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WWE Hall Of Fame Induction 2011: Hacksaw Jim Duggan Played For The Atlanta Falcons

WWE Hall of Fame 2011 induction ceremony host Jerry Lawler opened the night by calling Hulk Hogan a great American, which made everybody boo. He then brought out Ted DiBiase to introduce "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. He called Duggan a longtime friend, an even more deserving Hall of Famer than himself, and threatened to make it rain in Philips Arena. [Joe Johnson joke.]

Just learned from DiBiase that Duggan went to SMU on a football scholarship (well before the Pony Excess days) and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. Totally never knew that. New favorite wrestler. This sent me to his Wikipedia page, where I learned he has a degree in plant biology.

Duggan said he started carrying a two-by-four because he couldn't do any damage with the feather boa he had been toting, the American flag thing sprang from a feud with America-hating DiBiase. He told a story about beating "Stunning" Steve Austin "so bad he had to shave his head and change his name," and talked about sticking around long enough to wrestle DiBiase's son.

Not to be a commie, but I had had enough of the one very loud patriot in the crowd who kept trying to start a "USA!" chant and finding no takers.

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Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.