The weather cooperated and we able to get the competition
in.
A capacity crowd of 6,127 fans showed up to see the home
team Blue Rocks edge the Lynchburg Hill cats 2-1.
Virtually the entire crowd stay to watch the stones event
(There were fireworks after us).
By all accounts the crowd really got into it and cheered
for all four competitors.
The order of finish:
1. Steve Kirit
2. Steve Pulcinella
3. Walt Gogola
4. Mark Keshishian
All four guys got all four stones. It was an exhibition so
the stones went from 242 - 330 pounds. I may be wrong about the
330 weight.
Kirit (Shirtless) was amazing as expected. As was
Pulcinella who did great after an eight- or nine-year layoff
from strongman events.
Gogola got screwed and it was because of my inexperience
as a promoter.
After Pulcinella's turn, Gogola was next and he was pumped to
put on a show. Only there was big problem. The spotters (rookies
like me) rolled the first stone off the stand onto a tire that
was a little to big for this type of thing.
Incredibly the stone got stuck in the middle if
tire...really it did. Walt could only stare at the tire in
disbelief.
It took almost five minutes (it seemed like an eternity)
and an assortment of knives, hammers, crowbars and a lot of
tugging to get the stone free from the tire.
If you can imagine Walt standing there with the crowd
chanting "Tire!" "Tire" "Tire" while about five guys worked on
getting the tire free. It was funny for everyone but Walt.
When it finally dropped out the crowd roared its biggest
roar of the night (including the baseball game). With all the
comotion to get the stone free, none of the spotters remembered
to wipe it down (there was a misty rain throughout the night)
and of course it slipped out of Walt's grip. He lost a
considerable amount of time because of the slick stone.
My fault all the way.
But the crowd loved every minute of the exibition and the
Blue Rocks seriously want it back next year or really anytime we
want to do. To me that is the best barometer of a successful
event...getting invited back.
I am working with some other entities in the Philly area
that will put strongman in front of large crowds and more
mainstream media. Obviously all through the auspices of Jim
Reese, Jim Davis and X-treme Strongman.
The Blue Rocks took out a lot of print and radio ads pumping up
the contest and Steve Kirit's appearence in the Delaware Valley.
Also the Bucks County Courier Times and the News Journal
helped out with stories.
CN8 did a nice and very funny bit with Walt and Steve
during the week.
CN8 also talked it up during Friday night's broadcasted
game against the Hillcats ... with Cal Ripkin on hand.
All four guys signed autographs during the game on the
concourse and Walt's and Kirit's table looked like a scene from
DADDY DAY CARE there were so many 8 to 10 year old boys climbing
all over them.
Not bad for a 15 minute contest.
