That's how Willie Baxter described the professional sport we celebrate. Takes me back to the days of The Wrestler magazine when I quickly turned over the Amateur Wrestling page (surely I wasn't the only one).
The Herald has added a belated obituary to Willie Baxter, who died in June. Don't turn the page quickly, it's worth a read.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/23883745.wrestler-referee-coach-tireless-advocate-sport/
Sounds like an interesting old cove and right on the money about the professional game if truth be told. An opinion that would probably have been shared with a good many at the Snake Pit.
"catch as catch can” style, which became known as Olympic freestyle,"
Now that is a complete lie. They are of course vastly different styles.
I would have liked to have seen Mr Baxter state that at Riley's Gym where a considerable number of top quality rippers/ hookers, many of whom also paid the bills by working as "clowns with equity cards" could have got a fair few screaming submissions off him. Ideally Billy Robinson.
Where is his grave so we can do things to it?
He didn't like politics and drugs - nice pairing - getting involved in amateur wrestling. In that sense, amateur wrestling was well ahead of professional wrestling.
Or was it?