The San Diego Chicken with wrestler Jerry “The King” Lawler before the A.W.A Southern Heavyweight Championship match on Oct. 6, 1983, at Rupp Arena. Tickets were $7 for ringside seats and$6 for general admission to see the famous mascot as Lawler’s manager. The wrestling legend was facing another legend, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, who was managed by Jimmy Hart. Lawler won, and as part of a bet, Hart had to wear a chicken suit. After putting on the suit, The Chicken hit him with a flying drop kick that made his feathers fly. Eight days later, The Chicken — one of the most influential mascot in sports history — appeared at a University of Kentucky volleyball game. At 9 p.m. Oct. 14, a record 7,830 fans paid $1 to see No. 5 UK lose to No. 1 Hawaii in Memorial Coliseum. Three hours later, Wildcats men’s basketball coach Joe B. Hall held the second ever Midnight Madness, the first basketball practice of the season. Click here to read a 1983 Herald-Leader story on the mascot’s visit. Photo by Tom Woods.