I had the fortune to meet Andre when I was 5. I'll never forget it. He was the most gentle giant ever. He reaches down, scoops me up like a feather. I was terrified for a moment but he smiled and said " you're not a Hogan fan are you?" Obviously seeing my Hogan shirt. Then he grinned and gave me a little hug (being mindful not to crush me) while letting my grandfather take a couple Polaroids of us. Best day ever! Such a nice man.
I met Andre for a second in around '89. He was wrestling the Junk Yard Dog later that night. I was standing in the hallway of the stadium and he came from behind me and in the loudest , deepest voice I ever heard said " excuse me boss!!!" As he put both hands on my shoulders as he walked past me. I never felt smaller in my life. I also never felt a more gentle touch before or since. What a man.
Say what you will about André Roussimoff but from every account recorded he was one of the most endearing, benevolent and cherished human beings to ever exist. God bless that man!
Never met Andre, but saw him wrestle in 1975. When he walked to the ring ,the through the crowd, he was not only the biggest human in the arena. He was the biggest thing in the arena. He was still near his prime, standing straight . Just massive.
@kev docks that's a lie. Cause Harley Race was one of only two guys Andre was scared of and I knew Harley for years. Harley would always pay his tab, and said it's tradition for every wrestler to pay for their tab and 10 pct tip cause they know bartenders and waitresses don't get paid much.
@@jackson5781 10%? I have been in the hospitality industry my entire adult life, and 10% is a fucking insult ; Especially when you provide excellent service.
Other than ric flair of all ppl. He's too busy reminiscing in the middle of telling them he usually just ends with "ya that was a good time". Jake, pantera, nash, austin, hennan, and so many others are amazing. Ddp is great
I remember reading a story about Andre where Hogan got him a 9 bottle case of his favorite wine for his birthday while they were touring Japan. Hogan was still green as goose shit at the time, and he knew by then that getting on Andre's bad side was a really bad idea, and since Andre was basically the unwritten boss of the locker room, it's better to make nice than not. So they go out to the bus to travel to their venue for the day, and Andre sits in the very back with his case and Hogan sits in front of him. After about an hour of the drive Andre kicks the back of Hogan's seat. "PISS BREAK", he bellows, and they stop the bus. Hogan asks him how many bottles of wine he had drunk by that point, and Andre replies 'All of them, boss." 9 bottles of wine in an hour. The man was the living definition of "having a hollow leg".
I saw Andre at a restaurant while on a family vacation in Quebec way back in the early 80s. He pretty much had one of everything on the menu. He was a true giant. I have never seen a man that big it was insane. We were seated pretty close to him and I will never forget that night. A truelly very nice person as well.
met Andre back in 1989... Stared at him in AWE! im 6'2 260! I vividly remember his head.. huuge! couldnt describe it to you, you would have to see to believe
It's interesting that the many of our most ancient building's/doorways around the world have entrances/door's that are massive and extremely tall. The word is that at one time giant's were very common. All of the photos for the most part as well as bones from giant's have been hidden. Andre must have had to hire independent seamstresses to sew many of his clothes or Taylor's and shoe maker's. Maybe handmade, custom size bed. He used a jacuzzi for a bathtub on his ranch. I always wanted to meet him. Such a wonderful giant 🐂💚♉💌
I was 13 years sitting in a pizzaria on the Atlantic City boardwalk when I saw Andre and Arnold Skaaland casually walking along the boardwalk. Immediately my sister, our friend and I darted from our seats and ran out the store to catch up to him. Andre did not disapoint.....he was so hugeeeeee and he and Skaaland were completely friendly to us. We watched Andre wrestle at the Steele pier later that night. Awesome memorable encounter
All my life I wanted to be a Giant, I'm only 5,11" and one of the smallest in my family. Sad to think Andre would've traded places with me in a minute just to feel normal and not stared at everywhere he went. The more story's I hear about the Giant the more I realize he was nothing short of a Living Legend. Rest in Paradise Big Fella🙏🏻
I love hearing these old stories of Andre and the crew! Damn 116, 65, 44, and 38 beers?! I drank 21 beers on my 21st birthday back in 1990 at 160lbs! I don’t remember ever drinking more than that and I don’t want to!
These dudes always embelish how many drinks they had. Andre for sure would have drunk a crazy amount and probably could do, due to his size. I tend to believe most crazy Andre stories I hear. However for the other dudes even 38 is a bit too many to be legit. 21, is a damn fine effort on your part!
Listening to Ken Patera tell this story brings back many memories of my youth. And, now, thanks for the story, we now know when old matches had benders the night before, or in this case the morning...lol
Well...this makes me feel leagues better about drinking a fraction of what they drank...Captain Lou going back to Vodka after 30 beers is fucking insane.
I'm puking at 7 beers. I'm a weakling and not much of a drinker. I'm a cheap drunk though which is a good thing. Imagine having to drink over 100 beers to get wasted? Most people couldn't afford that kind of habit for a week!
he was a giant, came from the land of wine and champagne and went to the land of "miller light", what would you expect that he passes out after 10 beers?
I met Andre when i was working part time at a construction site in high school[I was 16 in 1977]. Andre was there helping Tony Senger lay carpet. For thoes who don't know Tony was Canadian Super heavywieght Arm Whrestling Champion. Andre would carry the rolls of carpet on his shoulders chucking them in the different apts and Tony would install the carpet. Amazingly strong. When you see him carry 4 rolls at a time, you definitely knew he was super humanely strong
I got to meet Andre in 83 or 84 just before a match in Utah. He was the kindest person. Signed the program and took a picture of me standing next to him and my little bother on his shoulders. I've always been tall, I'm 6'4 now, and I was around 6' at the time. He dwarfed me. I've not been able to find that picture for years. I've got no idea where it is but wish I had it.
"So and so had 100, so and so had 70, i had 60, this guy only had 40... ....Captain Lou quit at 30 and went straight to vodka... he was a hardcore alcoholic." - an actual thing he just said.
There is a big difference though. I remember going through 35-40 or so Bud Lights in a 14 hour sitting of playing poker on pokerstars about 10 years ago when US players could still play on that site. There is no way I could drink actual alcohol like vodka like that. Actually I haven't drank vodka straight up since I turned 21 and I'm 36 right now. Even mixing it with Orange Juice is hard on the body.
Drank about 30 beers once back in college over the course of at least 12 hours. I was wrecked for 2 days after that. The Giant did 15 in an hour. Amazing.
You know the song 99 bottles of beer on the wall? Andre did that that in its entirety, THEN drank 17 more. Legendary. Dangerously, legendary. The man was a living Greek myth. He is responsible for putting over hulk Hogan. The most recognizable name in wrestling. That shit wouldnt be if Andre didnt allow it. The amount of respect for him was uncanny, and him and hogan at wm3 was the biggest reason the golden age of wrestling got its name. R.i.p. Andre. Seriously, he made my childhood so awesome.
That body slam would have never worked if Andre didn’t use Hogan’s knee to go up and helped him tip over in one motion. Watch the match, Andre could have killed Hogan if he wanted to. 😲😲😲🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽😉😉😉
When I Was 11 I Had The Privilege And Honor Of Meeting Andre And Bobby Heenan At The First Summer Slam, In 88 At The Garden While Getting Refreshments With My Uncle.
I saw Andre in Joplin,Mo!He wrestled swede Hanson and Rip Hawk! I was a teenager in awe cause swede was a big man,but Andre made him look like a little boy.Precious memories how they linger!
***** At 7'4" and 500 pounds, Andre the Giant could have been famous for his size alone. His drive, talent and ambition, however, proved to be as big as Andre himself, and the wrestler became legendary for his achievements in and out of the ring.
Andre was 6'11" but was billed as 7'4". Pro wrestling often exaggerates. Look at the picture of Andre standing next to Wilt Chamberlain, who was 7'1". Andre is obviously shorter than Wilt.
I met Ken Patera in a bar after a match in our town. I was with my Dad. Back in the day when your dad watched you, it wasn't unusual to go to the bars with them. I remember Ken sat at the bar next to us, He struck up conversation with my dad, and was one the nicest guys. He bought me a pop and peanuts, and sure enough some fool tried to challenge him. Ken told him if he wanted some to go outside with him. The guy calmed down and nothing happened. The owner of the bar still kicked the guy out and apologized to Ken. It's something how these wrestlers always had to put up with stuff. Andre more than any of them.
How stupid was that other dude? I saw Patera in the 1972 Olympics, and he was unbelievable. He was recognized legitimately as one of the strongest humans in the world. Even if the other guy got in his best shot, all Patera needed was one to end the fight. Did that guy have a friggin' death wish?
Ludwig Fan André the Giant and Wade Boggs drinking contest oh man! Wade Boggs can drink 107 in a day including at the airport, the layovers and the plane ride. Andre the Giant vs Wade Boggs would have been legendary.
Andre himself has said in more than one interview that he can and used to drink over 100... in his own words he speaks about doing this, why do people think it's bullshit??
Because people are stupid buddy Heck I am 150 and stand 6'1 Back in the late 80's It was nothing to go to lunch on Friday and start to drink Have 24 before people started to drink after supper beer Friday night was a 40 of rye and 12 more beer Saturday 8 am breakfast and draft By noon it was bring a pitcher to each of us at the table every 20 minutes untill someone pukes then bring them every 10 minutes I use to drink 12 oz draft glass in under 8 seconds This went on till the bar closed at3 am then off to a house party and drink whatever was around Sunday was 8 am breakfast and coffee with bailies and by lunch back into the beer and rye Back at work Monday morning waiting for noon so you can have a few beer and wake up Many were there in those years Many could not handle it One guy I remember use to wear a motorcycle helmet when he would drink with us knowing it would kill him for months after wards Do people believe the stories No because they can't believe things they do not see I know I lived it and still can out drink most people when someone thinks they can drink It's not that hard as some people have the endurance and ability to do things the average people can not do
My dad drove him and Dusty around Detroit one night and Andre drank 3 cases of beer in between bar hopping all night. My dad said he drank more at the bars. Unbelievable
The first time I met Andre was in Charlotte NC I was visiting my uncle an he took me to wrestling matches an I was 5 and I got the chance along with 7 other kids to meet Andre an I was in awe an I said I didn't think humans could be that size so we all eat oreo cookies with him it was truly amazing for me
Playing quarters as a teenage buck. I could out drink ANYONE!!! Turns out that's not a good thing. Dang it. Didn't even get me laid!!!!! But I did earn respect from other heavy drinkers. That hasn't served me well either!!! DANG IT!!!!!! Oh well. Being Irish has no respect anymore. LOL
