CAC 2001

I want to start this column on a sad note. This past week, my wonderful wife of 30 years, Nancy, was diagnosed with cancer. It is to be corrected with an operation on February 21. Please remember her in your prayers.

Also this past week, my good friend, David Ring, underwent surgery to correct a problem. His surgery was successful, and he is on the road to recovery. We will be getting together soon to talk about the CAC, as he was not able to stay for the banquet due to his son's marriage.

I started Wednesday at 5:00 a.m., rising to get ready for eight hours of work. At 3:00 p.m., I was home and getting my final preparations made and heading out the door for Toledo Express Airport. I bid farewell to my wife and dog, and, at 4:05, I was airborne to Cleveland to meet with David Ring for the final leg of my flight to Las Vegas. We left at 8:00 p.m. and landed at McCarran International Airport at 9:30 p.m. We rented a car and proceeded to the Silverton Casino for the evening. After a short snack and a few pulls on the slots, I hit a 300-coin winner and went to bed.

On Thursday morning, I rose at 6 a.m., went back downstairs to the slots, and hit for another 200 quarters. I was so elated that the slots were not beating me up that I went back to the room and showered and got David up to meet for breakfast and get ready for a big day.

Following a great breakfast, we left the Silverton and headed out across the upper desert for Pahrump. We encountered snow in the upper elevations and were soon back on US 95, headed towards Beatty, Nevada. Arriving at around 11 a.m., we headed out to Rhyolite, Nevada, a ghost city that I had been to a lot of times in the past. It was very windy and cold when exiting the car, and we did not stay too long. We visited with the caretaker of the property that works for the National Park Service and took some pictures.

We went back towards Beatty and then headed north again on US 95. We passed a few men's recreational spots like The Shady Lady and Fran's Ranch but did not stop … we just waved and tooted the horn as we went by.

About 35 miles north of Beatty, we came to Scotty's Junction. It was a road that was built to accommodate the supply wagons and trucks that brought supplies to the northeastern corner of Death Valley to build Scotty's Castle in the 1920's.

After 25 miles, we entered into California and shortly after pulled into the drive of Scotty's Castle. It was a huge vacation home of Albert Johnson that later became a national landmark in Death Valley, named after his best friend, Walter Scott, better known as Death Valley Scotty. After a short tour and pictures, it was nearing 2 p.m. and time to head back to Las Vegas.

The 175-mile drive back was a long three hours. We did stop at the Exchange Club in Beatty after getting gas for the car. There was a Sizzling Seven's slot right as I walked in the door, and David said, why not try that one? I did, and, after 12 coins, I hit a 600 coin winner.

We arrived at the Riviera around 7 p.m. after a huge day in the car, and I was ready for some relaxation. We unpacked and went down to the grand ballroom where the festivities for the weekend would be held. I ran into Gene LeBell and Billy Darnell on the way in. They would both be presenters at the awards after the banquet on Saturday.

Lord Alfred Hayes greeted us next, and then, we were at the grand ballroom. On one side stood some three-sided photo cubes that held many pictures of wrestling stars from the past. Yes, my photo with Angus was in the walls of fame.

One by one, some pretty famous people started to enter the room. Their reputations preceded them. We all struggled to get close to them to shake their hands and get an occasional hug. Fred Curry III and his famous father, Flying Fred Curry of Detroit fame, came forward. Reggie Parks of the Minneapolis Territory was also present.

Penny Banner and Ida Mae Martinez both gave David and me a big hug for our efforts in helping with the final expenses of Nell Stewart. We were both given an autographed copy of a front cover of a wrestling magazine featuring Nell. The copies had been signed a few months before her passing, and I deem it quite an honor to have a copy.

Scott Casber and Scott McLin from www.saturdaynightslam.com were on hand and also Chris Owens from www.harleyrace.com. Next to them was Dean Silverstone of Portland, Oregon. Dean was a former wrestler and now has his own music business.

Seemingly, the minutes turned into hours, and the next thing I knew it was 2 in the morning. I rose to try and go and was stopped by J. Michael Kenyon, a historian on wrestling and writer of many columns. Before I knew it, 3 a.m. was upon me, and I had been up a lot longer than I had been in quite some time.

To be continued…

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers