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'Mankind' visits for benefit of kids

Posted: Jun 7th 2007 By: mikeiles

EASTON - If you've ever wondered what crosses Mick "Mankind" Foley's mind when he slips on Mr. Socko and finishes off an opponent with the Mandible Claw, stop in at Porter's Pub this weekend.

A meet-and-greet with the World Wrestling Entertainment star is scheduled 4 p.m. Saturday at the 700 Northampton St. bar.

For $10, fans will get Foley's autographed photo, an opportunity to pick his brain and the right to say they helped pay somebody's way through college.

The two-hour event is benefiting a Pennsylvania State University book scholarship established in memory of Danny Ostertag, a South Side boy who died April 10, 2005, from complications of epilepsy.

The 16-year-old had hoped to attend Penn State upon graduating from Easton Area High School, said his mother, Rosemary T. Ostertag.

EAHS seniors who've overcome physical disabilities, learning disabilities or emotional turmoil resulting from a death in the family or divorce are eligible for the award.

Dinner for one lucky fan

After the meet-and-greet, Foley plans to dine at Porter's with the winner of a raffle, which will also benefit the scholarship.

"I think it's such a wonderful thing that Danny's mom is doing in his memory," Foley said Wednesday.

"Unfortunately I've been around a lot of children who've died at a young age. It's just devastating for their parents.

"For Rosemary Ostertag to take such a terrible loss and turn it into something good I'm really glad to be a part of that process," said Foley, who's driving down from his Long Island, N.Y., home for the event.

Tickets are available for $1 at Porter's and several other Lehigh Valley locations until Friday evening. Sales, so far, have been brisk, said Larry Porter, who co-owns the bar with brothers Ken and Jeff.

'Easton of all places'

Ostertag and her husband, George, have been Porter's customers for years, so he jumped at the chance to help with the scholarship fundraiser.

"She started talking about Mick Foley and a place to host it and I said, 'Why not here?'" Porter said Wednesday.

"He's going out of his way to come to Easton -- of all places -- for the day and I just thought it was really a nice thing on his part."

Foley, who's hit the mat as Cactus Jack and Dude Love, is the author of several adult and children's titles.

His latest work, "The Hardcore Diaries," is an autobiographical, behind-the-scenes look at the wacky world of professional wrestling. Copies of the book, which debuted at No. 7 on the New York Times best seller list earlier this year, will be available Saturday, Ostertag said.

Friend of the family

The Ostertags met Foley in 2001 during a Florida trip sponsored by Dream Come True, a nonprofit organization that serves terminally ill children who live in the Lehigh Valley. He arranged for the family to attend an Orlando wrestling match during the trip, Ostertag said.

After Danny's death, he befriended the family and offered to help them in any way he could. The raffle was his idea, she said.

"I hope the community comes out and supports this event," Foley said.

Foley may be known as one of his sport's toughest characters -- he finished a 1994 match after his right ear was torn off in a botched stunt -- but outside the ring, he's just "a benevolent, big-hearted marshmallow," Ostertag said.