Farewell to the Big Cat

[filkertom]

Us old-time wrestling fans shall take a moment to ring ten bells for the Big Cat, Ernie Ladd, who has passed away at the age of 68.

If you never saw him in action, especially during his heyday, he was eloquent and huge and nasty and one of the great bad guys of the 60s and early 70s. Think of a 6'9" Morgan Freeman with a real mad on alla time. He had incredible feuds with Andre the Giant and Bruno Sammartino, among others. Here's a remembrance by Jim Ross.

Comments

[wwetuesday.livejournal.com]

RIP also to Allen Coage aka Bad News Brown, who died March 6th

[vid848.livejournal.com]

I am too young to have ever seen Ernie Ladd in action, I knew of the name.
This year is only a little over 2 months old and already we have lost 4 well recognized names in pro wrestling (Bam Bam, Mike Awesome, Bad News and Big Cat).

Sometimes, it almost seems like it is too painful to be a fan, losing so many of your people so soon....

*saying a little prayer*

[camric.livejournal.com]

The Big Cat was one of those villains who (for me) enhanced the suspension of disbelief about wrestling - when he was on camera he practically radiated menace. Another was Ole Anderson, who just made you believe that he was a mean sumbitch who liked hurting people. Not seeing a whole lot of that these days.

[denali1.livejournal.com]

Damn...

[scs-11.livejournal.com]

Ernie Ladd wrestled? I had no idea. I recall him as a helluva football player.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

FROM THE WIKIPEDIA

Personal life
He was a born-again Christian.
He was a Republican and great friends with both Bush Presidents.

Eh, nobody's perfect.