Evans: Siddens made sports world a richer place
By KEVIN EVANS, Executive Sports Editor
WATERLOO ” Bob Bowlsby, Steve Alford, Jim Zalesky, Norm Parker and others were in the room at the annual Black Hawk County I-Club gathering earlier this week.
So was Bob Siddens.
Not surprisingly, he got about as much attention as the members of the Iowa staff.
That was partly because he had just celebrated his 80th birthday. Mostly, though, it was because he is Bob Siddens.
He was there as an invited guest of Bowlsby, Iowa’s athletic director, who is one of thousands of former athletes and students who still proudly sing the praises of the Hall of Fame wrestling coach, counselor and mentor.
Siddens celebrated his 80th birthday last week. He went to lunch to celebrate with a couple of his former pupils, Don Huff and Gene Luttrell, and was surprised to be greeted by about 15 more of his former wrestlers in Buck’s Broken Antler.
There are surely many hundreds more who would have loved to be there, and a couple of his former pupils checked in by telephone to wish him the best.
First, Bowlsby called and then his most famous pupil of all ” Dan Gable ” called to give his best.
That has to be a pretty special feeling.
Bob Siddens is not a wealthy man when it comes to dollars and cents, but he is a rich man. How many of us have, or can look forward to, making it to an 80th birthday and still having so many from our past feel so fondly about us?
Remember, Siddens has been retired from coaching for nearly 30 years. Most of the guys in that sport now have only heard of the effect Siddens had on the sport and, indirectly, on them. Still, he is universally respected and loved.
It is not just the 20, or the two that called. There really are thousands of us in his fan club. Some have been there because of contacts with him during our formative years, others have joined along the way after coming into contact with the man known as “Burly Bob “in his younger years.
It is uncanny over the years how many times people have brought up his name. Mention Waterloo and the name Siddens is likely to come up.
One of his former pupils, John Perry, was in town last week talking about his adventures as a Sled Dog racer. He was on a state championship team coached by Siddens, and now he is at the top of his latest venture with dogs in the snow.
“I am a disciple of coach Siddens, definitely, “said the member of the 1959 championship team. “Siddens is … I will tell you what, everyone that wrestled for him thinks he is awesome.
“I don’t mind telling everyone that I work harder than anyone. That work ethic, I brought it from here, I brought it from his workout room. He is the best.”
Siddens did get good-natured ribbing Monday from Zalesky, Iowa’s wrestling coach.
He was talking about hosting Oklahoma State ” and heavyweight Steve Mocco ” in January and wanting to come out with a win.
“I am going to hire the crookedest ref I can get, “he said. “Siddens, are you still reffing? Every big meet we ever had (Dan) Gable had him for some reason.”
That, of course, was all in fun. Zalesky’s other comments about Mocco might also have been in jest, but did let his real feelings show.
“I got injured about a week and a half ago, my ribs kind of popped, “he said. “I have to blame it on a UNI coach, actually Tolly Thompson. After he pinned Mocco (at the National Open), I was laughing so hard I popped my rib. He beat him 3-0 last year and pinned him this time. It was good to see. I have never seen so many people jump up. I think I hurt my ankle too … but it is getting better.”
No hard feelings, huh.
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