Free Republic

A Newark man died after a tussle with a former high school wrestler he tried to rob early Saturday, NBC New York has learned. Law-enforcement sources told NBC New York that 30-year-old Gian Davis approached two men near Bloomfield Avenue at about 1:15 a.m. and asked for change. When the men said "no," he then asked to borrow a cell phone, grabbed it and tried to run off with it, sources said. One of the men lunged to get the phone back and Davis put him in a headlock, according to sources. Then, sources say the other man, a former...

Hulk Hogan isn't buying into Obamamania anymore. The wrestling legend appeared on “Fox and Friends” on Thursday and explained why he’s no longer a fan of the president. “I was a big Obama supporter and kinda, like, believed everything he said he was gonna do,” said Hogan. "But now that nothing’s happened,” he said he's had a change of heart. Hogan also said he was bothered when Obama borrowed his theme song, “Real American,” to make his entrance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner earlier this year. (While the song played, an image of Obama’s birth certificate flashed on screens...

The Pac-12 appears to be working out the final details of a deal that would bring Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech to the conference, sources close to the situation told Hookem.com and the American-Statesman on Sunday morning.

Just heard the news - killed in car crash in Florida ...

Pro wrestling superstar Randy "Macho Man" savage died after having a heart attack while driving his Jeep Wrangler, TMZ reports. The accident happened in Tampa Bay, Fla. according to Savage's brother, Lanny Poffo. He told TMZ the accident happened Friday morning when Savage lost control of his vehicle.

Legendary wrestler Randy Savage, known to fans as "Macho Man," died in a car accident in Tampa, Fla., on Friday, according to TMZ. He was 58. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Savage was driving his Jeep Wrangler when he veered across a concrete median, through oncoming traffic, and "collided head-on with a tree." He was transported to Largo Medical Center, where he died. Savage's wife of one year, Lynn, was a passenger but sustained only minor injuries, according to TMZ.

Macho Man Randy Savage -- one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time -- died today in a car accident in Tampa, Florida ... TMZ has learned. TMZ spoke with Randy's brother, Lanny Poffo, who tells us the wrestling legend suffered a heart attack while he was behind the wheel around 9:25 AM ... and lost control of his vehicle. Earlier this month, Savage celebrated his 1-year anniversary with his new wife Lynn. Savage was 58. Macho Man began wrestling in the WWF in 1985 and became a superstar with his trademark catchphrase "Ooooooh Yeaahhhhh." UPDATE: Florida Highway Patrol tells TMZ...

The official sport of the "new normal" recently held its annual championships in Philadelphia. Think of college wrestling as the athletic version of an austerity program. Wearing almost nothing, coached by men who make next to nothing, and with no hope of professional careers because they don't exist, 34 competitors in each weight class arrived on the mats of the NCAA tournament. Of course, all but one in each of the 10 weight classes left disappointed. As consolation prizes, many received significant facial bruising and at least one, defending champion Darrion Caldwell of North Carolina State, a dislocated shoulder. Was...

He's got Mike Tyson's scowl, Mr. T's hair -- and the body of a third-grader. Eight-year-old wrestling champ Steve "Stevo" Poulin also has 6 million online fans. "He's a peewee icon," marveled his dad, Steve Poulin, whose video of Stevo tossing around opponents like dolls became a YouTube sensation last week. "There are other kids as good as him, but none has his personality," the proud pop boasted. The clips show Stevo, the reigning state champion in his age group after he won the title in New York City March 5, sporting a purple mohawk, grimly shaking the hand of...

Around Washington, D.C., if you mention Iowa, the first thing that will pop into most people's minds is "caucuses." But in Iowa, if you asked a local about the matchups, he'd most likely assume you were talking about wrestling. That's right, the non-metaphorical, sweaty, rough-and-tumble on the mat sort of wrestling. This year's Iowa state championships attracted attention nationwide when the promising high school sophomore Joel Northrup (the fifth-ranked wrestler in the state) defaulted on his first match. He had drawn Cassy Herkelman, a female freshman, as his opponent, and he could not, in good conscience, wrestle a girl. Northrup's...

It's so easy to look at teenagers in general today and sigh. They're more than a bit lazy, a bit spoiled and more than a bit morally compromised. Two teenagers made national news. One showed common decency and sportsmanship, two virtues seemingly uncommon in that generation. Hope is restored. Sixteen-year-old wrestler Joel Northrup faced a dilemma when he was scheduled to wrestle Cassy Herkelman, one of only two girls to make it to the state tournament. Even though he entered with a 35-4 record, Northrup forfeited rather than violate his religious principles. Cassy's father, Bill Herkelman, praised the Northrup family:...

When my friend posted a link to the story of Joel Northrup — the 16-year-old Iowa wrestler who defaulted rather than wrestle a girl, Cassy Herkelman, in a state tournament last week — I was floored when my athletic, competitive friend said she had “mixed emotions” about his decision. I imagine this friend, had she pursued wrestling and not track and field in high school, would’ve wanted the opportunity to wrestle. Even if it meant competing against the boys. My reaction to this story was decidedly unmixed. I think Joel should have wrestled Cassy. Not that I don’t get some...

I received an e-mail the other day in response to the witness of the young man in our church who wouldn’t wrestle a girl at the state wrestling tournament, thus forfeiting a chance at winning his weight class. When I tried to respond my e-mail came back. Thats when the idea came to me to make this a teachable moment and answer publically. I will change his name, and chose not to even use his initials because they are B.S. and that would be too suggestive. Instead we will call him Mr. F.E. Minist .His words will be in italics...

When it became apparent that his opponent in the state tournament wrestling match would be a girl., e would be facing off against a girl, Joel Northrup, forfeited his match to her.  As a Christian, Joel is serious about his faith, and so he could not in good conscience wrestle with a  girl due to the manner in which a wrestler must grapple with their opponent. If only we had more boys raised to respect the fairer sex as much as Joel has been.   His parents are homeschooling him. but he has been allowed to wrestle with the Lin-Mar...

A high school wrestler in Iowa refused to compete against a female opponent due to his Christian beliefs. Upon hearing that the match would be with a girl in the state tournament, Joel Northrup decided to lose by default rather than compete against Cassy Herkelman. The 112-pound wrestler explained, "I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times." He continued, "As a matter of conscience and my faith I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a...

DES MOINES, Iowa – An Iowa high school wrestler who was one of the favorites to win his weight class defaulted on his first-round state tournament match rather than face one of the first girls to ever qualify for the event. [...] "I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments. However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times," wrote Northrup. "As a matter of conscience and my faith I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate...

I still remember the last JV tournament of my freshman year. My teammate Deborah Kavalar was down a few points in the third period. I don't recall the exact move, but I remember her flipping her opponent, the excitement and the pin. More than that, I remember the reaction. The ultra-masculine 145-pounder threw his headgear across the gym and stormed out the door as Deborah stood there awaiting a handshake. It was embarrassing. Not because the guy lost to a girl -- Deborah had crumpled plenty of overconfident XY chromosomes over her three years on the mat. But because I...

In Iowa, girls can now wrestle with boys—and not just in cars in the parking lot at the Friday night dance. But in the rings and on the mats. The news reports that one young man refused to wrestle with his female opponent in the State final. He did so because he was a gentleman of the Old School. We commend him. But his forfeit allowed the girl to “win,” thus beginning an accumulation of statistics showing equality between girls and boys. Of course, at the distant end of the 1970s at good old St. Mary’s High where yours truly...

When it became apparent that his opponent in the state tournament wrestling match would be a girl., e would be facing off against a girl, Joel Northrup, forfeited his match to her.  As a home-schooled sophomore with a 35-4 record, Joel is also a Christian who takes his faith seriously. So he could not in good conscience wrestle with a  girl due to the manner in which a wrestler must grapple with their opponent. If only we had more boys raised to respect the fairer sex as much as Joel has been.   His parents are homeschooling him. but he...

An Iowa high school wrestler who was one of the favorites to win his weight class defaulted on his first-round state tournament match rather than face one of the first girls to ever qualify for the event. Joel Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore who was 35-4 wrestling for Linn-Mar High this season, said in a statement that he doesn’t feel it would be right for him to wrestle Cedar Falls freshman Cassy Herkelman. Herkelman, who was 20-13 entering the tournament, and fellow 112-pounder Ottumwa sophomore Megan Black, who was 25-13, made history by being the first girls to qualify for the...

DES MOINES, Iowa – A standout Iowa high school wrestler refused to compete against a girl at the state tournament on Thursday, relinquishing any chance of becoming a champion because he says wrestling a girl would conflict with his religious beliefs. Joel Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore who was 35-4 wrestling for Linn-Mar High School this season, praised his first-round opponent, Cedar Falls freshman Cassy Herkelman, and Ottumwa sophomore Megan Black, who became the first two girls to make the state wrestling tournament in its 85-year history. But in a news release, he said he defaulted on his match with Herkelman...

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.(Hebrews 11:6)Where I come from, the state of Iowa in the heartland of America, wrestling is a big deal. We have a long tradition in the Sport and are known throughout the world for our wrestling. For a High school athlete, to qualify for the state wrestling meet is an incredible honor. One of the young men in our church has worked hard enough and been dedicated enough to...

The five members of Las Diosas del Ring, a women's wrestling group in La Paz, Bolivia. The women, who are of native Ayamara decent, wear traditional clothes of a dress and bowler hat, when they fight

In a front-page story Sunday about the case, The Bee reported that the move involves a wrestler grabbing a rival's butt cheek and putting fingers in the anus to get leverage. In a clarification published today on page A2, the newspaper notes that coaches say it involves grabbing the butt cheek of a rival. Coaches vary on how often anal penetration occurs, but they say that it should never be intentional. Former Fresno State wrestling coach Dennis DeLiddo emphasized this point in a statement he issued this week as controversy over the case grew. "I have never taught, nor am...

<p>In a crowded gym during practice in front of parents and coaches, the Buchanan High School wrestler tackled a teammate and executed a move his coaches taught him.</p> <p>He inserted his fingers between the boy's buttocks.</p> <p>It's called the "butt drag," in which a wrestler grabs a rival's butt cheek and puts fingers in the anus to get leverage. The move is widely used at matches around the country and has been around for decades.</p>

<p>In a crowded gym during practice in front of parents and coaches, the Buchanan High School wrestler tackled a teammate and executed a move his coaches taught him.</p> <p>He inserted his fingers between the boy's buttocks.</p> <p>It's called the "butt drag," in which a wrestler grabs a rival's butt cheek and puts fingers in the anus to get leverage. The move is widely used at matches around the country and has been around for decades.</p>

Richard Maize: I Started UFC, MMA - Was First To Use Octogon CageLos Angeles .... November 7, 2010 ----- "This sounds a bit enthusiastic and a bit far reaching," says Richard Maize, a leading real estate mortgage consultant and respected philanthropist. "And I agree with that. I really didn’t start the UFC and the MMA. However, without my idea and that of “Kazja” (Gregg Patchull), these organizations may not have ever begun." "Here is my story: In the early 1990’s, I was taking private martial arts lessons in San Pedro from a man by the name, as we know him,...

The Post today endorses Republican Linda McMahon for the US Senate in Connecticut. If she wins -- and polls suggest she is closing in fast on her Democratic opponent -- this would be a major pick-up for the GOP, which hasn't won a Senate race in the Nutmeg State since 1982. By all rights, McMahon would seem to be the ideal political neophyte seeking office: Well-spoken, intelligent and CEO of one of the state's largest and most successful businesses, which has brought 600 jobs to Connecticut. The problem is that her business is professional wrestling -- immensely popular, to be...

Joseph Carl “JC” Bailey Jr. 8/23/1983 – 8/30/2010 It is with great sadness that CZW management has the unfortunate duty to again report on the news of the passing of another one of its own. Early this morning, CZW officials learned that Joseph Carl “JC” Bailey Jr. passed away in his home at the age of 27. JC was a beloved member of the CZW locker room, and a member of the extended Combat Zone family for nearly a decade. As a performer, JC was fearless. He was renowned and admired by fans and colleagues alike for his toughness, his...

24-year-old man was mauled to death by a bear at the home of a controversial animal studio owner. Brent Kandra died at 1.31am on Friday morning at MetroHealth Medical Center in Ohio, around six hours after he was savaged by the bear on Thursday night. Kandra was flown to the hospital from Columbia Station, southwest

Video at link.

YORK -- Almost 40 years after "Gorgeous George" Grant the wrestling showman hung up his robes and blond hair for good and heard the last calls for his head to be smashed with a folding chair because he was the worst pansy villain there was, Gorgeous George has stepped through the ropes and out of the squared circle for the last time. He will throw no more roses at fans demanding he be beaten into a bloody pulp. Grant, a pioneer of televised wrestling in the 1950s and early 1960s, who himself said he "dressed like Liberace" before there was...

(English-language translation) SAN JUAN - Puerto Rican wrestler José Laureano, known as "Chicky Starr", has made public his quest for a seat in the [Puerto Rico] House of Representatives. Although he has not yet decided under what political party he will run, Laureano is clear that he wants to become the first wrestler to win a position in Puerto Rican politics. The wrestler, who has a group of followers known as the "chickystarrian religion", recently launched his "political campaign" through the Facebook and Twitter social networks as well as several radio programs he participates in. For the time being, the...

Chris Klucsaritis, who wrestled as Chris Kanyon, passed away last night from an overdose of pills at his apartment in the Sunnyside section of Queens, NY, last night. He was 40.

Mike "Baron Mikel" Scicluna passed away yesterday from liver cancer. He was 80. He had been suffering from cancer for several months. He had a lengthy career in wrestling all over the world, and was a headliner during the 60s, with many title shots at Bruno Sammartino including in Madison Square Garden and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.

"New Jersey jihadist arrested in Yemen worked at nuclear power plants" SNIPPET: "The South Jersey man who Yemini officials are calling a terrorist with links to al-Qaeda previously worked at three local nuclear power plants. Sharif Mobley, 26, is being held in a jail in Yemen after he allegedly killed a police guard and seriously injured another during a shootout at a hospital on Monday. The Buena, N.J. native has also been accused of taking part in several acts of terrorism, Yemini officials say. He also purportedly has ties to the same branch of al-Qaeda who are suspected of attempting...

Henry Wittenberg, an Olympic gold and silver medalist who became one of America’s greatest amateur wrestlers while he was a New York City police officer, died on Tuesday at his home in Somers, N.Y. He was 91.

HOLLYWOOD , Fla., March 10 (UPI) -- Members of a U.S. organization dedicated to making alligator wrestling a legitimate sport say facing the large reptiles is not actually that scary. The Miami Herald said Tuesday to reinforce its point, Freestyle Alligator Wrestling Competitions is holding a competition this weekend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino near Hollywood, Fla. James Holt, who wrestled an alligator Tuesday to help promote the event, said the key to facing down one of the potentially deadly animals is mental acuteness. "The hardest part is making sure you're in the right frame of mind,"...

The honours keep rolling in for Tiger Jeet Singh. On Thursday, it was announced that Tiger Jeet Singh Public School will open in Milton, Ontario in September. "It's very big news, and a big honour for the family," Tiger Jeet Singh told SLAM! Wrestling. The city of Milton, about 30 minutes west of Toronto, inducted Singh and his son Tiger Ali Singh into its Milton Hall of Fame in 2007. The new Milton elementary school, which is almost completed at 640 Yates Drive, will host junior kindergarten to Grade 8.

Umaga dead at 36 updates :- Former WWE star Umaga 36, was found near death in his Texas home early Friday. His wife found him responsive with blood coming out of his nose. The ex-wrestling star was then rushed to a hospital, where he is reportedly being kept alive via life support.

A rep from the WWE tells TMZ their former superstar wrestler Umaga has died. Umaga, whose real name was Eddie Fatu, was 36 years old. The WWE has released a statement on their website saying, "The WWE would like to express its deepest condolences to Mr. Fatu's family, friends and fans on his tragic passing."

THE Hulkamania promotional press conference at Star City veered violently out of control today as Hulk Hogan and ring rival Ric Flair let their animosity break into what appeared to be a full scale bloody brawl. Sydney Central’s photographer Phil Rogers has his flash broken when Ric Flair threw a table off the stage and into the press gathering before diving on photographers, Sydney Central reports. Media were stunned as the Hulk’s head began bleeding profusely and confusion broke out when the veteran wrestling star was unable to get to his feet. This reporter narrowly missed being struck with the...

Hulk Hogan is returning to the profession -- but not to the organization -- that made him a household name. Hogan is coming out of retirement to join TNA Wrestling (the name sounds dirty, but it actually stands for "Total Nonstop Action"), the outfit behind Spike TV's Thursday night series "TNA Impact." "I'm thrilled to be jumping back into the world of professional wrestling," said Hogan, 56. "My fans have been asking me to return to the business for many years on a full time basis, but the timing or the opportunity has never been right until now." His specific...

THE BOYS GO TO THE WWE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AN ALL NEW “SOUTH PARK” PREMIERING ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21 AT 10:00 P.M. ON COMEDY CENTRAL NEW YORK, October 19, 2009 – After attending a WWE MATCH, the boys ALL WANT TO BE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS in an all-new “South Park” titled, “W.T.F.,” premiering on Wednesday, October 21 at 10:00 p.m. on COMEDY CENTRAL. The boys have found their new calling in life and they hurry to sign up for the wrestling club. They soon find out THE KIND OF WRESTLING THEY TEACH AT SCHOOL IS not the same thing...

Legendary pro wrestling manager Captain Lou Albano died at age 76 this morning.

http://www.examiner.com/x-22249-Columbus-Pro-Wrestling-Examiner~y2009m10d10-Capt-Lou-Albano-admitted-to-hospice-care

What do the Rev. Al Sharpton, John Cena and Triple H have in common? They'll all be at Times Union Center in Albany for the latest installment of World Wrestling Entertainment's "Monday Night Raw." Sharpton? That Sharpton? Yes, the one and only minister and politician who has courted controversy over the years will be the guest host for the night's entertainment. Sharpton at the microphone, of course, is nothing new: He spoke at Michael Jackson's memorial service recently and has his own radio show, which can be heard at http://www.sharptontalk.net/. But wrestling?A publicist for WWE, Kevin Hennessy, says Sharpton's current...

Rev. Al Sharpton Issues Statement Explaining Why He Is Hosting WWE Raw Newsday's Alfonso Castillo recently contacted Rev. Al Sharpton, in regards to his guest host spot on Raw. His spokeswoman responded with the following comment… "In order to raise awareness and actually do something about the devastating achievement gap in education between kids of color and their white peers the viewership of WWE events is precisely the group of people who need to be reached and involved. Reverend Sharpton has stated repeatedly that all of us must take extraordinary steps to reverse the current trend in education and that...

Senate Smackdown: McMahon Running Against Dodd Chief executive officer of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. says she's seeking the Republican nomination to run against Dodd. AP Wednesday, September 16, 2009

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 1, 2009 – In the Army’s celebratory Year of the Noncommissioned Officer, Dremiel Byers stands out. Byers, who recently joined the ranks of the senior NCOs with his promotion to sergeant first class, will represent the Army on Team USA at the 2009 World Wrestling Championships. Army World Class Athlete Program Greco-Roman heavyweight wrestler Sgt. 1st Class Dremiel Byers, left, a 2002 world champion, is scheduled to compete for Team USA at the 2009 World Wrestling Championships Sept. 27, 2009, in Herning, Denmark. U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Byers is...