Remembering the Royals old

The Royals were born in Rochester, New York in the mid 1940's and were original members of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team peaked in 1951 when they made it to the NBA Championship to battle the New York Nicks. It was a sensational series with the Royals winning the first three games, then losing the next three. Game seven saw classic basketball with the Nicks fighting back from a 16 point deficit. With only 40 seconds left on the game clock and the score tied, Royals star, Bob Davies was fouled and subsequently sank two free throws. The Royals prevailed 79-75 and were crowned NBA Champions. Unfortunately, the Royals of Rochester never achieved financial success and the NBA pressured Royal's ownership to relocate to a larger city.  Jack Twyman, a Royals player and former University of Cincinnati star suggested a move to Cincinnati. 

In 1957 the Royals migrated west to the Queen City and took up residence in the Cincinnati Gardens. Royals stars Marice Stokes and Jack Twyman led Cincinnati to the playoffs during their inaugural season. However, tragedy struck during the final regular season game in Minneapolis when Stokes fell and hit his head on the hardwood floor. The result was a traumatic brain injury that left Stokes a quadriplegic and without the ability to speak. The Royals struggled for the next two years finishing last place in their division. 

University of Cincinnati star Oscar Robertson joined the Royals in 1960 and immediately made a positive impact on the team. In 1961 he was named NBA Rookie of the year. The "Big O" was a one man wonder, a superstar on the hardwood. He became the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season, with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists. Robertson still holds the NBA record for triple doubles in regular season games with an amazing 181. Compare that with Magic Johnson's 138 and Wilt Chamberlain's 78. In 1964 the "Big O" was named most valuable player in the NBA. 

Jack Twyman, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas

The Royals improved further when Middletown High School and Ohio State University star Jerry Lucas joined the team in 1963. He became a top rebounder and in the 1963/64 season, Lucas recorded four 30-rebound games, including a 40-rebound game on February 29, 1964. Lucas is still today the only NBA forward with a 40-rebound game.  

The years 1961-1966 were prime-time for the Cincinnati Royals. They had a winning record in each of those five seasons and made it to the playoffs. Furthermore, in 1963 and 1964 the Royals reached the East finals, but couldn't beat Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics dynasty.  

A crowning moment for the Cincinnati Royals came on January 11, 1966 when the Cincinnati Gardens hosted the NBA All star game. It was a nationally televised event with the East versus the West; Red Auerbach coached the East and Fred Schaus, the West. Much of the game focused around Cincinnati's previously named All-Stars; Oscar Robertson, the All-Star MVP in 1964, and Jerry Lucas the All-Star MVP in 1965. Both Robertson and Lucas played for the East along with their Royal's teammate Adrian Smith, who Red Auerbach named as a reserve player. All Star players for the East also included the legendary Wilt Chamberlain, John Havlicek and Bill Russell. The Cincinnati crowd of 13,653 rallied behind the East who won handily 137 to 94. Adrian Smith of the Royals scored 24 points for the East and was named the Most Valuable Player for 1966. The NBA recognized his performance by rewarding him with a Ford Galaxie 500 convertible. 

After 1966, it was mostly downhill for the Royals. It was season after season that ended with a losing record. Jack Twyman retired in 1966, Jerry Lucas was traded to San Francisco in 1969 and in 1970 the Big O was sent to Milwaukee.  Professional basketball and the NBA was growing, but attendance in Cincinnati was on the decline. The NBA signed a network television contract with ABC and there was a move of teams to larger markets. The Royals, who were losing money, were courted by other cities who promised new public funded arenas and hefty profits.  In March of 1972 Royals owners announced that the team would move to Kansas City. Shortly thereafter on March 23, 1972, the Cincinnati Royals won their final game against the Baltimore Bullets 132- 114 before a Gardens crowd of 4,022 and said good bye to the Queen City. 

The Royals, renamed the Kings, played in Kansas City until 1985. From there they moved to Sacramento California. The Sacramento Kings continue the Royal tradition, but an NBA championship has eluded them.  In retrospect, Cincinnati, like Rochester, was a step along the way for the NBA and professional basketball. The Royals played in Cincinnati when the game of professional basketball was coming of age.  The Gardens fit like a royal glove and locals had the good fortune and pleasure to watch hall of famers Jack Twyman, Jerry Lucas and one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Oscar Robertson. It was fun while it lasted and memories will forever remain etched in the history of the Queen City.

1966 NBA ALL STAR GAME HIGHLIGHTS                                                                                                                                   Talking about 1966 All Star MVP, Adrian Smith  



Share your memories of the Royals at the Cincinnati Gardens.  Email: dwittkamp@cinci.rr.com                                                                                        

House of Hockey old

The Cincinnati Garden was born at the ready to serve popcorn, hot dogs and hockey. Its major backers included wealthy concessionaire Louis Jacobs of Buffalo, NY and unnamed Canadians with business and hockey interests. They modeled the new Garden in Cincinnati after the Maple Leaf Gardens, the famous hockey cathedral in Toronto and named Frank Selke, a successful hockey executive as Cincy's General Manager. Selke had boundless energy and for two decades was a driving force in the success of the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs. There was little doubt of Selke's intention to turn the Queen City into a hockey town. 

On February 22, 1949, grand opening night, the first event at the Garden was of course, a hockey game. A packed house at the Garden ate popcorn and hotdogs as they watched an exhibition between the Montreal Canadians of the National Hockey League and the Dallas Texans, a group of players who would form the nucleus of a new hockey club coming to Cincinnati. It was a momentous night and a great beginning for Cincinnati's hockey barn.

The Cincinnati Mohawks

Cincinnati's first professional hockey team was affiliated with the Montreal Canadians of the NHL. The team premiered in the American Hockey League in October, 1949 playing in the western division against regional rivals; the Cleveland Barons, the Indianapolis Capitals, the St. Louis Flyers and the Pittsburgh Hornets. They skated their first game at the Garden unnamed with players baring question marks on their jersey's. That soon ended when the winner of a fan contest named the upstart club "The Cincinnati Mohawks. Frank Selke brought to town a retired hockey veteran to manage the Mohawks. Francis "King" Clancy lacked management experience, but took the position as a favor to Frank, who he said always treated him well. Frank gave Clancy a two year contract. Clancy did his best, but the Mohawks ended both seasons in last place. When his contract wasn't renewed King was hired by Conn Smythe, legendary owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs to manage their affiliate, the AHL Pittsburgh Hornets. There, Clancy led the Hornets to victory and the Calder Cup. Season 3 for the AHL Mohawks was another disappointment. Although they improved to a third place finish, it was a losing season and fan support was dismal. By season's end, financial conditions were such that the three year old hockey club folded. Professional Hockey was seemingly done for at the Gardens. But it wasn't over - quickly, private investors organized and funded a new hockey club they named the Cincinnati Mohawks; new team, same name. By October, the Mohawks were again skating on Garden ice, this time in the International Hockey League.

From the get go, the new Mohawk's hockey club dominated the International League. They benefited by their affiliation with the Montreal Canadians who had an extensive farm system. The Mohawk's ruled the Garden ice against competitors like the Troy Bruins, Fort Wayne Komets, Toledo Mercurys and the Grand Rapid's Rockets. Their strength was such that they have been called the greatest minor league hockey team of all-time. Between 1952 and 1958 the Mohawks finished first in the International Hockey League all six seasons and won the Turner Cup Championship five years in a row. NHL notables skating for the Mohawks included Paul Bibeault, Don Marshall and Phil Goyette. 

In June of 1958, to the surprise of many, the Cincinnati Mohawks folded for a second time. It was reported that the Mohawks cost the Gardens an estimated $250,000 over the nine years of operation. Garden executive Thomas Grace told the Cincinnati Enquirer that despite winning six straight championships, the team has been a loser at the gate. "We have a hard core of very loyal hockey fans, but there just aren't enough of them," Grace said. He added that he would like to see Cincinnati in a league of major cities with major playing arenas, which would be feasible from a travel standpoint. "We are not giving up on hockey. What we're doing is giving up hockey in its present status."

Cincinnati Swords

It was a dozen years before another professional hockey opportunity presented itself to the Gardens. The National Hockey League expanded to Buffalo, NY in 1971 and the Cincinnati Swords were formed to serve as a farm club for the NHL Buffalo Sabres. The Swords played in the American Hockey League and skated the Gardens ice from 1971- 1974. The team was outstanding, posting a winning record all three years. In 1973 they dominated the league with a record of 54-17-5 winning the AHL Championship and the Calder Cup. Although attendance at the Gardens was mediocre, the Swords had a loyal fan base and were popular with the media. Their success helped fuel efforts to bring major league hockey to Cincinnati. In 1972, the Swords went so far as to participate in a "We're Ready" promotion led by a group co-chaired by William Dewitt, Jr and Brian Heekin. That group was awarded a franchise by the World Hockey Association in 1975 and they formed the Cincinnati Stingers. The Stingers debuted at Cincinnati's new Riverfront Coliseum and ironically spelled the end for the AHL Swords and professional hockey at the Gardens.

Cincinnati Cyclones

The Stingers left town in 1980 and the Queen City was a decade without a professional hockey team until a group headed by Knoxville businessman Doug Kirchhofer, brought the Cincinnati Cyclones to town. The Clones began skating on Gardens ice in the fall of 1990 playing in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). From the beginning the Cyclones had a winning combination of victories on the ice and fans in the stands. They made the play-off's their first year with a record of 37-24. Attendance averaged an impressive 7,696. The Clones marketed their product well, creating an enjoyable fan experience. In their second season the Cyclones continued winning making the semi finals in post season play. Gardens attendance averaged a league high 9,473. In 1992 the team moved to the International Hockey League and experienced their first losing season winning only 27 of 82 games. The Cyclones bounced back the following year and fan support remained strong, In the 1995/96 season the Clones had nine sellouts of the Gardens. Hockey players come and go, but over the years fans at the Gardens became accustomed to watching regulars like Don Biggs, Chris Chchocki, Jeff Greenlaw and Paul Lawless. 

In 1997, the Cyclones lease was up at the Gardens and Clones owner, Doug Kirchhofer, saw as an opportunity. Looking to build on the Cyclone's success he formed a group, Cincinnati Entertainment Associates that acquired the 17,000 seat, Riverfront Coliseum. The purchase included a 14 million dollar renovation and renaming the arena "The Crown." Kirchhofer further announced that the Cincinnati Cyclones would make the Crown their new home. After seven exciting, memorable and entertaining seasons at the Gardens, the Cyclones packed up and left.

Cincinnati Mighty Ducks

When the Cyclones vacated, Gardens owner, Jerry Robinson had but one choice; he scrambled and within months hatched the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey league. The Ducks, affiliates of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim made their Gardens launch on October 5, 1997, facing off against the Kentucky Thoroughblades. That same evening the Cincinnati Cyclones premiered at the newly named Crown, officially making Cincinnati a two-team hockey town. John Erardi of the Cincinnati Enquirer called it "Ice Wars."  He described the night as the beginning of a battle between facilities, teams and team owners to determine who would attract sufficient fans to remain in business. Would it be the Crown or the Gardens? The Cyclones or the Ducks? Doug Kirchhofer or Jerry Robinson? Opinions differed, but there was unanimous agreement that there would be only one winner. Jerry Robinson predicted the Gardens and the Mighty Ducks would be victors in two years. Doug Kirchhofer said he could not envision a scenario where the Clones would lose and said the battle would continue as long as Jerry wants it to. 

The Mighty Ducks under direction of club President Peter Robinson nestled into their home at the Gardens. Over their first three years the team struggled on the ice finishing each season with a losing record, but they played aggressive hockey and provided fans at the Gardens an entertaining hockey experience. In their fourth season under coach Mike Babcock the Ducks improved, winning 41 games. 

In 2001 the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks became winners of the Ice War when the Cyclones folded. Doug Kirchhofer's decision to move the Cyclones to the Cincinnati's riverfront proved disastrous. The Crown, renamed the US Bank Arena filed for bankruptcy and was sold. Doug Kirchhofer left the Queen City and returned home to Tennessee.

The Mighty Ducks ruled the Gardens ice for another four years. During their eight seasons at the Gardens they averaged a respectable 5,000 fans per game. 2005 spelled the end of professional hockey at the Gardens when the Ducks lost their NHL affiliation and Jerry Robinson opted not to secure a replacement team.

Share your memories of hockey at the Cincinnati Gardens.  Email: dwittkamp@cinci.rr.com  

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The Gardens was the best place to watch a hockey game. Especially on dollar dog and dollar beer night.  The Cyclones especially had that place rocking. The Mighty Ducks not so much, but they played a higher level of hockey than the Cyclones. The US Bank Arena or whatever they're calling it these days is a lousy place to watch a hockey game. Ohiogirl81 2016

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The Cincinnati Gardens was where I discovered hockey in person after watching it on NBC. I fell in love with the Cincinnati Swords in the early to mid 1970s. I learned to play hockey thanks to Hap Myers and John Gould, who were Swords players and ran a hockey school. John was the coolest guy, he spent so much time with me on the ice 1 on 1, Rick Dudley was another player I got to know who tossed me pucks a few times (Duds is now an exec with the Montreal Canadiens.) We never missed a game--we were even there the night of the April 3 tornadoes in 1974 when one was chewing Elmwood Place up a few blocks away. What a great place for a 10-year old kid to grow up in...great days watching the Swords and playing games in both the main arena and annex all the way through high school. I'll miss that barn. Cyclingwriter 2016 

Fight Nights

Cincinnati has a long, rich boxing heritage and is renowned as a boxing mecca. It's gyms have cultivated scores of talented fighters and numerous world champions, many of whom battled in the Gardens ring. Over the years the Gardens hosted amateur competitions, tournaments and 34 professional boxing dates. Champions like Ezzard Charles, Wallace Bud Smith,Tony Tubbs, Aaron Pryor and Tommy Ayers are among the Gardens memorable.

Fights Remembered 

1949 - During the Gardens opening week 14,000 watched two Woodward High School alums put on winning performances. Newbie lightweight professional Wallace Bud Smith won his third professional fight and Ezzard Charles, the Cincinnati Cobra, beat Cleveland's Joey Maxim in the featured heavyweight bout. Here's what the Cincinnati Enquirer said about the night: 

Ezzard Charles

Nothing came close to the excitement in the new arena when Cincinnatian Ezzard Charles fought Clevelander Joey Maxim in a 15-round bout to determine who would fight Joe Louis for the heavyweight title in the summer. It was a mixed, integrated crowd of blacks and whites. Most everybody was dressed in jackets and ties; the ladies were in their Sunday finest. The Cotton Club crowd was here; so was the gambling crowd from Newport, Ky. High up in the 14,000-seat Garden sat Buddy LaRosa, who had recently graduated from Roger Bacon High School and was thinking about going off soon to join the U.S. Navy. Ringside sat Robert Elkus and his brother,Gene, sons of the late Max Elkus, of Max's Clothes on the West End, where Ezzard had worked since he was 15 years old. Cincinnatian DeHart Hubbard, who worked for the city recreation commission and was the first African-American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event (long jump, 1924, Paris) had brought Ezzard into the store one day. Max's was one of the few fine clothing stores in town where African-Americans were free to browse and shop and try on clothes. Also ringside was Christmas, Ezzard's secretary. They all marveled at the wondrous new building. The Elkuses and Christmas had been all over the country with Charles, but this place was as good or better than any of them. Hadn't even the sportswriters from New York said the same thing in the morning paper? “The New York Garden (Madison Square) may handle a few more thousand people, but it is nowhere near as fine an arena as this,” Al Buck and Ed Van Avery had said. “All the seats are good here.” John Erardi, The Cincinnati Enquirer 2/21/1999


1950 - December 5.  Ezzard Charles returned to the Gardens as the Heavyweight Champion of the World.To the delight of the mostly local crowd of 10,000, he KO'd New Yorker, Nick Barone in the eleventh round.

1955 - March 29. Veteran boxer Sugar Ray Robinson came to town to fight Johnny Lombardo of Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania as witnessed by a crowd of 5,124. Robinson, a former welterweight and middleweight champion of the world won a split ten-round decision. According to the Associated Press, Robinson, who had been boxing professionally since 1940, showed only an occasional flash of his one-time speed and hitting ability. Lombardo disagreed. "He was so fast, I didn't see his punches."

1955 -  October 19. Wallace Bud Smith returned to the Gardens as World Lightweight Champion after taking the crown in a spit decision from Jimmy Carter earlier in the year at the Boston Garden.  That 15 round fight was said to be one of the most brutal in history.  Carter demanded a rematch and due to a clause in his contract, Smith obliged.  Wallace Bud Smith again prevailed, but it took another hard fought 15 rounds for him to retained his crown.

1962 - March 29.  The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that The National Senior Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Boxing Championships opened a three-day stand at the Cincinnati Gardens. Close to 200 boxers representing the amateur crop were registered to fight. This large number of boxers required officials to run  as many as 40 bouts in each of the opening sessions.  Two rings ran bouts simultaneously.  The National AAU Team Title was at stake.  Local contenders included National Golden Glove champions George Foster and Billy  Joiner.

1978  - March 10. Aaron Pryor, The Hawk, undefeated with 14 wins made his debut at the Gardens as a professional. He knocked down Al Franklin three times in the third-round for a TKO and win number 15.  

1979 - June 23. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Aaron Pryor dispatched Jose Fernandez with a right uppercut in a 45-second fight at Cincinnati Gardens. Pryor might have made shorter work of his opponent, but he had promised Enquirer photographer Michael Keating the knockout would come in the cameraman's corner.

1980 - June 20.   Another KO by Aaron Pryor, who has become one of the most intimidating fighters of all time. The Hawk finished Carl Crowley in the first round at 2:15. Pryor's next opponent was Antonio Cervantes in August at Riverfront Coliseum.  The Hawk KO'd the Columbian in round-four to become the WBA Junior Welterweight Champion.

1983 - February 25.Undefeated Tommy Ayers KO'd his opponent in the second round scoring his 18th win and Cincinnati Heavyweight Tony TNT Tubbs, undefeated, beat his man by a TKO in round 7. Two year later Tubbs beat Greg Page to win the World Boxing Association Heavyweight Title.      1984 - September 22. Tommy Ayers at 24-1 with a #4 ranking coming off his first loss Ayers took on a formidable foe Roger Stafford

1990 - April 28. Buddy LaRosa, Rollie Schwartz and Phil Smith brought the regional Golden Glove championships to the Gardens. The winners of the 12 weight divisions moved on to fight for the National championship.  Amazingly, three Cincinnati boxers became 1990 National Golden Glove Champs;  Tim Austin, flyweight, Ravea Springs, light middleweight and Larry Donald, super heavyweight.  1990 was a great year for Cincinnati amateur boxers.  

2002 - February 24.  Famed Olympian, turned pro, Ricardo Williams Jr., a product of Taft High School was headliner for the ESPN2's Super Brawl Sunday held at the Gardens.  At 6 and 0 with 5 KO's it took Williams the full 10 rounds to win by unanimous decision over a determined Anthony Washington.  Locals, Stephen Pryor and John Rudolph also won their matches.

2008 - August 30.  A crowd of 6,000 came to the Gardens for former heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster's comeback fight against Danny Batchelder.  Brewster won with a fifth-round knockout. The undercard included local favorites, middleweight  Aaron Pryor Jr. and lightweight Adrien Bronner who both won their matches.  Pryor Jr. won by TKO in round three and Bronner,in his 2nd professional fight showed great promise with a 1st round knock-out, a TKO of David Warren Huffman at 1:20. This night the bell tolled for the last time as it was the finale for boxing at the Cincinnati Gardens.   

Gardens Grapplers old

The Cincinnati Garden opened during the first Golden Age of professional wrestling, a time when Gorgeous George was a national phenomenon and people honestly debated whether or not wrestling was a sport.  The exploding growth of television propelled the popularity of pro wrestling and once WCPO and WLWT TV began studio production and broadcast of local wrestling shows, no longer would Music Hall or Parkway arena satisfy the local demand for live action.  The new Garden fit the bill and during its first month of operation  hosted two wrestling shows. Attendance was a meager 810 for the first show, an NWA World Heavyweight Title Match, but two weeks later 4,500 came to a Thursday night show and watched The Great Bolo, Al Lovelock and Lou Thesz win the night.

Locally, wrestling was supervised by the Cincinnati Boxing and Wrestling Commission.  As  pro wrestling evolved, the commission wasn't at all prepared for the antics and escapades of the promoters and the men and women grapplers they employed.  Referee's were roughed up, wrestlers fined and sometimes suspended. At one point the commission considered a complete ban on women's matches. City politics and behind the scenes drama was only surpassed by the theatre in the squared circle.

Promoter, Jim Barnett, played a major role in developing pro wrestling in Cincinnati when he met with Cincinnati Gardens General Manager, Alex Sinclair and Executive VP, Tom Grace.  He explained the success he was having with shows in other markets and sold them on his promotional ideas. Garden's management agreed to work with him and Barnett didn't let them down. The Garden's profited nicely from the arrangement and thanked Barnett who also acknowledged the importance of the WCPO wrestling show. Sinclair told the publication Wrestling Life, "We have to thank the televised studio wrestling every week for the big wrestling boom at the Gardens."

By1959 wrestling shows at the Gardens were so popular that the numbers of fans paying to watch favorite grapplers such as Cowboy Bob Ellis and Dick the Bruiser eclipsed those attending Cincinnati Royals basketball games.

Gardens favorites of the 60's and 70's included Flyin Fred Curry, Haystacks Calhoun, Andre The Giant, Bobo Brazil and The Sheik.  Cable TV ushered a new cast of characters to the Gardens in the 80's and 90's including Dusty Rhodes, Rick Rude, Rick Flair and Sting.  The last major wrestling show at the Gardens was November 7, 2013 and was broadcast on Spike TV.

Shows Remembered

1953 - May 16th. The third annual Crosley Tournament, sponsored by WLW Television set an attendance record at the Gardens.  The official count of 14,164, topped the prior record set by the Ezzard Charles/Joey Maxim fight. The event was so popular that thousands were turned away at the Garden's gate. The tournament was heavily promoted on WLW-TV which included broadcast of  weekly studio elimination matches. Interest grew steadily over a three month period as sixty participating grapplers were reduced to two finalists; Frankie Talaber and Buddy Rogers. They were the top of the card for show at the Garden's with the winner taking two of three falls. The tournament was televised live over WLW stations in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus and for the first time included lady wrestlers.

Nell Stewart from Arkansas and Ida May Martinez of Mexico topped the women's card. When the bell rang, the enthusiastic crowd watched a hard fought battle eventually won by Stewart, a southern beauty known as the Marilyn Monroe of Women's Wrestling. She won the last fall with a sleeper hold.

Action between the two heavyweights, Frankie Talaber and "Nature Boy," Buddy Roger was fast paced and began with Rogers drop kicking Talaber. The crowd went wild and Rogers ended up winning the first fall with a series of crotch and body lifts. The second fall went to Talaber by way of a grapevine leg scissors. In the end, Nature Boy, Rogers won the men's title taking the third fall by default after Talaber twisted his leg. Both Champions, Buddy Rogers and Nell Stewart were awarded a trophy, a sapphire studded belt and a cash purse; $3,000 to Rogers and $2,000 to Stewart.

1959 - March 7. Legendary promoter Jim Barnett drew a record wrestling crowd of 15,299 to the Garden's. The main event featured a tag team match with Yukon Eric and Wilbur Snyder besting Angelo Poffo and Bronko Lubich. Also on the card, Cowboy Bob Ellis defeated Baron Gattoni, Dick the Bruiser defeated Paul Bunyan, Johnny Weaver defeated Jack Allen and Shirley Strimple defeated Betty Hawkins. It was the fourth largest event in Garden's history.

1959 - April 25. A Saturday night crowd of 8,127 watched the tag team of Dick the Bruiser and Angelo Poffo defeat Yukon Eric and Wilbur Snyder. Ultimately Bruiser was the loser when during the match he leaped from the ring and pulled the wheelchair of a spectator, giving fans the impression that he might hurl the chunk of metal at his opponent. Catherine Brown, a polio victim said she suffered a bruised leg, fear and shock when she was bowled from her wheelchair. She filed a suit for $25,140 in damages against the Cincinnati Gardens, Jim Barnett, the promoter and Dick Afflis, aka Dick The Bruiser. She claimed Afflis is a person of uncontrolled temper and violence and the other defendants knew or should have known because he previously assaulted or threatened other spectators. The suit was settled out of court. Although the Bruiser apologized, the Cincinnati Boxing and Wrestling Commission revoked his license and suspended him indefinitely from making local appearances. In September, The Bruiser told the commission he had learned his lesson and his license was reinstated.

1961 - August 18. Buddy Rogers took the first and third falls from The Sheik to retain his recently-won NWA World Title. For many who were there, it was the first time they had seen The Sheik lose. Ironically, the attendance for this Friday night card was less than half of capacity. The card included grapplers Bobo Brazil, Johnny Barend and the tag team of brothers Art and Stan Neilson.

2013 - November 7.  TNAW Impact Wrestling took over the Gardens. This polished production for Spike TV saw full metal mayhem and featured Dixie and Ethan Carter III, Bad Influence, Aces and Eights. The woman's knockout match featured OBD, Brooke and Velvet Sky. Kurt Angle and Austin Aries faced off in the Heavyweight Quarter Final. Cincinnati Bengals players Dequin Evans and Pacman Jones joined a brawl against Bad Influence.