Goldberg revs up new reality

Alex Marvez, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Published March 16, 2007 at midnight

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Bill Goldberg's love of cars is no bull.

The passion that one of pro wrestling's most memorable stars has for automobiles is evident on Bullrun, which is a new reality show that debuted this week on Tuesdays on Spike TV. Goldberg serves as host as 12 two-man teams compete in a cross-country race while driving a wide array of vehicles that include a 1968 Dodge Charger, 2003 Lamborghini and 2007 Scion TC.

"It's a show with an attitude and bad cars that obviously caters to Spike's core audience, which is wrestling fans, fight fans and car fans," Goldberg said in a telephone interview.

"It was a very eclectic group of people and cars. Not only were (the participants) funny but they were confrontational, which is what you need reality (show) contestants to be. These were good people at the end of the day and they knew their cars."

So does Goldberg, whose grappling earnings have helped him build a personal collection of 21 vehicles. Goldberg said his personal favorite is a 1970 Lawman Boss 429 Ford Mustang muscle car that was viewed by more than 250,000 GIs when sent overseas to entertain U.S. troops during the Vietnam War.

"I own the only one left in existence," said Goldberg, who served as host of the History Channel's Automaniac show in 2005.

With Total Nonstop Action Wrestling airing weekly on Spike (7 p.m. Thursdays), a tie-in with Goldberg seems natural. But Goldberg has put the brakes on returning to the grappling game for the first time since leaving World Wrestling Entertainment in 2004.

"If (TNA) were smart, they would give me what I wanted to put them on the map," said Goldberg, one of the industry's biggest draws while working for WWE (2003 to 2004) and World Championship Wrestling (1997 to 2001). "It would take the right price, the right schedule and mainly the right working environment . . . Obviously they're not (offering that), so good riddance."

Goldberg, 40, previously toyed with the idea of competing in mixed martial arts fighting but admits that window has closed because of his age. Goldberg, though, has gotten involved with MMA as a color commentator for the upstart EliteXC promotion on Showtime. Goldberg teamed with Mauro Renallo and Jay Glazer to call last month's debut show headlined by Renzo Gracie's controversial disqualification victory over Frank Shamrock and will return for EliteXC's next Showtime offering expected on May 5.

"You can't live on past accolades because they're not going to get you anywhere," Goldberg said. "When you get out of the wrestling business, you've got to grow up a little bit and reinvent yourself. "

• Legendary grapplers Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd, 68, and "Bad News" Allen Coage, 63, recently died.

Ladd, who died of cancer last Saturday, broke into wrestling during the 1960s while still playing in the NFL. He was a headline talent during the 1960s and 1970s who helped break color barriers for black performers in the Southern U.S.

Coage also was the first black American to win an Olympic medal in judo by capturing the bronze while representing the U.S. in the 1976 games. Coage then segued into pro wrestling as Bad News Allen and later Bad News Brown.

Coage is believed to have died of a heart-related ailment in Calgary, where he was a star for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling.

More of the Bill Goldberg interview can be found at www.wrestlingobserver.com. Questions can be sent to Alex Marvez c/o the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33301, or e-mailed to amarvez@sun-sentinel.com.

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