Andre the Giant

How many have heard Andre Rene Roussimoff? While living in Paris was known to be Robert Lageat's biggest client. If you still have no idea then allow me to set it off, so I can tell you a little bit about Andre the Giant.

For Andre, size was always an issue to have to deal with. At tender age of 12 he was 6'4 and 240 pounds so never was a small fry. However being so big made him feel small, shy, as well as sheepish. So he left school after the 8th grade to work since you can't teach size.

Not to many options for work when your one of the largest humans walking the earth. So at age of 18 he moved to France to be taught professional wrestling to earn money. Next thing you know he is the 8th wonder of the world, all from a rare disease he was suffering from called Acromogaly.

If that didn't ring any bells it is also known as Gigantism. It is from a result of excess growth hormone found in the pituitary gland. If not fixed by surgery then must rely on personal wisdom to be able to survive long enough to become a legend of a man.

Lengendary is a great way to describe his unprecedented run. From 1970-1986 there was a total of 10 matches he didn't win. The end total being 6 losses, 3 draws, and even got knocked out once. More suprising than being knocked out was it being done by Jerry Lawyer, the King.

Of course 2 of the draws were of running out 60 minute time limits, up against the World Champions of the time, Nick Bockwinkel and a man he respected Harley Race. Amazingly 2 of his losses were by way of making Andre tap out or submit. With both taking place in New Japan Pro Wrestling with him losing to the good guys or the faces.

Do you know what happened to the Giant even less than him taking a loss? That would be him taking a body slam from an opponent. So far only found 4 men Andre trusted enough to pull that off. Hulk Hogan being the only one to do it more than once, twice leaving him on his back groaning.

One other coincidence would be that 2 of his losses took place in the great state of Tennessee. In Knoxville to Ronnie Garvin and the afore mentioned loss to the King. I once heard Andre say in an interview of all the wrestlers met only 2 he feared in history. Already spoke on Harley Race with the other being Haku or Meng, the toughest Samoan ever seen.

On to some other urban legends floating around oon the internet. Let us start with him being the unofficial greatest drunk on earth. Several reliable stories of him drinking well over 100+ beers in just one sit, even having an undercover cop following to help prevent him falling on someone leaving them hurt.

Then there is the legend of what happened at WrestleMania 3. When he allowed Hogan to slam him for first time ever on tv. It is said that he drank 14 bottles of wine before time to compete, maybe that is what it took for that slam to be allowed for all to see.

Also known for always supplying the funds when going out to eat, not caring one bit who he was with or how much money they had made. Once went out with Arnold, the terminator, and Wilt the Stilt, taking up the entire restaurant with just those three, ending the evening putting Arnold, chair and all, on top of his car for trying to pay.

Outside of wrestling is where Andre was able to show another side. He loved to act and even more so when he was treated no different than anyone else. Has a cult like following from playing Fezzik, the giant in the 1987 film The Princess Bride, asking anyone who would listen how was his performance next to Cary Elwes.

He loved to act and entertain the masses but not nearly as much as he would like, not from his own doing but simply because the Man upstairs had other plans. Cutting his life way too short, way before his time yet regardless his legend still grows making him way more than just a normal man.