Jim Wilson (football, professional wrestling)
| Jim Wilson | |
|---|---|
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| Birth name | James Mulligan Wilson |
| Born |
June 12, 1942 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Died | February 2, 2009 (aged 66) Atlanta, Georgia |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Jim Wilson |
| Debut | 1971 |
| Retired | 1985 |
James Milligan Wilson (June 12, 1942 – February 2, 2009) was a professional American football offensive lineman and a professional wrestler who is most noted for his attempts at starting a labor union for wrestlers. He is the co-author of a book called CHOKEHOLD: Pro Wrestling's Real Mayhem Outside the Ring which exposed certain unfair labor practices by various promoters, most of them National Wrestling Alliance members, but also including Vince McMahon and his World Wrestling Entertainment.
He had been a good athlete from his early years, overcoming a spinal curvature problem and was offered a football scholarship to the University of Georgia. Although recruited from high school as a fullback, because of his size he played both ways as an offensive and defensive lineman and was named All-American for his contributions as an offensive tackle during his time there; he was coach Vince Dooley's first All-American. Coach Dooley would comment at Wilson's funeral service that had he known of his accomplishments as a high school fullback, he would have handed Wilson the ball as well.
In 1964, he was drafted by the then-Boston Patriots of the American Football League and the San Francisco 49ers of the established National Football League; he signed with the 49ers. He was also voted into the 1965 All Rookie team. Wilson played in San Francisco for two seasons and then, at his request, was dealt to the Atlanta Falcons, who were just starting up. It was during his time with the Falcons that he was approached by Georgia wrestler and promoter Ray Gunkel to wrestle during the football off-season. He agreed to do so, as most NFL contracts at that time did not pay during the off season.
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