Turns out that bear is more famous than Rod Marinelli

You may have heard via the Fanhouse about Lions coach Rod Marinelli having wrestled a bear in high school. We all had a good laugh.

But it turns out that wasn't just any bear that Marinelli wrestled. It was Victor the Bear, the greatest wrestling bear who ever graced this earth. Although Marinelli is the head coach of the Lions - which may or may not be a well known job - and a Vietnam vet, he's not nearly as famous as Victor. Nor as distinguished.

Victor once appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. He also took on all comers during halftime at a 76ers game. And he was the main draw for a Pacers ABA game in the 70s. Marinelli is never going to appear on Letterman nor will he ever be the main draw for the Lions.

And man could this bear wrestle. Victor apparently had a career record of 2001-0-1. The one tie reportedly came against a pro football player who danced around the ring the whole time. Victor frequently took on pro wrestlers and once matched up against Rowdy Roddy Piper. He also beat Gary Hart in a steel cage match.

Marinelli, who wrestled Victor in 1966, seems to have caught Victor during the bear's minor league days. Anyway, the ass kicking Marinelli got from the bear probably pales in comparison to the beat down he's gotten while coaching the Lions. If Victor were still alive, maybe the Lions should have hired him.

And if you want to see Victor in action, here's a clip of him taking on a wrestler known as the Destroyer (who also provides the commentary). And if you think this is bizarre, wait until you see Victor's manager come out and take a swing at the Destroyer for illegally punching Victor. It's just like a Tyson fight, except Tyson is a bear and doesn't bite your ear off.


-WCK