TAKEDOWN RADIO’S SCOTT CASBER REVIEWS “COWBOY UP” WRESTLING BOOK

Posted on | August 5, 2008 | 1 Comment

A Short Literary Review on
“Cowboy Up: An Intimate Journal of a Championship Season”
written by Kim D. Parrish

Review By: Scott Casber
Takedown Wrestling Radio

Wrestling fans don’t let the title “Cowboy Up” deceive you in to believing that you won’t relate or enjoy this book due to the program that Parrish writes about. It matters not which school you root for or where you send your checks of support. While it does focus on Oklahoma State University’s Cowboy Wrestling Program, you’ll find it’s more about Wrestling as a sport and the people that embrace its constant demand for excellence. You’ll wolf this book down chapter by chapter like a hungry wrestler not worrying about making weight.

While reading Judge Parrish’s prose, embracing his observations and delighting in his ample helpings of glimpses behind the scenes I found his book was more about the heart of a wrestler. Our community hopefully will read this book with an open mind. No doubt there are those of you out there that bleed the colors of your collegiate programs so much so that you wouldn’t think of touching this book. That’s too bad. This book will help you recapture why you first fell in love with this sport.

You’ll enjoy “Cowboy Up” for its unique insight into the hidden humorous side of Steve Mocco, the pain, injuries and anguish endured by Johnny Hendricks, the almost religious like leadership of Chris Pendleton, the fanatical embrace of the wrestler and the program by it’s supporters. “Cowboy Up” shoots in deep, with a vice like grip that grabs on to your ankle and hangs on to the truth of the matter. Wrestling is hard work no matter your program. The book features characters that chose to rise to the occasion and those that didn’t. Parrish expertly weaves bold colors into the fabric that makes up wrestling by chronicling the many hours on the road from competition to competition, meal to meal and practice to practice.

Cowboy Head Coach John Smith, his family, his position in this sport have been heralded by many and deservedly so. Parrish writes in such a way that we are better able to understand the man behind the Iconic. We look at Coach Smith through Parrish’s eyes and see him struggle with decisions as a coach. We see him as a proud father to his young son Joseph, and witness his late night phone calls from the road to his patient and loving wife Toni. To read “Cowboy Up” is to better know the man. Like many others in his position that endure the “Season”, Smith’s softly spoken words often echo loudly for all to hear. I’ve heard many fans, coaches and athletes say “I have a better understanding of wrestling because of John Smith”.

Do yourself a favor today and get this book. It’s one of the best, most positive and insightful reads I’ve enjoyed in a long time. Wrestling is hard and we need to understand that, embrace it and encourage all that goes in to making a wrestling champion. This book will endorse all that you have felt about wrestling for years and may awaken some of your memories as to why you chose the greatest sport known to mankind.

Book Title: Cowboy Up: An Intimate Journal of a Championship Season

Cowboy Up is available through the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Ok. Call them at 1-405-377-5243 and order yours today. When you order through the Hall of Fame a portion of the proceeds will benefit its future growth.

Scott Casber is the founder and host of America’s Wrestling Radio Talk show, Takedown Wrestling Radio.

Takedown Radio is heard in 20 different countries, enjoys thousands of listeners each week of the year. Casber can be reached at Svideoman@aol.com

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