10 Things You Didn't Know About Goldberg
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"Who's next?" If you're hearing Goldberg scream these words, you're probably looking up dazed from the canvas. You've lost, perhaps finished off by his dreaded jackhammer. Just feel lucky you're conscious and still have all your body parts.
One of wrestling's winningest performers, Goldberg has had an illustrious career both in and out of the squared circle. And it's been so varied that fans now ask, "what's next?" We're curious too.
Here are 10 things you didn't know about Goldberg.
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1. Born to Jewish parents, Bill Goldberg grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His mother is a classical violinist who also breeds flowers. His father, who graduated from Harvard, was a doctor.
2. In college, Bill Goldberg played defensive tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs, and, in 1990, was drafted by the NFL's Los Angeles Rams. He spent one season there and later latched on with the Atlanta Falcons. He appeared in 14 games with the Falcons in the early ’90s. The Carolina Panthers picked him up in the 1995 expansion draft, but an injury kept him on the sideline.
3. Goldberg tore his lower abdomen from his pelvis, an injury that helped along the decision to give up football. He was discovered by Lex Luger and Sting while rehabbing from the injury at their gym in Atlanta. They recommended he try wrestling.
4. For his first five appearances, Goldberg wrestled as Bill Gold. Most of them were dark matches, untelevised matches held before the main event to warm up the crowd and test new wrestlers. His only loss as Bill Gold came at the hands of Chad Fortune.
5. Wrestling great Goldberg won the world heavyweight championship belt in both WCW and WWE, building an impressive undefeated streak in the process. He is officially credited with 173 straight wins in WCW, though some count a slightly less impressive 162 straight wins. Kevin Nash ended that streak in 1998.
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6. Goldberg only lost five singles matches in his entire career. The winners of those matches -- all former champions themselves -- each received outside help en route to victory. The winners list includes Kevin Nash, Bret Hart, Booker T, Scott Steiner and Triple H.
7. Bill Goldberg is a big supporter of children's charities. For his Celebrity Apprentice appearance in 2010, he represented One Good Turn Ranch, a charity that helps the kids of fallen soldiers. He's also mentored at the camp. He also visits pediatric cancer patients at local hospitals.
8. Bill Goldberg is also an advocate for animal welfare. As a spokesman for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, he lobbied Congress to shine a light on illegal animal fighting.
9. Bill Goldberg is a vintage car fanatic, who owns a Shelby Cobra 427 and a Plymouth Barracuda among is other 25 or so classics. He also hosts Garage Mahal, a reality show that helps people remodel their messy and disorganized garages.
10. He's appeared in over 10 movies, including Looney Tunes: Back in Action and The Longest Yard, an Adam Sandler remake of the classic Burt Reynolds film. Outside of Celebrity Apprentice and Garage Mahal, his numerous television appearances include Family Guy and Desperate Housewives.
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Norm Elrod likes sports and other sanctioned forms of craziness.
