Michael Rickard's Blog, page 13
January 23, 2019
Hulk Hogan Wins the WWF Championship! Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Hulkamania in the WWF
It's hard to believe but 35 years ago, Hulk Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden to win his first WWF Championship. That night, Hulkamania emerged in the WWF, changing the WWF and the wrestling world forever. Congratulations to the Hulkster on this milestone and thanks for the memories.For all things Hulkster, check out my website The Enduring Legacy of Hulk Hogan.
January 20, 2019
Madison Square Garden Magic: "I Broke Wahoo's, er Strongbow's Leg" Part One of Two
Copyright 2019 by Michael W. Rickard II
A brutal rulebreaker, known for his tendency to intentionally injure opponents, takes things too far, laying a beloved wrestler out. In one case, heel Greg “The Hammer” Valentine broke Chief Wahoo McDaniel’s leg, igniting an epic feud. In another, Greg “The Hammer”Valentine broke Chief Jay Strongbow’s leg, igniting an epic feud. You might be wondering if you read things right (and wondering whether Valentine was related to General Phillip Sheridan). Join...
A brutal rulebreaker, known for his tendency to intentionally injure opponents, takes things too far, laying a beloved wrestler out. In one case, heel Greg “The Hammer” Valentine broke Chief Wahoo McDaniel’s leg, igniting an epic feud. In another, Greg “The Hammer”Valentine broke Chief Jay Strongbow’s leg, igniting an epic feud. You might be wondering if you read things right (and wondering whether Valentine was related to General Phillip Sheridan). Join...
January 17, 2019
The Population Bomb: Eco-Criticism in Harriet Martineau's "Illustrations of Political Economy"
Copyright 2019 by Michael W. Rickard IIHarriet Martineau’sIllustrations of Political Economy (Illustrations)has been credited with helping to illustrate the principles of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations. However, like many of Martineau’s works, the book can be evaluated and appreciated on many levels, including eco-criticism. An eco-critical examination reveals Martineau’s progressive attitudes towards population control and conservation of resources as seen in the tales, Weal and Woe in G...
January 15, 2019
Interview with Sylvia Lynch, Author of "Jack Lord: An Acting Life"
Copyright 2019 by Michael W. Rickard
Sylvia Lynch is the author of the new biography Jack Lord: An Acting Life (click here for my review). Dr. Lynch is dean of the School of Education at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, has published two books of western outlaw history, and her short stories have appeared in a number of anthologies. Recently, she agreed to an interview via email to discuss her new book, Jack Lord: An Acting Life, and the classic Hawaii Five-O.1. How long di...
Sylvia Lynch is the author of the new biography Jack Lord: An Acting Life (click here for my review). Dr. Lynch is dean of the School of Education at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, has published two books of western outlaw history, and her short stories have appeared in a number of anthologies. Recently, she agreed to an interview via email to discuss her new book, Jack Lord: An Acting Life, and the classic Hawaii Five-O.1. How long di...
January 14, 2019
The Enduring Legacy of "Mean" Gene Okerlund
Copyright 2019 by Michael W. Rickard II
For years I’ve been writing about the enduring legacy of Hulk Hogan; yet it’s difficult to imagine Hulkamania without “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviewing the Hulkster as he prepared for his latest battle for truth, justice, and the Hulk Hogan way.Like anyone he interviewed, Mean Gene knew how to take an interview to the next level, even with as gifted a gabber as Hogan. The two had an undeniable chemistry and fans have so many memories of great interviews...
For years I’ve been writing about the enduring legacy of Hulk Hogan; yet it’s difficult to imagine Hulkamania without “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviewing the Hulkster as he prepared for his latest battle for truth, justice, and the Hulk Hogan way.Like anyone he interviewed, Mean Gene knew how to take an interview to the next level, even with as gifted a gabber as Hogan. The two had an undeniable chemistry and fans have so many memories of great interviews...
January 10, 2019
Two Forms of Slavery? Comparing "Factory Lives" and "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl"
Copyright 2019 by Michael W. Rickard II
Factory Lives: Four Nineteenth-Century Working-Class Autobiographies (Factory Lives) provides an opportunity for study as comparative literature to emancipatory narratives . While comparative literature often studies works from different languages, Factory Lives and emancipatory narratives such as Booker T. Washington’s Up from Slavery and Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl facilitates comparisons between many issues including the def...
Factory Lives: Four Nineteenth-Century Working-Class Autobiographies (Factory Lives) provides an opportunity for study as comparative literature to emancipatory narratives . While comparative literature often studies works from different languages, Factory Lives and emancipatory narratives such as Booker T. Washington’s Up from Slavery and Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl facilitates comparisons between many issues including the def...
Two Forms of Slavey? Comparing "Factory Lives" and "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl"
Copyright 2019 by Michael W. Rickard IIFactory Lives: Four Nineteenth-Century Working-Class Autobiographies (Factory Lives) provides an opportunity for study as comparative literature to emancipatory narratives . While comparative literature often studies works from different languages, Factory Lives and emancipatory narratives such as Booker T. Washington’s Up from Slavery and Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl facilitates comparisons between many issues including the def...
Factory Lives: Four Nineteenth-Century Working-Class Autobiographies (Factory Lives) provides an opportunity for study as comparative literature to emancipatory narratives . While comparative literature often studies works from different languages, Factory Lives and emancipatory narratives such as Booker T. Washington’s Up from Slavery and Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl facilitates comparisons between many issues including the def...
January 8, 2019
Book Review: "Jack Lord: An Acting Life" Provides Objective Look at a TV Icon.
Copyright 2019 by Michael W. Rickard
Before his rise to superstardom portraying Detective Steve McGarrett on the long-running police drama Hawaii Five-O, Jack Lord was already a dedicated and versatile actor on Broadway, in film and on television. His range of roles included a Virginia gentleman planter in Colonial Williamsburg (The Story of a Patriot), CIA agent Felix Leiter in the first James Bond movie (Dr. No) and the title character in the cult classic rodeo TV series Stoney Burke. Lord's...
Before his rise to superstardom portraying Detective Steve McGarrett on the long-running police drama Hawaii Five-O, Jack Lord was already a dedicated and versatile actor on Broadway, in film and on television. His range of roles included a Virginia gentleman planter in Colonial Williamsburg (The Story of a Patriot), CIA agent Felix Leiter in the first James Bond movie (Dr. No) and the title character in the cult classic rodeo TV series Stoney Burke. Lord's...
January 7, 2019
Madison Square Garden Magic: "I Want Piper!" Part Four of Four
Copyright 2019 by Michael W. Rickard II
The December 28, 1984 tag team match involving the team of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and the Tonga Kid against the team of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Cowboy” Bob Orton was the latest battle in the fearsome feud between Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper. Last time around, we saw the Tonga Kid punished without mercy by Piper and Orton until he was somehow able to tag in his (kayfabe) cousin, Snuka. Now it was Snuka’s opportunity to win the match and get some much-wan...
The December 28, 1984 tag team match involving the team of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and the Tonga Kid against the team of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Cowboy” Bob Orton was the latest battle in the fearsome feud between Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper. Last time around, we saw the Tonga Kid punished without mercy by Piper and Orton until he was somehow able to tag in his (kayfabe) cousin, Snuka. Now it was Snuka’s opportunity to win the match and get some much-wan...
January 3, 2019
Remembering "Mean" Gene Okerlund
I was devastated to learn of the passing of "Mean" Gene Okerlund, wrestling's greatest stick man. No one conducted an interview like "Mean" Gene and he was a larger-than-life figure who somehow managed to be equally down-to-earth among the fans. Here's a tribute I wrote to Mr. Okerlund over at Ten Bell Salute.
