A Russian and Ole the Norwegian wrestler were set to square off for the Olympic Gold Medal. Before the final match, the Norwegian wrestling coach came to Ole and said, “Now, don’t forget all the research we’ve done on this Russian.. He’s never lost a match because of this ‘pretzel’ hold he has”. Whatever you do, do not let him get you in that hold! If he does, you’re finished’. Ole nodded in acknowledgment.
As the match started, Ole and the Russian circled each other several times, looking for an opening. All of a sudden, the Russian lunged forward, grabbing Ole and wrapping him up in the dreaded pretzel hold. A sigh of disappointment arose from the crowd and the coach buried his face in his hands, for he knew all was lost.. He couldn’t watch the inevitable happen.
Suddenly, there was a scream, then a cheer from the crowd and the coach raised his eyes just in time to watch the Russian go flying up in the air. His back hit the mat with a thud and Ole collapsed on top of him making the pin and winning the match.. The crowd went crazy. The coach was astounded.
When he finally got his wrestler alone, he asked, “How did you ever get out of that hold? No one has ever done it before!”
Ole answered, “Vell, I vas ready to give up ven he got me in dat hold, but at da last moment, I opened my eyes and saw dis pair of testicles right in front of my face...I had nuttin’ to lose so wid my last ounce of strength I stretched out my neck and bit dose babies just as hard as I could.”
So the trainer exclaimed, “That’s what finished him off!”
“Vel not really. You’d be amazed how strong you get ven you bite your own nuts!”
Checkout this KENS-TV video tribute and you'll get a taste of what we missed since he spent the bulk of his amazing career in San Antonio and not his hometown Houston.
Genuinely funny, with a Texas wit that was biting and honest, friends and colleagues say Cook was a larger-than-life figure who commanded attention. What I have always admired about the pre-politically correct sports writers is they didn't sugarcoat the truth as they saw it, they just gave it you. Cook was one of the best and most honest.
And, of course, he was very funny.
The story of the "Iron Claw" with Fritz Von Erich is a classic. I couldn't find the video, but I did see a clip of Cook telling the story (at the four-minute mark), and it's hilarious. The short version is when he was interviewing the wrestler live on the air, Von Erich decided to grab Cook across the forehead to demonstrate the great wrestling hold he invented. He squeezed so hard that Cook was about to pass out.
In self-defense, Cook grabbed Von Erich with his own claw. He grabbed a little lower than the forehead, however, ... if you know what I mean. For the record, the below-the-waist claw is apparently more painful than the forehead claw.