$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 6, 2008 11:42:34 GMT -5
Just picked up a couple of more wrestling tomes. I will also use this thread to discuss wrestling books from my past, and going forth. I encourage ya'll to do same. First, RING OF HELL. Wowza. This book comes with high regard. Its obstenisbly about Benoit, but through his roots, both from Stu's dungeon to the dojos of New Japan. The lurid tales of his "idol" Dynamite Kid are stuff of legend, and Benoit took on many of the same characteristics. He could be a mean sort, and was beyond a mark for the business. Lots of dark tales in this book, from Vader being tied down by the Yakuza and Japan and sliced up strategically with razor blades, to Dynamite Kid pouring lighter fluid in a toilet bowl, knowing the wrestler who used it was a bigtime smoker. He soon lit up, and was blasted balls to asscrack. How bout Dynamite shooting Jake's snake up with steroids, and pouring scalding coffee on him? While this book is creepy and vile, its from almost all accounts true, and dark. A must read from the insiders.  The other book, more lighthearted fare. Ted Dibiase's second attempt at an autobiography. His first one was faith-based, very skimpy on details, and from most accounts, bland. I thought it was ok. But it was not mass-market. So now we get the WWE version of such. I see a lot of similarites buzzing through before the grand read, but I am sure this one has more juice. DiBiase was a favorite of mine from day one of watching wrestling, I was always a fan of his. I look forward to this book, which is much shorter than Ring of Hell.  |
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Post by rlm6370 on Jun 8, 2008 12:15:20 GMT -5
Already read "Ring Of Fire", let's just say that the pro wrestling world is very sick indeed. I'm reading the Bret Hart autobiography, it might take me awhile, it's almost 600pages, but much like Bret it's very precise and descriptive
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Jun 8, 2008 12:51:15 GMT -5
I just finished Ring of Hell, just before I am posting this. I had heard a lot of the stories, this just locked them down. A lot of the characters were what I had come to know, or expect, but there were still some unknown doozies. Yeah, sick world indeed. This sort of book almost makes you feel dirty while reading it.
I think its must reading for a lot of fans, it was just a good book.
The Hart book is on my radar, but I was waiting for things to simplify and the US release of such. I am so backed up with books. I am going to read the Dibiase book next, its so short I will knock that off in days, even if they are busy days.
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Post by rlm6370 on Jun 8, 2008 12:59:43 GMT -5
I just finished Ring of Hell, just before I am posting this. I had heard a lot of the stories, this just locked them down. A lot of the characters were what I had come to know, or expect, but there were still some unknown doozies. Yeah, sick world indeed. This sort of book almost makes you feel dirty while reading it. I think its must reading for a lot of fans, it was just a good book. The Hart book is on my radar, but I was waiting for things to simplify and the US release of such. I am so backed up with books. I am going to read the Dibiase book next, its so short I will knock that off in days, even if they are busy days. You can get the Hart book through Amazon already. |
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Aug 28, 2008 9:09:59 GMT -5
Folks, I am in the midst in one Hell of an underrated tome. A wrestling book that is being compared to the titles penned by noted wrestling authors like Foley and Jericho. The book is witty, full of wild stories, and holds nothing back. Wrestles are portrayed, warts and all.
The author is an unlikely one. Most people, on the surface, would not care what he had to say. But he has hobnobbed with some of the top names in wrestling, and he spills it all.
The author?
Bruno "Harvey Whippleman" Lauer.
I heard enough good about the book that I put down 23 bucks to get it straight from the publisher, where it came with an autographed pic from the man himself.
Halfway through, on pace to be possibly my favorite wrestling book of all.
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$heriff Tom
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Groom ba ya ya ya
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Post by $heriff Tom on Sept 1, 2009 13:42:39 GMT -5
Folks, check out this latest grab...."THE SOLIE CHRONICLES.. The Life and Times of Gordon Solie!" A bio of Gordon, culled from interviews by over 65 of those who knew him well. Great pics, funny stories (Gordon was a noted chain smoker / drinker and crabby sorta fellow) and promises to be a fun romp. www.1wrestlinglegends.com/crowbarpress/solie/index-sr.htm#bs |
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Post by thecaptain15 on Sept 1, 2009 14:18:13 GMT -5
I will probably order that when I finish the books I just ordered a couple months ago. In the middle of the Bret Hart book now....
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Sept 1, 2009 15:05:38 GMT -5
I got the book in the mail today, and it looks worth the price. Looking forward to reading it. Another cool book that is out now is Gary Harts autobiography - finished just before he died, and getting high marks everywhere. Its actually showing "SOLD OUT" on the website for it, but Im sure there will be another printing. www.playboygaryhart.com/index.html |
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Post by thecaptain15 on Sept 1, 2009 15:33:22 GMT -5
I added the Whippleman, Solie and Hart books to my list for future purchases...
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Post by rlm6370 on Sept 9, 2009 21:06:31 GMT -5
Folks, check out this latest grab...."THE SOLIE CHRONICLES.. The Life and Times of Gordon Solie!" A bio of Gordon, culled from interviews by over 65 of those who knew him well. Great pics, funny stories (Gordon was a noted chain smoker / drinker and crabby sorta fellow) and promises to be a fun romp. www.1wrestlinglegends.com/crowbarpress/solie/index-sr.htm#bsGot it and it's great. Gordon was a very complex man. |
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Sept 10, 2009 7:40:42 GMT -5
Gordon's daughter actually put out a book before this one, which collected Gordons WRITINGS, including poetry and the like. Its been a staple on my Amazon wish-list. One thing I wish I had bought years ago from the Apter mags was Gordon's own autobiog from the 80s, which although was said to have no substance or depth, would have been a fun romp, especially this many years later.
Have not started this Gordon book yet, I have a little bit of book traffic, but it will be soon, and then I would like to talk about it with any others who read it, including you Rob.
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Post by thecaptain15 on Sept 15, 2009 8:54:34 GMT -5
Just finishing the Hart book....James better not read it he might cry..LOL
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Sept 15, 2009 12:41:31 GMT -5
Im going to go back in and make my way through it. Loved what I read, but I was still in Calgary. Just so many other books I have been reading. Overall, Cap, your take on the book?
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Post by thecaptain15 on Sept 16, 2009 7:31:03 GMT -5
It was very interesting. I will say it is one of the more detailed books as he kept notes on all his matches and I think once he went in the WWE he carried a small recorder with him. Kills HBK to no end even more then Vince imo. With Vince though he was PO'd about Montreal but he still appreciates and recognizes what Vince did for his career......Also interesting in reading about the inner dynamics and dysfunction of the Hart Family. Also interesting to read him explaining why he acted the way he did in regards to many of the conflicts in and out of the ring though there is a hint of it was always someone else fault.Very enjoyable read but it is a long one so it may take some time.....I am now getting ready to start the Harley Race book....
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Sept 16, 2009 8:25:51 GMT -5
From what I understand about the Harley Race book, you should be done with it shortly after you start it. Its very short, and not a lot of details. People say Harley could have done 1000 pages, and it would not have been enough.
The Harvey Whippleman book was a fun read. He held nothing back. Sid really was a Psycho!
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Post by thecaptain15 on Sept 16, 2009 10:28:15 GMT -5
In a little bit of irony I hit the first few pages of the Race book and guess who wrote the foreword...Bret Hart......Yes it is along the lines of the Dynamite book one of those thin paperbacks and with big print......Even reading it just in bathroom breaks I will probably finish it within the week.
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Post by thecaptain15 on Sept 16, 2009 10:29:16 GMT -5
Also one other thing about the Hart book..he often seems like he thinks he invented every hold and angle in the business....
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Post by thecaptain15 on Sept 17, 2009 18:28:10 GMT -5
Even more irony..I just turn on 24/7 and Brett Hart is the Hall of Fame feature this month. Watching it now..I miss the old days....the commentery between Monsoon and The Body during the Hart Foundation vs. Bulldogs brought a tear to my eye...When Gorilla says pre match "I bet the WWF Championship Committee is watching this match very closely"....
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Sept 19, 2009 9:32:23 GMT -5
That may be the same match that opens up the "ALLIED POWERS - WORLDS GREATEST TAG TEAMS" disc. Starts off with a Bulldogs / Harts tilt from MSG. Gorillla spouted out that line, but he usually did.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Feb 19, 2010 8:52:44 GMT -5
Reading Vince Russo's newest tome  The guy is truly all over the place. Preachy at times, still showing off his found religion. Defensive. Funny at times. Very human. Its an interesting read in this regard, but its truly breakneck in that he jumps from topic to topic in no random order. Halfway through, quick breezy read, unlike the Bret book (which was absolutely fantastic in every single way) Not a bad read. Cap, you should read it. |
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Post by sean on Feb 19, 2010 16:10:20 GMT -5
just finished the hart book, and it was truly outstanding. The best wrestling bio i've read. the only one I can compare it to is Foley's. But since I was always a WWF fan, and remember Hart back to the Hart Foundation days, as opposed to not really knowing much about Foley until he hit the WWF as mankind, Hart's book brought back many more memories for me. Especially of my all time favorite tag team, The British Bulldogs. Quite the picture he paints of them, Dynamite being a total asshole, and Davey Boy being kind of dumb and led around by Dynamite. And all of Davey's drug problems. I had totally forgotten that when Davey Boy died, he was in the midst of a torrid, public affair with the wife of yet another Hart sibling. Bruce, who took Davey in when he was down on his luck, only to have Davey repay him by banging his wife.....quite the incestous group. Amazing the attention to detail, matches, conversations, etc... from 30 years ago. I guess he kept pretty detailed notes his entire career. One thing i was disappointed in, he hardly made any mention of Chris Benoit in the book. As I mentioned in the other thread, he'll forever be a kid murdering son of a bitch, but he was a great wrestler, raised in the Dungeon, and the only time I remember him being mentioned in the book was the Owen Tribute match between he and Hart
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Feb 19, 2010 20:06:10 GMT -5
As to the Hart book, Bret had a little voice recorder where he would basically chat a diary into as he traveled around the roads. Thats why the book is so detailed. In fact, he said he had enough to do double the size of that book, but the editors took the knife to a lot of what he had to put in, but left the main points.
I got Dynamites book, I heard its quite direct, but I cant wait to see if he addresses his absolutely awful rep and demeanor. There are SO many people out there saying he is just a nasty, hateful prick.
As to books this can compare to, the Jericho book is right up there, though I was a little down to hear that some of his stories took place without him there though he pretended he was...he took liberties with the truth, as it were.
Dana is reading Harts book now, and commented on how well-written it is. Thats his doing, this was not a ghost-written account.
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