Epizoda 87 – Bronko Nagurski

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V to epizodo, I discuss the professional wrestling career of NFL great Bronko Nagurski.

Update

I give some facts from Dan’s bio, discuss how he ended up being the regular co-host, and his contributions to the increased frequency of the episodes.

Main Content

Bronislau “Bronko” Nagurski was born on November 3, 1908 in Rainy River, Ontario, Canada. Nagurski was an All-American at the University of Minnesota, who won the 1927 NCAA Football Championship. The College Football Hall of Fame inducted Nagurski in 1951.

Nagurski played for the Chicago Bears from 1930 za 1937 and then again in 1943. Nagurski helped the Bears win the NFL Championship in 1932, 1933, in 1943.

At six feet, two inches tall and weighing 235 funtov, Nagurski was one of the most formidable presences in professional football. Nagurski also used his size and strength to become a successful professional wrestler.

V 1933, Minneapolis promoter Tony Stecher, who had managed his brother Joe Stecher, who was World Champion from 1915-1917, 1920, in 1925-1928, recruited Nagurski for the wrestling ring.

V 1933, the 44-year-old Tony Stecher climbed into the ring to test Nagurski. Stecher made a bad decision as Nagurski knocked Stecher senseless when Nagurski slammed Stecher to the mat.

Similar tale from pro football: Once in a game against the Packers, the Bears prepared to punt, and Green Bay’s Cal Hubbard went to Red Grange and said: “I promise not to try to block the kick, Rdeča, but get out of the way so I can get a shot at that ‘blank’.” Grange, glad not to try to block Hubbard for once, obliged. Cal tore through the line, slammed into Nagurski and bounced off. Rising slowly, he turned to Grange and said: “Hey, Rdeča, don’t do me any more favors.”

Nagurski debuted in 1933. Abe “King Kong” Kashey wrestled Nagurski four or five times helping to walk Nagurski through his early matches. Kashey later lost to Verne Gagne in Gagne’s professional debut.

Nagurski needed surgery at the end the 1935 NFL season leading to a short wrestling season in 1936 between May and June.

V 1937, Nagurski’s next-to-last season in the NFL, Nagurski won his first world title from Dean Detton in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Nagurski started wrestling full-time in 1938. V 1939, Nagurski was undisputed champion. He won the world title a handful of times afterwards.

V 1943 during World War II, Nagurski played one more year in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. Nagurski played tackle and fullback leading the Bears to the 1943 NFL Championship.

Nagurski wrestled professionally until 1958 when Nagurski was 50 stara leta. Nagurski was unique as one of the only former football players with limited legitimate wrestling skills who no one tried to double-cross. Maybe because of how strong he was and possibly because of the respect other wrestlers had for him.

Pregled

Wrestlemania IX: Becoming a Spectacle is another shining example of the machinations of wrestling’s biggest self-promoter, the Immortal Bulk Bogus: “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan.

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