2008 Woodie Awards
Wrestling his way into the history books
James Wong rubs shoulders with the fighting famous
Diana Diroy
Date created: 9/27/04 Section: FEATURES
 Skyline history professor James Wong (left) has rubbed shoulders with many of professional wrestling´s best, including Hulk Hogan. |
Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage, The Rock, the late Owen Hart, Oscar de la Jolla, George Foreman, Felix Trinidad. The list goes on and on. What do these wrestlers and boxers have in common besides being fighters in the ring? They have all had the pleasure of meeting James Wong.
Known to many students as simply a history teacher at Skyline College, few know that he has a bit more history of his own to share.
When Wong isn't in class or in his office correcting tests, he is an official inspector for the California State Athletic Commission and has been for the past 24 years. This job entails weighing boxers and wrestlers, checking contracts with their promoters, making sure they get paid, that the rules are being followed and that everything is fair and safe.
Through such a profession, Wong has found countless opportunities in meeting famous athletic personalities. He doesn't just do the routine inspection without talking to these athletes, but really gets to know them and their families.
"The Hulk and Owen Hart always stood out," Wong said. "The Hulk always took time out to talk to me." He also recalled a time when watching matches in the backroom while sharing popcorn with the late Owen Hart. Wong described Hart as, "very calm, soft-spoken, and genuinely nice."
A lot of people may think that wrestling is scripted and fake, but according to Wong, "the work they do is hard. I see real injuries. And they're big guys, they don't fake it."
The worst scenario that happened to Wong was when a boxer died in the ring. His name was Rico Velasquez, and during the fatal match became brain dead in the ring and was later taken off life support. Wong described the event as, "the most pivotal moment in my career. It impacted me the most."
Still, Wong does not stop himself from encouraging these fighters, young boxers especially, to go to school.
"Boxing is a tough game and to live only by boxing is hard," Wong said. After seeing a beginner boxer after three years, "sometimes I don't even recognize them." He explains that it's not just how they look physically, but the blows to their heads make them slur their words and speak differently. So Wong encourages these young men to make their money boxing, save it, and use it to fall back on, but also try to attend vocational school.
