Read excerpt from Gary Coopers New Book
But sometimes, even parents need a break so the three of us (Susan, John and I) went to the Bartholomew County Fair. For a county of 50 or 60 thousand people they really go all out for this fair: Politicians were shaking hands, service clubs were all competing via supper dollars for fund raising, tractor companies had seemingly hundreds of tractors, plows, harrows, etc., race cars were roaring around the track while dust billowed over on one side of the fair grounds and in addition there were many rides and exhibits and shows all going on at the same time. It was quite a display of the agricultural strengths in our county for all concerned. As we were walking through the dust covered pathways it suddenly occurred to me that Dave and Larry (the nuts who took us bushwhacking for the last time) walked directly up to me. In unison they excitedly said, "Coop you've got to see this…" as they wouldn't tell me what was going on even when I asked them? So I became suspicious and said, "Can my sister and brother-in-law come also" expecting them to cop out (back out) about this time and to my surprise they answered, "Definitely yes!" I was kind of interested at this point so we all walked near the back of the fair grounds and happened upon a carnival type person sitting on a stage with a great big bear. In the meantime I noticed that Dave, Larry and I were on this platform type of thing as I had followed them up there and we had a great view(I thought to myself, how did we get so lucky). When all of a sudden the big booming flood light swung around and pointed right at us! With all the ringmasters vocal attributes this guy started talking about how these college boys who all played football were going to earn $500 by beating up and wrestling 'Gentle Ben' (in other words these idiots had set me up again this time to wrestle a damn bear). I couldn't believe it and faked exactly like I knew what I was going to do especially in front of the huge crowd with the lights peering down upon us as they had just dragged out a huge farm boy who obviously got wrestled also except he looked like he needed $500 worth of medical treatments. Finally the light turned away while people in a big line started paying to enter the arena. I turned to Dave and Larry and said, "There was no way in hell I was going to go in there and wrestle that Bear!" They exclaimed that they had a plan on how they could take (beat) that bear and get the money because they (the bear wrestling promoters) needed at least three men or they couldn't have the wrestling event. They pleaded and even guaranteed a split with me when they got the money. I couldn't believe it and told them, "The only way I would wrestle that bear is if I went last so I could have the pleasure of seeing you both die before me." They agreed and we entered the arena. As I was going in I noticed that my sister (who had a very worried look) and brother-in-law were buying tickets also.
Once we were in the arena and people were filing in I observed 'Gentle Ben' as he drank coke after coke. He would sit upon his haunches and turn the bottles straight up and devour the drink in seconds (I guess that was his reward for beating up the last guy). The arena looked like regular bleachers with a jail like structure right in the middle with bars all around it in a big circle with one door of entrance into it that some carnival type person controlled. After what seemed like at least 10 cokes the ringmaster put a big leather harness around Ben's face (I thought 'thank God' at least he won't be able to bite me). The ringmaster then went through the challenge to the crowd again except this time he seemed to give 'Gentle Ben' all the glory as he had beaten something like 250 men prior to us. I turned to Dave and Larry and told them that they better have some great plans…Larry was 6'4' and weighed 265 lbs and was going first. Larry said, "All I'm going to do is out wrestle and bear hug the bear until I get him down" as Larry put on his game face…Shortly thereafter the ringmaster opened the gate as Larry went straight for the bear and held out his arms just like he was going to out bear hug the bear! Duh, Gentle Ben picked him straight up and slammed him on the mat so hard everyone could hear the thud. "1, 2, 3 you're out!" the ringmaster exclaimed as Larry got out quickly without a word. Next…Dave? I asked Dave what he had in mind. Dave explained that he thought he could out arm wrestle the bear by swinging 'Gentle Ben' around in circles and wearing him out. I disagreed and told him that bear's have great endurance. Dave's only hope was that his huge arms he used as a linebacker for the Miami of Ohio football team would have the same affect as it did on normal human tail backs. The gate opened as Dave went to the side of the bear while he locked down on 'Gentle Ben's' arm except that Dave couldn't even budge that bear while Ben got a hold of him and flung Dave around like a rag doll and smashed him to the mat. "1, 2, 3, you're out!" as the ringmaster and Gentle Ben both looked at me like I was nothing except fresh meat for another coke.
Suddenly it hit me (my mind was thinking very quickly, like the speed of light)… That bear has little feet and I must think of a way to get down by his feet and then pull on them. That was all I could figure to do! Suddenly the door opened as I heard a few persons from school yelling, "Go Coop"! I peered directly at 'Gentle Ben's' eyes as to not tip him off. I even held out my arms like Larry as if I was stupid enough to bear hug a bear. As I looked at this beast it was like the bear's eyes were smiling and was somewhat relaxed since the bigger guys were already gone. There was also some slobber hanging off his muzzle. As he was just getting ready to grab me I dropped instantly to my knees and yanked as hard as I could at his little feet and 'Gentle Ben' dropped with a tremendous thud on the mat on his back! The crowd absolutely roared while quickly I was on top of a big flailing bear waving his paws all around with no effect. I turned to the surprised ringmaster and said, "Start counting!" He said, "Not until you pin the bear" I said, "How in the Hell do I do that?" He said, "Get him up on his back" I knew at that exact point, this guy is a crook and there was no way to get a 300+ lb bear up on his shoulders because bears have round backs and roll side to side. After about 3 minutes, I gave up especially when the crowd settled down and let 'Ben' get back up on his feet. Now it was time to test his endurance as he chased me around and around the cage until finally I gave up laid down in near exhaustion and let 'Gentle Ben' get me. I figured all he would do is lay on me and the ringmaster would yell 1, 2, 3 but not quite the same for me as that bear rolled out his foot long tongue through the muzzle and stuck and licked me in the eyes, ears, nose and throat while at the same time almost crushing me with his weight. Grunting all the while like I had embarrassed him (after all I was only 185lbs). Finally the ringmaster gave the welcomed count and it was all over. I didn't even look back to see if Ben got a coke or two. The most disturbing part after the finish was the ringmaster coming up to me and asking if I would like a rematch. "I don't think so…" is all I said as I walked away to meet my sister and brother-in-law. We all laughed about it for a long time.
I suppose that I learned several things from this experience: 1) some people may say that they are your friends but they aren't (I still haven't quite figured out Dave and Larry). 2) Whenever you're in a tight spot always analyze the circumstances instead of letting 'fear control you. 3) Never lay all your cards out on the table especially in front of an adversary or enemy. 4) Even in the worst of situations there is always 'hope'. 5) Due to experience from being a 'bear wrestler' always remember that you probably won't have to clean out your ears for wax over the next several months. Unfortunately, 'Gentle Ben' and bear wrestling only lasted a month longer because Ben killed a wrestler in another southern Indiana fair and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) apparently got involved due to job hazard regulations. Sometimes as they say, "Your just lucky…I would rather be blessed".
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