Written by his best friend and widow, this compelling biography of international wrestling superstar “Bruiser” Brody provides an unparalleled look at his life and death. At 6’5” and a muscular 320 pounds, Brody was a giant in the ring who evoked fear in his opponents and respect from the wrestling community. In the geographical segregated wrestling world of the 1970s and 1980s, where each area had its own stars, Brody’s intensity made him one of the few recognized as celebrities across the country. Featuring candid discussions about the nature of wrestling during Brody’s heyday as well as a frank description of his horrific murder and its aftermath, this revealing account illustrates why Brody continues to be one of the most beloved figures in wrestling.
Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling's Rebel
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Matysik tells it as honestly and true as any reader could want." —Nick Bockwinkel, former American Wrestling Association champion
"[Co-author] Matysik serves as a sympathetic biographer who worked professionally with Brody as a St. Louis wrestling promoter. Barbara Goodish tells a love story that began during Brody's Australian tours in the 1970s. Their chapters are interwoven throughout the book." —ScrippsNews.com
"A must read for any wrestling fan. . . . An inspiring story." —About.com
About the Author
Larry Matysik is a former protégé of the famous St. Louis wrestling promoter, Sam Muchnick, and was Brody's best friend. He is the author of Wrestling at the Chase. Barbara Goodish is Brody's widow.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Legend of Bruiser Brody on paper,
By Brad from OWW "http://www.onlineworldofwrestl... (Nova Scotia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling's Rebel (Paperback)
The legend of Bruiser Brody has finally been documented on paper by the people who knew him by both his personas; First there was Frank Goodish - the gentle giant, caring human being, loyal friend, loving husband, and proud father; And then there was Bruiser Brody - the wild and often controversial wrestler that most of us are familiar with. This combination of distinct characteristics bundled together to create complex and entertaining MAN who was loved by those who knew him personally and admired by fans who knew him professionally - although many greedy promoters knew him as a seven foot tall walking talking headache. Larry Matysik (the voice of St. Louis wrestling, announcer for the famed "Wrestling at the Chase," and author of a wonderful book by the same name) joined forces with Barbara Goodish, the widow of Frank and mother of his only child, Geoff, to boldly present the life and times of Frank "Bruiser" Brody.
With the exception of the big two, WWF and WCW, Bruiser Brody literally worked everywhere on the wrestling planet. He developed one of the most unbalanced reputations in the history of the wrestling industry. Starting out in Texas, then making a name for himself in St. Louis under the guidance of promoter Sam Muchnick, hitting virtually every territory in the country, dominating the wrestling circuit in Japan, and taking advantage of the national exposure by appearing in Verne Gagne's AWA. The road-map of Brody's career literally circled the globe and he did it all with an iron fist and a steadfast commitment to preserving his own character as well as the integrity of the sport. His insistence on getting every penny he earned often left a bad taste in the mouths of unscrupulous promoters, who would inevitably book him again due to one unavoidable principle - Brody could "draw" the fans like no other. Personally, I have always been very much intrigued by Bruiser Brody. My limited exposure to his matches, and fuzzy low-quality compilation tape left me terribly curious about this mysterious figure that seemingly has the entire wrestling world in the palm of his hand. Very few wrestlers could attract the attention of his audience as well as Bruiser Brody, and perhaps (no I'm pretty sure it is) that's the reason he was able to make so much money in so many territories. Bruiser Brody, sometimes known as "King Kong" Brody (as not to infringe on Dick The Bruiser's notoriety), will go down in history as one of the most all-around fan-friendly professional wrestlers ever - despite what role, heel or face, he was playing. Thanks to the courage of his widow, Barbara, fans of the legendary Bruiser Brody have been formally introduced to the man behind the wild persona known as Mr. Frank Goodish. This is a book about Frank's early life, football career, pro-wrestling career, his famously firm philosophies, becoming a LEGEND in Japan, and of course the tragic events leading up to his murder in Puerto Rico at the hands of another wrestler who never spent a single day in jail. Also included in this book are touching stories of Goodish meeting his wife while touring New Zealand, and the effect their first child had on his life. Both writers theorize on what the wrestling landscape would be like were it not for Brody's untimely death in 1988. "BRODY" is a truly fascinating look at a man that captured the imagination of every person fortunate enough to experience a Bruiser Brody match and/or wrestling interview while Brody was still with us on this earth. Rating: 9 / 10
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What could have been,
By
This review is from: Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling's Rebel (Paperback)
While growing up Bruiser Brody was my favorite brawler. I had tapes from every place he wrestled. That said this book has all the facts to answer any "Brody" questions and the heart of his families love to choke you up. I laughed, cried and yes even got mad once again at the travesty of justice that took an icons life. I read it in one sitting and the credit goes to the co-writers Barbara Goodish and Larry Matysik. Their obvious affection and respect for the man exudes from each page. A must read for Brody aficionados and those not lucky enough to have experienced his unique persona!! Later.Mike
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wrestling Legend,
By
This review is from: Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling's Rebel (Paperback)
In Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling's Rebel authors Larry Matysik and Barbara Goodish give an insightful first hand account of the man behind the legend. I myself have enjoyed hours of watching King Kong Bruiser Brody perform in the squared circle and was in shock and dismay at his untimely/unnecessary/unavenged death back in 1988. For years I had wanted to learn more about the person Frank Goodish behind the skilled wrestler. This book brought that opportunity to me. It had numerous first hand accounts by his friends and colleagues, such as Terry Funk. They didn't try to tell stories to make him look good, and they certainly didn't worry about kayfabe. You come away with an honest picture of the big man. The chapters that Barbara (his wife) authored are real page turners. You can feel the emotion and love she had for him and this project with every word. There is still so much material left undiscussed, she could write a second book about him telling more about their romance and Frank personal life from her and their son Geoff's point of view. This book is also full of never before seen pictures of Frank. The only critical thing I can think to say about this book is that most biographies and autobiographies take the format of a timeline. The story proceeds in chronological order. In this book, the chapters are divided up by topic. All the way to the end of the book, you are exposed to events that happened before the first chapters. I'm sure this book was a difficult one to write. I've read many a book where the ending is already known, and it isn't a happy one. The entire time you are reading it you are dreading the last chapter where the main character meets his unfortunate end. The authors handled this by getting the worst aspect of his life out of the way first. The beginning chapter dives right in to talking about the murder of Bruiser Brody and how it went unpunished. I highly recommend this book to any fan of King Kong Bruiser Brody, any wrestling fan, or anyone who respects a person that stands up for his rights.
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