Lifetime Achievement Award

STEVE SIMONS – WPAA/AUSA – SPORTS & BUSINESS MODEL – IMPLEMENTATION

1974 AT AGE 30 I LEFT THE INVESTMENT BANKING INDUSTRY TO FORM STEVE SIMONS PRODUCTIONS. THE WORLD PROFESSIONAL ARMWRESTLING ASSOCIATION WAS MY FIRST COMPANY FOR OUR PORTFOLIO OF EVENTS.

BUSCH GARDENS WAS SOLD THE FIRST WPAA EVENT – HELD DECEMBER 28, 1974. THE COMPETITION WAS HELD ON A HYBRID TABLE UTILIZING PEGS FOR THE LEFT ARM.

FROM AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN TENNIS -THE WPAA BUSINESS MODEL WAS SIMILAR TO THE USTA – REGIONAL EVENTS CULMINATING WITH A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

AFTER BUSCH’S ACCEPTANCE I FLEW TO NEW YORK AND SOLD THE RIGHTS TO THE CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR. 

OVER 250 COMPETITORS PARTICIPATED AT THE INAGURAL EVENT. CBS WAS UNABLE TO BROADCAST THE EVENT DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE WPAA WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE RIGHTS FEE AND WE WERE ABLE TO JUMP-START OUR COMPANY.

ONE YEAR LATER WE WERE ABLE TO SANCTION THE NFL PLAYERS ARMWRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE HALF-TIME OF FOOTBALL GAMES GENERATING GREAT EXPOSURE FOR THE WPAA. IT WAS A WONDERFUL DECISION AS I OFFERED OUR SANCTION FOR $1.00 !! WE WERE OFF TO THE RACES.

FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS WE CONSENTRATED ON GRAND FINALE’S. OUR 1975 & 1976 RIGHTS WERE SOLD TO SCHLITZ. MY FRIEND WILLIE DAVIS (FORMER ALL PRO WITH THE GREEN BAY PACKERS) WAS THE MARKETING MANAGER AND LOVED OUR PRODUCT. AGAIN BOTH THOSE EVENTS DREW OVER 200 COMPETITORS.

IN 1976 THE WPAA DEVELOPED A STANDARD TABLE WITH TWO PEGS TO TAKE AWAY THE INTERLOCKING GRIP (WRISTWRESTLING). WE SOLD THE RIGHTS TO THE JEFFREY BROTHERS WHO WERE SPONSORED BY CARROL ROSENBLOOM THE OWNER OF THE LOS ANGELES RAMS.

IN 1977 WE SOLD REGIONAL RIGHTS TO SIX FLAGS THEME PARKS. A GOOD PORTION OF OUR BUSINESS MODEL WAS NOW TAKING A GIANT STEP. THE PARKS ADVERTISED OUR EVENTS AND TELEVISION, NEWSPAPERS AND RADIO NOW BECAME AN ACTIVE VEHICLE.

WE INITIATED A BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM THE ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS INDUSTRIES. PITCHING EVENTS WITH FAMOUS NAMES ON OUR LETTERHEAD GAVE US INSTANT CREDIBILITY.

“STRONG ARMS COMPETE SO WEAK LEGS CAN WALK” WAS CREATED TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE JERRY LEWIS MUSCULAR DISTROPHY TELETHON. WE ADDED STP CORPORATION AS A SPONSOR AND RAISED OVER $100,000 FOR THE CHARITY.

IN THE LATE 70’S WE DEVELOPED A COLLAPSABLE TABLE FOR TRANSPORT ON PLANES AND FED-EX. IT WAS INSPIRED BY TRINI LOPEZ’S BAND MANAGER WHO SHIPPED ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT TO PERFORMANCES. OUR TABLES WERE EITHER AT THE EVENT PRIOR TO OUR DATE OR SHIPPED WITH US ON THE AIRPLANE.

AT EVERY WPAA EVENT MEDIA EXPOSURE WAS ENORMOUS. THE PHRASE “ARMWRESTLING IS 40% STRENGH – 40% TECHNIQUE AND 20% GUTS – WHO WANTS IT THE MOST” WAS DEVELOPED BY THE WPAA WITH TREMENDOUS MEDIA ACCEPTANCE.

CBS SIGNED A 3 YEAR DEAL WITH THE WPAA FOR 1977, 1978 & 1979.

THE WPAA CREATED THE CONCEPT OF BRINGING EACH CONTESTANT TO THE TABLE INTRODUCING THEM BY NAME, OCCUPATION AND WEIGHT. (UTILIZED IN THE FINAL SINGLE ELIMINATION ONLY). IT WAS A GREAT “FEEL GOOD” FOR CONTESTANTS.

1978 - THE WPAA CREATES A “BLOCKBUSTER” VENUE FOR EVENTS. THE CENTER COURT OF MAJOR SHOPPING MALLS. IT GAVE US YEAR-ROUND ABILITY TO HOLD EVENTS.

1978 - WPAA EXPANDS TO CANADA AND ENGLAND. EVENTS ARE TELEVISED BY CTV IN CANADA AND ITV IN LONDON.

CARLING O’KEEFE IN CANADA AND WATNEY MANN IN ENGLAND BECOME NATIONAL SPONSORS FOR WPAA EVENTS.

1979 - WORLDS OF FUN IN KANSAS CITY SIGNS A 4 YEAR DEAL FOR OUR FINALE. IT BRINGS OUR END OF THE YEAR CHAMPIONSHIP TO THE CENTER OF THE U.S. AND MORE AFFORDABLE TO COMPETITORS.

IN 1980 - THE WPAA SIGNS MIZLOU TV FOR SYNDICATION OF OUR GRAND FINALE. PLANS CALL FOR COVERAGE IN THE US, CANADA AND EUROPE.

WPAA IMPLEMENTS BRACKETS FOR ROUND ROBIN PRE-LIMS THAT CONVERT TO A SINGLE ELIMINATION FINALE.

WPAA DEVELOPS A ‘TWO GO START” TO HELP THE LOCAL REFEREES AND MAKE THE MATCHES MORE COMPETITIVE.

FROM 1974 THROUGH 1995 THE WPAA HAD PARTICIPATION FROM ALMOST EVERY TOP ARMWRESTLER AND INTRODUCED THE SPORT TO THOUSANDS OF NEW CONTESTANTS. 

THE WPAA OFFICIALLY LEFT THE ARMWRESTLING WORLD IN THE MID-1990’S.

ARMWRESTLING USA – AUSA - WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE LATE 1990’S. EVENTS ARE HELD TO THIS DAY AT STATE AND COUNTY FAIRS. COMPLETE WITH NATIONAL RANKINGS. HUNDREDS OF EVENTS HAVE BEEN HELD UNDER THE SAME PERAMETERS OF IT’S PRIOR COMPANY – THE WPAA. 

AUSA IS STILL ACTIVE TODAY. IT HAS A PORTFOLIO OF TOP STATE AND COUNTY FAIRS CULMINATING WITH A NATIONAL FINAL IN OCTOBER AT THE ARIZONA STATE FAIR.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT WPAA/AUSA HAS HELD FROM 960 – 1056 EVENTS IN 42 STATES (INCLUDING ALASKA, HAWAII AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS) – CANADA & EUROPE.

WE HOPE THAT HISTORY WILL SHOW THE WPAA MADE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON THE GROWTH OF THE SPORT OF ARMWRESTLING. AUSA CONTINUES TO BRING THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT OF OUR SPORT TO NEW GENERATIONS OF COMETITORS.

STEVEN SIMONS - BORN: JULY 24, 1944 IN CHICAGO, IL.

EARLY ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS:

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL AGE 10-12 – 2ND BASE & CENTER FIELD

STARTING GUARD ON HIGHWOOD LITTLE GUYS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

BASKETBALL TEAM – AGE 11.

AGE 12 -TOP SCORER ON HIGHWOOD LITTLE GUYS NATIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL TEAM – DEFEATED PUERTO RICO IN

NATIONAL FINALS – TRAVELLED TO PUERTO RICO AND WAS TOP SCORER

IN 3 EXIBITION GAMES.

STARTING RIGHT HALFBACK ON HIGHLAND PARK MIGHTY MIDGETS

FOOTBALL UNDEFEATED EIGHTH GRADE SEASON.

INTRODUCED TO TENNIS AT AGE 12 – IN 11 MONTHS BECAME A TOP 10

PLAYER IN THE CHICAGO AREA 13 & UNDER DIVISION.

HIGHLAND PARK HS – HIGHLAND PARK, IL.

FRESHMAN YEAR - BASKETBALL – FROSH/SOPH TRACK (HIGH JUMP) AND

# 1 PLAYER ON THE FROSH/SOPH TENNIS TEAM.

SOPHMORE YEAR – TRACK – WON THE SUBURBAN LEAGUE HIGH JUMP

TITLE – 5’6” – ONE INCH OVER MY HEAD. PLAYED #2 SINGLES ON THE

VARSITY TENNIS TEAM BEHIND ALL-STATE PLAYER GEORGE O’CONNELL.

JUNIOR YEAR – BROKE THE 20 YEAR OLD SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD RECORD IN THE HIGH JUMP- (6 FEET) A FULL 7” OVER MY HEAD. AS #1 PLAYER ON THE VARSITY TENNIS TEAM – WON THE REGIONAL SINGLES TITLE.

IN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS DEFEATED # 5 STATE RANKED PLAYER THAD FERGESON OF BLUE ISLAND & AURORA WEST’S DENNIS CONVERSE (CONFERENCE CHAMP) TO REACH THE FINAL 8 LOSING TO STATE CHAMP DAVE POWER FROM EVANSTON. EARNED "TOP-8" HONORS AS A JUNIOR. CALLED BY FORMER STATE CHAMP AND BIG TEN RUNNER-UP MIKE FIELD – HEAD PRO AT BIRCHWOOD C.C. “THE BEST ATHLETE HE HAS COACHED.”

SENIOR YEAR – WON THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS MEN’S SINGLES TITLE – YOUNGEST WINNER AT AGE 17. WON BOTH THE STATE JAYCEE DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP AND PRESTIGOUS RIVER FOREST DOUBLES TITLE. LISTED AS ONE OF THE TOP ILLINOIS RECRUITS BY TENNIS MAGIZINE. RECEIVED OFFERS FROM MORE THAN 15 DIVISION 1 SCHOOLS.

COLLEGE TENNIS

PLAYED FRESHMAN TENNIS AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY – NUMBER 2 PLAYER ON THE TEAM BEHIND ALL-AMERICAN DAVE POWER. TRANSFERED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ON A FULL SCHOLARSHIP. SAT OUT MY SOPHOMORE YEAR.

JUNIOR YEAR – PLAYED NUMBER 2 SINGLES (A FEW MATCHES AT #1) AND #1 DOUBLES WITH TOM BAUER (FORMER MASSACHUTES HS CHAMP) HELPED TO LEAD THE ILLINI TO A 15-5 RECORD. ELECTED CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM FOR MY FINAL YEAR.

SENIOR YEAR - SELECTED TO “WHO’S WHO AT ILLINOIS” AND MEMBER OF THE TRIBE OF ILLINI. HAD WINS OVER NORTHWESTERN, OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN STATE, IOWA, MINNESOTA, PURDUE, WISCONSIN, DE PAUL, DUKE, DAVIDSON, MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE, LIPSCOMB & EASTERN ILLINOIS. IN DOUBLES (TOP 6 TEAMS IN THE BIG TEN).

GRADUATED WITH A BATCHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BUSINESS.

SOCIAL & COMPETITIVE ATHLETICS

PLAYED CLAY COURT TENNIS IN FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY AND SWITZERLAND WITH A TOP WIN OVER JON PIERRE SORMANI – THE CHAMPION OF LUCERN.

MOVED TO LOS ANGELES IN 1969. SOCIAL MIXED DOUBLES EVENTS INCORPORATING CELEBRITIES FOR CHARITY WERE VERY POPULAR IN THE WEST LOS ANGELES/ BEVERLY HILLS AREA. WON SEVERAL EVENTS WITH PARTNERS ELKE SOMMER, CHARLTON HESTON, JAMES CAAN, ROBERT DUVALL, AND LLOYD BRIDGES.

JOINED THE WESTSIDE RAQUET CLUB IN 1973. WON THE CLUB SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP A RECORD 9 TIMES FROM 1974 TO 1989.

A MEMBER OF THE MARINA CITY CLUB FROM 1981 TO 1983. WON THE CLUB SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP 3 YEARS IN A ROW. WON THE PRESIGIOUS “PRESIDENT’S CUP” DOUBLES INVITATIONAL WITH DAVIS CUP PLAYER MIKE FRANKS.

MOVED TO CARLSBAD, CA IN 1990. JOINED THE LA COSTA CC AND WON THE CLUB SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1990,91, 92 AND 93. WAS VOTED MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN THE NORTH COUNTY CLUB LEAGUE IN 1992 AT AGE 48.

UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION – AGE GROUP SENIOR TENNIS

WON THE FIRST SENIOR TENNIS 35 & OVER EVENT ENTERED. HOT SPRINGS ARKANSAS – DEFEATED THE # 1 SEED BILL HERRING OF ARKANSAS IN THE FINAL. NATIONALLY RANKED TOP 50 IN MY FIRST YEAR.

1984 REACHED THE QUARTER-FINALS OF THE MEN’S 40 NATIONAL HARDCOURTS IN PORT WASHINGTON, NY. DEFEATED TOP VERMONT PLAYER TOWNSEND GILBERT, NATIONALLY RANKED TOP TEN PLAYER MIKE RABBIT AND NUMBER ONE SOUTHERN PLAYER THAY BUTCHEE. WAS RANKED # 10 IN THE UNITED STATES IN MEN’S 40 SINGLES.

WON THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MEN’S 40 DOUBLES TITLE WITH PARTNER NIESI SIE – RANKED # 1 IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, REACHED SEMI-FINALS OF NATIONAL HARDCOURTS – RANKED # 4 IN THE UNITED STATES IN MEN’S 40 DOUBLES.

LA COSTA COUNTRY CLUB SENIOR GOLF – 1994 – 2008. 

HAD SIX TOP 5 FINISH’S IN THE MEN’S SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS. WON THE 2007 SENIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS AT AGE 63 WITH ROUNDS OF 77, 72 AND 79. TWO HOLES IN ONE – 1991 & 2016.

CURRENTLY THE ONLY MEMBER IN THE CLUB’S 57 YEAR HISTORY (1965 – 2022) TO HAVE WON CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS IN BOTH GOLF (2007 SENIOR) AND TENNIS (MEN’S OPEN – 1990,1991,1992 &1993) .