Friday, September 25, 2015

Finding Gold in a Dallas Cowboys Book

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

George South has a knack for finding the most obscure references to wrestling in just about any book he picks up. It's uncanny. The best example of this was probably the time he found a book in a used bookstore for $1.00 that talked about the first season of the NFL Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. In that book, which had been tucked away in the back of this old bookstore, covered in dust, probably never to be read again, George finds a picture of Mid-Atlantic Wrestling legend Johnny Weaver when he was a deputy sheriff for the Mecklenburg Sheriff's Department. Johnny was helping with crowd control in security at a Panthers game.

What were the odds? Only George could find that! There are countless other examples, too. There have been references to Wahoo McDaniel in a New York Jets football history book, more things like that.

The most recent example was in the book "Legends of the Dallas Cowboys" by Cody Monk, which was a collection of stories and memories about the great legends in Dallas Cowboys history.

I had given this book to George for his birthday. We were meeting at a local Hickory Tavern restaurant for dinner and to watch the Cowboys play the Giants the opening weekend of the 2015 season on Sunday Night Football. I even told him when he was first looking through it, "I bet you anything you will find some reference to wrestling in there."

I figured it would be perhaps a reference to one of the old-timer players having been a wrestler at some point. A lot of professional football players were part-time pro wrestlers back in the day before the NFL and AFL players made a great deal of money. Some, like Wahoo McDaniel, made more money in a summer of pro wrestling than in an entire season of football.

So about a week later George sends me a text with a photo attached of a passage in the book about Kerry Von Erich winning the NWA world title from Ric Flair at Texas Stadium in 1984.

Well, I'll be darned, he did it again!

The passage was in a section of the book devoted to memories about the old Texas Stadium in Irving, TX that was home to the Cowboys until a few years ago when they moved into the new AT&T Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Once again, George had found wrestling gold in a random book. And I can just about guarantee you it will happen again at some point down the road.

The following is an except from the "Texas Stadium" chapter in "Legends of the Dallas Cowboys" by Cody Monk, pg. 187:

"Non-football events: In September 1971, Texas Stadium opened its doors with a 10-day revival from noted pastor Billy Graham. Johnny and June Cash performed and future President and First Lady Laura and George W. Bush attended. The event was simply the first of a litany of major events. In 1972 and then from 1984-88, Dallas-based World Class Championship Wrestling, featuring the legendary Von Erich family, held its annual "Parade of Champions" shows at Texas Stadium. The most famous match happened on May 6, 1984, when Kerry Von Erich beat "Nature Boy" Ric Flair for the NWA title in front of over 50,000 fans, only months after Kerry's brother, David Von Erich, died in Tokyo. On the music side, the Jackson Five, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Metallica, Alabama, and Madonna all played at Texas Stadium...."

George and I enjoyed a big plate of wings, thanks to our friend Doug Joyner who had given George a gift card for his birthday. It wound up being a great night as quarterback Tony Romo led the Cowboys down the field in the final minute of the game and threw the winning touchdown pass to my old Tennessee favorite Jason Witten. Dallas defeated the New York football Giants 27-26.

How 'bout them Cowboys?

Sadly, I wasn't with George to celebrate. I had left at the end of the 3rd quarter because of the long trip home late on a Sunday night. I enjoyed listening to the voice of the great Verne Lundquist (filling in for the usual voice of the Dallas Cowboys Brad Sham) make the call of that final drive on XM satellite radio. As Romo threw that winning touchdown, I could only imagine George, being one of only a few people left in the restaurant at midnight, running around like NC State Coach Jim Valvano after winning the 1983 NCAA national basketball championship - - looking for someone to hug.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

TV Show - Episode 136 - Don Kirshner Rock Concert Edition




Throwback Thursday on the Headlock Ranch


Scarlet, Garrett, and Abigail South (June 2006)
On the Headlock Ranch!


Garrett, Scarlet, and Abigail South (June 2007)
On the Headlock Ranch!



Monday, September 7, 2015

Student Reunion: Bobo Brazil

Always love to see my former students. Bobo stopped by the fair tonite in Troutman.

A good guy and good wrestler. Made a good Mr. Florida once, too.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Last of the Von Erichs

Maverick's first day of pre-school. Oh so Springsteen-ish! Ain't no Von Erichs left!

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Monthly Greeting - September 2015


SEPTEMBER 2015

''Happy Birthday to me!''

Oh man this is my favorite month ever. Jesus has given me another birthday and my Dallas Cowboys will begin playing for real. The pre-season was rough but what I love is, it didn't count. Just like when we go to God and ask for forgiveness. It is forgotton, that is unless you are the WWE and they never forgive, brother!

I want to ask everybody to continue to pray for my brother Scotty Matthews who was hit by a car while riding his bike. He may have a long road ahead of him but Scotty knows who is walking with him. Folks, God knows our name, never forget that.

My grandbabys are back in school and I get to go eat lunch with them this week. Talk about pressure, Makayla is now in the 3rd grade and has been driving for a year now!


  • I am on my way to my wrestling school after this and I just want to say thank you to everyone that has joined up last month. I also take them on the road with me and let them meet their favorite wrestlers and help set up the ring. I really do have the best wrestling school around. 
  • My school t-shirts and bandanas are doing so good but nothing sales like my 2nd greatest book ever written.
  • I hope everyone gets a chance to watch me and my son's match from last weeks AML TV taping in Winston Salem. It was very special to me and much thanks to everyone for saying it was the match of the night. Just a lot of real emotion from both of us. Also Happy Birthday to him this month to. I am very proud of him. 

Oh man! We're a week away from REAL football! My favorite football weekend of the year - - - we're undefeated! OK Gateway, to the Batcave!




Dang, how many times does Hulk Hogan have to say he is sorry? I mean really, he went on Good Morning Amercia this week and said it again. I am sure glad my Jesus ain't like the WWE and the people in this world. Once Jesus forgives, don't bring it up again!


Hope everybody has a great month, and if you get bored, mail me a birthday gift. God bless and rent a ring from me this month, I got kids to feed.      

See you at the matches. God bless,

- George

Appearance Schedule for September 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, Sept. 1, GSouth Wrestling School, Charlotte, N.C.

Friday, Sept. 4, PWX, Benton Conv. Center, Winston Salem, N.C.
Saturday, Sept. 5, Fairgrounds, Union, S.C. (Special Guest Matt Hardy)
Monday, Sept. 7, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME!
Tuesday, Sept. 8, GSouth Wrestling School, Charlotte, N.C.

Saturday, Sept. 12, CWE, Boys Club, Asheboro, N.C. (Special Guest George South Jr.)
Sunday, Sept. 13, ''Happy Grandparents Day'' You got that right JACK!
Tuesday, Sept. 15, GSouth Wrestling School, Charlotte, N.C.

Saturday, Sept. 19, N.Guard Armory, Mocksville, N.C.
Tuesday, Sept. 22, GSouth Wrestling School, Charlotte, N.C.
Wednesday, Sept. 23, ''HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE GEORGE''

Saturday, Sept. 26, Comm. Center, Ronda, N.C.
Saturday, Sept. 26, N.Guard Armory, Forrest City, N.C. (Special Guest Jake Roberts)
Sunday, Sept. 27, AML T.V. Taping, Johnny & Junes, Winston Salem, N.C.
Tuesday, Sept. 29, Gsouth Wrestling School, Charlotte, N.C.





Link to George vs. George Jr.

Here is link to a video with me vs. little George. Can't embed it yet, but working on it!