George Gordienko

Canadian Wrestler, Artist and Renaissance Man

Häftad, Engelska, 2022

419 kr

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George Gordienko (1928-2002) may be the greatest wrestler you've never heard of. From humble, Ukrainian/Cossack immigrant roots in the Canadian Prairies, he endured a tough childhood during the Great Depression to emerge as a leading "shooter" and one-of-a-kind artist on the mat. Excluded from wrestling in the United States during the McCarthy era because of his association with the Communist Party as a young man, he was deprived of a run with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, for which he was hand-picked by the great Lou Thesz. After retirement, Gordienko transitioned to a different sort of canvas and became a successful painter. This first full-length biography traces his remarkable career.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2022-04-28
Mått178 x 254 x 13 mm
Vikt454 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor252
FörlagMcFarland & Co Inc
ISBN9781476687698

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Table of ContentsForeword by Bret HartForeword: A Memory by Greg OliverPrefaceIntroduction1. The World into Which He Came2. The View from Winnipeg3. Coming Into His Own4. The Norseman Plunger5. World Class Amateur6. An Auspicious Start7. Earning a Buick in San Francisco8. Looking Like He Couldn’t Miss9. Hiatus10. Back in the Saddle11. Trip Around the World12. Alberta Gold13. If Thesz Had His Way…14. Gordienko–Nelson: Returning the Favor15. 1957–1958: Here and There16. Back on the Treadmill17. A Few Memorable Meetings18. Back to Europe19. Life at 4 Conyers RoadBetween pages 110 and 111 are 8 color plates containing 11 photographs20. Hottest Wrestler on the Continent21. Friends Get Together in New Zealand22. Autumn in Japan23. Closing Out a Remarkable Decade24. Adventure with Adnan25. The Marchesa26. More Tours and Travels27. From One Butcher to Another28. Flash Gordon29. Crossing the Border30. Looking Like the End31. A Little More in the Tank32. Father-Son Reunion—Part One33. Dutiful Son Returns34. Father-Son Reunion—Part Two35. Tranquility and Tension36. Decision to Downsize37. Black Creek38. Adding to His Legacy39. Summing Up an Amazing Life40. End of the Journey41. Fulfilling George’s Wishes42. Looking Up the Marchesa43. Filling In Blanks at the CAC44. A Few More Honors45. Final ThoughtsBibliographyIndex

“George Gordienko may never be truly celebrated for his achievements as his life and career fail to fit into a single box that so often defines one's greatness. Yes, he was a phenomenal wrestler, but also an accomplished artist, world traveler and a gentleman. At so many points in this book, you feel like George had reached the pinnacle—arrived at success to which so many aspire—only to be surprised with the next pursuit and complete mastery that resulted in further successes. There is no single honor high enough to acknowledge the lifetime contribution of George to sports, arts and culture.”—Vance Nevada, author, Wrestling in the Canadian West