by Johnny Guatemala
Aug. 15, 2007
Like father, like son?
MEMPHIS-- In a stunning announcement, international basketball star Pau Gasol admitted that WWE wrestling legend "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan is his father.
Gasol, 27, who plays center for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, seemed just as surprised delivering the news at his impromptu press conference as media sources did receiving it.
"I never really knew who my father was growing up, but the puzzle pieces started to fit together after I met Jim," said the 7-foot Spaniard. "We look alike, we have similar open-mouthed facial expressions, and we both share a fondness for wearing royal blue underwear hitched up over our navels."
The two athletes met several months ago at the Memphis Pyramid, where the Grizzlies play their home games. Previous to a match against the Houston Rockets, Gasol took to the floor early to get in some pre-game shots to work on his slumping percentages. While waiting impatiently for roadies to assemble the basketball court after the previous night's WWE event, he spotted Duggan conversing with a promoter.
Gasol had never met Duggan before, but mentioned that he seemed familiar.
"I've seen him on television when I was young, shouting 'USA! USA!' I thought he was funny hitting the Earthquake with lumber at the 1990 Survivor Series. That's why I walked up to him to say hello. But when I stood next to him, I realized he was very familiar to me," said Gasol.
Duggan, 53, was taken aback as well. After some initial reservations, he conceded to Gasol's request to get a paternity test, and found he was his father. Duggan could not identify the scenario on how he became Gasol's father. According to the wrestler, the best he could explain was that he spent alot of time in the 80's with Andre the Giant chasing after "coke, clams and hoooooooooo's," as he put it.
Duggan rose to fame because of his gimmick as a character with an uber-patriotic stance and 2x4 lumber plank. Well-liked, but scant on wrestling skill, he languished in mid-card level matches and became obsolete as more high impact maneuvers made his signature clothesline finisher look tame by comparison. He often humors more observant fans by chanting "USA!" during matches with other Americans who harbor no ill-will to either him or the country.
Gasol says the parental link might explain some behaviors he couldn't figure out in his youth. "In Europe we don't really do a lot of flag-waving or make nationalistic statements, but I did. I read a lot about Francisco Franco and the authoritarian regime,and yelled "Viva Espaņa!" whenever I hit a clutch free throw. Everyone thought it was rude," said Gasol.
"It's O.K. though. When I'm done playing, I'll finance some contras to make those commies disappear," he ended.
Gasol shouts "OOOOOOOOOleeeee" while going for a dunk.