Ernie Ladd

Infobox AFLretired


caption=
position=Defensive Tackle
number=77
birthdate=birth date|1938|11|28
Rayville, Louisiana
deathdate=death date and age|2007|3|10|1938|11|28
Franklin, Louisiana
debutyear=1961
finalyear=1968
draftyear=1961
draftround=15
draftpick=7
college=Grambling
teams=
* San Diego Chargers (1961-1965)
* Houston Oilers (1966-1967)
* Kansas City Chiefs (1967-1968)
stat1label=Sacks
stat1value=38
stat2label=Games
stat2value=112
stat3label=Interceptions
stat3value=1
nfl=LAD166116
highlights=
* AFL All-Star (x4) (1962, 1963, 1964, 1965)
* All-Pro in 1961, 1964, and 1965
* San Diego Chargers HOF
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Ernest "Ernie" Ladd (November 28 1938 – March 10 2007), nicknamed "The Big Cat" was an American collegiate and professional football player and a professional wrestler.

Pro Football career

The American Football League's San Diego Chargers selected the Grambling State University standout with their 15th pick in the 1961 draft.cite news | author = Burkett, Harry| title = names makin’ news (the Wrestler) | work = The Wrestler/Inside Wrestling | publisher = Kappa Publications | id = Volume 15, 2007 | pages = 6-8 | date = June, 2007 | accessdate = 2007-07-08 ] At 6'9" and 315 pounds, Ladd was arguably the biggest and strongest man in professional football during his era: 52-inch chest, 39-inch waist, 20-inch biceps, 19-inch neck, 20-inch calf, and size 18D shoes. (According to different sources, the tallest player in NFL history was Morris Stroud (1970 Chiefs) at 6'10", or Richard Sligh (1967 Raiders) at 7'0". The heaviest player in history was Aaron Gibson, at 410 pounds.) Ladd played in three AFL championship games, helping the Chargers win the American Football League title in 1963 with fellow teammate Earl Faison, both members of the original Fearsome Foursome.

Ladd spent the 1966 season playing for the Houston Oilers before moving in 1967 to the Kansas City Chiefs. There, with former Grambling teammate Buck Buchanan, he filled out what was probably the biggest defensive tackle tandem in history, and won another AFL title. Both Ladd and Buchanan are members of the Grambling State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Boston Patriots center Jon Morris said Ladd was so big, he blocked out the sun: "It was dark. I couldn’t see the linebackers. I couldn’t see the goalposts. It was like being locked in a closet." Ladd was an American Football League All-Star from 1962 through 1965. In 1981, he was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame.

Wrestling career

Ladd started wrestling in 1961. As a publicity stunt, some wrestlers in the San Diego area challenged Ladd to a private wrestling workout. Before long, Ladd was a part-time competitor in Los Angeles, during football's off-season. Ladd became a huge draw in short order. Ladd became one of wrestling's most hated heels during the 1970s, as well as one of the first black wrestlers to portray a heel character. He riled crowds with his arrogant and colorful demeanor during interviews, all without being portrayed with any stereotyping, Ladd also gained infamy through use of his controversial taped thumb, which Ladd claimed was from an old football injury. Often, when Ladd appeared to be in serious trouble during a match, he'd walk out of the arena and accept a countout loss. This practice has since become known as "pulling an Ernie Ladd" in some circles.

Ladd wrestled for a number of different wrestling associations, including the World Wide Wrestling Federation where he was managed by The Grand Wizard of Wrestling. Known for his immense size and power, it was a natural for Ladd to engage in feuds with other giants, including a famous feud with André the Giant (whom Ladd referred to as "Andre the Dummy" during interviews). In certain areas, Ladd's wrestling nickname was "The King", and he would wear an ornate crown to emphasize it.. In other wrestling associations, he was "The Big Cat," and walked in with a big cowboy hat.

After leaving the WWWF, Ladd ventured to the Mid-South territory promoted by Bill Watts. While in the Mid-South area, Ladd feuded with Paul Orndorff, Ray Candy, and Junkyard Dog. He also served as a manager to Afa & Sika, the Wild Samoans. Ladd also had a decent run as part of a tag team with "Bad" Leroy Brown in the early 1980s.

Ladd retired from wrestling in 1986. He was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995. Ladd died on March 10 2007, having battled cancer since 2004. [cite web |url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770311008 |title=Ernie Ladd, hall of fame football player and wrestler, has died|accessdate=2007-03-11] ]

It has been reported in various wrestling magazines that he was friends with President Bush (41) and that he actively followed his career.

Life after wrestling

Ladd also owned and operated Big Cat Ernie Ladd's "Throwdown" BBQ Restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana until August 29, 2005, when it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In the hurricane's aftermath, he ministered to Katrina evacuees at the Astrodome. He was a friend of WWE Raw commentator Jim Ross. Ernie Ladd also appeared in the tv show That 70's Show entitled "That Wrestling Show." He was in the locker room with The Rock, who was playing his father "Soul Man" Rocky Johnson, whom Eric & Red were seeking an autograph from.

Championships and accomplishments

*Central States Wrestling:*NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bruiser Brody

*Championship Wrestling from Florida:*NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*Georgia Championship Wrestling:*NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ole Anderson

*NWA Big Time Wrestling:*NWA American Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time):*NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*NWA Hollywood Wrestling:*NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (3 times)

*NWA Tri-State | Mid-South Wrestling Association:*Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Championship (2 times):*Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Leroy Brown:*NWA Arkansas Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*NWA North American Heavyweight Championship "(Tri-State version)" (4 times):*NWA United States Tag Team Championship "(Tri-State version)" (1 time) – with The Assassin

*National Wrestling Federation:*NWF Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time) (First and Only):*NWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*NWF North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times) (First)

*World Championship Wrestling:*WCW Hall of Fame (Class of 1994)

*World Wrestling Association:*WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Baron Von Raschke [cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/in/wwa/in-wwa-t.html |title=W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis) |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

*World Wrestling Council:*WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*World Wrestling Federation:*WWF Hall of Fame (Class of 1995)

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*PWI ranked him # 205 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

See also

* List of American Football League players

References

External links

* [http://www.remembertheafl.com/1965ToppsChargers.htm#ErnieLadd Ladd's 1965 Topps football card]
* [http://www.midsouthwrestling.com/ErnieLadd.html TRIBUTE PAGES for Ernie Ladd]
* [http://www.museumofthegulfcoast.org/Content/Personalities/Sports_Legends/Ernie_Ladd Ernie Ladd - Museum of the Gulf Coast, Port Arthur, TX]