Good SpOrts babyand me W51 Three Jews In Tights Scott Warheit AppleTree Staff Writer B ill Goldberg, Scott "Raven" Levy and Dean (Simon) Malenko — household names for the average 4-5 million people who watch World Champi- onship Wrestling on a weekly basis. These three men have a lot in common: all have been, at one point, world champions, and all share their Jewish heritage. Bill Goldberg, the former Atlanta Falcon football player, is new on -: the wrestling scene. However, he . is t n h e most popular man in WCVV today. Fans by the thousands chant his name during WCW's i weekly TV broadcasts, "WCW i Monday Nitro" and "WCW Thun- der." After only a short time in the sport, Goldberg found a following : because of his athletics, move- : ments and his quick work beating opponents. Most of his matches lasted under one minute as Gold- ; berg would tackle opponents with i a "Spear" and his finisher, the "Jackhammer." Goldberg quickly moved up the WCW ranks and became the U.S. champion, having a record of 75- O. Ironically, he defeated Levy to : claim the title. Goldberg racked up more impres- 1 sive wins and on a "Monday Nitro," got his shot at the world title. After defeating Scott Hall, 1 Goldberg defeated the best-known professional wrestler in history, Hol- lywood Hulk Hogan. Even Hogan Scott Warheit, an admitted sports fanatic, attends North Farm- ! . ington High School. could not fight his way out of the "Jackhammer." Goldberg, in a recent interview with Blake Eskin of the Jewish I Weekly Forward, said he was "thinking of requesting the Star of David on my trunks." Levy has taken a different road to the top. After floating around 1 WCW, and the better-known World Wrestling Federation, Levy -i found himself in Extreme Champi- 1 onship Wrestling of Philadelphia. I He became champ, infamous for his extreme and violent style of wrestling. After he conquered ECW, he went back to WCW and was given time on TV to spew his views about whatever he saw fit. He also attacked opponents and defeated Diamond Dallas Page for the WCW United States Title. Raven, while he doesn't have the I fan following Goldberg does, has his own "flock," a group of wrestlers who look to Levy as their leader. Dean Simon, or Dean Malenko as he is known to the wrestling world, earned his fame as a techni- 1 cal wrestler. Like Levy, he became a i champion in ECW before moving 1 to WCW. Simon is a second-gener- anon superstar, as his father, Boris, , I also was a big name in the past. Dean won the U.S. title and has 1 had three reigns as crusierweight champ, becoming one of the first to accomplish such a feat; he's now trying to regain the belt from Chris Jericho. This year, Simon was named the number one, pound-for-pound, i wrestler in the world, by the most 1 respected wrestling magazine in the 1 world, Pro Wrestling Illustrated. ❑ ,• a/16 Witld g : La Shana Tova Loretta, Rita and the Girls (248) 855-3214 We accept VISA, MasterCard and American Express HOURS Monday - Friday 10:00-5:30 • Saturday 10:00-5:00 6718 Orchard Lake Road • West Bloomfield, MI (1/4 mile south of Maple Rd. in the West Bloomfield Plaza) 18 models in stock... Redwood & Pine MICHIGAN'S LARGEST PLAYGROUND RETAILER Delivery & Set-up available • We accept Visa, Mastercard & Discover AUBURN HILLS 2391 Pontiac Road (248)-373-0734 "Our 52nd Year" Hours:. Mon.-Fri. 8-5:30, Sat. 8-4 Gwr (248) 583-1300 fax: (248) 583-1305 31051 stephenson hwy madison heights, mi 48071 under new ownership DETROIT J'EWEIR MEWS Advertise in our new Entertainment Section! Call The Sales Department (248) 354-7123 Ext. 209 Detroit Jewish News 9/18 1998 181