Friend Encounters: Ric Flair and Adolfo and Carrie Dorta

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

After much anticipation, the Squared Circle Expo debuts in Indianapolis this Friday and Saturday. It promises to be two days of fantastic wrestling fun.

Two of the main folks behind the Squared Circle Expo are Adolfo and Carrie Dorta. I met Adolfo many years ago when he was one of the organizers of a different convention. He met Carrie at one of those events and they got married a couple years ago. It was  a true convention love story involving two awesome folks.

Along with some other great people, Adolfo and Carrie have organized the Squared Circle Expo. Banking on years of convention experience, excellent people skills, pure energy and a passion for wrestling, the promoters of SCE have gone all out to make it a success.

Adolfo, Carrie and the crew have brought so many great wrestling legends to other conventions. Roddy Piper was a frequent guest, while many others enjoyed the convention so much they appeared multiple times, too. The quality of wrestlers was a testament to how well they were treated by Adolfo and the staff there.

Of all the wrestling guests, it didn't get any bigger than 2015 when "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair was the headline guest. Fair's line was one of the longest I have seen, but he made every fan feel special in their interactions. Normally a blur of activity, Adolfo and Carrie did make sure to stop for a moment to get a picture with the Hall of Famer. Adolfo even flashed the famous "Four Horsemen" sign.

The announced wrestling guest list for Squared Circle Expo includes, Glen "Kane" Jacobs, Rey Mysterio, Christian, Vickie Guerrero and many more. I am quite certain there will be many wrestlers in the crowd as attendees as well. I am sure the crowd will also include many other folks involved in wrestling on some level. I can't wait, but fortunately it is only a few more days away. 

Check out SquaredCircleX.com and follow them at Squared Circle Expo on Facebook for all of the info and updates. I hope to see you all there this weekend.

Carrie, Ric Flair and Adolfo in Indianapolis, IN-June 2015.

Ric Flair at Days of the Dead Chicago 2016

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair is one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.  Thanks to Days of the Dead, I have had the pleasure of meeting him several times and actually spending some time with him.

Days of the Dead main man Adolfo Dorta gets credit for putting together a fantastic con that first started in July of 2011 in Indianapolis.  It currently also runs in Chicago, Atlanta, Louisville and Charlotte (which is Flair country, of course).  Adolfo also get some backlash for having wrestlers at DotD.

I might not be totally objective, but any criticism for bringing in wrestlers is completely unfair.  Despite my potential bias, I can also point to the huge lines that the wrestlers draw.

One of the great things about DotD is that they have remained true to their roots.  Despite growing into a big series of yearly events, Adolfo always has room for me as part of the press, when he could just take the bigger media outlets.

So how does bringing in wrestlers to a horror con stay true to the roots?  DotD is all about the fans.  When we interviewed Adolfo for HeroTV, he talked about video recording the line when Shawn Michaels was at an event.  The video lasted eight minutes.  Adolfo wouldn't bring in wrestlers if the DotD crowd didn't want them.  Unfortunately, a few grouches can be a vocal bunch.  The bottom line is the wrestlers do not take away anything from the con for those who don't like them, but they add a lot for those of us who welcome them, including me.

Meeting GFlair at DotD was a great experience.  I always arrive early, when the crowds are just forming.  I was lucky enough to talk to Flair for several minutes before it got too crowded.  The man is highly entertaining.  He was larger than life, but he was also very personable.  I can guarantee that the several hundred fans who met him were very satisfied.

The next DotD will be in Louisville and I am sure there will be several wrestlers on the celebrity list.  There will also be a few among the fans, perhaps including Mike Bucci (aka Nova, Dimon Dean etc).

You can watch our interview with Adolfo at HeroTV 2018: Episode 8 Days of the Dead.  Also, check out DaysoftheDead.com for all of the news, updates and more for this great convention.

Ric Flair and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2016.

Ric Flair at Days of the Dead Chicago 2016

When I was growing up, we didn't have cable.  II was aware of Ric Flair, but my exposure to pro wrestling was limited to the WWF, AWA and WCCW.

I would read about Flair in the magazines, but it is hard to capture the magnitude of Falir through printed word.

Eventually, I got cable and was able to see Flair wrestle.  Flair might not have had the worldwide recognizability, exposure or fame of others, but nobody was better in the ring or on the mic.  Flair had it all.

As cable television and the internet expanded, Flair did start to gain more mainstream exposure.  Flair 

Flair is one of the many wrestlers that Days of the Dead has had as celebrity guests.  I always look forward to the guest announcements for each show.  It always follows the same pattern.  A wrestler is announced and a large number of fans cheer and congratulate the Days crew.  Then there is a backlash from the hardcore horror fans who dislike wrestlers "invading" their area.

That argument is so silly.  The lines for these wrestlers are always lengthy.  It clearly is working for DotD.  How does it hurt the horror fans anyway?

Getting back to Flair, he was simply one of the classiest, coolest guests DotD has had.  The larger-than-life Flair might still be a jet-flyin', limousine-ridin', kiss-stealin', wheelin'-dealin', son of a gun, but he was the consummate professional during the convention.

I continually applaud the Days crew for bringing in wrestlers like Flair.  They could have crumbled under the pressure of those hardcore horror folks, but they didn't.  They continue to bring in wrestlers and have actually started bringing in multiple wrestlers now.  It is obviously working.  This is just one reason why I trust, respect and support DotD always.

The next Days show will be February 2-4 in Atlanta, GA.  All guest announcements have not been made yet, but you can bet there will be at least one wrestling legend as a celebrity guest.  You can get all of the info and updates at DaysoftheDead.com.

In the meantime, I highly encourage everyone to check out the ESPN Ric Flair 30 For 30.  It's a great look behind the myth of Flair.  It is sad, thrilling, poignant.

 Ric Flair and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2016.

Friendly Encounters: Ric Flair, Adolfo and Carrie

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

I have featured wrestling legend Ric Flair several times here, because he is the biggest name in wrestling many friends have met.  Today though, the biggest name in wrestling is pictured with one of the most underrated names in comic cons.  Don't be surprised if Adolfo ends up as one of the biggest names in comic cons sometime down the line.
Adolfo is the man behind Days of the Dead, the little comic con that has grown into five events every year around the country (Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Louisville).  Don't be surprised if more cities are added soon.  He's only been doing this for a few years and already it has grown into big events.
Right by his side is Carrie, his beautiful significant other.  These two appear to be a perfect match.  She is just as much of a blur at these conventions as he is.  Together, they are the dynamic duo who oversee a very smooth operation.
He is pretty low key.  Adolfo doesn't post tons of pictures of him with celebrities, but the ones he does are usually important ones to him.  When he posted this picture with Ric Flair, the significance of it hit me.  Adolfo and Days of the Dead are in the early years of a great run.  Check out DaysoftheDead.net to get in on the fun!

Carrie, Ric Flair and Adolfo in Atlanta, GA-February 2016.

Friendly Encounters: Ric Flair and Serenity

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

One of the first wrestlers I interviewed at Resistance Pro was Serenity.  Despite her serene ring name, this young talent was a bundle of energy as you can see in On the Beat With Serenity, one of our first interviews with her.
Serenity wrestled for several months at RPro and continued to hone her craft in downstate Illinois.  She was young and eager to learn and she was great with the young fans.  Who wouldn't like this bouncy, charismatic young lady?
I am willing to bet wrestling legend Ric Flair enjoyed meeting Serenity as much as she enjoyed meeting him.  I just love this picture.  Flair's career started about twenty years before Serenity was even born.  I love the juxtaposition of a wrestling Hall of Famer like Flair with the young, wrestling hopeful Serenity.  They are opposite ends of the spectrum, but both wrestling professionals.
Even for non-wrestlers, meeting Flair is like meeting wrestling royalty.  I am happy to say I have met Flair a few times.  I am also happy to say I have met Serenity a few times.

Ric Flair and Serenity in LaSalle, IL-January 2016.

Friendly Encounters: Ric Flair, Fifi, Heather Owens and Ed Gonzales

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

There is a lot of stuff that goes into this Friendly Encounter.  First is the setting.  It occurred at Days of the Dead in Atlanta.  I have written many times about the Days cons.  They are always an awesome time.
Why was legend Ric Flair at a horror con?  The answer is simple.  Demand.  Ric Flair draws fans.  The promoters of Days are open to other guests outside of the horror genre.  When you see Flair's line of 500 or so fans, it makes perfect sense.  Kudos to Days for thinking outside of the box.
The second element is Fifi.  She holds a place in wrestling history for her short stint on WCW television as the maid ion the "Flair For the Gold" segments.  Seeing her with Flair years later is a trip.
Lastly and certainly not least, is "Hardcore" Heather Owens.  Heather is part of the crew that makes the Days cons run.  She also happens to be one of my favorite wrestlers at Resistance Pro.  Heather is pure entertainment in the ring and as sweet as can be outside of the ring (do not tell her I said that).
I am sure this was a "mark out" moment for Heather and Ed.  I think it should have been equally so for Flair.  He had to be pumped for meeting this "classy broad."

Heather Owens, Ric Flair, Fifi and Ed Gonzales in Atlanta, GA-February 2016.

Friendly Encounters: Mad Man Pondo and Ric Flair

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

A few months ago, Mad Man Pondo posted a particularly interesting message on Facebook (as opposed to his usual interesting posts).  Quoting the Mad Man, "Memories come and go but a picture last forever. We are all marks or we wouldn't be in this business today. Don't let opportunity pass you by. If you want to take a picture, who is anyone to tell you not to. I've spent a few times around Luna Vachon, but didn't take a photo with her. I regret that a lot. Diary of a Mad Man message 7."
I love it and I love that it came from Pondo.
Pondo came to Resistance Pro with a well-earned reputation as a hardcore wrestler.  When "Mad Man" is your name, you don't expect Miss manners, however Pondo is actually quite the opposite outside of the ring.
I don't want to ruin his reputation, but Pondo is a class act all the way.  Whether it is being a leader and a teacher in the lockerroom, posing for dozens of pictures at events or putting on a clinic in the ring, Pondo gives himself completely.
He also does it all under the radar.  He doesn't seek attention, but he gets it, often times at the vary conventions he attends to meet his celebrity favorites.  This is why it is so cool to hear him talk about meeting celebs.  Pondo is not above admitting he is a fan of whoever.  He's not afraid to pose with Ric Flair, one of the all time greats and a mark out moment for anyone.  Pondo is not ashamed to admit he marks out.
Good for Pondo.  I am glad he meets so many of his favorites.  I am also glad he posts all of these pictures, moments and thoughts.  I am even happier to have a few such moments with Pondo for myself.  Yes, I will mark out for Pondo every time!

Mad Man Pondo and Ric Flair in Indianapolis, IN-June 2015.

Friendly Encounters: Ric Flair and Eugene Cresto

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

There he is again.  Eugene Cresto is seen with wrestling legend Ric Flair.  Does Cresto meet everyone?
I have written many times about the celebrities who Cresto meets.  He could start Eugene's Beat (but I shouldn't give him that idea)  Seriously, he has met pretty much every wrestler alive and many other celebs, too.
Meeting "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair has to be one of his crowning accomplishments.  Flair is wrestling royalty.  Flair is unquestionably on the Mt. Rushmore of wrestling.  It doesn't get any better than meeting Flair.
I can't be too jealous though, because I did get to meet Flair once, too.  I remember feeling his presence.  He is one of a handful of celebrities who just have that aura around them.  I am sure Cresto felt it, too, no matter how many other celebs he has met.
As convention season starts to kick in gear this year, I know I will run into Cresto at some events.  My goal is just to keep up with him.

Eugene Cresto and Ric Flair in Rosemont, IL-December 2014.

Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebs.

I have known Scott Beatty for many years.  I first met him at AU Sports about 15 years ago.  Now he is running AU Sports.
Have I mentioned that AU Sports is the #1 source for baseball cards (and other sports memorabilia)?  I am not just saying that because Scott is a bud.  AU was the best before Scott got there, but it has gotten even better with Scott running things.
If you want an old baseball card, you will find it at AU.  If you are looking for oddball cards, you will find them at AU.  Sports chat?  AU.  Sports trivia with the staff and regular customers?  AU.  Bad jokes?  AU when Scott is there (okay, sometimes he has good jokes, too...but I couldn't keep saying nice things about him, could I?).
Scott is a good guy and knowledgeable on the business.  He is also knowledgeable about wrestling.  When Scott shared a picture of a wrestler he met, he started with Ric Flair, one of the greatest of all time. Scott met Flair at the National, where AU was exhibiting and Flair was appearing.  Wow...Beatty and Flair.  Now there is a tag team for the ages.  Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo indeed!

Scott Beatty and Ric Flair in Rosemont, IL-August 2011.

David Flair:The Real Little Naitch

I have previously written about meeting Ric Flair, arguably the greatest wrestler of his era.  Meeting Ric was like meeting Babe Ruth, well maybe more like meeting Mickey Mantle, but you get the picture.

Ric's oldest son David followed him into the squared circle.  While David has experienced some success, he does not appear to be on the same path to greatness as his father.  So maybe I should have gone with a Pete Rose analogy.

Anyway, I met David in 2001 at the Pillman Memorial Event in Cincinnati (OH).  David had finished his match and was heading out of the dressing room probably heading for an exit.  I ran into him and asked for a photo.  I have to admit, I was a bit embarrassed.  Every other fan was of the female gender, but I asked anyway.  He was pretty cool and we even joked about it.

Within reason, I try not to let things like that stop me.  Long after the specifics of the situation are forgotten, the picture remains.  Now I have Ric's picture, too
Maybe eventually I will meet Reid Flair, Ric's other son.  It's too soon to see what Reid's wrestling future holds.  For the sake of this piece, that's fine, because I'd have to change the Pete Rose analogy.

 

David Flair and me in Cincinnati, OH-May 2001.

Ric Flair, Mike Fuhr, Mike Squires and Ron Siemers

Recently, I received two packages from two out of town friends. I met both Ron Siemers and Mike Fuhr about 12 years ago, when I joined the world-renowned Boone League in fantasy baseball. Since then, both men have routinely and soundly beaten me almost every year. This year, they have expanded to football, in an effort to beat me in yet another sport.
Ahh but this post isn't about them getting the better of me in sports acumen. This is about them getting me something out of the kindness of their hearts.

First, from North Carolina, Mike sent me a couple lottery tickets featuring the Nature Boy Ric Flair. My nephew Matt would love these (much better than the usual migraine-inducing Bingo lottery tickets I usually give him). Seriously, how can you not love lottery mixed with the limousine-ridin', jet-flyin', kiss-stealin', wheelin'-dealin' son of a gun. All I can say is thanks and Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. The second package came from the land of the baseball pirhanas and the football purple powerhouse, namely Minnesota. Ron must have been reading my ongoing pieces about my mancrush of yesteryear Mike Squires. In an effort to help my collection (and possibly to get me to shut up), Ron sent me 4 of Squires finest cards.
The ever-humble Ron gives credit to the cards to Dave Abbs (doesn't that sound like a great wrestling name?). Whoever got them, I appreciate them coming my way and for these two readers.
Included was his first solo card (a 1980 Topps, far right). Ironically, the gold-glove winning Squires is shown in some sort of batting pose on each of these cards. These are a welcome addition to my collection.
Thanks to Mike and Ron for the coolness. I appreciate the thought and I appreciate you guys as friends. I'd also appreciate it if you let me win the 2010 Boone League.

Mike Squires 1983, 1982, 1981 and 1980 Topps baseball cards.

The Nature Boy Ric Flair

Ric Flair is a wrestling legend, arguably the greatest of all-time. Flair recently retired after a brilliant 38 year career. Overcoming a broken back from a plane crash early in his career, Flair went on to win a ridiculous amount of titles, including the Heavyweight Championship several times in several organizations.
The self-proclaimed "dirtiest player in the game" could get any crowd in a frenzy with his trademark "Wooooooooooooooo", which, in turn, was often chanted by the crowd whenever he would chest-chop an opponent. The Limousine riding, leer jet flying, wheeling dealing, kiss stealing son of a gun has been inducted into 5 wrestling Halls of Fame (WWE-2008, NWA-2008, St. Louis Wrestling-2008, Professional Wrestling-2007, Wrestling Observer Newsletter-1996). Flair was the master of the figure 4 and the leader of the 4 Horsemen (still considered to be the greatest stable of all-time).

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Flair, thanks to PL Myers of PCW. PCW brought in Flair for a show and Flair did not disappoint. I met Flair late in the evening and he was visibly tired with his voice nearly gone. Yet, Flair greeted me with a handshake and a 'thank you', much like he had greeted the previous 300 or so people earlier.

Ric Flair and me in Oaklawn, IL-November 2008.