Chet Coppock’s 5th book is entitled “Your Dime, My Dance Floor: Chet Coppock in Pursuit of Chet Coppock”, and it’s now available for pre-order at Eckhartz Press. (Release date is August 8th). We got a chance to chat with Chet about his book, which is already garnering great reviews…
Q: Early reviews of your book compliment the way you searched inward for this book. I think they are specifically referring to your descriptions of your complicated relationship with your father. Your dad shows up in several chapters as you recount your childhood sports memories. Talk about the pros and cons of having a father who was so connected to the sports world of your childhood.
Chet: My relationship with my dad was very complex and sadly never resolved. The old man was wired to numerous local and national sports figures. He gave me a big time introduction to sports. By the time I was 11, I had attended three World Series and met a mother lode of sports figures – names like Red Grange, George Halas and Mel Allen. Dad earned high marks for indoctrinating me into sports. Sadly, however, about 95 percent of our relationship was indifference. I never really felt my dad cared about me as a person. I yearned for attention and would find it be defining and redefining the persona of Chet Coppock.
Q: In the book you also talk about connecting with your own children through sports. How was your experience as a dad shaped by the way your father brought you up?
Chet: I had no clue about how to be a father. I mean I was lost, yet there was one move I made that smacked of common sense. I loved sipping Red Label scotch in juke joints. I was never an alcoholic but by my early 30’s I was just slopping up the sauce far too much. So when my daughter Lyndsey arrived I made a pledge: I swore my children would never see me as tanked as I saw my parents virtually every night. I didn’t read any books on parenting I just tried to be responsive and comforting. I am blessed. Lynds and my son Tyler are great kids with big hearts. I chose to raise them in the city for several reasons: I wanted them to know that the white race wasn’t the only race and I felt that growing up in the big town would make them more aggressive. Have I been a good father, a new age Ozzie Nelson? Ask the official scorer. I do know that I feel blue ribbon pride that I never got a call from a cop, a school principal or a ticked off parent screaming that either of my little ones was a danger society. I can never thank Ty and Lyndsey enough. They taught me there was life beyond the red zone and the bullpen. Oh ya, I made good on my pledge, I haven’t drank in 34 years. No kidding.
Q: There are so many great sports stories in this book. Of all the people you’ve met (and you’ve met them all), what sports stars impressed you the most–not for what they accomplished on the field, but for the way they carried themselves off of it?
Chet: Along the way I have been blessed to meet so many wonderful people, talented athletes who also were blessed with class.
Bill Walton is a guy I just adore, a standup guy who somehow made the transition from flower power, peace and love and the Grateful Dead to three button suits. I admire Bill’s honesty and candor. He never dodges a question.
Bobby Unser, a rogue, a stand-on-it race car driver. A guy who set and defined his own rules while winning Indy three times. Bobby would wrestle a rattle snake if you challenged him. Add 50 pounds to his pencil thin frame and Bobby could have been Dick Butkus.
Oscar Robertson, was like a big brother to 22 year old Chet Coppock when I was producing the Milwaukee Bucks radio network. He fought like hell for loose balls and he put his neck on the line to help pro hoops players gain free agency. “O” is what every man should be: honest with others, honest to himself.
“Macho Man” Randy Savage was a trip to the fun house. Macho was a remarkably intelligent man who understood how to work a crowd better than any other grappler I have ever seen. I treasured our friendship. His untimely death still hurts me. Randy spent far too much time carrying Hulk Hogan, or in plain English making the one dimensional “Hulkster” look good. Trust me, that was hard work.
Joe Theismann is in love with one guy – Joe Theismann. However, when Joe and I met at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway back in 1977, something clicked between the two of us. A BFF moment? Maybe. I just admire Joe because he won’t hesitate to come down on the NFL; he is perfectly willing to bite the hand that has fed him since he left Notre Dame.
Norm Van Lier. Yes, the Dutchman was conflicted and at times flat out mad at the world. But his heart was warm – caring and loving. Dutch and I were got rock ‘n roll freaks. He always referred to Led Zepplin as “my boys.” Just hanging out with the “Storm” was a guaranteed session of belly laughs. I have NEVER met a greater competitor. Greater players, yes. Guys who would rip out your lungs with a switch blade, no.
An all bum’s list. We haven’t got enough time. Let’s just say that Will Clark and Bill Laimbeer are co-captains.
Q: The whole wrestling world influenced you greatly. Talk about how being involved in that world made you into the showman you became.
Chet: Chet Coppock and wrestling were made for each other. The color, the pageantry and boos resonated with me when I was seven or eight years old. On two occasions I almost joined the matworld full time. In 1970, grappling legend Verne Gagne pitched me on becoming a “manager.” The gimmick was simple, marks would be glad to see a guy my size pummeled by a fella seven inches shorter than I am. I looked the other way but in 1988, I damn near hooked up with Vince McMahon on a full time basis. I had been ring announcing for Vince while Mac was looking for a new TV announcer. The two of us began to talk – seriously. The gig would have positioned me as the stable’s number one announcer. I really twisted with the McMahon offer. He was offering tremendous money but I finally said no. One, the Loop AM 1000 was flourishing, and two I just didn’t think I’d find life fulfilling hustling guys like The Iron Sheik or the Ultimate Warrior in my 60’s. Ya, I’ll always wonder…
Q: You actually wrestled a bear once. A real live bear. That’s such a great story, and it’s in the book. Could you give us the Reader’s Digest version of that story?
Chet: Who wouldn’t want to wrestle a bear? When I was sportscasting in Indy in the mid 70’s, the Pacers booked an appearance by Victor the Bear. The club asked if I would trade choke holds with Victor. I leaped at the chance with several hooks: 1, I insisted that I be the last guy to face Victor…2, I wanted to lose within 15 seconds so that I could “complain” about Victor’s illegal tactics. The crowd loved the act as did Julius Erving. The Doc was facing the Pacers that night and was hip enough to see what I was orchestrating. I wrestled Victor three times and would happily do it again – any time, any place.
Q: Any (Chicago) Bears fan will have to get a copy of the book. You have literally had a front row seat to everything that has happened at Soldier Field (and Wrigley before that) for over 50 years, and you tell some memorable tales about those days.
Chet: Yes, I was in the house at Cubs Park December 29, 1963 when the Bears kicked the Giants 14-10 to win an NFL title. Of course I was in the bayou in January, 1986 when the Bears blew out New England 46-10 to gift wrap a title for Michael Kellar Ditka. Great memories? Hell yes but this may throw you a back door curve ball. My memories of attending training camp with the Bears in the mid 50’s seem far more special.
My old man, the Bears largest season ticket holder, used to wheel me down to the cornfields in the mid 1950’s to see the Bears, his club, his passion; my heroes. Dad wasn’t going to attend a Cubs Scout meeting or a recital with me but he did have a game plan in mind for his son. He used his clout with pals like George Halas and Jack Brickhouse to set up a pre-teen to see sports from an angle people could only dream about. How did 10 year old Chet Coppock react to sitting three feet away from THE Mickey Mantle while the Mick was being interviewed by Brick at old Sox Park? Try stunned mixed with bemused. How about dinner with dad, Pete Rozelle and George Halas when I was 14? You’re on to it. Dad wanted his kid to be a sportscaster, a big name. If you know why feel free to write me.
Anyway, this violates the sportscasters code but I do root for the Bears, though assorted cretins like Cade McNown and Jay Cutler can challenge your loyalty to the brand. God, I miss Bears games at Cubs Park. The noise level was overwhelming while the seating proximity to the field made the atmosphere so intimate. Oh what I would give to see Halas on the west side of the field with Vince Lombardi on the east side. I still miss covering the ‘85 Bears. It saddens me that so many guys off that title club wage war with physical trauma and mental deterioration. The bottom line: my old man wanted his kid to be a book of knowledge on sports. School work? That was in the back of the bus.
Q: My personal favorite section of the book is the part about boxing. You’ve got great stories about Foreman, Frazier, Mike Tyson and more. Who was your boxing hero?
Chet: Boxers are the most underfed and maligned athletes in the world. I love the sport. When two great fighters meet they wanna kill each other’s but they share a bond, an unspoken bond that says, “The audience thinks they know boxing but the fact is very few people know the heart, guts and tolerance the ring requires.” Joe Frazier will always be my boxing hero. Joe never took a step back. He was more than willing to absorb three punches to land his patented left hook. Muhammad Ali was cruel to Joe. The taunts declaring Frazier ugly and a gorilla hurt. You must realize that Muhammad’s legacy was primarily due to his brutal three fight series with Smokin’ Joe. Joe, I love you…always will.
Q: I think it’s arguable that you are a misunderstood sports figure. People who read your book might be surprised to see the words don’t really match their image of who you are.
Chet: I have always felt that Chet Coppock was misunderstood, much of that by my own design. My broadcast heros were all conventional story tellers and great ad libbers. Jack Brickhouse, Blackhawks voice Lloyd Petit and Bruce Roberts. (Photo: Chet with Kup and Brickhouse) I worshipped them. Jack was like a second father. However, I knew by age 13 or 14 that I was going to be a peck’s bad boy – a guy you love to hate. Certainly, having no siblings and two parents who were terrible drinkers enhanced my craving for attention. My days as a roller derby announcer further cemented my role as a villain. However, I take pride in my work as a journalist, work that earned me the Jack Brickhouse lifetime achievement award. As I grew I morphed into a guy who was basically teasing the audience. The bodacious sound bites, the outrageous commentary…in many regards I’ve been an act, a guy who between the lines has told his viewers/listeners cheer me or jeer me but understand I hope you know that half the time I’m kidding you. I can live with myself…that’s really all that matters, right?
Q: You aren’t currently working full time in the media these days. Do you consider yourself retired, or would you like one more crack behind the mic on a regular basis? If so, what kind of show would you like to do?
Chet: The word “Retirement” scares me. I just don’t want to wear white shoes with a white belt and build my day around the early bird at a family restaurant. I hav done a great deal of writing the past five years. Additionally, I have a wonderful gig with the Blackhawks emceeing corporate banquets. Every time I work with Bobby Hull my brain does a crisp 180. Bobby was my idol in 1960, now 58 years later we swap ad libs at banquets. I also do a fair share of speaking engagements. Somehow, my calendar is always busy. Would I like to swing the bat one more time as a sports talk host? Damn right. I’ve never worked with a partner but if I did I’d like to work with a crusty female willing to tell me I’m nuts. The lights are dim but not dark. I will be back. Bet the rent.
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