Cherokee chief in wrestling hall of fame

Cherokee chief inducted into wrestling hall

By John Klein"Wrestling is a laboratory for the values and attributes necessary in building strong leaders," said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Smith, who was an undefeated high school wrestler in high school and a collegiate athlete, said he relies on lessons learned on the mat every day in his job as chief of the nation's second-largest tribe.

"There are a lot of sports that teach values like self-reliance and determination," said Smith. "I don't know if there is a better example than wrestling."

Smith, who oversees a tribe with annual revenues in excess of $1 billion, was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Smith was voted into the Hall of Outstanding Americans, an honor reserved for wrestlers who have gone on to become leaders in politics, business and entertainment.Comment:  This honor seems a little silly to me. Wrestling teaches "values like self-reliance and determination"...and so do most other human activities. Is there a Homework Hall of Fame for kids who did their homework and went on to become "leaders in politics, business and entertainment"? How about a Paper Carrier or Babysitting Hall of Fame? A Take Care of Your Pets Hall of Fame?

For more on Natives and wrestling, see Seminoles Want Pro Alligator Wrestling and "Apaches" in Mexican Wrestling.