That's sad. I remember watching him wrestle. Seemed like a good guy.
Former NWA/WCW World Light Heavyweight Champion Brad Armstrong, 51.
I am the furthest thing from a wrestling fan on USCHO. But the continuing deaths of these folks, almost none from natural causes, is really a scandal, IMO. Drugs and booze seem to be the chief culprits. It's really very sad. Because although I'm no fan, and haven't been to a wrestling match since college, I've always respected their work ethic. Seems like they always try to give the customers a good show. The "culture," if there is one, is decidedly unhealthy.
The thing that people tend to forget is this: Yes, it's fixed and it's not a real sport. But they're still people. And they're just dropping dead for no reason.
That's the point I was trying clumsily to make. I don't hold myself out as an expert, but I think the premature death totals for pro wrestlers far exceeds anything we see in sports. I mean, I don't follow wrestling at all. Yet even an occasional visit to this thread seems to reveal another wrestler gone. And far too early.
If you haven't seen "The Wrestler" (Rourke/Tomei), do so. Same with "Beyond The Mat" (the latter is a documentary). By all accounts, "The Wrestler" might as well be one, too, even though it's pure fiction. That close to reality.
Handsome Harley's still out there kicking butt! He recently got into a fight with his former WCW protege Big Van Vader at a convention.
And probably could not only whip your butt, but pretty much anybody else here's butt as well.Geez, he's gotta be 70!
Geez, he's gotta be 70!
After checking Wiki....he doesn't turn 70 until next year.
Thanks for the tip. I recall some of us would occasionally go see wrestling at the old Denver Auditorium. Seems like "Handsome" Harley Race was the big attraction. Also, on the way back to Chicago from the '66 FF, I sat behind "The Bruiser" and "The Crusher."
IIRC, in his earlier days Dick "The Bruiser" had played for the Packers.
We carried wrestling on the TV staton I worked for in Baton Rouge. And once a week the guys would stop by with that week's matches on tape. And as that tape was being dubbed, there would be severall live cut-ins, where the guys would tell our announcer what they were planning to do to their opponant on Saturday night (hurry, tickets still available). And while each of them was giving blood curdling descriptions of what he would to to the other guy, the other guy and the rest of 'em were over in a corner of the studio, drinking coffee and smoking. After each guy got his chance to issue threats, they'd all pile back into the car and take off.
But are you old enough to remember Dennis James announcing Gorgeous George, Antonino Rocca, Hurricane Inaya (and his brother Tornado), the Zebra Kid, Yukon Eric (who had his ear bitten off by Killer Kowalski, Edwrad Carpentier? As a kid I lived and died with most of those best 2 out of 3 matches. But my favorites was the Fabulous Moolah and watching her do that strut around the ring.