Article courtesy of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Lord of the ring: Tribute paid to 68-year-old wrestling star
Even at 68, Bruno Sammartino's handshake will make you grit your teeth if you're not ready for it.
Bears have smaller paws.
"I've been his physician for 10 years, and he's in better shape than anyone in here," Dr. Frank Santucci told about 80 people who paid tribute to Sammartino Tuesday, one day after the anniversary of his winning the World Wide Wrestling Federation championship 41 years ago, when he defeated Buddy Rogers in 48 seconds. Sammartino was nearly unbeatable.
Local government and business leaders who gathered to speak at the event at One Oxford Centre, Downtown, included Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Stephen A. Zappala Sr., Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and three prominent doctors: Santucci, Joseph Maroon and Frank Costa.
"If you want to get sick, now's the time," said Sammartino, who received proclamations from City Council, Onorato and County Council. The latter was sponsored by County councilman and fellow former professional wrestler John "Jumpin' Johnny" DeFazio, D-Shaler.
"He sold out Madison Square Garden more than anyone, any sports figure, any entertainer. He holds the record," DeFazio said. The Garden sold out for 187 of Sammartino's 211 appearances there.
Two movies and a book about Sammartino are expected to be released within the next few weeks, said Martin Lazzaro, a Downtown attorney who is a friend and business associate of the former wrestler.
Sammartino recently launched his Web site, www.brunosammartino.net.
They chose to honor Sammartino on the 41st anniversary of winning the title simply because that's when organizers were able to bring everyone together, Lazzaro said.
During the ceremony, Sammartino was compared to local legends Roberto Clemente, Mario Lemieux, Arnold Palmer and Franco Harris and likened to sports superstars Roger Bannister and Michael Jordan. His feats include picking up 625-pound "Haystack" Calhoun and slamming him down, collapsing the ring at Madison Square Garden.
Outside the ring, Sammartino has been a model of trustworthiness and inspiration to the Italian-American community and Pittsburgh community in general, Zappala, Onorato and others said.
When steroids began tarnishing his sport, "Bruno was the first to stand up and say, 'I don't do that, I won't do that, and you shouldn't do that,'" Maroon said.
"He's always been a decent person. I can say that about him," said DeFazio, who occasionally wrestled as Sammartino's tag-team partner.
Retired and living in Ross, Sammartino speaks in measured tones with an unpretentiousness that is utterly alien to today's professional wrestling shows.
"(When) I see these giants ... it makes me feel like, 'Who am I?'" Sammartino said. "I'm humbled by it all."
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