Bridget
01-22-2003, 05:18 AM
Villain wrestler 'Sheik' dies at 76
By Detroit News wire services
WILLIAMSTON, Mich. -- The Sheik is dead.
Pro wrestling villain Edward "The Sheik" Farhat, who generations of fans loved to hate, died Saturday in Williamston near Lansing at 76 of heart failure, said his son, Edward Farhat Jr.
"Perhaps no other wrestler is more responsible for influencing the current generation of 'hardcore' wrestling than the one and only Arabian madman known as The Sheik," Steve Slagle wrote in The Ring Chronicle.
The story behind The Sheik was that he was from a wealthy, aristocratic Middle Eastern family. His costume included a kaffiyeh Arabic head covering, and his trademark dirty fighting style included carrying a jagged piece of wood with which to "secretly" cut his rivals.
"His bloody, emotional battles with Bobo Brazil, Buddy Rogers, Antonio Rocca, Johnny Valentine and Harley Race were the stuff of legends, not to mention box office gold," Slagle wrote.
Farhat was born in Lansing, one of 10 children of Lebanese immigrants. After concealing his age of 17 to join the Army during World War II, Farhat was recruited by pro wrestling promoter Burt Ruby in Detroit in 1950.
In the 1960s and '70s, he was a star of the Big Time Wrestling circuit. Farhat also became an owner of Big Time Wrestling, the Michiagn franchise of the National Wrestling Alliance.
Farhat is survived by wife Joyce, sister Eva Brunk, brother Moses Farhat, sons Edward and Thomas, and four grandchildren. His funeral is at 11 a.m. today at St. Mary Catholic Church in Williamston.
<MARQUEE BEHAVIOR=alternate >Sit by the homely girl, youll look better by comparison.
</MARQUEE>
http://smilies.crowd9.com/otn/other/loki3.gifChupa ser vocˆ
By Detroit News wire services
WILLIAMSTON, Mich. -- The Sheik is dead.
Pro wrestling villain Edward "The Sheik" Farhat, who generations of fans loved to hate, died Saturday in Williamston near Lansing at 76 of heart failure, said his son, Edward Farhat Jr.
"Perhaps no other wrestler is more responsible for influencing the current generation of 'hardcore' wrestling than the one and only Arabian madman known as The Sheik," Steve Slagle wrote in The Ring Chronicle.
The story behind The Sheik was that he was from a wealthy, aristocratic Middle Eastern family. His costume included a kaffiyeh Arabic head covering, and his trademark dirty fighting style included carrying a jagged piece of wood with which to "secretly" cut his rivals.
"His bloody, emotional battles with Bobo Brazil, Buddy Rogers, Antonio Rocca, Johnny Valentine and Harley Race were the stuff of legends, not to mention box office gold," Slagle wrote.
Farhat was born in Lansing, one of 10 children of Lebanese immigrants. After concealing his age of 17 to join the Army during World War II, Farhat was recruited by pro wrestling promoter Burt Ruby in Detroit in 1950.
In the 1960s and '70s, he was a star of the Big Time Wrestling circuit. Farhat also became an owner of Big Time Wrestling, the Michiagn franchise of the National Wrestling Alliance.
Farhat is survived by wife Joyce, sister Eva Brunk, brother Moses Farhat, sons Edward and Thomas, and four grandchildren. His funeral is at 11 a.m. today at St. Mary Catholic Church in Williamston.
<MARQUEE BEHAVIOR=alternate >Sit by the homely girl, youll look better by comparison.
</MARQUEE>
http://smilies.crowd9.com/otn/other/loki3.gifChupa ser vocˆ