Funk's Corner - Wrestling in the Past III, How Different?

We left the Amarillo Sports Arena and turned south on Tenth Avenue on the way to our favorite place to eat after the wrestling matches, the Playhouse Cafe, owned and operated by an old time wrestler, Joe Banaski. Joe was a former junior heavyweight champion. He had lost one eye from wrestling in old boxing rings. It was the rosin in the mat that caused his blindness. It was a quiet place where our family could escape the violent world we had just come from.

The Playhouse Cafe was small with only a bar and table area and a back room with four booths. Joe's wife Mabel worked in the kitchen and Joe was always there with a kind word for the customers. As our family entered the booth section, a man who was by himself said, "Well, Dory Funk, It sure is good to see you." Dad shook his hand and said hello as we took the booth behind him. As I passed the man looked at me and said, "Well, you must be Dory Funk Jr." Won't you join me for a soda as he grabbed my arm and pulled me into the booth.

He ordered a soda for me, I could see he was drinking whiskey. I noticed the bottle on the seat besides him and could smell the stench on his breath. Without introduction he just looked at me then said, "Now tell me boy howd yoo daddy do tonight?" I answered that Dad had lost his match tonight. He said, "c'mon son, yoo daddy is a better man than ole' Murdoch, Now tell me Frank Murdoch can't beat yoo daddy." I answered, yes he did. "Nooo yoo daddy just let ole Frank Murdoch win that match tonight, Little Dory, yoo daddy threw that match-------"

Mother was there quickly, She took my hand and led me to the adjoining booth where our family was sitting. Dad said, "What did he say to you.?" I answered, "He thought you let Murdoch win tonight." Dad was out of our booth and confronting the man behind us. When Dory Funk Sr. was mad everyone knew.

The top of his head got red and fire came to his eyes. Dory Funk Sr. grabbed him by the front of his shirt and said, "*%$#@!*% if you want to ask me something about my business, speak to me, not to my son. You $#@!*%, If you want to insult someone talk to a man, not a kid, You $#@!*%," Bam!! Smack!! I could hear the noise of the blows landing.

Now Joe Banaski and several other people I didn't know were pulling my father off of the man in the next booth. I could see blood coming out of his nose and mouth. Others hurried the man out of the Playhouse cafe as my father was yelling, "get that $#@!*% out of here before I beat the hell out of him."

After all the commotion, Joe Banaski came back to the table and apologized. Dad was still upset. Mother looked up from the menu at Joe and said, "Chicken fried steak for the kids, corned beef sandwich for me and a T-bone steak for Dory, medium rare."

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