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The Champ And the Little Lady

Posted: Mar 17th 2016 By: Ebenezer B Fitzdylan

The little lady wanted to say ?Hi? to the Champ as he was circling the ring to greet his fans before climbing through the ropes for his title match.

Bold and brave and fearless, the little lady approached the tall ringside fence with the confidence of an innocent heart, stood on tiptoe, smiled, and reached up to shake the Champ's hand. We were blessed to be there as a witness to the wonders of the sport when the Champ paused, reached down, and created a memory that may last a lifetime.

?I have a special place in my heart for the younger fans,? NWA North American Heavyweight Champion Tim Storm said. ?For whatever reason, I'm just drawn to them ? because I know as a young boy just how much wrestling meant to me, how much it motivated me, and how much it gave me something to look forward to.

?Without wrestling fans of all ages, what we do is meaningless,? the champ continued. ?It doesn't matter whether they're cheering me or not cheering me, without them what we do doesn't mean anything. They're the lifeblood of what we do? the reason we show up? the reason we work hard. They're the ones who determine whether or not we are successful at what we do.?

A Bright Light and Inspiration

The Tribune reached the Champ by telephone at his mama's home in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where he was taking time away from his jam-packed schedule to spend some time with the most important woman in his life. At 92-years-old, Mama Storm is very much a bright light and inspiration for this tough and determined champion's career. Mom and son had talked about Tim's wrestling career that very day.

?My mom told me, she said, ?You know, it's really weird because I don't remember you ever liking wrestling when you were little,?? the champ told us. ?I said, Mom, every Saturday I watched the matches on TV, and I was very fortunate because there was so much to watch. I got Memphis wrestling in the morning ? that was Jerry Lawler. I got Georgia Championship Wrestling in the afternoon. And I got World Class in Texas every Saturday night. And I watched all three.?

We paused to recall those long ago Saturdays when the much-anticipated wrestling show came into our living room on the bulky black and white RCA Victor television set. And how much we absolutely loved it.

The Most Incredible Thing

?My wrestling memory is in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center,? Mr. Storm recalled. ?In the main event was Andre The Giant against Ken Patera. I can remember other matches, too, and I remember standing by the curtain and trying to look over and see all the guys.

?But my memory is that of Andre The Giant picking up Ken Patera for a body slam ? and this was way back in the days when they used the kettle light, the low light over the center of the ring ? and Ken Patera's feet hit the light, and the light started swinging, and Patera went crashing to the mat. And that was the moment for me that I just stopped and realized, this is the most incredible thing I've ever seen.

?I'm not saying that shaking a little girl's hand has the same impact, but when I look out at the young fans in the crowd, I want to make memories for them like the wrestlers I watched made memories for me when I was a little boy.?