EDITOR’S NOTE: After more than 30 years publishing the Ring Around the Northwest newsletter, Mike Rodgers has written six wrestling books: Encyclopedia of Portland Wrestlers: From the House of Action; Ohhh Yeahhh: History of Hawaiian Wrestling; Katie Bar the Door!: History of Portland Wrestling; and three volumes of interviews, titled Excitement in the Air: The Voices of NW Wrestling.
His latest book, however, is about his so-called real life. Here’s the hype for Books, Balls, & Squirrel Paws: My 30 Years in Education:
Step into the classroom with Mike Rodgers, an educator whose three-decade journey brings together the funny, the heartfelt, and the timeless moments that define a life in teaching. From the final bell’s satisfying ring to the laughter that fills hallways, Mike’s stories capture the essence of school—a place where friendships bloom, memories are made, and the quirks of every unique teacher shape each student’s experience.
In Books, Balls, and Squirrel Paws, you’ll meet the memorable characters of Mike’s teaching life: the young, cool teacher every student wants to know, the quiet yet humorous mentor who inspires with ease, and the sweet, grandmotherly figure who finds a way to love each student just as they are. Through the eyes of a teacher, explore the joys, challenges, and quiet triumphs that make up a career devoted to education.
This collection is for anyone who’s ever set foot in a school, whether as a student or teacher. It’s a chance to recall your own school days, see how classrooms have evolved, and perhaps gain a newfound respect for the unsung heroes who shape lives one lesson at a time. Let these stories take you back—and give you a fresh look at the dedication and heart that go into teaching.
There are some wrestling connections in the series of short stories, of course, and Mike has allowed SlamWrestling.net to run an excerpt:
NOT MY HAIR!
One time, one of my schools held a school fundraiser. Usually, when schools raise money, school personnel do something as a reward.
I have seen the principals get taped to a wall, pies thrown in their faces, etc.
Now it is probably time to confess my other passion is Pro Wrestling. I have six books that I have written on Pro Wrestling.
In Pro Wrestling, one of the ultimate conclusions is for a wrestler to put up his hair.
With that in mind, it seemed like the only thing that I could do was offer my hair if the school earned X amount of dollars.
Of course, they earned the amount. I probably have to say, at this stage in my life and career, getting my head shaved was not a big deal, even to the students. It is not like I had a flowing mane of Fabio hair. My hair was pretty modest to begin with.
I stepped on the gym floor at an assembly to take my punishment. They had sent us a 5th grader with some clippers that must have cost a quarter at a garage sale.
The 5th grader took the clippers and started. He dug a few trenches in my head until the staff member supervising told him, “Wait until we turn it on.”
Finally, the clippers were turned on and it didn’t get much better. I started saying profound things like, “Let the clippers do the work,” “Am I bleeding?”, and “That is just a little too hard.”
I lost the hair match and was a bald as a cue ball. This was better than the dunk tank, but not by much.
Left on the cutting room floor from Books, Balls, & Squirrel Paws was this wrestling-related story:
CUTTING A PROMO
Teaching gives you the perfect opportunity to practice your interview promo ability.
What other job is it accepted where you can just go off on someone, feeling like your are channeling your best Roddy Piper?
One time I cut a promo on a young lad named Jackson who had barely done anything wrong, but I jumped at my chance. The key to the whole promo was his name! Buddy Wayne would have been very proud!
“Jackson, just what do you think you’re doing? You are in big trouble with me, Jackson.”
“We are going to go round and round, and you are not going to be happy with the way this all turns out, Jackson.”
“Jackson, you had better get out of my room right now and I better never catch you doing that again, Jackson.”
Jackson looked at me like I had gone berserk.
I’m like, “I should have fit one more Jackson in there.”
RELATED LINKS
- Buy Books, Balls, & Squirrel Paws: My 30 Years in Education at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca
- SlamWrestling Master Book List
- More Mike Rodgers on SlamWrestling.net
