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Oklahoma Shooter - The Dan Hodge Story

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Dan Hodge is that rare athlete who can be called a legend in his own time.He was one of the greatest scientific wrestlers in pro wrestling history.For years he dominated the junoir heavyweight division.But like the great Lou Thesz,who he wrestled to the limit on a number of occasions,many of his accomplishments have been forgotten in the circus that modern professional wrestling has become.And that's why he's best remembered today for his accomplishments as a amateur.While serving in the U.S.Navy he made his first Olympic Team at age 19 in 1952.Later he would win three straight NCAA titles for the University of Oklahoma.And he was unbeaten through his collegiate career(1955-1957)pinning nearly 80 percent of his opponents,including a record 22 in a row.In 1956 he made his second Olympic team as a freestyle wrestler and this time as a greco-roman stylist as well.He would win the silver medal in freestyle,losing the gold on a controversial call.He later became an amateur boxer,compiling a 17-0 record with 14 knockouts and was the national heavyweight Golden Gloves champion in 1959.Just imagine how Hodge would have done if MMA existed back when he was in his prime.In any case after a brief flirtation with pro boxing he turned to a career as a pro wrestler.This book tells Hodge's story from his early days growing up on a farm in Oklahoma to his days as a pro wrestler and beyond.Author Mike Chapman even makes a convincing arguement why Hodge may be the greatest shoot wrestler of all time.After all college wrestling's equivalent of the Heisman Award is named after him.And to this day he's still the only amateur wrestler to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.