"Joe Scarpa, wrestling persona known as Chief Jay Strongbow" By Daniel E. Slotnik | New york times, April 07, 2012
NEW YORK - Joe Scarpa, who became one of the best-known professional wrestlers of the 1970s and ’80s after he took on the persona of Chief Jay Strongbow, an American Indian whose war dance foretold the downfall of many opponents, died Tuesday....
And I'm reading this in a Saturday newspaper?
Mr. Scarpa put on his feathered headdress in 1970 and joined Vincent McMahon’s World Wide Wrestling Federation as Chief Jay Strongbow, becoming one of many wrestlers who performed as ethnic caricatures in the 1970s and ’80s; the Iron Sheik and Mr. Fuji were among the others.
Ah, those halcyon days when the mind was molded by stereotypes and wrestling told you who to hate.
Mr. Scarpa, an Italian-American, bought into the role.
Chief Jay was an Italian guy from Philadelphia?
That's worse than being told it was fake!
In addition to his sleeper hold - a choke hold that appeared to render an opponent unconscious - he used signature moves like the tomahawk chop and the Indian death lock....
The Globe must have something like that. It's one of the reasons I don't post as much as I should, zzzzzzzzzzzz.
--more--"
Also see: In The Corner To My Left....
She lost.
