Journalistic Integrety at Stake, part 2

Paul Lundgren Feb 28, 2010 4 Comments

Personally, I didn’t care much about the accuracy of Jeff Tweedy quotes in various media, but I believe I’ve found a media issue of the utmost importance to our society.

In the Duluth News Tribune’s report about Superior High School wrestler Nikola Bogojevic winning the state championship in his weight class, this paragraph jumped out at me:

Moments later he grabbed Superior coach Bill Gedde and put him in an airplane spin — made famous by professional wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper — to celebrate the title.

Since when did Roddy Piper make the airplane spin famous? I remember Mike Rotunda using it as his signature maneuver in the 1980s, but I don’t remember ever seeing Piper do it. I mean, I suppose it happened, but I just don’t associate that move with Piper.

Am I right here?

By the way, congratulations to Bogojevic for his victory, his awesome season, and most of all putting his coach in an airplane spin. That’s epic.

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4 Comments

MJH

about 15 years ago 

The internets have no mention of Roddy Piper using the airplane either.

zeldfelder

about 15 years ago 

I think it was developed in the 1930s by the large, balding, sweaty and hairy wrestler guy with the big beer belly who growled while he spun Curly Howard above his head. 

At least I think it was. Maybe I'm wrong.

woodtick

about 15 years ago 

'Fly the Spinning Plane'?  Yeah, then Nick Bockwinkle used it as did Mad-Dog Vachon I think

mrashley

about 15 years ago 

I don't want the truth to get in the way of a good story, so airplane spin it was.  Coach Gedde was airborne, so good enough.  

Wrestling has become a niche sport that you do because you enjoy it, not for peer acceptance.  I never taught or coached Niko, but I have always heard good things about the guy.

Besides being the WI state champ I believe Niko holds the current record time for eating an Enger Tower burger at Gronk's.  I think he did it in under 17 minutes.

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