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Mike Dallas II packs a mean fist, inherited from his tough-knuckled pop, also of the same name: Mike Dallas.

Of course the elder Dallas said his son's fists are a gift from God. I'm not going to argue with that.

Back in the 1980s when I was a terrible wrestler I met up with Mike Dallas Sr. He put a hold on me at Bakersfield College that I also took as a sign from God: time to end my wrestling career and become an academic.

My shoulder is still a little sore when I think about it.

I worked hard at college after that day. I earned a few degrees and eventually changed from an art major to history major, and eventually became a writer (Still working on the writing part).

It's funny, those life changing moments, and here was one of mine by the father of a potential Olympic qualifier.

I finally told Mike Dallas Sr. about that day. He laughed. He got a little embarrassed. I told him that I like to tell that story now and then just to embarrass myself. We all had a good laugh.

We spoke further. I had to ask Mike Sr. a burning question:

How would the best Bakersfield wrestling teams of the 1980s compare to today's Bakersfield High state-dominating teams?

"The teams from the 80s would win," Dallas Sr. said. He spoke a bit about how techniques have changed, how controlled wrestling isn't taught the same way. He said he even worked over one champion who was a little amazed at Dallas wrestling prowess.

Those are interesting thoughts about a sport that's often about bragging rights: who was the toughest, is the toughest, and will be the toughest. That's just good competitive spirit.

As I left I emptied what little I had in my wallet into the donation bucket KRAB radio had set up for Mike Dallas II. He's on his way to the Olympic Trials. And I'm proud to have met the kid, as well as talked to his father.

There's going to be more fundraising, including a dinner event complete with a boxing exhibition.

I'm going to go ice my shoulder now.

(Read: "Boxer fights way toward Beijing" for more info).