{"product_id":"backlund-from-all-american-boy-to-professional-wrestlings-world-champion-paperback","title":"Backlund: From All-American Boy to Professional Wrestling's World Champion - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eBob Backlund\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eRobert H. Miller\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eRoddy Piper\u003c\/b\u003e (Foreword by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBob Backlund began life as a poor farm boy in the little village of Princeton, Minnesota, with a population of just over 2,000 people. He was a below-average student with a lackluster work ethic and a bad attitude, who hung with the wrong crowd and made a lot of bad choices. He was a kid whose life was headed for disaster--until a local coach took interest in him, suggested that he take up amateur wrestling, and offered to work with him if he promised to stay out of trouble. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e It was in North Dakota that Bob Backlund had the first of several chance encounters that would shape his destiny. While working out at the YMCA gymnasium in Fargo, North Dakota, where he wrestled for North Dakota State, Backlund met a well-known professional wrestler, \"Superstar\" Billy Graham. The men talked, and at Graham's suggestion, Backlund was inspired to pursue a career in professional wrestling. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Less than five years from that day, on February 20, 1978, Backlund would find himself halfway across the country, standing in the middle of the ring at Madison Square Garden with his hand raised in victory as the newly crowned World Wide Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion. The man Backlund pinned for the championship that night was none other than Superstar Billy Graham. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Featuring contributions from Bruno Sammartino, Harley Race, Terry Funk, Pat Patterson, Ken Patera, Sergeant Slaughter, The Magnificent Muraco, George \"The Animal\" Steele, \"Mr. USA\" Tony Atlas, The Iron Sheik, and many others, this book tells the incredible story of the life and nearly forty-year career of one of the most famous men to ever grace the squared circle. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, is proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports--books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In addition to books on popular team sports, we also publish books for a wide variety of athletes and sports enthusiasts, including books on running, cycling, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, martial arts, golf, camping, hiking, aviation, boating, and so much more. While not every title we publish becomes a \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRobert Lee \"Bob\" Backlund\u003c\/b\u003e is the former two-time World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion, with an in-ring career that has spanned nearly forty years. Backlund continues to make occasional appearances for the WWE while also teaching amateur wrestling to children and traveling the country as a motivational speaker. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 6, 2013. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eRobert H. \"Rob\" Miller\u003c\/b\u003e is a trial lawyer, equity partner, and member of the management committee at a New England-based law firm. He is also the critically acclaimed author of titles including \u003ci\u003eLaw School Confidential\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Rowdy\" Roddy Piper \u003c\/b\u003ewas a professional wrestler who won thirty-five titles during his illustrious career. The author of \u003ci\u003eIn the Pit with Piper\u003c\/i\u003e, Piper passed away in 2015.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 552\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.1 x 8.9 x 5.9 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 27, 2022\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47394596454578,"sku":"9781683584445","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0770\/3891\/1666\/files\/6883ae264206f991b1d31c1bdad01f7e.webp?v=1777984532","url":"https:\/\/box.dadyminds.org\/products\/backlund-from-all-american-boy-to-professional-wrestlings-world-champion-paperback","provider":"DADYMINDS BOX","version":"1.0","type":"link"}