On the Beat with Resistance Pro at Kicks For A Cure

Last Saturday, I had a great time at Kicks For A Cure.  The highlights include Resistance Pro teaming with the New Jersey Grabowskis on the kickball diamond, the event raising over $300,000 and everyone having a lot of fun.  You can read my whole recap at On the Beat with the NJ Grabowskis and Resistance Pro at Kicks For A Cure on the Skokie Patch news site.
This was another example of the amazing experiences I have had and the quality people I have met (and befriended) since I started covering R Pro.  Eric St. Vaughn agreed to help me cover the event and ended up doing double duty as he also played, joining C Red and Barry Ryte.  Gabe, Jacques and Haley Baron were there bright and early to support their guys.
Forget Cosell and Meredith, Caray and Piersall, Foley and Tallon.  Those broadcasting tandems have nothing on Jacques and Gabe.  I was lucky enough to be standing with them as they provided informal play-by-play of the first game.
The R Pro wrestlers were good sports, too.  They had fun in and out of the game, despite their (mostly) lack of productivity.  They even raucously supported me during my one unexpected inning of play, especially when I got a hit and eventually scored.  Will I ever let them live that one down?  Highly unlikely!
Even (or maybe especially) during down time, I had a lot of fun with these guys.  I observed as C Red told some wrestling stories, as ESV picked C Red's wrestling brain a bit and as Barry, C Red and ESV just hung out.  I really shouldn't have said "observed," because I was a participant in all of it.  Not once did they make this non-wrestler feel like an outsider.  In fact, as always, it was quite the opposite.  They are very inclusive.
Below is my official video recap of my day at Kicks For A Cure.  A year ago, I would have left it at that.  Now though, I feel very much a part of the R Pro family and like a good family we poke and jab at each other.  You have to know there are video outtakes and I own all of the video footage.  There will be some stuff put up soon.
If you missed Kicks For A Cure, you can catch the R Pro guys at Stick It To Ya on July 26, in Willowbrook, IL.  I am quite sure you will enjoy C Red, ESV, Barry Ryte and the rest of the R Pro roster as much as I do.
I would like to publicly thank Greg and Chris Olsen, the Receptions for Research Foundation, Kicks For A Cure, Julie Hamm, Jon Heselica and the New Jersey Grabowskis, Resistance Pro and all else involved in this great event.  I also want to thank R Pro once again for making me feel a part of the R Pro family.

Barry Ryte Kicks for a Cure

When I met Barry Ryte about a year ago, I was very happy to score the On the Beat with Barry Ryte interview with him.  Ryte had wrestled a bit in the WWE as Dan Barone.  More importantly, Ryte was back in the ring after battling cancer.  This Saturday, I will once again see Ryte and he will once again be battling cancer, but in a very different way.
On Saturday, June 29, Ryte will be part of a team taking part in the Kicks for a Cure event in Grant Park in downtown Chicago.  The teams will participate in a kickball tournament to help raise money to help fight cancer and support Receptions for Research - the Greg Olsen Foundation.
Kicks for a Cure is the world's largest charity kickball tournament.  There are a few organizations behind Kicks for a Cure, including Receptions for Research - The Greg Olsen Foundation, TMC and C.H. Robinson, but there will also be over 1,200 participants, fans, volunteers and me.
Currently with the Carolina Panthers, Greg Olsen founded Receptions for Research in 2009 to honor his mother, who is a cancer survivor.  The stated goal is "to provide hospitals, doctors and scholars the resources necessary to enhance the lives of those affected by various forms of cancer and cardiovascular diseases or disorders."
While the former Bear Olsen honors his mother, Ryte has similar selfless motives.  Ryte told me, "Being once sick with cancer I realized how much more people are affected by certain illness and disease. This past night I ran a mile for the cure and now I am happy to be a part of Kicks for a Cure.  I was chosen to help represent Resistance Pro Wrestling on that day."
A better choice could not have been made.
I will be at Kick for a Cure to get pictures, interviews, stories and coverage.  I will also be there to cheer on Ryte and all others who are helping to make a difference with Kicks for a Cure!  I hope you join me in attendance.
For more info on this great event, check out KicksForaCure.mytmc.com, ReceptionsforResearch.org and the Kicks For A Cure Facebook page.

Barry Ryte and me in Mundelien, IL-Summer 2012.

On the Beat at Premier Pro Wrestling

A few days ago, we featured an interview with Randy Ricci, the man behind Premier Pro Wrestling, the newest indy federation in the Chicago area.  My Wrestle Beat co-host Scott Beatty and I attended their second show and walked away very impressed.  We also walked away with some interesting interviews with members of the PPW roster.

I had the pleasure of talking to Barry Ryte for our first PPW interview.  Ryte talked about wrestling after his battle with cancer, his match with Ryback on WWE television and much more.  Learn more about Ryte on the Barry Ryte Facebook page.

Scott took the interview lead and landed Pauly Thomaselli.  The pair talked about Pauly's travels, his start in the business and much more.  Check out the Pauly Thomaselli Facebook page for more on Pauly.

Johngy grabbed Justified for an interview.  Justified talked about his childhood favorites, his wrestling goals and more.  Learn more about him on the Justified Facebook page.

Somehow I knew Scott would snare Derek St. Holmes and he did.  Holmes talked about his wrestling travels, his wrestling style and much more.  Be sure to follow him on his twitter at @StHolmesEsq to learn more about him and get updates.

Scott also got Jeff Luxon (one half of the Midnight Express Reboot).  Luxon talked about his wrestling training, his first match and a lot more.  For more info and updates on Jeff, go to the Jeff Luxon Facebook page.

We had a lot of fun talking to these talented wrestlers and learning more about them.  We plan on checking out more of Premier Pro Wrestling and highly encourage you to do so as well.  Until next time, please go to PremierProWrestling.com and the Premier Pro Wrestling Facebook page to learn all about this exciting new company and to get all of the updates.  Their next show is this Saturday, October 13 in Mundelein, IL.