Image via Complex Original
21.
From his days as a highly-touted football recruit at the University of Georgia to his years of domination in WCW and WWE, William Scott Goldberg has had a storied career. Sprinkle in a brief stint in the NFL as well as several on-screen appearances, and the two-time world heavyweight champion has seemingly done it all.
Yesterday, Goldberg turned 48, though you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. The son of a classical violinist and an obstetrician/gynecologist, Bill Goldberg was raised in the Jewish tradition in Tulsa, Okla., and has taken that identity with him throughout his career.
From wrapping himself in tifilin at the request of the widows of four rabbis who were murdered at a synagogue in Israel, to being an outspoken activist for the ASPCA, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to this cat-loving, wrestler-spearing champion. In celebration of the big fellas’ bday, here are 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Bill Goldberg.
20.He went 176-0 after his WCW debut.
After joining the WCW in 1994, it took Goldberg just a year and a half to go 176-0. Talk about an efficient champion.
19.He once had a backstage fight with Chris Jericho in 2003.
The details behind the clash aren’t quite clear. In fact, it’s not entirely clear that there even was much of a fight at all, according to Goldberg. “…He knows the truth and I know the truth, and the reality is we’re grown men…" Keep your secrets, then.
18.He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams.
After being drafted by the Rams in 11th round of the 1999 draft, Goldberg would play 14 games for the Atlanta Falcons. His career ended abruptly following an abdominal tear suffered in a preseason game. Goldberg was claimed by the Panthers later on, but he was unable to make the team.
17.He sparred with Kimbo Slice for a SHOWTIME special.
After he retired from wrestling, Goldberg became a SHOWTIME analyst. One of his opportunities included sparring with Kimbo Slice, as Slice prepped to fight Tank Abbott in 2008.
16.He almost got his degree in psychology from the University of Georgia.
Technically, Goldberg says he’s three classes short of obtaining the degree, but maybe someone at UGA can pull some strings?
15.He has three cats named Moe, Larry, and Curly.
We would’ve thought Goldberg was a dog person, but it just goes to show you, never judge a book by its cover.
14.He is a vegetarian.
Apparently, one doesn’t have to eat red meat in order to be jacked and compete at the highest echelons of professional wrestling. Veggie game strong.
13.He ended Bret Hart's career with a botched kick to the head.
This is why we take issue with those who put down wrestling because it’s “fake.” Tell that to Bret Hart.
12.He threw out the first pitch at Marlins Park, then leveled some dude in a purple shirt.
Leave it to Goldberg to throw out the first pitch on “Legends of Wrestling” night, and then spear the crap out of some dude who barely saw it coming. Legend.
11.He owns a 1970 “Lawman” Super Boss 429 Mustang.
Apparently, Goldberg is quite the classic car connoisseur. He prefers American muscle, obviously, and has appeared on numerous car shows.
10.He has a pet goat named Goatberg.
We just hope he doesn’t ride the little guy around the house.
9.He's posed in several photos with kittens.
Not sure what it is about the kitties, but Bill Goldberg’s heart clearly melts around these little balls of fur.
8.He starred in Santa's Slay as what can only be described as the Santa from hell.
Santa’s Slay is a deliciously terrible horror/comedy, starring the one and only Bill Goldberg as Sata..we mean Santa. Seriously, though, if you want to see Goldberg running around killing people on Christmas for a little over an hour, we highly recommend.
7.He once put on Tefilin and recited the Shema.
It’s no secret that Bill Goldberg was raised Jewish. And just last month, following an attack in Israel, which left five dead in a synagogue assault, he appeared in this video to raise awareness for the incident.
6.He has his own podcast, Who's Next With Bill Goldberg.
Goldberg may no longer grace the wrestling wring, but he does tackle the airwaves on his weekly podcast. Tales from his storied career, celebrity phone-ins, and fan conversation are just the tip of the iceberg.
5.He was discovered by Lex Luger and Sting while rehabbing at their gym in Atlanta.
Train hard, kids, you never know whose watching.
4.He only lost five matches throughout his entire career.
Goldberg was the consummate champion. The only recorded defeats of his career came at the hands of Kevin Nash, Bret Hart, Booker T, Scott Steiner, and Triple H.
3.He's a spokesman for the ASPCA.
We already told you he loves cats and has a pet goat, so it should come as no surprise that Goldberg is an activist for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
2.He participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge…kind of.
Not sure how much this counts, considering Goldberg was already in a pool, but awareness for ALS is awareness nonetheless, right?
1.He chose to play football at Georgia thanks to a bottle of Wild Turkey.
Earlier this year, Goldberg went on Jim Ross’ podcast and shared the real reason why he chose Georgia over the many other school that recruited him to play football.
“…Again, what solidified my trip was a bottle of Wild Turkey that was handed to me as I was standing on top of a bar during my recruiting trip.”
Okay, then.