Bøger af John Cosper

Their signs hang in the windows of convenience stores, gas stations, and restaurants. They work out of high school gyms, warehouses, and roller rinks. They are professional wrestlers, and they want you to experience live wrestling this weekend.The old territories are long gone, replaced by the monolithic WWE, but indie wrestling continues to thrill fans who know that nothing can replace the live experience. This is the story of the men and women who make up today's independent wrestling scene. They are top prospects like Jamin Olivencia and Adam Cole; deadly beauties like Crazy Mary Dobson (NXT's Sarah Dobson) and LuFisto; entrepreneurs like Colt Cabana; and battle-hardened veterans like Mad Man Pondo.Eat Sleep Wrestle takes you on the road and inside the ring for a peek into the lives of today's dreamers and tomorrow's superstars. From their humble beginnings, to life on the road, to their moments at the top, these stories will inspire you in the pursuit your own dreams and make you look twice the next time you see a flier in the window for some rasslin'. Featured wrestlers include Aaron Williams, Apollo Garvin, Austin Bradley, The Lovely Lylah, D.J. Hyde, Eric Emanon, Jamin Olivencia, Lufisto, Mad Man Pondo, Crazy Mary Dobson, Marc Hauss, Menace, Mickie Knuckles, Mitchell Huff, Reed Bentley, Ron Mathis, Hy Zaya, Tyson Dux, and Zodiak.

Bourbon kings. Bootleggers. Vagrants. Hobos. Mobsters. Voodoo women. Confederate guerillas. When your town attracts the kind of folks who sauntered into Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, odds are good some of them never left. Lawrenceburg was once the heart of bourbon country and home to some of the wealthiest distillers in the world. This small town smack dab in the middle of the bluegrass state welcomed visitors from all over to sample its wares. The town also attracted its shares of con men, flip flam artists, and scoundrels, many of whom did time in the slammer behind the court house or took rooms in the Anderson Hotel. Some of these residents and visitors never truly left. They haunt the building along Main Street to this very day. No one knows the ghostly community of Lawrenceburg like Jeff Waldridge. An expert on the paranormal, Waldridge welcomes hundreds of visitors each year who want to experience the strange and unusual. In his first publication, Waldridge takes you down Main Street and memory lane, unveiling the colorful history behind the mysterious hauntings of a bourbon town. From the mischief of Ol' Albert, to the towering presence of T.B. Ripy, to the terrors of the Anderson Hotel, the ghosts of Lawrenceburg await you!

The evil of Dead Park Plaza extends far beyond the four-story office complex in this new tale of murder and mayhem. All his life, the only thing Chuck Kirkland ever wanted was to be a rock star. When his current band kicks him to the curb for being too old, Chuck finds a lifeline in a mysterious record executive. His name is Dana Peters. The label: Dead Park Records. Dana doesn't want to hear a demo, and he doesn't need to see Chuck perform. One simple task will secure Chuck's dream of stardom: he must murder a woman he's never met. Desperate and determined, Chuck takes the job, but he soon discovers he's not the only wannabe attempting to commit murder. The streets are filled with musical assassins, from goth kids to a cappella groups to boy bands, and no one, not even the would-be victim, knows why Dead Park Records wants her dead! What evil purpose lies behind this murderous plot? Will Chuck sell his soul for rock n roll? And why is a Sasquatch out in the woods murdering music journalists? All these answers and more may be revealed in the third installment of the Dead Park series.

There's a reason they call Kenny Bolin the Starmaker. For more than a decade, Kenny Bolin sent more men from Louisville's Ohio Valley Wrestling to the WWE than anyone. Bolin had a hand in making the careers of John Cena, Rico Costantino, Rob Conway, Mark Henry, Bobby Lashley, Sean O'Haire, Lance Cade, Mark Jindrak, Mike Mondo, Carlito, Sylvester Terkay, and many more. Now, the retired manager turned media giant is telling his story. One of the sharpest minds in the history of wrestling, Kenny Bolin's story has become the stuff of legend. From his humble beginnings as the son of Kentucky's last convicted cattle rustler; to his childhood friendship with the nefarious Jim Cornette; to the many schemes he allegedly perpetrated on the American public; to a chance meeting with Nick Gulas at Service Merchandise; you'll read how this humble Kentucky wrestling fan stubbornly refused to pay his dues and waited for the moment when the wrestling gods wised up and gave him what was coming to him. The tale of Kenny Bolin is so outlandish, so outrageous at times, you'll swear it can't possibly true - and some of it isn't. Thankfully, Kenny conned a few of his close, personal friends to come along for the ride to help you sort fact from fiction, including Mark Cuban, Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Dutch Mantell, Rico Costantino, "The Sinister Minister" James Mitchell, Terry "Garvin" Simms, Dean Hill, Nova, JBL, Mark Henry, Damien Sandow, Sylvester Teraky, Bill Apter, and even Jim Cornette. This book may not be the most truthful book you'll ever read, but it is the most entertaining and funny wrestling memoir you'll read this week. So grab a chair, pop on a pair of Beets by Bolin headphones, and prepare to shake your head in disbelief as you read the (mostly) true stories of Kenny Starmaker Bolin.

There's a reason they call Kenny Bolin the Starmaker. For nearly a decade, Kenny Bolin sent more men from Louisville's Ohio Valley Wrestling to the WWE than anyone. Bolin had a hand in making the careers of John Cena, Rico Costantino, Rob Conway, Mark Henry, Bobby Lashley, Sean O'Haire, Lance Cade, Mark Jindrak, Mike Mondo, Carlito, Sylvester Terkay, and many more. Now, the retired manager turned media giant is telling his story. One of the sharpest minds in the history of wrestling, Kenny Bolin's story has become the stuff of legend. From his humble beginnings as the son of Kentucky's last convicted cattle rustler; to his childhood friendship with the nefarious Jim Cornette; to the many schemes he allegedly perpetrated on the American public; to a chance meeting with Nick Gulas at Service Merchandise; you'll read how this humble Kentucky wrestling fan stubbornly refused to pay his dues and waited for the moment when the wrestling gods wised up and gave him what was coming to him. The tale of Kenny Bolin is so outlandish, so outrageous at times, you'll swear it can't possibly true - and some of it isn't. Thankfully, Kenny conned a few of his close, personal friends to come along for the ride to help you sort fact from fiction, including Mark Cuban, Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Dutch Mantell, Rico Costantino, "The Sinister Minister" James Mitchell, Terry "Garvin" Simms, Dean Hill, Nova, JBL, Mark Henry, Damien Sandow, Sylvester Teraky, Bill Apter, and even Jim Cornette. This book may not be the most truthful book you'll ever read, but it is the most entertaining and funny wrestling memoir you'll read this week. So grab a chair, pop on a pair of Beets by Bolin headphones, and prepare to shake your head in disbelief as you read the (mostly) true stories of Kenny Starmaker Bolin.

Have you ever been a kid, or are you one at the moment? Have you ever attended school? Do you have older siblings? Have you ever been on Facebook or any other social networking site? If you answered, "Yes," to any of these questions, odds are you've encountered a bully. Bullies come in all shapes, sizes, and ages, and bullying can come in many different ways. Bullies can ruin your day, your self-esteem, even your life - but only if you let them. How do I know? Because I was bullied too. For six years I let bullies get the better of me. Finally, I had enough. I set two goals for my life: to end the bullying, and become a professional wrestler. After achieving both of those dreams, I want to help you achieve yours! This book will teach you how I overcame bullying and how you can too. It will give you the tools to discover the real you, to shut down the bullies, and to become the person you were made to be. No matter who you are, I believe your inside IS brighter than your outside, and after you read this book, you will too!

Before Mania, before TV, before there was even a ring, there was wrestling.It was the 1880s, and from the circus to the bar to the opera house, wrestling was already a spectacle. In this new collection of short stories, you'll journey back to a simpler time when wrestling breathed new excitement into a nation healing from war. Discover a world where the wrestling mat first offered men a chance to obtain fortune and glory. Witness the courage of a former slave fighting to make his own name and the passion of a daring young woman in her fight for equality. Experience the heroism of these pioneer athletes, bound by more than blood, and the villainy of those greedy enough to profit from an unsuspecting public.Pro wrestling historian and award-winning writer John Cosper takes you back to the earliest days of the sport, capturing the spirit of a bygone era. Inspired by the real life tales of the men and women who laid the roots of professional wrestling, Grappling by Gaslight is a page turning thrill-ride straight from the old school carnival midway.

Louisville loves sports. It's the birthplace of the Muhammed Ali, the home of the Louisville Cardinals, and proud host of the Kentucky Derby. But Louisville has another obsession nearly as old as the Derby: professional wrestling.As early as the 1870s fans gathered downtown to see men like William Muldoon and women like Ida Alb grapple on the mat. In the early 20th Century Louisville gave Ed "Strangler" Lewis the name that made him famous. The 1930s saw the first turf war in Louisville when the Gayety and Savoy battled each other and the state for control of wrestling. Then in the 1940s Louisville fans had a front row seat to the golden age of Lou Thesz, Mildred Burke, and Gorgeous George thanks to the Allen Athletic Club.Dick the Bruiser and Wee Willie Davis gave it a go in the 1960s, but it was Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler who rebuilt the market for wrestling in the 1970s, giving Louisville fans a first look at stars like Hulk Hogan, Kane, Steve Austin, and The Rock. When the territories died, the independents filled the void, led by Danny Davis and Ohio Valley Wrestling, where the WWE sent future superstars like John Cena, Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and Randy Orton to train.Louisville has also spawned its own superstars, men and women who became local heroes and national icons like "The Black Panther" Jim Mitchell, Jim Cornette, and Doug Basham. And let's not forget those Hoosiers from just across the river, including Stu Gibson, Lord Humongous, Rob Conway, Nick Dinsmore, and Sarah Rowe.The 10th anniversary edition of Bluegrass Brawlers covers more territory than ever, telling a story that spans 145 years. From an intergender circus brawl to teen sensation Billie Starkz; from Abe Finberg to Al Snow; from Wild Bill Longson to "Flex Kavana" Dwayne Johnson, this is the story of a city that loves professional wrestling!

There's a reason they call Kenny Bolin the Starmaker. For nearly a decade, Kenny Bolin sent more men from Louisville's Ohio Valley Wrestling to the WWE than anyone. Bolin had a hand in making the careers of John Cena, Rico Costantino, Rob Conway, Mark Henry, Bobby Lashley, Sean O'Haire, Lance Cade, Mark Jindrak, Mike Mondo, Carlito, Sylvester Terkay, and many more. Now, the retired manager turned media giant is telling his story. One of the sharpest minds in the history of wrestling, Kenny Bolin's story has become the stuff of legend. From his humble beginnings as the son of Kentucky's last convicted cattle rustler; to his childhood friendship with the nefarious Jim Cornette; to the many schemes he allegedly perpetrated on the American public; to a chance meeting with Nick Gulas at Service Merchandise; you'll read how this humble Kentucky wrestling fan stubbornly refused to pay his dues and waited for the moment when the wrestling gods wised up and gave him what was coming to him. The tale of Kenny Bolin is so outlandish, so outrageous at times, you'll swear it can't possibly true - and some of it isn't. Thankfully, Kenny conned a few of his close, personal friends to come along for the ride to help you sort fact from fiction, including Mark Cuban, Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Dutch Mantell, Rico Costantino, "The Sinister Minister" James Mitchell, Terry "Garvin" Simms, Dean Hill, Nova, JBL, Mark Henry, Damien Sandow, Sylvester Teraky, Bill Apter, and even Jim Cornette. This book may not be the most truthful book you'll ever read, but it is the most entertaining and funny wrestling memoir you'll read this week. So grab a chair, pop on a pair of Beets by Bolin headphones, and prepare to shake your head in disbelief as you read the (mostly) true stories of Kenny Starmaker Bolin.

He's been hired and fired from every major wrestling company. He's wrestled all over the United States, in Mexico, and Asia. He's held multiple tag team belts and heavyweight championships. He's been a top guy and a jobber. He's been a hero, a villain, and a mentor to countless young wrestlers of the last two generations. He pinned legends. He defeated cancer. And yes, he wrestled three different bears. Few wrestlers have logged as many miles as Tracy Smothers, and even fewer have made the impact he has on today's young stars. Now for the first time, Tracy reveals how a promising young athlete Springfield, Tennessee, who once aspired to be a high school football coach found himself at the center of a fan riot in Mexico City and a bar fight in Malaysia. He talks about the last days of the territories, the rise of the Wild Eyed Southern Boys and the Young Pistols, his star turn in Smoky Mountain, his jobbing days in WWF, life-changing concussions, the FBI in ECW, and dance contests in the indies. You'll hear harrowing tales about bounty hunting, delivering pizzas, and yes... going toe to toe with the legendary Ginger the Wrestling Bear. Tracy Smothers doesn't care if you love him. He doesn't care if you think he sucks. He doesn't even really care if you read his book. There's only one thing you need to know right now. If you don't buy this book, EVERYBODY DIES!

She was the girl of dreams, but in the twenty years apart, did she become the world's most deadly assassin? It took until prom night for Brian Eades to summon the courage to tell his best friend he loved her, but when the moment of truth arrived, Samantha Costales vanished without a trace. No note. No phone call. She didn't even show for graduation. Twenty years later Brian is a single father teaching at his alma mater when Sam returns out of the blue. The true love romance he always wanted falls right in his lap, and all seems right with the world. Then Brian's car explodes, a mystery man threatens his life, and his conspiracy-minded pupils come to him with an alarming theory: Sam may be the deadliest woman on the planet. Not everyone ends up with their high school sweetheart, but not everyone's crush turns out to be the girl most likely to assassinate the president of El Salvador. Soon Brian and his daughter are in the crosshairs of international arms dealers. Can a couple of star-crossed, high school pals make love work, or will this love story go out with a very fiery bang?

"Dave has always been my friend, and he has always been one of my heroes too. He could walk that walk and talk that talk. David Schultz was a man's man. As fearless as he was dangerous, yet one of the most honorable wrestlers the wrestling business ever knew." - Bret "Hitman" Hart, Two-time WWE Hall of FamerAsk anyone who watched wrestling in the early 80s who the most dangerous man in wrestling was and they will tell you it was Dr. D. Trained by Herb Welch, the Tennessee native terrorized fans in Tennessee, Memphis, Florida, Calgary, Japan and Minnesota before being recruited into the WWF at the request of Hulk Hogan. Dr. D was a singles and tag team champion for multiple promotions, and he faced some of the most dangerous men in the business: Antonio Inoki, Abdullah the Butcher, Bruiser Brody, and Johnny Rodz. Yet he is remembered to this day for taking down a very different opponent: ABC reporter John Stossel, who dared to utter the words, "I think this is fake." While the Stossel incident precipitated the end of his wrestling career, but it's hardly the end of the story. Dr. D turned babyface in real life, finding an even greater calling as a professional bounty hunter. Working out of Connecticut, Dr. D traveled the world and brought back hundreds of "skips" who had fled from justice. Dr. D tracked fugitives from New York to California to Puerto Rico and even Egypt with a 100% capture rate. If he couldn't coax you into coming back of your own free will, he still possessed the skills taught by Herb Welch that could turn even the biggest thug into a crybaby. Call him a wrestler. Call him a bounty hunter. Just don't call him fake! Dr. D David Schultz is the real deal, a hero in the wrestling locker room who became an even greater hero in his post wrestling career, clearing the streets of dangerous men and women with his Southern charm and a shooter's grip.

From the golden age of grapplin' comes a holiday treat for wrestling fans young and old! Compiled from a 1947 California wrestling program, this amazing collection of Christmas greetings features stars like Gorgeous George, "The Black Panther" Jim Mitchell, Enrique Torres, Jan Blears, Yvon Robert, and Ed "Strangler" Lewis. Season's Beatings is not a history or a biography. It's a window into the past, a photographic look at some of the biggest stars of wrestling's golden age. It's the perfect gift for those who prefer headlocks and body slams to visions of sugar plums.

Once upon a time, there was a dad who didn't want to tell the same old bedtime stories. Sure, he loved fairy tales as much as the next guy, but why tell the same old stories about pigs and bears and princesses when you can make up your own? TALES FROM THE DAD SIDE is what happens when a dad and his kids decide to make up their own stories. Screenwriter and author John Cosper and his kids created a collection of stories featuring pigs, wolves, dogs, cats, robots, chickens, parrots, monsters, dragons, aliens, cockroaches, princesses, honey badgers, Star Wars haters, and one really, really angry bird! This newly revised edition includes ten brand new stories with more twisted fairy tales, aliens, and even a Christmas story. It also includes twelve pages of original art work by the kids who inspired the stories. Always funny, sometimes meaningful, and always entertaining, TALES FROM THE DAD SIDE is a great escape from the ordinary bedtime - and the perfect launching pad to create your own stories and memories with your kids!

There's a reason they call Kenny Bolin the Starmaker. For nearly a decade, Kenny Bolin sent more men from Louisville's Ohio Valley Wrestling to the WWE than anyone. Bolin had a hand in making the careers of John Cena, Rico Costantino, Rob Conway, Mark Henry, Bobby Lashley, Sean O'Haire, Lance Cade, Mark Jindrak, Mike Mondo, Carlito, Sylvester Terkay, and many more. Now, the retired manager turned media giant is telling his story. One of the sharpest minds in the history of wrestling, Kenny Bolin's story has become the stuff of legend. From his humble beginnings as the son of Kentucky's last convicted cattle rustler; to his childhood friendship with the nefarious Jim Cornette; to the many schemes he allegedly perpetrated on the American public; to a chance meeting with Nick Gulas at Service Merchandise; you'll read how this humble Kentucky wrestling fan stubbornly refused to pay his dues and waited for the moment when the wrestling gods wised up and gave him what was coming to him. The tale of Kenny Bolin is so outlandish, so outrageous at times, you'll swear it can't possibly true - and some of it isn't. Thankfully, Kenny conned a few of his close, personal friends to come along for the ride to help you sort fact from fiction, including Mark Cuban, Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Dutch Mantell, Rico Costantino, "The Sinister Minister" James Mitchell, Terry "Garvin" Simms, Dean Hill, Nova, JBL, Mark Henry, Damien Sandow, Sylvester Teraky, Bill Apter, and even Jim Cornette. This book may not be the most truthful book you'll ever read, but it is the most entertaining and funny wrestling memoir you'll read this week. So grab a chair, pop on a pair of Beets by Bolin headphones, and prepare to shake your head in disbelief as you read the (mostly) true stories of Kenny Starmaker Bolin.

JJ Maguire is truly the master of wrestling ring music. As Jimmy Hart's go-to songwriting partner since their days in the Gentrys, JJ collaborated on 110 pieces of music for WWF, WCW, and WWE. His list of credits probably looks like your playlist of favorite wrestling themes, as he wrote the entrance music for Demolition, the Honky Tonk Man, Bret Hart, Ted DiBiase, Shawn Michaels, and (in WCW) Hulk Hogan. He was a member of Hulk's Wrestling Boot Band, contributing music to the album "Hulk Rules," and he's currently the host and MC for Kentucky Zone Wrestling.That said, JJ Maguire is far from just a wrestling guy. JJ Maguire was a musical prodigy who turned heads at the piano at the tender age of five. He was a member of the legendary rock group The Gentrys and played with numerous other bands from Kentucky to California. He wrote music for Hulk's TV show Thunder in Paradise and even won a recurring role on the show. In a career spanning six decades, he's rubbed shoulders with Prince, Rick Springfield, Tom Petty, Vince Neil, Gene Simmons, Kirstie Alley, Henry Winkler, Robert Conrad, Mark Mothersbaugh, Telly Savalas, Carol Alt, Patrick MacNee, and John Landis. He visited the shop of the legendary Hollywood car builder George Barris. He discussed Kentucky burgoo recipes with Bob Hope. He shot pool with Jackie Gleason inside the Great One's basement. He even got a kiss from Farrah Fawcett.The book opens with a foreword from Jimmy Hart, Maguire's long-time song writing collaborator, who writes, "JJ has always been there when I needed him. When we were with The Gentrys, he was there. When I was with WWF, he was there. When I moved to WCW, he was there. Through the Wrestling Boot Band, Thunder in Paradise, and so many adventures, JJ Maguire has been by my side. He is a good friend and one of the most talented people I've ever met in my life."Yes, JJ Maguire is the master of wrestling ring music. Yes, he is the face of Kentucky Zone Wrestling. And yes, he wrote or co-wrote a lot of your favorite wrestlers' theme songs. But his book is more than just a wrestling story. It's a story for music lovers, for TV and film lovers, and for anyone who has ever had a dream. From the heart and soul of small town America to the bright light and glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the pageantry of professional wrestling, this is the true story of "Hurricane" JJ Maguire!

There's a reason they call Kenny Bolin the Starmaker. For more than a decade, Kenny Bolin sent more men from Louisville's Ohio Valley Wrestling to the WWE than anyone. Bolin had a hand in making the careers of John Cena, Rico Costantino, Rob Conway, Mark Henry, Bobby Lashley, Sean O'Haire, Lance Cade, Mark Jindrak, Mike Mondo, Carlito, Sylvester Terkay, and many more. Now, the retired manager turned media giant is telling his story. One of the sharpest minds in the history of wrestling, Kenny Bolin's story has become the stuff of legend. From his humble beginnings as the son of Kentucky's last convicted cattle rustler; to his childhood friendship with the nefarious Jim Cornette; to the many schemes he allegedly perpetrated on the American public; to a chance meeting with Nick Gulas at Service Merchandise; you'll read how this humble Kentucky wrestling fan stubbornly refused to pay his dues and waited for the moment when the wrestling gods wised up and gave him what was coming to him. The tale of Kenny Bolin is so outlandish, so outrageous at times, you'll swear it can't possibly true - and some of it isn't. Thankfully, Kenny conned a few of his close, personal friends to come along for the ride to help you sort fact from fiction, including Mark Cuban, Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Dutch Mantell, Rico Costantino, "The Sinister Minister" James Mitchell, Terry "Garvin" Simms, Dean Hill, Nova, JBL, Mark Henry, Damien Sandow, Sylvester Teraky, Bill Apter, and even Jim Cornette. This book may not be the most truthful book you'll ever read, but it is the most entertaining and funny wrestling memoir you'll read this week. So grab a chair, pop on a pair of Beets by Bolin headphones, and prepare to shake your head in disbelief as you read the (mostly) true stories of Kenny Starmaker Bolin.