Ric
Flair, alongside fellow pro wrestling legend, Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea), announced
that long time friend, associate and rival, Harley Race, is facing the battle
of his life with terminal cancer. Flair made the announcement at the Hard Rock
Atlantic City.
It's
been no secret that Mr. Race has been in poor heath, having being confined to
a wheelchair for what is understood to be over a year.
Race
is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time,
and is on virtually all Top 10 lists.
He
has been keeping up his spirits by maintaining contact with the industry and in
fact heads up The Harley Race Wrestling Academy and World Wrestling League.
Race
was one of the favorites of my late father, "Tricky" Ricky Tingle, as
well as one of my top picks in the business. In the 90's dad would rave to me
about the classics such as Harley Race vs Terry Funk and Race vs Dory Funk Jr.
Our other favourites included George Barnes (who dad used to drive trucks with
on the Sydney Waterfront... and we used to travel to live shows in Sydney to see
Barnes wrestle), Hulk Hogan, Paul "Mr Wonderful" Orndorff, Bruno Sammartino,
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Don Muraco and Ricky 'The Dragon" Steamboat.
When videotape was invented, I started to bring tapes of classic wrestling and
martial arts matches into Australia and dad and I would watch and discuss the
matches together.
When
I started my own media company in 2001, after working at Optus Communications
/ Vision for 5 years (in Sales, Retention, Bundling and PPV Liaison - Wrestling,
Boxing and Concerts), I made a point of keeping up with professional wrestling
news and from time to time I would cover the sport in the course of running my
business. I'm a fan of wrestling first, and I found it very satisfying being able
to sometimes report on and even interview pro wrestlers. Race was on my list and
fortunately in 2003 he agreed to an interview. Race imparted great wisdom and
we have included some of the interview online.
I
would like to take the opportunity to publicly thank Mr. Race for his decades
of blood, sweat and tears, and for helping facilitate great memories for my late
father and I, and I'm sure you did the same for millions of fans around the world.
Sharing the love of combat sports with family and friends is close to my heart.
These days it also fills a void, with dad not being here but whenever I watch
wrestling great such as you, it brings back fond memories of dad. I also pray
for other wrestling greats who are not in good health such as Terry Funk and Paul
Orndorff.
Harley,
as you have said numerous times over the years, "Greatest Wrestler on God's
Green Earth" - you may have to have a rematch with Terry Funk and Dory Funk
Jr, for the bragging rights, but I wouldn't bet against you. Any wise person would
fear Race in his heyday.
There
aren't too many people alive today that has accomplished what the Greatest Wrestler
on God's Green Earth has. Harley Race has etched his name in the record books
of professional wrestling and will forever be known as "The King" of
the ring.
The
only 2 men in the world that Andre the Giant feared were Haku and Harley Race.
Starting
his career out with promoter Gus Karras, he has wrestled all over the globe -
capturing championships both in singles competition as well as in the tag-team
division. Harley Race is a legitimate legend in our industry. In addition to capturing
championship gold - including the N.W.A. World's Heavyweight Championship 8 different
times - Mr. Race has also been inducted into several hall of fames, including
the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
