'Bam Bam' Bigelow dead at 45
Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow, the tattooed heavyweight professional TV wrestler, has died. He was 45. He was found dead in his home in Florida on Friday, his brother, Todd Bigelow, said yesterday.
Scott "Bam Bam" Bigelow,
the tattooed heavyweight professional TV wrestler, has died. He was 45.
He was found dead in his home in Florida on Friday, his brother, Todd Bigelow, said yesterday.
Preliminary autopsy results did not show signs of foul play, but a cause of death will not be known until toxicology tests are completed in a few weeks, said Pasco County sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin.
Bigelow had been struggling with a persistent infection and diabetes, his brother said.
Bigelow wrestled with Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant during his two decades as a sports entertainer. Bigelow's flame-tattooed scalp and 6-2, 400-pound frame made him recognizable in and out of the ring. He retired in 2004.
A service is planned for Friday in his hometown of Neptune, N.J.
Baseball
* Former Phillies outfielder Jason Michaels finalized a $4.25 million, 2-year contract to remain in Cleveland. Michaels started in leftfield for the Indians last season, batting a career-low .267 with nine homers and 55 RBI. Michaels is expected to share time this season with another former Phillies outfielder, David Dellucci.
* Righthander Ramon Ortiz and the Twins agreed to a $3.1 million, 1-year contract. Ortiz was with Washington last season.
Olympics
* Los Angeles and Chicago submitted detailed plans for the 2016 Summer Olympics to the U.S. Olympic Committee, a major step in the process to decide which city will bid for the games next year. The USOC Evaluation Commission will travel to Los Angeles on Feb. 28 and to Chicago on March 5 for 2-day inspections. The USOC will announce its applicant city on April 14. The candidate city must be submitted to the International Olympic Committee on Sept. 15. The host will be chosen in 2009.
* The World Anti-Doping Agency is revamping its code to allow more leniency in minor, accidental cases while getting tougher against serious drug cheats.
Sport Stops
* Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson pleaded not guilty in Phoenix to charges of drug possession and driving under the influence of drugs.
* Duquesne University will begin offering football scholarships when it moves into the Northeast Conference as an associate member in 2008. Duquesne will remain an Atlantic 10 member in most other sports.
* An investigation began in Poland into an accident during a World Cup event that left Czech ski jumper Jan Mazoch in a coma with brain injuries.
* Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic said David Beckham will serve out the final 6 months of his contract before joining the Los Angeles Galaxy, of Major League Soccer. *