Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Hulk Hogan runs wild with Phillies
Hulkamania was running wild at Philadelphia Phillies camp in Clearwater, Fla., on Friday as Hulk Hogan made an appearance at the team’s Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 64-year-old Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, has been out of the professional wrestling limelight since the summer of 2015 when a racist rant recorded in 2007 cost him his job with World Wrestling Entertainment.
He hasn’t made too many notable public appearances since then. Friday was one of his biggest as he spent time mingling with Phillies fans, players and coaches, including former manager Charlie Manuel who played baseball in Japan while Hogan was in the country enjoying success in the wrestling ring in the early 1980s.
He even found time to take an apparent dig at former boss, WWE CEO Vince McMahon.
According to Marcus Vanderberg, senior MLB editor for Yahoo Sports, Hogan was asked during the Phillies broadcast if he could drop one last leg drop on someone, who would it be?
“I would drop that leg right on Vince McMahon’s head.”
Nailed it
Bobby Portis (Little Rock Hall, Arkansas Razorbacks) may have a future as a wordsmith when his basketball-playing days are done. The Chicago Bulls forward went to Twitter on former teammate Derrick Rose’s signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday with a one-word description to say what others might have been thinking. “Timberbulls,” Portis tweeted. The simple one word tweet was in response to the swelling number of former Bulls in the Timberwolves’ locker room, starting with head Coach Tom Thibodeau, who coached Chicago between 2010 and 2015, and his assistant coaches Andy Greer, Ed Pinckney and Rick Brunson. Rose joins Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, John Lucas III and Aaron Brooks among former Bulls players on Minnesota’s roster. How far the Timberbulls progress this season remains to be seen, but they’ll continue their journey with a fresh nickname, thanks to Portis.
Fighting words
Legacy Fighting Alliance at the Arena Theatre in Houston was set for the return of Nick Newell.
Newell, who is missing part of his left arm just below the elbow, has amassed a 13-1 professional record. His only loss came at the hands of UFC’s No. 6-ranked lightweight contender Justin Gaethje, and his win total went up to 14 after a dominant performance against Sonny Luque on Friday.
After a short feeling-out process, Newell was able to take Luque down. He quickly moved to the back and looked for the rear-naked choke. At just 2:10 of the first round, Luque tapped.
Newell wasted no time after the tap to make his career intentions known. He looked into the camera and said, “UFC, I’m coming baby!”
During the postfight interview, Newell continued to make his case.
“I’m one of the best fighters in the world, and I belong in the UFC. That’s it, that’s final,” Newell said. “I’ve gave you 14 reasons why I belong in the UFC. I’m one of the best fighters in the world, and I’ve proved it 14 times.”