FUNK’s CORNER: THE SOLDIER, JOHNNY MAGNUM
- 05/03/2006 (10:33:34 am)
- Dory Funk, Jr
……
Funk's Corner - The Soldier, Johnny Magnum
Credit Jawn Murray at www.Gerwick.net
D'Lo Brown on race and wrestling: "Of the small amount (of blacks) that actually get in, only a few are ever given the opportunity to shine."
Does D'Lo believe things will ever get better?
In the summer of 1967, Ernie Ladd came to the Amarillo Sports Arena. Ernie Played Football for the Kansas City Chiefs where he was billed as the Largest Man in Football, He could beat me in chess and many times reminded me that even though he was an All American Football Player at Grambling University, He went to college on an "Academic Scholarship."
Ernie gave me other good advice I have always remembered. He said, "If you want to get a black athlete over in the territory, you must give him equal billing and position with the very best talent you have otherwise the home town people will not support him."
I have always remembered what Ernie said.
When I went to Florida to take the booking job for Eddie Graham in January of 1981 we had a lot to follow. "Last Tango in Tampa" in August of 1980 was huge. It was so big that Florida Championship Wrestling was having a difficult time following "Tango in Tampa." At that time, J. J. Dillon was my assistant. He believed in the talents of Butch Reed. Eddie Graham liked the work of Charley Cook. I asked the people merchandising and they told me their hottest seller of products was Sweet Brown Sugar.
In January of 1981, business was down and it was my job to get it back up. Our choices to carry the territory were Sweet Brown Sugar who could jump higher than anyone ever in wrestling, Butch Reed. (We gave him the name Hacksaw) and our Florida Champion, Charley Cook. Add this kind of talent to Jack Brisco, Giant Baba, Andre the Giant, Harley Race and Ric Flair. Give them all equal billing and the Territory was popping.
Our current Champion here at the Funking Conservatory is Johnny Magnum. He draws a full house of wrestling fans to each of our !BANG! TV shows. Johnny "the Soldier" is for real. He serve two tours in service to his country in Iraq. He is a husband and father, a minister and he is "Johnny the Builderman" and he can, "Build you a Whole House."
Johnny Magnum comes to the ring carrying the flag of the United States of America. It is a special flag signed by the men and women he served with in the United States Army. The Soldier Johnny Magnum carries the Flag to the ring in memory of those he served with, most names on the flag came home to the United States of America and some gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.
We are proud of our Funking Conservatory World Champion, Johnny Magnum, a "Real American Hero."
Johnny Magnum will be featured at our show, "Support the Troops II" on May 28th at the Funking Conservatory along with Homicidal, Genocidal, Suicidal Sabu and the entire Funking Conservatory Team.
Dory Funk Jr. - www.dory-funk.com
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