Killer Kowalski was one of the icons of the so-called Golden Age of professional wrestling during the 1950s and 60s. His death on August 30, together with the selection a few days earlier of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate, reminds us of the supreme relevance of pro wrestling as a template for so many other forms of endeavor.
McCain's teaming up with Sarah was straight out of the wrestling bag of tricks. It generated exactly the same kind of shock and awe that used to happen during wrestling's Golden Age when an outrageously unlikely tag team would come into being. (By the way: although they're both on the same side there's also a whiff of Bobby Riggs/Billie Jean King in McCain/Palin. But wrestling is definitely the primary comparison.)
Obama and Biden, of course, are the perfect "good guys." Black wrestlers -- and there were only a few of them in the old days, like Bearcat Wright and Sweet Daddy Siki -- always had to be good. And for his part, Biden is the perfect virtuous old trial horse wrestler who would often pair with a talented but vulnerable rookie.
Then you have the ungeheuer McCain, with his face permanently stretched out of shape. The visual effect is not unlike Yukon Eric's lacking an ear (thanks to Kowalski.) And now McCain cynically teams up with a girl! We don't know whether to feel anger or pity toward her. Is she the captive of the evil troll or a full partner in his monstrous plans?
Look at McCain brazenly putting his arms around Sarah! Oh it's too horrible!
Of course later in the "script" it will be revealed that Sarah has somehow been hypnotized by McCain. Then Barack will snap her out of it at a crucial point in the match and in righteous anger Sarah will furiously turn on McCain like an avenging valkyrie and fling him over the ropes. The crowd will go wild! In a post match interview, Biden will announce his retirement to become the manager of a new Obama/Palin dream team. But wait! Suddenly Michelle Obama leaps into the ring, smashes a chair over Palin, kicks Barack in the head, and teams up with McCain!
Who would have believed it?! As Shakespeare wrote, "Confusion hath made his masterpiece."
How about "Seaman" Thomas with his big gentle smile? Does Buddy Rogers have a role to play in this political "mellow" drama? Argentino Apollo? Antonino Rocco? The step-over-toe hold?
Posted by: DL | September 02, 2008 at 11:40 AM
yes, david is correct to mention "seaman" art thomas. when i was a kid in chicago wrestling on tv originated from several different pro "circuits," each with its own stable of personalities. i was most familiar with the midwest circuit, but we also got some programs from the east -- none from the south. i'm not certain of this, but i think one of the first and maybe the only black "villains" was bobo brazil. he definitely started out as a good guy but i think he turned bad, at least temporarily.
one person who really understood pro wrestling was andy kaufman. he idolized buddy rogers because of the way rogers could drive an audience completely crazy. partly for the same reason, andy was also a great appreciator of elvis in his late period.
i think the only other person who could generate that level of hysteria was michael jackson in the 80s. i'm not sure if i posted the video of his first solo performance of "billie jean." andy kaufman would have loved it. just imagine andy doing the moonwalk!
mitch s.
Posted by: | September 02, 2008 at 11:55 AM
You bring back so many great memories...watching Skull Murphy and Brute Bernard as tag team partners, along with Haystacks Calhoun, Gorilla Monsoon, BoBo Brazil, Bruno Samartino, Jimmy Snucka and hosts of others that will live in WWW infamy...
Now, on the political front , we have Sleepy Joe teaming up with Nowhere- to -go- Kamala, AOC and the Woke Left vs Rick Santis- Lyin'Ted Cruz-Mitch McConnell and the Far Rights.
We've come a long ways in 60+yrs, wouldn't you say? For better or worse, i can't even comment so i'll end it right here.
Posted by: Joel Weiner | November 09, 2021 at 07:25 PM