Famed "studio wrestler" Bruno Sammartino, the Italian war immigrant 80-pound weakling who rose to become the all-time longest holder of the championship of professional wrestling, is being honored this week in Picksburgh.  :)

Bruno will receive the Dapper Dan Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest sporting honor available in The Burgh.  Three other sportsmen have been so honored over the years... Dan Rooney, Joe Paterno, and Arnold Palmer.  8)

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10080/1044485-139.stm

Several times in the past Bruno has been offered to be inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, but he has adamantly refused to do so each time, in protest of the rampant drug use that took over the sport.

http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/sammartino-medium.jpg

I saw that one of Mr. Sammartino's rivals died recently: Baron Scicluna
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10082/1044872-122.stm

I remember him from the 70s, he was a great one.

Famed "studio wrestler" Bruno Sammartino, the Italian war immigrant 80-pound weakling who rose to become the all-time longest holder of the championship of professional wrestling, is being honored this week in Picksburgh.   :)

Bruno will receive the Dapper Dan Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest sporting honor available in The Burgh.  Three other sportsmen have been so honored over the years... Dan Rooney, Joe Paterno, and Arnold Palmer.   8)

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10080/1044485-139.stm

Several times in the past Bruno has been offered to be inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, but he has adamantly refused to do so each time, in protest of the rampant drug use that took over the sport.

http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/sammartino-medium.jpg



Man,they don't make guys like Bruno anymore. That freakin PG idea from Vince McMahon is ruining it. :(

Man,they don't make guys like Bruno anymore. That freakin PG idea from Vince McMahon is ruining it. :(


Yep.  Back when I was a kid, Bruno was our hero.  We religiously tuned in to Studio Wrestling on Channel 11 (WIIC) every Saturday night to catch all the action in stunning black & white.  Studio Wrestling had all the legends, like Haystack Calhoun; George "The Animal" Steele; the tag team "The Sicilians", coached by Captain Lou Albano; Dominic Denucci (with his dreaded "airplane spin" maneuver); Professor Tanaka; Killer Khan.  This was in the days before steroids and most of these guys were all muscle.  (Although Haystack, at 600+ pounds, also had alot of flab).

Color commentary was provided by local Hall of Fame third baseman for the Picksburgh Pirates, Pie Traynor, who also did these cheesy live ads for a local heating & ventilation company.  8)

Sideline antics were provided by Ringside Rosie (Ann Buckalew), a local septugenarian who was known to wave a rubber chicken disapprovingly at the villian of the day.

You don't see entertainment like this developed by local TV stations anymore.   :-\\

http://www.chillertheatermemories.com/sw118.jpg

http://www.chillertheatermemories.com/sw125.jpg

http://www.chillertheatermemories.com/sw119.jpg

Man,those were good times right there.  :)

Bruno will receive the Dapper Dan Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest sporting honor available in The Burgh.  Three other sportsmen have been so honored over the years... Dan Rooney, Joe Paterno, and Arnold Palmer.   8)


Wow, including Bruno, those are the only four sports people from Pittsburgh who've received the award? It's amazing to think of all the other great sports people who've played in Pittsburgh, like Roberto Clemente, Mario Lemieux and Joe Greene(just to name a few), who haven't gotten the award.

Wow, including Bruno, those are the only four sports people from Pittsburgh who've received the award? It's amazing to think of all the other great sports people who've played in Pittsburgh, like Roberto Clemente, Mario Lemieux and Joe Greene(just to name a few), who haven't gotten the award.


Clemente (1962, 1966), and Lemieux (1986, 1989) were awarded the Dapper Dan Athlete of the Year award twice, and Joe Greene won the award in 1975.  This year, Pittsburgh Penguin Evgeny Malkin received it.  :)

The Lifetime Achievement Award is much more rare.  8)


When I think about it, in the 1960's we had no bigger heroes in The Burgh than Bruno and Roberto.  Good times for sure...  :)

Clemente (1962, 1966), and Lemieux (1986, 1989) were awarded the Dapper Dan Athlete of the Year award twice, and Joe Greene won the award in 1975.  This year, Pittsburgh Penguin Evgeny Malkin received it.  :)

The Lifetime Achievement Award is much more rare.  8)

Still, those players had careers that were so great, you'd think they'd be worthy of lifetime awards.

Still, those players had careers that were so great, you'd think they'd be worthy of lifetime awards.


and those are the real legends.