Bobo Brazil
Bobo was a guy you just had to love. Even at a time when racial problems were reaching a peak, Bobo Brazil was a popular wrestler with black and white fans alike. Brazil has been called the "Jackie Robinson of wrestling." My grandparents loved him.
Part of Bobo's appeal is that he was a gentle giant. He stood 6'4" and 280 pounds, a very big man especially by the standards of a few decades ago in wrestling when people were smaller and looked out of shape. In a classic confrontation of two fan favorites at Cobo Hall in Detroit, he even fought to a draw against Andre the Giant. Such was the stature of Bobo Brazil.
Aside from being the earliest successful black wrestler, Bobo Brazil will probably be remembered for a violent feud with the Sheik that actually lasted four decades! Bobo's finisher was a deadly series of head butts (in Bobo's case, it was called a coco butt) that kids in my neighborhood said was due to an operation where a metal plate was put in Bobo's head! Ah...the stuff of legends. Such a finisher would be considered lame today since the sport has evolved away from simple, basic moves towards risky, high-impact moves.