Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

During the sweltering hot nights of a Baghdad summer when his family would sleep on the roof of their home to stay cool Adnan AlKaissy would stay awake and lift weights.

ìI never slept at night,î AlKaissy said. ìI had my dumbbells on the side of the house and at 2 a.m. my dad would wake up and see me working out.î

Seeing his son working out in the middle of the night AlKaissyís dad would ask him what he was doing and asked if lifting weights would put bread and water on the table.

ìI told him I loved to lift my weights, but he told me to study, study,î AlKaissy said. ìHe was right. Mother and father were always right, but when youíre a kid and you receive the love from them, but you cannot receive the thoughts because it doesnít stay with you because you donít understand.î

AlKaissy grew up in a poor family, but he never complained because he said his family was happy.

While in junior high AlKaissy befriended a young Saddam Hussein when he moved to Baghdad to live with his uncle.

ìHe was a very nervous and insecure person who always wanted to be the leader of any gathering whether it be sports or student politics,î AlKaissy said.

As the boys grew older and moved on to high school AlKaissy said Hussein started to really get into politics and the Baath Party.

When it was time for college AlKaissy came to America on a football scholarship and Hussein stayed in Iraq. AlKaissy visit home and Hussein asked him to consider joining the Baath Party. AlKaissy told Hussein that he was returning to America to finish his degree, but when he was done with school heíd return to Iraq and join the Baath Party.

AlKaissy returned to Iraq with a masters degree in Education in 1969. Upon returning eight army commandos approached him and said Hussein wanted to see him.

ìI thought they were taking me away to kill me,î AlKaissy said. ìWhen the car stopped there was Saddam with a cigar and he told me I hadnít changed a bit.î

AlKaissy said he and Hussein talked for a bit in their first meeting upon his return to Iraq, but AlKaissy said he was intending to return to America to wrestle. Hussein said there was no need. If AlKaissy wanted to wrestle Hussein would bring the other wrestlers to Iraq since they already had the venues, hotels and fans needed.

Hussein also reminded AlKaissy of his promise to join the Baath Party.

As time passed AlKaissy became a national icon and was made the Minister of Youth. AlKaissy was given a palace, a fleet of Mercedes-Benz cars with a personal chauffeur.

ìIíd wake up in the morning and look out my big iron doors and there would be about 100 people standing outside everyday,î AlKaissy said. ìPeople wanted to know where missing family members were and plead for my help.î

AlKaissyís status in Iraq helped him get virtually his entire family positions in the Iraqi government. Those connections eventually saved his life.

ìMy brother came up to me and told me, ëTheyíre done with you,î AlKaissy said. ìThey just didnít know if they were going to make it a car accident, or just blow up my car with me in it.î

AlKaissy checked the story with his nephews and cousins that held different positions in the Iraqi government and Republican Guard and the story was the same from all of them.

Thatís when AlKaissy knew he had to get out of Iraq so he packed a suitcase and headed to Kuwait where he caught a flight to America to start a new life.

ìSaddam was smart,î AlKaissy said. ìHe made me the biggest hero in Baghdad so the people could follow me and while their attention was on me he could work underground and kill and bury people.î

AlKaissy had to leave his family behind and hasnít returned home since to see them.

Once in America AlKaissy continued to wrestle where he slowly earned money to move around the country and finally settle in Minnetonka with his wife Kathy and their four children.

Shortly after arriving in America AlKaissy said he started writing down his adventures and experiences, but never once thought about having them published in fear that Hussein would take revenge on his family still in Iraq. Once Hussein was captured by American forces AlKaissy knew his story could finally be told.

AlKaissyís book The Sheikh of Baghdad: Tales of Celebrity and Terror from Pro Wrestlingís General Adnan was released in June by Triumph Books.

Friendship no more

It was just by chance that AlKaissy and Hussein became friends as teenagers in a troubled Iraq. As time passed their friendship remained, but AlKaissy also saw the determination and anger in his eyes.

While Hussein got into politics and killing, AlKaissy came to America to get an education and learn that football in America is not like football in Iraq.

While working as the Minister of Youth AlKaissy saw some horrific things, but couldnít do or say anything for fear of his life and the lives of his family.

ìI witnessed four of my high school colleagues killed by a firing squad, but I couldnít do anything about it,î AlKaissy said.

Powerless against the altercations that Hussein and his regime were committing, and fearing heíd be one of the next victims AlKaissy left Iraq for good.

Now that his home country has been liberated and Hussein has been captured AlKaissy is hopeful.

ìIt was a good thing getting Saddam and his regime out of power,î AlKaissy said.

When asked how AlKaissy feels about his old friend Hussein AlKaissy said, ìAs a friendship ñ no. I donít care about that friendship. All those people he killed is wrong.î

Now that Iraq is in the midst of changing over to a democracy rebels are making life miserable for civilians and American forces alike with suicide bombings and roadside bombs. These rebels are giving Iraqis a bad image.

ìI want my book to link the situation in Iraq and let the American people know that not everybody is like them (the rebels),î AlKaissy said. ìIraqi people are lovable people just like Americans and itís just a handful of people causing trouble.î

Nightmare appearance

AlKaissy was one of the celebrity guests at this yearís Nightmare at Pinehaven Farm Halloween event over the Halloween weekend.
Jean Sockness is the person in charge of booking the celebrities at Nightmare and she says AlKaissy is her favorite guest out of all theyíve had in the past nine years.

ìHe doesnít have that chip on his shoulder or think heís better than anybody else,î Sockness said.

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