Cowboy Johnny Mantell, the Pride of Montague County

Back in the early 1980's I was traveling around Northern California, Oregon towns wrestling when I called back home to talk to family. I spoke to my dad and then to Kenny, who asked my who I was working with that night. I told him I was working with The Mormon Giant, Don Leo Johnathan. He said Oh, tell him I said Hi and ask him if he remembers the time I took him down? Well me being the dumb kid I was, when we where in the back talking prior to the matches, Don asked how my brother was doing and I told him great and that he said to tell him Hi and if he remember the time Kenny took Don down. Well he just said somthing like Yeah and moved on with the conversation, so I thought nothing more about it.
Well, we get to the middle of the match and Don Leo Snap Mare's me out of the corner turnbuckle and wraps me up from behind. Suddenly, there is NO AIR anywhere around me. As I was gasping from my last breath, with my eyes starting to droop, Don Leo leans into my ear and whispers "Tell your brother I remember!".
Then all of a sudden Air returns, and I could breathe again.
Well, let's just say that was the last time I told ANYONE that my brother said something to them. I finally learned my lesson on that.

While running a show for my good friend Henry Summerall in Whitesboro in early 2000, for the Booster Club. I just met and was getting to know another good friend Paul Brossart. With his amateur wrestling background, we trained him to wrestle professionally so he could fill in spots on cards. He has wrestled for me under a mask and as Logan Ludwig. At this show in Whitesboro, I booked Paul and Mike Davis in one of the opening matches. With Mike working his Maniac Mike Davis gimick, Mike and I come up with a finish where Paul was going to put Mike over. But before they went to the ring, the referee (another great friend, Terry Allen),Mike and I decided that during the big comeback, when Paul went to cover Mike, Mike was going to hook him and hold him over Mike, and cover himself for a 3 count. The 3 count hits the mat, Paul realizes that he didn't follow the original finish, Mike jumps up and pretends to be pissed at what just happened. The look on Paul's face, and looks on Terry and Mike's faces were priceless. All of us in the back watching, were just rolling on the floor when they returned to the dressing room. I'm not sure if Paul every really forgave us for that one. One more good rib!! May you rest in peace Mike. We miss you greatly!

This was a small town fundraiser (same Whitesboro show) where the local cop/sports editor/sports reporter and photographer for the local newpaper, Brad (last name saved to protect the innocent, LOL), who had helped set up and promote the show for us, came early to see the boys and visit while the matches were getting set up. Also on the card that night were a pair of young football players from Texas Tech working as tag team (Texas Tornados), Shane being 6'4" about 325 lbs and Billy being 6'2" 250 lbs both etched in stone, good kids, learned to take bumps well. They showed up early to help get ring and things set up. Billy brought his girlfriend with him. Of course with Billy's good looks and physique, the girlfriend that came with him was very good looking and also had a very well endowed physique!! When we were setting the ring up and getting ready for the show, Shane, Billy & the girlfriend got seperated. Well Brad's attention, left the ring and wreslting being set up, and went to this well endowed woman sitting by herself. I'm not sure if Brad interviewed, took pictures or what but she did not tell him who she was or who she was with. Then as the matches are about to get started, Brad wants to go into to each dressing room to interview some of guys before the matches get started. So he goes into the Babies dressing room where the Texas Tornados, Shane and Billy, are. He starts interviewing them, asking them about their career and how they got started. When he finished, he then asks them if they saw this girl out in the audience that was built like a brick house, and looks like ?, well Shane & Billy start looking at each other as Brad continues to put his foot deeper in his mouth. Finally, Shane looks at Brad and says, that's Billy's girlfriend. As straight a face as he could, Brad said well you two just kill me now. I'm such a dumba%#, I should have known she was with one of you!
He didn't get killed that night. Amazingly!!

Since 2004, Red Bastien with the help of Larry Dwyer has had a reunion, Red Bastien's Texas Shoot Out, for the Dallas/Fort Worth area boys. In the past we have had some of the boys from San Antonio, Houston, Oklahoma and Louisiana attend. We all spent time in and around Dallas, the Sportatorium, busting our chops and paying our dues to get to "the Big Show".
We hear from Larry that Red isn't doing too well. Much like many of the men and women that K and I spent years traveling the roads, experiencing life with the effects of hards times on our bodies and minds are now affecting many of us.
God Bless Red, his lovely wife and all the boys and their families that suffer daily from the trauma we put ourselves through!