WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley Has Fond Memories Of Ward Melville
Posted: Apr 1st 2013 By: CMBurnham
'Mrs. Foley's baby boy!"
For millions of pro wrestling fans, that phrase from WWE announcer Jim Ross meant that "Hardcore Legend" Mick Foley -- whether portraying Cactus Jack, Mankind or Dude Love -- was heading to the ring.
The three-time WWE champion always kept fans guessing, with an offensive repertoire that ranged from the sick (thumbtacks, barbed wire and flaming branding irons) to the silly (a sock puppet named Mr. Socko.)
On Saturday, Foley will enter the WWE Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Madison Square Garden, the night before WrestleMania XXIX at MetLife Stadium.
But at Ward Melville High School, from where Mick graduated in 1983, it's Mr. Foley -- rather, Dr. Jack Foley -- who still gets top billing in the family.
For the Foley family, being honored for a lifetime of achievement is nothing new. Recently, Mick was walking through the Dr. Jack Foley Gymnasium at the East Setauket school, named for his father, the longtime athletic director, who died in 2009 at age 76.
Instantly, Mick was transported back in time, his senses of sight and smell grappling for control. He remembered the pine scent of gym floor polish as he stared at the bleachers, where classmate John McNulty changed his life by convincing him to try out for wrestling as a senior.
"When I grew up, this was like my playground, this school,'' said Foley, 47, as he sat in his dad's old office and reminisced with his former JV football and basketball coach, Rick Hancock, 64, and current Ward Melville AD Erin Blaney, 54.
Jack Foley worked long hours, and Mick stayed close by.
"I was tagging along with my dad, having the sights and the sounds and smells -- that potpourri of liniment and perspiration,'' Foley said. "I remember the first time I smelled 'BO' was at a cross-country meet. But it wasn't unpleasant, in a strange way. That's what you got when you worked hard."
Foley played junior varsity football and basketball in 10th grade for Hancock, displaying a knack for boxing out in hoops that made up for his challenged shooting touch.
"Mickey had been around his father and athletics his whole life," Hancock said. "So you knew he knew what to do. It was just a question of getting your feet to do it."
Foley also played lacrosse as a sophomore, and said his work in the goal as a junior for legendary coach Joe Cuozzo earned him recruitment by a couple of colleges. But he said he fell in love with wrestling after initially doing it merely to get in shape for lacrosse.
Kevin James, the future star of the "King of Queens" and "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," was a teammate of Foley's. James, who could not be reached for comment, was No. 1 at heavyweight and Foley was his workout partner.
When James hurt his back, Foley said, coach Jim McGonigle put him in the Patriots' lineup.
It was then, amazingly, that the man who in the pro ranks lost an ear in Germany and was burned by C4 explosives in a Japanese "death match'' faced a Patchogue-Medford opponent in what Foley termed his life's greatest challenge.
"I was wrestling a kid named Artie Mims, who was a real solid 215 . . . with a 'Mr. T' mohawk," Foley said of his Patchogue-Medford High School opponent. "It's a pretty intimidating look. I had to win by pinfall . The good news was that there was a pinfall. The bad news was I didn't get it. It was the only time I had been pinned . . . I went down into the Ward Melville wrestling room and cried.
"After that, I really thought, 'The rest of life is going to be relatively easy.' It has been."
That life lesson helped him forge through a career that included sleeping in his car on weekends while training with squared-circle veteran Dominic DeNucci in Freedom, Pa. And it allowed him to finally have his "WrestleMania moment" in 2006 in Chicago, where Edge speared him through a flaming table.
"I always felt like I could argue with Vince McMahon, the larger-than-life billionaire," Foley said of WWE's chairman and CEO. "I can complain about my payoff. I had so much more confidence because I'd been through that most devastating defeat."
Thirty years later, that confidence has helped Foley become much more than an imposing wrestler. He has toured as a standup comic (his next gig is at The Brokerage in Bellmore on June 6), acted and written wrestling books, including two best-selling autobiographies, children's books and fiction.
Mrs. Foley should be proud of her baby boy.
Supplemental Information
Upcoming Events
- NAW · Sep 12 5:00pm · Muldrow
- WAH · Sep 13 3:00pm · Tulsa
- ASP · Sep 17 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 18 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 19 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- UWE · Sep 19 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- EPW · Sep 19 6:00pm · Broken Arrow
- TexPro · Sep 19 7:00pm · Ardmore
- ASP · Sep 20 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 21 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 22 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 23 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 24 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MWF · Sep 24 7:00pm · Bartlesville
- ASP · Sep 25 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- UWO · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MidAW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Antlers
- EPW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MWF · Sep 25 8:00pm · Shawnee
- ASP · Sep 26 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- MidAW · Sep 26 5:00pm · Antlers
- LA · Sep 26 5:00pm · Chickasha
- RWE · Sep 26 6:00pm · Spencer
- MWF · Sep 26 8:00pm · Lawton
- ASP · Sep 27 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- MidAW · Oct 3 2:00pm · Idabel
- WFC · Oct 3 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
- UWO · Oct 9 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- NAW · Oct 10 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- BCW · Oct 10 7:00pm · Guthrie
- ASP · Sep 17 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 18 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 19 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 20 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 21 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 22 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 23 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 24 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 25 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 26 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 27 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- BCW · Oct 10 7:00pm · Guthrie
- EPW · Sep 19 6:00pm · Broken Arrow
- EPW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- LA · Sep 26 5:00pm · Chickasha
- MidAW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Antlers
- MidAW · Sep 26 5:00pm · Antlers
- MidAW · Oct 3 2:00pm · Idabel
- MWF · Sep 24 7:00pm · Bartlesville
- MWF · Sep 25 8:00pm · Shawnee
- MWF · Sep 26 8:00pm · Lawton
- NAW · Sep 12 5:00pm · Muldrow
- NAW · Oct 10 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- RWE · Sep 26 6:00pm · Spencer
- TexPro · Sep 19 7:00pm · Ardmore
- UWE · Sep 19 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- UWO · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- UWO · Oct 9 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- WAH · Sep 13 3:00pm · Tulsa
- WFC · Oct 3 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
Spotlight in History
- 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
- 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
- 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12
- 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
- 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
- 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
- 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
- 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
- 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
- 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
- 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
- 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
- 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
- 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
- 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
- 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
- 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
- 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
- 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
- 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
- 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
- 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- Summer Thunder Sep 11th Today!
- Vic Nichols Sep 11th Today!
- Bash Sep 12th
- Adrian Dell Sep 12th
- N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
- Danni Bee Sep 12th
- Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
- Montego Seeka Sep 12th
- Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
- Animal Sep 12th
- American Anarchy Sep 12th
- K. P. Moore Sep 13th
- Poder Oriental Sep 13th
- Bobby Starr Sep 13th
- Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
- Angelina Love Sep 13th
- Bernie D Sep 14th
- Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
- Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
- Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
- Waddy Young Sep 14th
- L. C. Green Sep 15th
- Korvin Sage Sep 15th
- Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
- Daniel King Sep 15th
- Haru Sonada Sep 16th
- Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
- Jake Swayze Sep 17th
- Dick Brower Sep 17th
- Rex Mori Sep 17th
- Jim Cornette Sep 17th
- Bill Irwin Sep 17th
- Titan Yin Sep 18th
- Angel Reed Sep 18th
- Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
- Billy Robinson Sep 18th
- Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
- Adam Asher Sep 19th
- Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
- Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
- Joey Stixx Sep 20th
- Chuck Singer Sep 20th
- Greg Valentine Sep 20th
- Bishop Simon Sep 20th
- Pepper Martin Sep 20th
- Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
- Ethan Page Sep 20th
- Boz Sep 20th
- Justin Lee Sep 20th
- Connor Jones Sep 21st
- Ricky Morton Sep 21st
- Jack Brisco Sep 21st
- Satine Sep 22nd
- Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
- Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
- Doug Somers Sep 22nd
- Harley D Sep 22nd
- Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
- O'Malley Sep 23rd
- Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
- Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
- John J. Bishop Sep 24th
- Connor Crunk Sep 24th
- Jason Bruce Sep 24th
- Kai Fayden Sep 24th
- Len Rossi Sep 24th
- Joe Jones Sep 24th
Oklafan Quiz
Luc Lapointe, Chris Gazaway, Cade Sydal, Kenny Campbell, and John O'Malley were at one time all members of which faction?
Current Champions
Bizarre Underground Wrestling
This Is Wrestling Champion
Mr. Nasty
- No Pressure Champion: Duke Blanchard
- 918 Champion: Mr. Nasty