Let's Play In The Backyard
by John Rambo
I remember when I was growing up in the city. Everyone we idolized as kids
were professional athletes that we enjoyed watching on television. In every playground
around the country, children could be found fantasizing about becoming the next Hank
Arron, Joe Namath, or Julius Irving. When school was out, the role playing carried on into
backyards everywhere. The thought of becoming a famous professional athlete was the dream
of all of us.
Back in the 60's and 70's, American culture was different. Professional wrestling was not
the number 1 sports entertainment industry on the market. Football, baseball, and
basketball were the top sports of those days. Every kid across American knew who the
superstars were in each respected field. Every kid watched the TV in envy as their
favorite superstars were about to compete. We were a generation hooked on athletes and we
loved mimicking "our" stars when we played in the backyard.
Times change and so do people. Today we are presented with a new generation of youths that
no longer idolize the "athlete." The number 1 money making sports related event
around the globe each year has become professional wrestling. Kids everywhere today are
more familiar with who's in the "big 2" then they know about who is in the NFL,
MLB, or NBA. Some of today's greatest athletes of all times are being overshadowed by
"sports entertainers" found in the professional wrestling industry. Kids today
idolize the TV wrestler! With this new idolization comes a different trend found in
playgrounds and backyards everywhere. Kids are now mimicking what they see professional
wrestling "athletes" doing on the television sets. Just as my generation did
with our sports heroes, today's youths all want to be big time TV professional wrestlers.
Which can prove to be a very damaging trend to our "athletes of the future"!
I am not writing this "Real Deal" today with hopes of preventing kids from
partaking in "backyard wrestling." That would be narrow minded and foolish on my
part. Instead I hope to instill a little respect back into being an "athlete."
The truth of the matter is, professional wrestlers are athletes! We all grew up idolizing
athletes, not "athletic entertainers." For it was the "athlete" that
brought professional wrestling to the level it is at today. What we do in the ring is what
we call a "work," BUT we still are required to possess athletic skills and
talent so that we may do the things we do safely. We have spent a lifetime involved in
real sports and we built our "pride and character" from these experiences. It
was real sports that got us to where we are as professional wrestlers.
There are so many younger readers that might not understand the point I am trying to make
here. For those of you who are probably saying right about now, "Rambo just hates
backyard wrestlers," you couldn't be more wrong. I do not "hate" anything,
but there are a lot of things I dislike! One of them being the fact that too many youths
today do not even realize it requires being a real athlete in order to become a
professional wrestler. If I was an activist against backyard wrestling, I would be here
stating the statistics. I would be here quoting the facts about how more school students
are injured (and even tragic deaths) each year from backyard wrestling, as compared to
interscholastic sports event that are held under strict supervision. I would tell you
about "every time" I go to speak to school students I ask this question, 'How
many kids have been hurt from backyard wrestling?" Hands go up everywhere. Then I
ask, "How many kids ever worried about hurting the other wrestler?" No hands go
up! Scaring you about backyard wrestling isn't my mission. In fact, the only mission I
have here is to write an article that just might help out someone reading this. If you
want to get seriously hurt, maimed, crippled, or worse...stop here. If you really want to
become a successful professional wrestler...read on!
Concentrate your time on becoming an "athlete." This is what builds character in
a person. Supervised, competitive sporting events are what created the professional
wrestlers of today. There is NOT one single pro wrestler in the business today that got to
their level from backyard wrestling. Many may have realized their dreams while fantasy
role playing, but ask them all if they were "athletes" before they were
"athletic entertainers"! Ask each one of them how important
"athletics" are to any successful pro wrestler. So many of us pros were at one
time very gifted athletes. And we still are. I. for instance, have an actual 26 years
active in various Martial Arts styles. I was a Pa. All-State football and track &
field star that went on to play NCAA Div-1AA football at Lehigh University. I still have
high school football and track records still standing in the record books at Freedom H. S.
in Bethlehem, Pa. (I might add the exact same high school "the Rock," Rocky
Miavia attended after me.) Check how many pro wrestlers have backgrounds similar to mine.
Check out how many have even more impressive "athletic" credentials than I do.
Bottom line, if professional wrestling is your big dream, become an athlete first. Spend
those hours in the playgrounds and backyards improving your athletic abilities through
supervised competitive athletics. Prepare your mind and body the same way your favorite TV
superstar did it when they were your age. If it worked for all of us, who is anyone to
argue with that success? I am not saying throw away your backyard wrestling. All I am
saying is don't overlook the REAL DEAL training and preparation that got us to
professional wrestling. Participate in real sports and become an athlete first! Athletics
combined with your burning desires to become pro wrestlers is what is going to make the
next generation of wrestling superstars.
Another important issue I want to touch on before I depart is the "attitude" of
that "some" backyard wrestlers have. Respect is the name of the game. I see so
many GREAT kids today involved in backyard wrestling. I enjoy talking with them and
offering the proper guidance if that is what they seek. If you are a backyard wrestler,
please be respectful to the pros you try to seek information from. Many of us pros are
more than willing to lend advice and tips on how to go about everything in a proper
manner. If you do get into this business, you will find out respect plays a major role in
success. So does proper training. Seek out a qualified pro wrestling training center if
this is your true dream. Become that athlete first and then go get proper training. There
are some great schools around that will help you achieve your dreams and goals. But keep
in mind, the really good schools "will" be very tough. The better the school,
the harder it is to graduate from. That's a fact with any education!
Schools like Afa the Wild Samoan's Training Center and the NWL's Superior Pro Wrestling
Training Center(HOUSE of PAIN) will do their/our best to "break you" in every
possible way! We take pride in what we do and this is the only way we can guarantee
carrying on the proud tradition that has made professional wrestling a success. If you do
join a training center, be respectful at all times and DO NOT QUIT! Once you quit a well
respected pro wrestling training center, your dreams fade away quickly. This is a very
tough business with so much that predicates your success. This is why
"athletics" is so important. It prepares not only your body, but also your mind!
Athletics teaches you that becoming a quitter doesn't help you reach your dreams and
goals. Be proud and build a respectable character early in your life. This is what you
will need to succeed!
Thank you for taking the time to read another one of my "Real Deal" articles. As
always, I have enjoyed bringing you all the true facts as we all should see them. I also
would like to add that I am involved in the St. Jude Childrens Hospital 1999 Fundraising
drive. The NWL is seeking donations from anyone capable of making a tax deductible
donation. The fundraiser ends June 23rd, 1999 and as added incentive, I will send a
personally autographed 8x10 b&w glossy photo to anyone that donates to St. Judes. No
matter what the amount is, when the NWL receives a check in the mail for St. Judes, I will
send out an autographed 8x10. Compliments of the "Real Deal"!
John Rambo,
NWL Booker/Instructor, HoPWF president LLC, NWL Heavyweight Champion
www.NWLwrestling.com
NWL John Rambo Profile
Published: June 16, 1999