the proceeds to the club.

Tags: HAWK Klub

Upcoming Events – Fall 2021

Tuesday, September 28th, 2021 | Book Signing, Books, Speaking, WIN Magazine, Wrestling | No Comments

October 16 – Mike and Bryan Van Kley, publisher of WIN magazine, will present the Dan Hodge Trophy to Hawkeye wrestling star Spencer Lee during halftime of the Iowa-Purdue football game October 16 at Kinnick Stadium. Mike created the Dan Hodge Trophy in 1995 as a way to honor the nation’s top college wrestler each season, similar to the Heisman Trophy in football.  In fact, the Hodge Trophy is often called “the Heisman Trophy of wresting” by media outlets. The trophy is sponsored by WIN magazine and Culture House, a company owned by Mike and Bev, and is presented by Asics.  To date, over one million sports fans have seen the Dan Hodge Trophy presented at football stadiums around the country. Spencer Lee also won the trophy in 2020 and will be going for his 4th NCAA title this season. 

November 11 – On Veterans Day, Mike will be the featured speaker at the  “One Nation Under God” banquet hosted by the Cedar Falls Exchange Club, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 7213 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls, with social hour starting at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30. His talk will center on the lives of Hawkeye stars Fred Becker and Nile Kinnick. Becker was Iowa’s first All-American football player (in 1916) and lost his life fighting during World War I on July 18, 1918. Kinnick, Iowa’s only Heisman Trophy winner, lost his life on a training flight on June 2, 1943, during World War II. Both Fred and Nile were just 22 years of age, and Mike has written about them in his book “Triumph and Tragedy”. Mike has been asked to bring many of his books for sale, as the event is just a few weeks before Christmas. Tickets are $30 and the pubic is invited but reservations must be made by Oct. 31st. Any questions, please call Dennis Kehoe at 319-464-6336 or email kehoe3@yahoo.com. 

November 12 – The Becker-Chapman American Legion Post 138 at 728 Commercial Street is hosting a dinner and an event to honor Fred Becker and Carl Chapman, the two military heroes for whom the Post is named. Mike has written a booklet telling the story of both Fred, a gradate of East High, and Carl, a graduate of West High. Fred Becker was the first All-American football player in the history of the University of Iowa, and then enlisted in the Marines to serve his country in World d War I. He was killed in heroic action along the Western Front on July 18, 1918, and was awarded the American Distinguished Service Cross, the French Coeur de Guerre, and the Belgian War Cross.  Carl, a pilot, was killed  on May 3, 1918.  Mike has donated his time and effort in writing the booklet, and will be signing copies of the booklet during the dinner. The booklet tells the stories of these two warriors and will serve as a donation for the Post. The cost is $10 per booklet.

Tags: carl chapman, Fred Becker, Hodge Trophy, Nile Kinnick, Spencer Lee, Triumph and Tragedy