Wrestling

Like the boxer Jack Dempsey, Ed Don George, the wrestler, was also called upon to be a hand-to-hand combat instructor during the 2nd World War. In Ed Don George's case it was for the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School at the University of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Through a series of articles which he wrote on the subject as well as accompanying photographs, this book attempts to reintroduce the man and his patriotic efforts to assist in the preparation of the young cadets of the Navy Pre-Flight school for that conflict.

Gerald Grant Leeman emerged from a life of poverty and addiction to become one of the greatest wrestlers and most beloved coaches in American history. Nicknamed "Germ" due to his small stature, Gerald and his nine siblings lived hardscrabble childhoods, but their Osage, Iowa, roots grew deep and served them well. In Germ’s case, those humble beginnings taught lessons that led to three state high school wrestling titles; serving as a Naval carrier pilot; an NCAA championship during which he was named Most Outstanding Wrestler; an Olympic silver medal; and a storied coaching career at Lehigh University. The son of an alcoholic father, Gerald battled the disease later in life with grace and dignity, and became a glowing example of the power of recovery and redemption. Tough Street illuminates Germ’s expansive impact on his siblings, teammates, children, and, most poignantly, his wrestlers at Lehigh, where famed Grace Hall’s arena bears his name. Gerald Leeman lived the American Dream.• "God gave Gerald Leeman abilities no one else could have. Leeman was an artist in our sport. It’s difficult to describe unless you saw him. He is the greatest wrestler I ever saw, and I’ve seen them all." – Bill Nelson, three-time NCAA champion and 1948 Olympian• "The thing about Gerry is you could surround him with chief executives of any company, politicians from all over the world, with farmers or Indian chiefs, and he would soon be ruling the room. He had that presence, that aura." – Kirk Pendleton, 1963 NCAA champion• "Gerry Leeman was a legend who absolutely loved the sport. Going into Grace Hall — The Snake Pit — for a dual, well, Leeman would fill the place up and those partisans would pound their feet on the metal bleachers. The noise was so intimidating." – Donald Rumsfeld, former Princeton wrestling team captain and United States Secretary of Defense• "Gerald Leeman was so much more than our coach. He was a molder of men, an educator who used the lessons of strife on the mat to form foundation in his boys, enabling them to achieve fame, fortune and esteem in their lives. This is his legacy." – Mike Caruso, three-time NCAA champion

New York Times bestselling author! Here is the story of how Jim Ross, an Oklahoman farm kid with a vivid imagination and seemingly unattainable dreams, became “The Voice of Wrestling” to record TV audiences and millions of fans around the world.<BR><BR>There are few people who have been in the wrestling business longer than Jim Ross. And those who have made it as long as he has (half a century to be exact) probably made enemies or burned bridges. But that’s just not JR. He’s recognized as the man who built and nurtured a once-in-a-generation talent roster that took the WWE to new heights, including “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Brock Lesnar, and The Rock to name a few. Readers will finally get the opportunity to hear never-before-told stories about the politics, wackiness, and personalities of all the biggest stars.<BR><BR>Jim opens up about his life as an only child on a working farm, who became obsessed with professional wrestling having first saw it on his grandparent’s TV. Even though the wrestling business was notoriously secretive and wary of “outsiders,” he somehow got a foot in the door to start a historic career, one where he held almost every job in the business—from putting up the ring to calling matches, from driving his blind, drunk boss towards revenge, to consoling two naked 600 pound brothers in the shower room after a rough match.<BR><BR>This isn’t just a wrestling story. It’s a story about overcoming adversity and achieving your dreams, as success did not come without significant costs and unforeseen challenges to JR, including multiple bouts of severe facial paralysis called Bell’s Palsy.<BR><BR>Currently the host of the podcast The Ross Report, any fan of wrestling—from the territory days to today—will be enthralled with stories from the road and behind the scenes. Slobberknocker is the first time Ross tells his story—and you don’t want to miss it!