LOOKING AT THE LOSS OF A LEGEND

by Jim Hall 1/21/2003 9:17:00 AM


The Loss of a Legend – A Viewer’s Perspective

At least it seemed to be an appropriate place. I was standing in an entrance tunnel, between the locker room and a wrestling ring when Scott D’Amore gave me the news. Ed Farhat, the Sheik had passed away earlier on that Saturday. There is so much I want to say about the Sheik, but even two days after learning of his passing, I still cannot put my feelings into words.

I, like most boys in Michigan, grew up on Big Time Wrestling (usually from Cobo Hall). From the mid-50’s until 1980 Big Time Wrestling was a fixture of every Saturday. Big Time Wrestling was where generations of little brother learned that the figure-four leg lock really does hurt. It was where generations of big brothers learned that Mom will get mad if you ask for a fork to use on your little brother. It was where I learned that a black man could be a hero as I cheered my little lungs out week after week for Bobo Brazil.

The wrestling on Big Time wrestling may not hold up in today’s day and age – but for us it was everything. The Sheik understood that the magic of the business comes not from top-rope maneuvers, amazing acrobatics or unbelievable physiques. It comes from touching human hearts and minds. And the Sheik understood how to do that in a way that few others did.

I never had the opportunity to meet Ed Farhat, but I have had the good fortune to know and work with his son Ed Farhat Jr. Ed Jr. is the primary force behind Michigan’s biggest Indie promotion, the All-World Wrestling League. Ed Jr. alone is legacy enough for any man to leave behind, but the Sheik left us with so much more.

When I spoke with Ed Jr. on Sunday, shared with him a recent experience that I had. As I was trying to promote Indie wrestling in West Michigan, I found myself having a hard time explaining to people what I was talking about. I was loathe to use the phrase “sports entertainment,” which I doubt would have been successful any way. Only a few understood what I meant when I said “professional wrestling.” But everybody responded positively, and the light bulbs came on whenever I said “Big Time Wrestling.” At least in the Great Lakes State, Big Time Wrestling is alive and well in the hearts and minds of all the fans that the Sheik touched over all of those years.

The Sheik may be gone, but he lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of fans.

http://members.aol.com/eagolino/CamelClutch.jpg

Bzob tips 40 of colt 45 in memory of a child hood hero.

He will be missed.

Pour some out for my lost homies. Ill see you at the crossroads...

i hope they buried him with his curly boots. he looked rough the last time i saw him. second tip of brew for a local hero of mine.

i dont think ed farhat was the iron sheik. he was the original sheik. he played football at ferris st. he was the first character to employ the middle eastern hating americans act. i might be wrong. i hope im not because the last i knew the iron sheik was still wrestling.

I did not know there were 2 sheiks?

I just remember the Iron sheik and Nicoli Volkov as tag team partners

Yup. The one who died is the Original Sheik...the one in the picture posted by Kato is the Iron Sheik.

damn my bad, have to go and tell this people that posted this. thanks guys

Done, you guys are right this is the sheik that passed

http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/images/halloffame/sheik3.jpg

I take back my spilled beer, The Camel clutch lives on!

VIVA LA CAMEL CLUTCH!

that's a cute picture. :)

I thought so too box...

que viva!

Easy way to remember:

Iron Shiek fought Hulk Hogan.
The Sheik is Sabu's grandpa or dad or some ****.

He was Sabu's uncle I am pretty sure