Sneak Peek at the Next "Ear!"

Even thought it's still two months away, I've got the scoop that there's big news and info coming up in the next issue of "The Ear!" Some of the stories and scoop to be included will be:

• The first of several announcements regarding special arrangements already made for the 2008 CAC Reunion....

• Information on the 2008 Ladies Honoree as well as information on the 2008 Lou Thesz Award Winner
  

• "Then and Now" photo pages featuring photos of CAC members - wrestlers, referees and fans - from yesterday to today.....
  

• Read how and why a National Guard MP attended the 2007 CAC Reunion and find out just how important the Reunion was to him....

• Memories and photos of the now-departed Old Spaghetti FactoryRestaurant in Hollywood....

• As always, news and updates on your favorite stars of yesterday, today and tomorrow!
  

RIP Chris Benoit, Nancy Benoit and Daniel Benoit

WWE was informed today by authorities in Fayetteville County, Ga., that WWE Superstar Chris Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and their son, Daniel, were found dead in their home. Authorities are investigating, but no other details are available at this time.

This is a terrible tragedy and an unbearable loss.

The Cauliflower Alley Club sends condolences to the family and friends of the Benoits.

RIP Boogie Woogie Brown

It has been reported that longtime East Coast Wrestling Alliance wrestler Boogie Woogie Brown died June 23. While the specific cause of death is unreported as of this moment, Brown had battled lupus for several years. Brown was a former ECWA Tag Team Champion with Danny "Inferno Kid" Gimondo, was twice ECWA Mid-Atlantic Champion, and served briefly as storyline Commissioner. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

The Cauliflower Alley Club sends condolences to the family and friends of Boogie Woogie Brown.

RIP Princess Tona Tomah and Biff Wellington

The Arizona Republic newspaper has reported that Tona Ford, 72, also known as Princess Tona Tomah, of Whitearth, MN, a former professional wrestler and boxer died in her sleep, at home, with her caregiver, son Piper Carle. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Tona Illa. She worked with law enforcement and also had a youth club and trained boxers & wrestlers. Formerly rated as one of the top female wrestlers in the world, she passed away on the 15th of June. She is survived by her granddaughter, Javette Goostree.

Calgary's Biff Wellington (Shayne Bower), who was a major player in the '80s Stampede Wrestling and a regular in Japan for years, has died. He was 42. Full details can be found at SLAM! Wrestling.

The CAC sends our condolences to the families and friends of both of these individuals.

RIP: Sherri Martel

"Sensational" Sherri Martel died this morning at the age of 49 at her mothers home in Birmingham, Alabama, according to her husband of 10 years,Robert Schrull. A previous CAC honoree ( March19, 1994, Sportsman's Lodge, Studio City, CA.), Martel was most famous for her managerial skills. She managed Shawn Michaels, Randy Savage to name a few. Sherri was inducted into the 2006 WWE Hall of Fame.
The CAC sends condolences to the family and friends of Sherri Martel.

CAC Board Member Receives Honor

CAC Board Member and Executive Director of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum, Mike Chapman was given the Order of Merit on Saturday by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It is in recognition of decades of work to promote the sport of amateur wrestling. Each award winner has to choose a "presenter" to stand with him when the award is given. Mike chose Dan Hodge, who was an amateur wrestling legend before becoming a professional wrestling legend. Mike has written 19 books - and the first was called "Two Guys Named Dan," about Dan Hodge and Dan Gable, written in 1976.


At the awards ceremony, Mike said he would have liked to have had both Frank Gotch and Dan Hodge there to present him, but that since Frank couldn't make it, Dan would have to carry the load for both of them. (Frank Gotch died in 1917, at the age of 39).

In the photo above, Dan and Dolores Hodge stand with Mike and Bev Chapman.

RIP: Sandy Barr

(Compliments of SLAM! WRESTLING)

Sandy Barr, a longtime fixture on the Pacific Northwest wrestling scene as a wrestler, referee, trainer and promoter, has died of a heart attack at his Portland, Oregon flea market Saturday June 2, 2007. Barr got into wrestling in 1957, in Idaho Fall, Idaho, for a promoter named Cliff Thiede. He mostly worked in the west, including stints in Calgary, Vancouver, Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Arizona. He was not a big man, and worked a lighter style, going barefoot in the ring. Barr worked programs with Gorgeous George and Dr. Jerry Graham at various times.

For more info. on the career of Sandy Barr click on the SLAM! WRESTLING link above.

The CAC sends our condolences to the friends and family of Sandy Barr.