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Often the secret lives of athletes and celebrities are more complex than we see on the surface.
The history of some of the legends of wrestling includes Ric Flair, Andre the Giant, Ted DiBiase, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and it is more than just their accomplishments in the ring.
Andre the Giant stood over 7 feet tall and was rumored to weigh over 400 pounds, often feuding with Hulk Hogan in the ring. But what the casual fan may know best about him was his acting and iconic role in cult-hit, The Princess Bride.
Ric Flair had one of the most successful and longest-running careers in professional wrestling, winning 16 titles over his illustrious 40-year career.
Similarly to wrestlers transitioning to amazing things outside of the ring, there are plenty of examples of former football players making impacts in their “second careers.”
For example, before he became the face for the iconic video game, John Madden was a player and hall-of-fame coach for the Oakland Raiders.
Another example is Troy Aikman. Before he was paired with Joe Buck to form one of the better NFL game day broadcasts, Aikman was the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, winning three Super Bowls along the way.
Before Michael Strahan was a host of Good Morning America, he was a record-holding, Super Bowl XLII champion as part of the New York Giants. In fact, in Super Bowl XLII, bettors who took the supremely overmatched Giants watched in absolute glee as they took down the 12-point favorite New England Patriots who came in at an impressive 18-0 record.
So if best betcha bets were available, a simple 100 dollar bet would indeed have a very nice payday.
But let’s not go too far down the rabbit hole of what could have been in NFL betting. Instead, let’s take a look back at the one person who has been a combination of football and wrestling star, to become a ubiquitous celebrity in his own right.
In other words, let’s take a look at the history of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and a little of his background.
Growing up as a son and grandson of professional wrestlers, The Rock had no problems standing up for himself and often found himself in trouble. In high school, standing 6’4” and 220 pounds, he had a conversation with the football coach.
Realizing football could be a vehicle toward higher education, he threw himself at learning football with the discipline and vigor he is known for today.
It didn’t take long for colleges to notice Dwayne Johnson. Coming out of his Junior year, he had athletic offers to UCLA, Penn State, Clemson, Florida State, and “The U,” or the University of Miami. In the early 1990s, “The U” was college football royalty, boasting some of the best talent ever to matriculate on campus.
The hard work, discipline, and team-oriented nature of playing football were foundations for the success that “The Rock” would experience later in life.
In fact, the talent surrounding the 1991 team at Miami had Leon Searcy at OT with Jesse Armstead, Michael Barrow, and Darrin Smith at LB to bolster the work of Sophomore Dwayne Johnson at Defensive Tackle.
The team compiled a 12-0 record, beating opponents a combined 225 - 52 with 3 scoreless games on their way to being named AP national champions.
If not for a shoulder injury that relegated Johnson to a more backup role to future hall-of-fame converted tight-end Warren Sapp, according to DL coach Ed Orgeron, Johnson had all the ability to become an All-American.
After graduation, the undrafted Johnson signed on to the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League but couldn’t hold on to a roster spot due to lingering health issues.
Shortly after being released from the Stampeders, Johnson pivoted from an athlete to an athletic performer, taking on his iconic alter-ego, The Rock.
But as luck would have it, Johnson had an even better All-American opportunity as the larger-than-life good-guy wrestler converted to action hero.
An injury in college (only to be replaced by a future Hall-of-Famer), growing fame in professional wrestling, and a personality that crossed every racial and gender divide ultimately were positive factors in Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s career and life arc.
It was football that set him on the journey that we’ve all had a chance to share in as well.
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