“Don’t call it an act"

Press, 7 September 1976, Page 21

“Don’t call it an act"

sit down, and what do 1 want to know? Without waiting for my answer, he begins a monologue.

Yes, he is an American: Pittsburgh, man. Played football and studied business administration at the University of Pennsylvania. Drafted by the Chicago Bears, a professional gridiron team, but was dropped from the team after his first year. “I lifted weights, maybe too much to play good football. But listen, man, ease up on the football. I want people to think of me as a wrestler, not as a football player. Everybody wants to know my real name. As far as the press is concerned, my name is Zulu.” As I suspected, Zulu also tried his hand at boxing before turning to the twilight world of professional wrestling. "I sparred onetime with Ali. Let me tell you, Ali is more than a boxer. He is one heavy individual. He helps his people. He tells the truth. He has an ego. but it is a healthy ego. You’ve got to believe in what you do.” His explanation for becoming a wrestler is simple: “There are a lot

be it the policeman, a stagehand, or Lucky Rivers, another reporter who haunts the wrestling arenas of the world and writes >urid accounts for daily newspapers, happened to look his way. “Don’t get me wrong,” he says feigning a menacing look, “I don’t go out there to hurt anybody. But it’s an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth out there.” I had been out there moments earlier, and though I still had my eyes and teeth, I had been spat on half a dozen times, and hit with a piece of hard candy once, all of which I assume was intended for the wrestlers. They get paid for it. I headed for the stands. The tumult when Zulu the Magnificent entered the ring was overwhelming. His opponent, a Kenyan with a Brooklyn accent, put up only token opposition, just enough to keep the fans on the edges of their seats. Perhaps more remarkable than the brawl itself was the crowd’s reaction. When the going gets foul, the lust for blood is tangible, and there is an air of sexuality in the excitement. A girl beside me.