Here is a picture of me standing next to my favorite birthday gift. Let me take this opportunity to send my love to all my friends and familly, with out your support through the years I never could of reached this point, where I actually am...................... happy.  

I have had more than enough reality this week. allow me step back into my childhood fantasy world. I canot look at these old pictures and not smile. Besides Jimmy Snuka nothing quite captured my imagination like the rivalry between Buddy Rose and Roddy Piper. By 1978 Roddy Piper had managed to get him self blackballed by most of the promoters around the country because he would never "follow the script". Northwest promter Don Owen brought Roddy to the northwest and gave him and Rose the freedom to do their thing. what followed was a year and a half of some the most entertaining pro wrestling TV I have ever seen. Rose and Piper had exciting matches and cut promos (interviews) that were absolutely priceless. Piper's success in Portland launched him to supperstardom culminating in headlining the first wrestle mania opposite Hulk Hogan and becoming one of the most recognized wrestlers in the world. 

My earliest TV memories are of my hero Jimmy Snuka and his partner Dutch Savage taking on northwest wrestling legend "Playboy" Buddy Rose and a certain Minnesota govenor. with a motto like "win if you can loose if you must but always cheat" it no wonder jesse was successfull in politics.  

Andrea Gascon

On monday Dawn's sister Andrea Gascon passed away. Andrea fought a very courageous three year battle with ovarian cancer. She was only 42 years old. Even though I had only known Andrea for about a year and a half, it was obvious she was a special person who was much loved by her familly. I feel sad for the entire familly and especially her husband Wayne who lost the love of his life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!!!!! 

top right: sensei Teruo Chinen executes one of my favorite moves (the flying leg scissors takedown). Bottom right: thats me as a brown belt in the spring of 02 practicing with sensei Chinen. Mr Chinen is one of the most accomplished and respected practitioners of traditional okinowan karate alive today. I get the opportunity to practice with him several times a year.  

Here are pictures of my two karate instructors Clinton Streifling and go jur ryu master Teruo Chinen. they are performing a demonstration at a las vegas tournament.  

B. Barer & Son nostalgia. Two cancelled checks from 1944 signed by uncle Dave and one check from 1929 signed by my grandfather Barer.

I love this picture! The legendary Andre the Giant and my childhood hero Jimmy Snuka, in Portland Oregon during the mid 70's. when I was 7 years old nobody.......NOBODY was cooler then Jimmy Snuka