Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Earning a little extra money on the weekend


Pro Wrestling All Stars presented a show at Detroit’s Kidz Playland in the Detroit’s Hispanic community on Federal Street, December 10, 2011.  The All Stars are local wrestlers who have been performing for 6 to 10 years. Their dreams of moving into “big time wrestling” now a faded memory.

The ring was set up by a local vendor and practice began for wrestling students.
Extensive stretching exercises began the class session, followed by in-the-ring practice of various holds, falls, and action moves.  Training continued with techniques of how to take a hit, and making the most noise with your body when landing on the spring supported ring floor.



Present was PWA belt holder Lou Crank surrounded by tag team champs, the masked avenger, a stable of men and one 19 year old woman Cassie, whose mother sat patiently ring side as she trained and later performed in a six person tag event.  

The camaraderie is evident back stage. The room is filled with people who are working a second job once or twice a month for cash. And the cash is dependent on the paying audience. At this venue the audience was modest.  Promoter/wrestler Steve Rivera’s next venue will be in Allen Park, Mi. where a larger, more proactive wrestling audience may exist.

In the ring all hell breaks loose. Pain and anger is thrown at the audience in choreographed action. For the audience wrestling is a night of entertainment that is often cheaper than a bar and a lot more fun.






Don’t miss the next Pro Wrestling All Stars show coming to a town near you.




Monday, December 5, 2011

Syrian Americans Demonstrate for Homeland Democracy

A breezy Sunday afternoon on November 6, over 200 Syrian Americans gathered in Troy, Michigan to provide peaceful support for democracy in front of the building housing the Syrian Consulate. 
The community of men, women, and a lot of children demonstrated with out fear.  If any were in their home country, the threat of police attack would instantly happen noted one woman.
My general impression was of solidarity and strength of an extended family.

All the adults had grown up under the Assad Family management of Syria. Many remarked of the oppression of their childhoods and joy of coming to America.