Talking about Frank Gotch

Thursday, February 2nd, 2023 | Wrestling | No Comments

Brian Solomon, a well-respected author and historian, has one of the top podcasts in professional wrestling (Shut Up and Wrestle) and recently had Mike on for a long interview, talking about the early days of Frank Gotch and other pioneers of the sport. You can listen to the podcast by clicking here:

Episode 52- Mike Chapman – Shut Up And Wrestle with Brian Solomonsuawpod.com

Tags: Frank Gotch, Shut Up and Wrestle

Featured Speaker at Iowa Hawk Party – February 10th

Thursday, February 2nd, 2023 | Speaking, Wrestling | No Comments

For the second straight year, Mike will be the featured speaker at the HAWKEYE Area Wrestling Klub (HAWK) following the Hawkeyes wrestling meet vs. Michigan at 8:00 pm on February 10, 2023.  He will bring the Dan Hodge Trophy with him and have a few of his books available for purchase, as well. The party at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Coralville is open to the public for a fee of $20, which includes food and beverages. The speech will begin sometime around 10:00 pm.

Tags: Dan Hodge Trophy, HAWK Klub

Speech on Nile Kinnick and Earl Caddock

Monday, October 24th, 2022 | Speaking, Wrestling | No Comments

On Nov. 13, Mike will the the guest speaker at  the annual fundraiser of the Cass County Historical Museum in Griswold, Iowa, located in the far southwest part of the state. Mike will talk about two Iowa legends — Nile Kinnick in football and Earl Caddock in wrestling. Kinnick, considered the greatest football player in state history and winner of the 1939 Heisman Trophy, lost his life during World War II, while Caddock, one of the state’s greatest wrestlers, suffered lung damage from a gas attack while serving in the army during World War I, but returned home to Walnut, Iowa. He was a three-time AAU national champion who in 1917 became world heavyweight champion in the professional ranks, when the matches were still legitimate. Mike has written books about both men, and he will have some of his 32 books on sale afterwards.

The event is open to the public and free of charge, but donations are accepted. The talk starts at 2 p.m. in the museum, located in the center of town.

Tags: Cass County Iowa, Earl Caddock, Nile Kinnick

USA Takedown Radio Appearance

Thursday, October 20th, 2022 | Documentary, Podcast, Radio, Wrestling | No Comments

On Saturday, October 29, Mike will be a guest host on the USA Takedown radio show in the studio in Des Moines. Host Scott Casber is the founder of this 30-year-old program, and the entire show will be devoted to the new documentary “For the Love of Catch”. Curran Jacobs, producer and narrator of the documentary, will be interviewed along with several other stars that appeared in the documentary. The show is carried live from 8 to 10 AM central time each Saturday morning on 106.3 FM and 1460 KXNO. Fans can also listen online or on their mobile devices using the iHeart Radio app, free of charge, by searching USA Takedown.

Tags: Catch Wrestling, Curran Jacobs, Scott Casber