Is That Wrestling Fake?-The Bear Facts
I found the book to be very entertaining from a wrestling fans perspective (since 1970), and also, I found Ivan's story and his trial of his faith to be tremendously inspiring. I will recommend this book to any and all. --John MozukeI just finished Ivan's Is That Wrestling Fake? and was enthralled and wanting more. It is a good read, full of interesting tidbits on the wrestling business, it's characters, and Ivan's life. In his book, he proves, without doubt, that God can save the worst of us. --Tim Quinn, webmaster for ivankoloff.comScott Teal has done it again and has co-authored yet another championship literary work in the fast moving world of Professional Wrestling! This time he tag teams with Ivan 'The Russian Bear' Koloff in 'Is That Wrestling Fake?' and takes us down another unique path of what the old school kayfabe days of pro wrestling were like. Here you will read about Ivan s life long struggles both in and out of the squared circle his rise in to the main events how the WWWF title was to exchange hands between Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales and himself, and why it was done exactly the way it was done at that time his travels to many wrestling territories of his time: WWWF, NWA, AWA, WWA, IWA, etc. how he carried his anti-American act too far and found himself deep in trouble with the FBI and about his great partners and the tag titles he held. The book is very different than most other wrestling books you might have read before. In fact, you might seem to think, like me, that the book is somewhat incoherent until you realize the angle Ivan and Scott are coming from. The book is not set up in a straight, historical time line; rather, it is set up as if Ivan and Scott were sitting right next to you, sharing a beer, and talking about the good old days. The thoughts come out as naturally as if you were talking to your best friend on old childhood memories. Nothing is rehearsed, and the thoughts flow freely from topic to topic; or in wrestling terms, from pillar to post. Readers who were fortunate to have read 'Inside Out' by Ole Anderson, and 'Wrestlers Are Like Seagulls' by J.J. Dillon, know just how much work it took to make the matches come to look as real to a fight as possible, and for good reason; the people believed it was real, but if it were real, the wrestlers could never have wrestled several times a week as they did then. That is not to say the wrestlers did not get hurt, or suffer all sorts of physical punishment. The truth is, THEY DID! Finally, you will read about Ivan s reclamation through his faith in God. It is this part of the book that reminds me of 'East of Eden' by John Steinbeck, in that no matter how far from grace a man has fallen in the sight of God, he still maintains the choice to do better, to choose between good and evil 'timshel' or Thou Mayest, is truly ever present in Ivan s life and book. Accolades to Ivan and Scott on a great book! --Mark CappuzzoI found the book to be very entertaining from a wrestling fans perspective (since 1970), and also, I found Ivan's story and his trial of his faith to be tremendously inspiring. I will recommend this book to any and all. --John MozukeScott Teal has done it again and has co-authored yet another championship literary work in the fast moving world of Professional Wrestling!    This time he tag teams with Ivan 'The Russian Bear' Koloff in 'Is That Wrestling Fake?' and takes us down another unique path of what the old school kayfabe days of pro wrestling were like. Here you will read about Ivan s life long struggles both in and out of the squared circle his rise in to the main events how the WWWF title was to exchange hands between Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales and himself, and why it was done exactly the way it was done at that time his travels to many wrestling territories of his time: WWWF, NWA, AWA, WWA, IWA, etc. how he carried his anti-American act too far and found himself deep in trouble with the FBI and about his great partners and the tag titles he held.    The book is very different than most other wrestling books you might have read before. In fact, you might seem to think, like me, that the book is somewhat incoherent until you realize the angle Ivan and Scott are coming from. The book is not set up in a straight, historical time line; rather, it is set up as if Ivan and Scott were sitting right next to you, sharing a beer, and talking about the good old days. The thoughts come out as naturally as if you were talking to your best friend on old childhood memories. Nothing is rehearsed, and the thoughts flow freely from topic to topic; or in wrestling terms, from pillar to post.    Readers who were fortunate to have read 'Inside Out' by Ole Anderson, and 'Wrestlers Are Like Seagulls' by J.J. Dillon, know just how much work it took to make the matches come to look as real to a fight as possible, and for good reason; the people believed it was real, but if it were real, the wrestlers could never have wrestled several times a week as they did then. That is not to say the wrestlers did not get hurt, or suffer all sorts of physical punishment. The truth is, THEY DID!    Finally, you will read about Ivan s reclamation through his faith in God. It is this part of the book that reminds me of 'East of Eden' by John Steinbeck, in that no matter how far from grace a man has fallen in the sight of God, he still maintains the choice to do better, to choose between good and evil 'timshel' or Thou Mayest, is truly ever present in Ivan s life and book.    Accolades to Ivan and Scott on a great book! --Mark Cappuzzo