Post by dannygoddard on Jan 17, 2009 9:38:51 GMT -5
It was around 1968. I was 15 and still president of the Sputnik Monroe Fan Club. Sputnik was in Florida but his fan club had collected money to purchase a trophy for him and we were going to present it to him in the ring at the Atlanta City Auditorium. Sputnik got booked for the night and flew into Atlanta that Friday afternoon. He got a ride to my house on Gift Avenue in East Atlanta. I was working at a local hamburger joint at the intersection of Moreland and Glenwood Avenues, Charlie's Place. My Dad drove Sputnik to Charlie's Place and he burst through the door with a loud boisterous voice, "I want a hamburger with mustard and onions!" The owner, Charlie Smith (not the referee), broke into a big grin. I served his hamburger while the two little old ladies who worked there kept their distance. When Sputnik was finished, Charlie, told me I could leave early.
We went to my house four blocks away to kill an hour or so and there Sputnik met my Mom. She was a little nervous, having never met a professional wrestler before, and right away offered him "a drink." I quickly interjected, "We have Cokes." So Sputnik drank a Coke while we talked about his match that night with Bob Armstrong. I nearly passed out when my Mom then asked the Brawler, Sputnik Monroe, "Are you scared?" He said, "If I was scared, I would have never gotten on the plane!" What a memory.
We went to my house four blocks away to kill an hour or so and there Sputnik met my Mom. She was a little nervous, having never met a professional wrestler before, and right away offered him "a drink." I quickly interjected, "We have Cokes." So Sputnik drank a Coke while we talked about his match that night with Bob Armstrong. I nearly passed out when my Mom then asked the Brawler, Sputnik Monroe, "Are you scared?" He said, "If I was scared, I would have never gotten on the plane!" What a memory.