Ernie Ladd
The "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd
Date of birth	November 28, 1938
Place of birth	Rayville, Louisiana
Date of death	March 10, 2007 (aged 68)
Place of death	Franklin, Louisiana
Position(s)	Defensive tackle
College	Grambling
AFL Draft	1961 / Round 15
Career Highlights
Pro Bowls	AFL All-Star 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1961-1965 1966-1967 1967-1968	AFL San Diego Chargers AFL Houston Oilers AFL Kansas City Chiefs

Ernest Ladd (November 28, 1938 - March 10, 2007), nicknamed "The Big Cat," was an American collegiate and professional football player and a professional wrestler. Image File history File links Source: World Wrestling Entertainment File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Rayville is a town located in Richland Parish, Louisiana. ... Official language(s) de jure: none de facto: English & French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city Baton Rouge [1] Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33°N  - Longitude 89°W... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (70th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Franklin is a small city located in St. ... In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time. ... The defensive team or defense in American football or Canadian football, is the team that begins a play from scrimmage not in possession of the ball. ... This is a list of athletic conferences of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). ... Grambling State University is one of the best known Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. ... The American Football League (AFL, 1960 - 1969) stocked its teams in two ways: 1) Signing free agents (players whose contracts in other professional football leagues had expired, or who had no professional experience). ... Because another league was in competition for the class of 1961 college stars, the American Football League draft for 1961 graduates was actually held in 1960, with a six-round telephone draft on November 23rd, that saw the Buffalo Bills select Auburns Ken Rice as the overall first draft... The Pro Bowl is the National Football Leagues all-star game. ... The Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL include American Football League All-Star Games in their statistics for Pro Bowls. From 1961 through 1969, the AFL East All-Stars played the AFL West All-Stars, with the exception of 1965, when an AFL All-Star team played the... AFL logo The American Football League (AFL) was a professional league of American football that operated from 1960 to 1969. ... City San Diego, California Other nicknames Bolts, Super Chargers Team colors Navy Blue, White, and Gold Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer Owner Alex Spanos George Pernicano (Minority owner (3%)) General manager A.J. Smith Fight song San Diego Super Chargers League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... City Kansas City, Missouri Team colors Red, Gold, and White Head Coach Herman Edwards Owner The Hunt Family[1] General manager Carl Peterson Mascot K.C. Wolf (1989-present) Warpaint (1963-1988) League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (70th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... ...

Football career

The American Football League's San Diego Chargers selected the Grambling State University standout with their 15th pick in the 1961 draft. At 6'9" and 315 pounds, Ladd was arguably the biggest and strongest man in professional football during his era: 52-inch chest, 39-inch waist, 20-inch biceps, 19-inch neck, 20-inch calf, and size 18D shoes. (According to different sources, the tallest player in NFL history was Morris Stroud (1970 Chiefs) at 6'10", or Richard Sligh (1967 Raiders) at 7'0". The heaviest player in history was Aaron Gibson, at 410 pounds.) Ladd played in three AFL championship games, helping the Chargers win the American Football League title in 1963 with fellow teammate Earl Faison, both members of the original Fearsome Foursome. AFL logo The American Football League (AFL) was a professional league of American football that operated from 1960 to 1969. ... City San Diego, California Other nicknames Bolts, Super Chargers Team colors Navy Blue, White, and Gold Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer Owner Alex Spanos George Pernicano (Minority owner (3%)) General manager A.J. Smith Fight song San Diego Super Chargers League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960... Grambling State University is one of the best known Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. ... Morris Stroud, at 610, was the tallest player in NFL history. ... Earl Faison (born 1939) was an American college and professional football player. ... The Fearsome Foursome was a title first used in reporting American professional football, when referring to the dominating defensive line of the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League in the early 1960s, and to the Los Angeles Rams of the 1960s and 1970s. ...

Ladd spent the 1966 season playing for the Houston Oilers before moving in 1967 to the Kansas City Chiefs. There, with former Grambling teammate Buck Buchanan, he filled out what was probably the biggest defensive tackle tandem in history, and won another AFL title. Both Ladd and Buchanan are members of the Grambling State University Athletic Hall of Fame. (Another teammate was Bud Abell.) City New Orleans, Louisiana Team colors Old Gold, Black, and White Head Coach Sean Payton Owner Tom Benson General manager Mickey Loomis Mascot Gumbo League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1967–present) Eastern Conference (1967-1969) Capitol Division (1967; 1969) Century Division (1968) National Football Conference (1970-present) NFC West... City Kansas City, Missouri Team colors Red, Gold, and White Head Coach Herman Edwards Owner The Hunt Family[1] General manager Carl Peterson Mascot K.C. Wolf (1989-present) Warpaint (1963-1988) League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American... Junious Buchanan (Born September 10, 1940, in Gainesville, Alabama, Died July 16, 1992) was a former American Football defensive tackle who played for the Kansas City Chiefs. ... Bud Abell was an American college and professional football player. ...

Boston Patriots center Jon Morris said Ladd was so big, he blocked out the sun: "It was dark. I couldn’t see the linebackers. I couldn’t see the goalposts. It was like being locked in a closet." Ladd was an American Football League All-Star from 1962 through 1965. In 1981 he was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame. City Foxborough, Massachusetts Other nicknames The Pats Team colors Nautical Blue, New Century Silver, Red, and White Head Coach Bill Belichick Owner Robert Kraft General manager Bill Belichick Mascot Pat Patriot League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960–69) Eastern Division (1960–69) National Football League (1970–present) American Football... Jon Morris was an American college and professional football player. ... A linebacker is a position in American and Canadian football. ... The Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL include American Football League All-Star Games in their statistics for Pro Bowls. From 1961 through 1969, the AFL East All-Stars played the AFL West All-Stars, with the exception of 1965, when an AFL All-Star team played the...

Wrestling career

Ladd started wrestling in 1961. As a publicity stunt, some wrestlers in the San Diego area challenged Ladd to a private wrestling workout. Before long, Ladd was a part-time competitor in Los Angeles, during football's off-season. Ladd became a huge draw in short order. Ladd became one of wrestling's most hated heels during the 1970s, as well as one of the first Black wrestlers to portray a heel character. In addition to riling crowds with his arrogant and colorful demeanor during interviews, all without being portrayed with any stereotyping, Ladd also gained infamy through use of his controversial taped thumb, which Ladd claimed was from an old football injury. Often, when Ladd appeared to be in serious trouble during a match, he'd walk out of the arena and accept a countout loss. This practice has since become known as "pulling an Ernie Ladd" in some circles. 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-Council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D)  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  498. ... In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character who is portrayed as behaving in an immoral manner, breaking rules or otherwise taking advantage of their opponents outside of the bounds of the rules of the match. ... For the 1996 Blur single, see Stereotypes (song). ...

In 1968, Ladd debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), where he became a mainstay until 1980. Ladd was managed by The Grand Wizard of Wrestling for much of the 1970s, and provided WWWF Champions Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund some of the toughest challenges of their respective title reigns^{[citation needed]}. Known for his immense size and power, it was a natural for Ladd to engage in feuds with other giants. His feud with André the Giant (who Ladd referred to as "Andre the Dummy" during interviews) was one of the most talked-about of the decade^{[citation needed]}. In the mid-1970s, Ladd's wrestling nickname was "The King", and he would wear an ornate crown to emphasize it. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Ernie Roth (born June 7, 1929 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, died October 12, 1983), best known as The Grand Wizard of Wrestling, also well known as Abdullah Farouk, was a professional wrestling manager of many infamous heels. ... The WWE Championship belt, April 11 2005 – August 20, 2006; September 18, 2006 – present The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Championship is a professional wrestling title. ... Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (born October 6, 1935), is a former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), holding the title across two reigns for over 12 years in total, as well as the longest world championship reign in professional... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Robert Louis Backlund (born August 14, 1949) is a former American professional wrestler and minor politician. ... André the Giant (May 19, 1946 – January 27, 1993) was a French professional wrestler and actor, born André René Roussimoff. ...

After leaving the WWF, Ladd ventured to the Mid-South territory promoted by Bill Watts. While in the Mid-South area, Ladd feuded with Paul Orndorff, Ray Candy, Junkyard Dog and served as a manager to Afa & Sika, the Wild Samoans. Ladd also had a decent run as part of a tag team with "Bad" Leroy Brown in the early 1980s. Bill Watts, (born on May 5, 1939 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), is a former American professional wrestler and promoter. ... Paul Orndorff (born October 29, 1949 in Brandon, Florida) is a former National Football League player and former professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation throughout the 1980s as Mr. ... Ray Candy was a professional wrestler for the Jim Crockett Promotions. ... Sylvester Ritter (December 13, 1953 – June 2, 1998) was a professional wrestler best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and Mid-South Wrestling as The Junkyard Dog. ... Afa may refer to: Afa (mythology) in the Polynesian mythology of Samoa Afa, a commune in Corsica The American Family Association. ... Binomial name Cervus nippon Temminck,, 1838 Subspecies The Sika Deer Cervus nippon is a typical member of the family Cervidae. ... Wild Samoans was the tag team of Afa & Sika in Mid-South Wrestling, National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). ... This is from a video clip of game footage taken by an unknown source from World of Warcraft (a Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game or MMORPG). ...

Ladd retired from wrestling in 1986. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995 and inducted the Junkyard Dog into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. Ladd died on March 10, 2007, having battled cancer since 2004.^[1] WWE Hall of Fame logo, 2004-present. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (70th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

Life after wrestling

Ladd also owned and operated Big Cat Ernie Ladd's "Throwdown" BBQ Resturaunt in New Orleans,LA until August 29, 2005 When it was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. in 2005, he ministered to Katrina evacuees at the Astrodome.

Championships and accomplishments

• Mid-South Wrestling Association

• Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
• Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
• Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Leroy Brown

• National Wrestling Alliance

National

• NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
• NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (1 time) – with The Assassin

Regional

• NWA Central States Tag Team Championship – with Bruiser Brody
• NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ole Anderson

• National Wrestling Federation

• NWF Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)
• NWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NWF North American Championship (2 times)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him # 205 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

• World Championship Wrestling

• 1994 inductee to the WCW Hall of Fame

• World Class Championship Wrestling

• WCCW American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)
• WCCW Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• World Wrestling Association

• WWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• WWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Baron Von Raschke

• World Wrestling Council

• WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• World Wrestling Federation

• 1995 inductee to the WWF Hall of Fame

The Universal Wrestling Federation was a regional professional wrestling federation founded by Leroy McGuirk, and later owned by Bill Watts. ... The Mid-South Louisiana Championship was a secondary title in Mid-South Wrestling from 1972 until 1983. ... The Mid-South North American Championship was the major singles title in Mid-South Wrestling from 1979 until the promotion became the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1986. ... The UWF Tag Team Championship was the tag team title in the Universal Wrestling Federation from 1986 until the promotion closed in 1987. ... This is from a video clip of game footage taken by an unknown source from World of Warcraft (a Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game or MMORPG). ... National Wrestling Alliance logo The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is the governing body for a group of independent professional wrestling promotions and sanctions various NWA championships. ... The NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship was the top singles championship in the National Wrestling Alliances Los Angeles territory (known officially as NWA Hollywood Wrestling) from 1968 until the promotion closed in 1982. ... The Assassin doing his stuff. ... Frank Goodish (June 18, 1946 - July 17, 1988) was a professional wrestler who garnered his greatest fame under the name Bruiser Brody. ... The NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship was a major title in Championship Wrestling Florida and is now the major title in NWA Florida. ... The NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship was a major title in Championship Wrestling Florida and is now the major title in NWA Florida. ... The NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship was the major singles title in the National Wrestling Alliances Florida territory, Championship Wrestling Florida. ... Ole Anderson Alan Rogowski (better known as Ole Anderson) was a professional wrestling performer and promotion executive. ... // What Is The NWF? National Wrestling Federation, or NWF, is a professional wrestling organization currently in development in the state of Oregon. ... Hulk Hogan on the cover of the November 1994 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion which, in its proper form, existed from 1988 to 2001. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... The WCW Hall of Fame was established in 1993 to honour some of the greats of the past (most of them appearing in the NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions before WCW existed). ... World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), also called the World Class Wrestling Association (WCWA), was a popular regional professional wrestling promotion run out of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. ... The World Class Heavyweight Championship was the major title in World Class Championship Wrestling. ... The NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship was a National Wrestling Alliance-sanctioned title defended in matches in which brass knuckles were worn by the combatants. ... The NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship is a title that has existed since the 1930s and has had several different names. ... Formed from the North American Wrestling Alliance and based primarily out of the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium under the banner of West Coast promoters Gene & Mike LeBell. ... The WWA World Heavyweight Championship was the singles championship in the Indianapolis-based World Wrestling Association from the promotions formation in 1964 until the late 1980s. ... Baron Von Raschke James Donald Raschke (born 1940 in Omaha, Nebraska) was a professional wrestler best known as Baron Von Raschke. ... The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Ricos two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association. ... The WWC North American Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling title defended in the Puerto Rican promotion, the World Wrestling Council. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... WWE Hall of Fame logo, 2004-present. ...

See also

• List of American Football League players

The following is a list of players that played for the 1960-1969 American Football League. ...

References

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 11 is the 70th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (71st in leap years). ...

External links

• Ernie Ladd - Museum of the Gulf Coast, Port Arthur, TX
• Ernie Ladd Memorial at Find A Grave