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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>