The CAC rolled back into Vegas for another large and successful reunion. Twenty-five year old APW Roland Alexander protege Donovan Morgan summed it up for everybody while receiving his Future Legends award at the 35th Annual Cauliflower Alley Club Las Vegas banquet convention.
"I am a meeazark here."
Back in the mid 80s, the WWF had the "rock and wrestling" connection. 2001 marked the CAC art and wrestling connection with a display of fine artwork by wrestlers or about wrestlers. The multi-million dollar art show down the strip at the Bellagio was the less interesting of the art exhibits this weekend. In fact, the CAC featured an unveiling premiere of a painting of political implications. Fine art and wrestling is certainly an odd juxtaposition indeed, as previously the only art formerly associated with wrestling was viewed as performance art inside the ring.
506 people attended the February 8th, 9th, and 10th 2001 event, including 186-plus professional wrestlers, both active and retired. Every wrestler in attendance was in awe, or as Donovan so eloquently put it, was marking out over someone else in the crowd.
While this year's Friday get together and Saturday banquet was not in the top floor Riviera penthouse like last year, the stories were just as tall and the view was just as spectacular. The spectacular view was old wrestling opponents hugging each other and fans so very excited to meet the heroes of their childhood. There was such an overload of electricity in the air that the Riviera could very well have been cited by the city for a code violation.
So often, the non-fan, non-understanding general public, and mainstream sports establishment does not take to pro wrestling because they say something mindless about it being based on a lie. I believe that "exercise in fiction" might be a more apropos term. And "exercise" these world class athletes did. Many of these athletes exercised so strenuously that "cauliflower" ears sprouted up. (Trivia – Ann LaVerne was the only female to develop a cauliflower ear.)
At the airport news store, I saw a magazine called FHM (For Him Magazine), March 2001 issue. One of the headlines screamed out at me — "I've hacked my ear off! Meet the world's toughest man. "Well, guess what, FHM!" Hacking an ear off quickly is probably less painful than developing a cauliflower ear slowly over time from constant twisting and crushing.
If the Sensational Intelligent Destroyer did not get cauliflower ears from wrestling, then he gets them from taking his mask off and putting it back on over and over and over at Cauliflower events for his worldwide fans. Golden Greek John Tolos did not attend this year but he was famous for saying "You spell wrestling T-O-L-O-S." At the Cauliflower Alley events, you could spell non-stop personality D-E-S-T-R-O-Y-E-R.
When Bill Watts (he of the strong and always pointed interview) received his award, he mentioned that he and Gordon Solie in a conversation about old days said to each other, "When we're gone, the history is gone." That is where the non-wrestling attendees of Cauliflower Alley come to the forefront. If you wanted a definitive answer to a question, then attendees Tom Burke, J Michael Kenyon, Steve Yohe, Mick Karch, and George Shire, among others, were on hand to give the final word on a wrestling history subject. If a comparison could be made, hardcore, old wrestling fans know more about the matches and territories of legendary wrestlers than Madonna stalkers know about her daily routine.
Friday night was the meet and greet, while Saturday was the more formal banquet. The ceremonies started on a sad and very emotional note as a tribute was paid to Johnny Valentine, with Sharon Valentine giving Johnny's condition updates. This was followed by Tom Burke and Jason Sanderson giving the "ten count" to last year's deceased wrestlers.
Most mainstream performers would be sweating bullets having to follow that and bringing the crowd back. Well, wrestlers are known for changing the emotions of a crowd, and hosts Mike Tenay and Bobby Heenan did just that. If these two ever do leave wrestling, then a Vegas lounge act could easily be in their future.
Over the course of the evening, an optimist could have a better outlook for world peace after seeing Cowboy Bob Kelly hugging fully head dressed Indian Billy Two Rivers. American hero Sergeant Slaughter was seen hugging the "evil Iranian" Sheik Adnan El Kaisey.
The "on" all night, energetic Roddy Piper received an award for his cinema accomplishments and challenged his fellow young peers in the business to help in planning a better financial and healthy retirement future.
You could see Lord Al Hayes and Stu Hart sitting face to face in wheelchairs having a conversation. While their legs were not 100%, the twinkle and spirit in their eyes showed brightly.
Bobby Heenan played tribute to the refs he hid behind during his career by giving a posthumous award to former WWF ref Joey Marella, son of the great Gorilla Monsoon.
Few people in show business have done more commercials and played more character actors than Hard Boiled Haggerty. Speaking of commercials, wouldn't award winner Pampero Firpo have been a great advocate for total body minoxidil. Speaking of hair, seeing Luke Graham Sr. and Luke Graham Jr. standing together makes me think that goatees are hereditary. On the other hand, though, neither Fred Curry or Fred's son inherited the great Bull Curry's spectacular eyebrows.
The Arnold Schwarzenegger Fitness Expo in Columbus had very successfully added martial arts. The CAC under Judo Gene Lebell had a martial arts award given to sambo and submission stylist "Gokor" by lady wrestler and actress Magnificent Mimi. There is always Japanese press at the CAC events, but this year, there were a few more as one of wrestling's very famous Antonio Inoki attended to receive an award. By the way, Gene Lebell was the ref for the famous/infamous Inoiki/Ali match.
Central States fans have long wondered about the whereabouts of hated manager Percival A Friend. They could have seen him in Vegas, although instead of his former scowl, he wore a non-stop smile more in tune with his real personality. Decades ago, there was a town called Love Canal, where its residents had an abnormally high incidence of cancer from local industry pollution. Along the same lines, there was a very high incidence of high blood pressure in fans attending Kansas City's Memorial Hall when the antics of Percival Friend polluted the rules.
Award winner Reggie Parks is still in great shape and you could only wish Pepper Gomez could have attended so we could see who really had the toughest stomach in wrestling.
Among the others attending were Tom Andrews, Red Bastien, Dick Beyer, Nick Bockwinkle, Bill Bowman, Scott Casey, Norman Frederick Charles, Tiger Conway Sr., Tiger Conway Jr., Billy Darnell, Jimmy Del Ray, Paul Diamond, Dandy Jack Donovan, Tom Drake, Robbie Ellis, Gentleman Ed Francis, Leo Garibaldi, Chavo Guerrero, Mando Guerrero, Bruce Hart, Keith Hart, Danny Hodge, Billy Howard, Adnan Kaissey, Seymour Koenig, Killer Kowalski, Stan Kowalski, Jack Laskin, Al Mandell, Don Manoukian, Bob McCune, Tex McKenzie, Moondog Moretti, Tom Renesto Jr., Rock Riddle, Johnny Rodz, Playboy Buddy Rose, George Scott, ref-without-peer Charlie Smith, Ray Stern, Bruce Swayze, Fritz Von Goering, Johnny "Rubber Man" and "Mr. Wrestling #2" Johnny Walker, Jeff Walton, Jim White, Mabel/Viscera, etc. and more.
Enough of the ugly guys. So, how about Penny Banner, Ella Waldek, Ida Mae Martinez and other great ladies who honored Kay Noble, Rita Cortez, and Ann LaVerne.
A lifetime achievement award went to Ted Lewin for his writing and his art. He had to leave early because of family commitments at a Vegas show, but he said the CAC was the biggest show in Vegas this weekend.
In addition to the old legends, the CAC was attended by quite a few indy promoters and wrestlers providing a future base for the club. Long time attendee Roland Alexander was very pleased that one of his men, Donovan Morgan, took home the future legends award. Hopefully not missing anyone, promoters and teachers Ray Whebbe, Ric Bassman, Johnny Rodz, Buffalo Jim, Carmine Despirito all brought people with them. Chris Owens of harleyrace.com auctioned off signed bells and still has some. He also has CAC T Shirts and hats.
The Mike Mazurki Iron Mike Award was given to Stu Hart. Stu repeated over and over he was glad to be in the business his whole life. Red Bastien once said at a banquet that "we all look great sitting at the table, but when we get up and start walking around, it's a different story." BUT -- few of the guys regret being in the business. Kind of like Yogi Berra saying "When it is all over, I'd do it all over again."
The evening came to a fitting climax when the artist with the biggest arms, Steve Strong, gave the CAC the very first look at his painting of his former tag partner, Jesse Ventura. This painting will actually hang in the Minnesota governor's mansion. Jesse sits on a white horse, wearing full body armor and carrying the American flag. When Steve raised the picture in the air, long-time fans could almost smell a wrestling angle with the picture crashing down over someone's head. Not to be though, as the next stop for Steve's fine painting is indeed the governor's mansion.
A true wrestling fan always makes time for his favorite sport. This weekend, Greg Oliver from Slam/canoe of Canada, got married down the strip and brought his new bride to the banquet with him. What a trooper she is, and certainly, so are the wives who followed our wrestling heroes around the country in their nomadic lifestyle. I got married at the CAC hotel last year on this weekend. I did not bring her back this year because I remember her telling me last year, "Harry, on those nights that you can't turn me on or get me excited enough, I'll just think about some of those old time wrestling legends."
The convention is always fun for those attending, but maybe not as much fun without the hard work of those who do so much of the leg work. For those of you who put so much time and energy into the CAC, we salute you.
