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Madison Square Garden Official Program A real-life Goliath who literally "reaches into the confines of the upper stratosphere" -- to the extraordinary height of 8' 2"; boasts an astounding weight package of 415 pounds; and, who, when traveling, must protract his gangling frame on the floor of a hotel room to insure a restful night sleep (his bed at home is 9' in length) -- is, without any stretch of the imagination, the most gigantic being ever to don wrestling tights! But most of all, Paul Bunyan, the lumberjack who calls Walla Walla, Washington his home; has a bull-neck measuring 21" (around); and wears a size 18 pair of shoes (the Florsheim Shoe Company of Chicago had to first make a special cast of Bunyan's foot before they were able to mould his shoe size -- a total cost of $165.00), is certainly "the greatest wrestling sensation to wander into professional wrestling's modern arenas in the last 20 years!" Actually, this giant can be classified a mere "rookie" in this colorful mat year of 1956; having only been wrestling as a professional for two years! And yet, because of his enormous size, Bunyan has already attained a degree of immortality that, at most, many only achieve after tedious years of climbing up the ladder of success . . . one rung at a time. How does this giant operate in the ring? In what sensational manner does a man of so huge a stature overwhelm his opponents? In answer, we will quote from a newspaper story that appeared in Omaha, Nebraska's "World Herald," date-lined October 23, 1956: "In the semi-windup, Paul Bunyan, 415-pound, 8- foot 2-linch "economy package," defeated Frank Hickey in 2:50 by falling on his opponent." -- That, fans, is exactly the way he disposes of his foes . . . by falling on them! To sum up the "tall tale" of a giant who certainly has no peer in our professional world of sport today, we would like to quote from the lead paragraph of a story announcing Bunyan's future appearance in Milwaukee's 12,000-seat Arena: "About once in two decades a wrestler zooms on the horizon, and captures the fancy of the mat patrons to such a degree that he boosts attendance in the sport to amazing proportions." -- Such is the saga of Paul Bunyan . . . past, present and future! |
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