‘Legends of Wrestling’ Tour Rolls Into Bagram

American Forces Press Service ^ | Spc. George Welcome, USA

[SandRat]

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Jan. 28, 2008 – When the “Legends of Wrestling” tour rolled in here Jan. 26, servicemembers and civilians gathered at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation clamshell to take part in the festivities.

Army Pfc. Michael Grandi Jr., Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, holds the WCW Championship belt with wrestling greats (from left to right) Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart, Diamond Dallas Page, and Nicholai Volkoff during the "Legends of Wrestling" tour that came to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, 2008. Photo by Spc. George Welcome, USA  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Professional wrestling greats Nicholai Volkoff, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, Diamond Dallas Page, and legendary manager “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart took pictures and signed autographs for wrestling fanatics. Trivia questions were asked of the crowd, those who gave correct responses won hats and T-shirts.

For some die-hard wrestling fans, the event was a dream come true.

“I became a wrestling fan in 1999 after constantly seeing it on TV,” said Army Pfc. Michael Grandi Jr., a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, who has attended numerous live wrestling events.

“I had constant adrenaline pumping during the event,” he said of meeting his idols. “It was really cool how laid-back they were. And none of the soldiers were bothering them; they took pictures, got their autographs and moved along. There was a mutual respect.”

The meet-and-greet session lasted for just over an hour, with the stars posing and chatting with all comers. Afterward, those who stayed were treated to an inspirational speech by Page, former three-time World Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Champion. In his address, Page told of how he overcame a turbulent family life, a learning disability and other issues to achieve his dreams through a process he called “living life at 90 percent.”

“I once heard (football coaching legend) Lou Holtz say, ‘Life is 10 percent of what happens to you and 90 percent of how you react to it,’” Page said. “In our personal lives and our professional lives, we are constantly hit with one adversity after another, most of which we have no control over. The one thing we have control over is our mindset.”

Page introduced the audience to his no-impact workout system, which he calls “Yoga for Regular Guys.” Page said he scoffed at the idea of yoga until a spinal injury threatened to keep him out of the ring.

“When I got injured, my wife tried to get me to do yoga,” Page said. “But I always thought yoga was for sissies. I learned that flexibility was the key to youth, not just in the body, but in the mind. I wanted to get back to wrestling so badly that I started doing it. ”

At the completion of his rousing speech, Page received a standing ovation from the audience. After signing more autographs and taking photos with fans, he led all those who stayed behind through an intense hour-long session of Yoga for Regular Guys.

The program, which consisted of slow-count isometric exercises, static holds and various yoga poses, managed to raise heart rates and get the crowd sweating.

“I liked it a lot, it was an awesome workout,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer Stephen Cranford, Company C, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade. “I am going to get the DVD and keep doing it. Once I get better, I will introduce it to my guys for (physical training).”

(Army Spc. George Welcome serves in public affairs with 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.)

Related Sites:
Combined Joint Task Force 82

	Former professional wrestler Diamond Dallas Page checks a soldier's posture during an hour-long session of his "Yoga for Regular Guys" workout. Page, along with other wrestling greats, visited troops at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, 2008. Photo by Spc. George Welcome, USA   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution
	Diamond Dallas Page and the group of servicemembers and civilians who were tough enough to survive the intense "Yoga for Regular Guys" workout give the wrestling legend's famous "Diamond Sign." Photo by Spc. George Welcome, USA   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!
If you would like to be added to / removed from FRWN,
please FReepmail Sandrat.

WARNING: FRWN can be an EXTREMELY HIGH-VOLUME PING LIST!!

[mylife]

I’d rather see the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

[Grimmy]

I’ve never been one for the pro wrestling thing, but I can see how that’d be an awesome cool event for fans of such stuff.

Well done, guys.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

I just sent an e-mail to my buddy’s daughter that just got home from Bagram. Told her what she’s missing.

;-)

[Moose4]

That’s pretty cool. I remember watching Valentine when he broke in with Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling WAY back in the day. He teamed up with Ric “Nature Boy” Flair a lot. I’d love to see Flair (a Republican, BTW) do something like this.

Ol’ Greg isn’t looking too sharp these days, but that yoga must have something to it, because DDP’s looking pretty good!

}:-)4

[Loud Mime]

My uncle was one of the top wrestlers from the 50’s and 60’s. Star Status.

After he washed out from wrestling he had trouble with things. When his mother died he went to the morgue, beat up the attendants and took his mother’s corpse home.

It was big news in Phoenix, where it happened. Strangely, that’s where Hitchcock’s film also started.

[Minnesoootan]

I’ld have to say the Hammer is lookin AWESOME! miss those old fall flat on the face dealies he did....he looks tuff enough for atleat ONE come back tussle!;-)

[Minnesoootan]

I used to be into it back in the old days cuz i knew it was staged and just was into the theatrics,these guys were actors,comedians and awesome stunt men....todays stuff is over the top,the fun is gone.

[ari-freedom]

as I remembered them

Jimmy Hart

Nicholai Volkoff

Greg "The Hammer" Valentine

[puroresu]

Wow! You remember the good old days of wrestling under Jim Crockett Promotions out of Charlotte!

[Moose4]

Heck yeah. When I was growing up in the ‘70s, I used to watch Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling every Saturday around 12:30, on WSLS out of Roanoke. I think the show was taped in Greensboro, NC. Chief Wahoo McDaniel, Rufus R. “Freight Train” Jones, a young Ric “Nature Boy” Flair and Greg Valentine tag-teaming against Ricky “the Dragon” Steamboat and Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Paul Orndorff, the Andersens...ah, the good old days. Back when you could be a big fat guy instead of some steroid-pumped HGH-fueled freak, and still be a headline wrestler. :)

}:-)4

[McGruff]

What a bunch of “pencil neck geeks”!

[Moose4]

BTW, the Nature Boy is still hugely popular around Charlotte, where he lives; he’s a Republican, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran for some sort of office at some point. Unfortunately, he’s supporting Mike Huckabee.

Wonder if he’ll show up at a debate, smack Huckster over the head with a folding chair, and walk off arm in arm with his new manager Miss Hillary as the crowd boos and throws things...

}:-)4

[PogySailor]

Surely you didn’t forget Black Jack Mulligan and “The Claw”?

Man, those names on your list sure brings back memories.

[puroresu]

LOL! Yeah, the glory days of wrestling in the Mid-Atlantic area were a blast. Flair could do a classic heel turn if he walked off with Hillary!

Speaking of which, back in 1993 when Slick Willie had just been elected, Jim Cornette was running a promotion here in Tennessee called Smoky Mountain Wrestling. He debuted a female manager named Tammy Fitch (she was later Sunny in the WWE). She came out and claimed to be a Wellesley graduate like her idol Hillary Clinton. She said this meant she was better than other women. She then announced that she was looking to manage a wrestler, and that he didn’t have to be a big star. In fact, she said she’d like to do what Hillary did, and take a totally worthless piece of garbage and ride him to the top. LOL!