Speaking Of Sports

San Mateo CA Times – June 20, 1958
By Jack Bluth

With the exception of weightlifter Paul Anderson and the guys who go over 500 pounds, Leo Nomellini is the strongest man in professional wrestling today.

This is the testimony of Don Manoukian, the ex-Stanford footballer who broke into the grunt and groan fraternity under the muscular wing of Leo the Lion.

“He’s legendary,” Manoukian exclaimed. “Powerful shoulders. Strongest in the game outside of Anderson and a couple of the giants. He’s a tremendous specimen and in shape all the time.”

Now He’s Just Plain Ed Miller

Fresno Bee – February 12, 1961

It was a night of frustration and disappointment for Big Ed Miller, the erstwhile Mr. Kleen Miller.

Earlier in the day, Miller received a letter from a soap company warning him he would be facing a suit if he didn’t desist using the name, Mr. Kleen. The soap people said they have a copywright on the name.

Obviously unhappy about losing his nom de plume, Miller threw Joe Swiderski out of the ring at the 17-minute period, then kept on kicking Joe. The referee finally disqualified ex-Mr. Kleen.

Gene (Big Daddy) Lipscomb proved to be as much of a terror in the ring as for halfbacks opposing the Baltimore Colts’ line. He squelched Pat Fraley with a mighty bear hug to win the third and deciding fall in the bout which paired him and 49er Leo Nomellini against Pat and Freddy Fraley.

Leo used flying tackles to blast young Fraley, but Pat used a neck twister to even matters against Leo.

Meanie Fred Blassie won two of three falls from Ricky Romero, thus knocking Romero from the ranks of the coast championship series.

Torres, Warren Keep Tag Team Crown, Prone

Fresno Bee – May 25, 1958

Ramon Torres and Nick Warren still are the National Wrestling Alliance tag team champions but the latter is a little worse for wear following a technical draw with grid stars Leo Nomellini and Don Manoukian in the Memorial Auditorium last night.

The match was deadlocked at one fall each when Nomellini, the San Francisco Forty Niners star tackle, and Warren collided head-on in the center of the ring after each missed a flying tackle.

Leo Nomellini, 76, 49er Star And an N.F.L. Hall of Famer

The New York Times – October 27, 2000
By Richard Goldstein

Leo Nomellini, the Hall of Fame tackle of the San Francisco 49ers who was renowned for strength and endurance in a National Football League career spanning 14 seasons and 174 consecutive games, died Oct. 17 in Stanford, Calif. He was 76.

The cause was complications of a stroke, his family said.

While starring at the University of Minnesota in the years following World War II, Nomellini became known as the Lion. A huge man for his era, at 6 feet 3 inches and 264 pounds, with speed to match his brawn, he lived up to his sobriquet by becoming one of the N.F.L’s most fearsome linemen of the 1950’s.

As Bill Leiser Sees It

San Francisco Chronicle – April 3, 1955
By Bill Leiser

Leo Nomellini, who believes he has something of a right to claim some sort of a world wrestling championship, is challenged by an Oklahoma citizen whose offer should be attractive at least in one sense. He guarantees not to kick Leo in the face. Not even if Leo dives out of the ring. In fact, he says he wouldn’t let Leo get out of the ring.

Leo Retains Mat Laurels With Sharpe

Sacramento Union – March 29, 1955
By Bob McCarty

The National Wrestling Alliance may not recognize Leo Nomellini as heavyweight wrestling champion of the world. Leo has no challengers in Sacramento County after the way he manhandled Ben Sharpe in Memorial Auditorium last night.

Nomellini Expects Big Things From Michalik On Mat

Sacramento Bee – March 30, 1954
By Marco Smolich

Leo Nomellini, all 252 pounds of him, pointed to a ruggedly handsome fellow, 24 years old, six feet two and 230 pounds.

“He was a successful amateur wrestler,” declared Leo, a rugged tackle for the San Francisco 49ers and a rough character when it comes to grunting, groaning and grappling.

British Lords Beat Arnold, Nomellini

Sacramento Bee – March 30, 1954

The English lords, Blears and Layton, defeated Don Arnold and Leo Nomellini last night in the tag team feature of the wrestling program in the Memorial Auditorium.

Thesz, Nomellini In Rubber Mat Match Tomorrow

San Francisco Chronicle – May 20, 1957

Lou Thesz arrives here today for his match with Leo Nomellini tomorrow night at Winterland.

Leo Nomellini, Lou Thesz Draw In Mat Test

San Francisco Chronicle – May 22, 1957
By Art Rosenbaum

Leo Nomellini was “saved” for the 49ers against last night at Winterland by failing to win the wrestling championship from Lou Thesz.

Thesz won the first fall and Nomellini won the second and just about then the timekeeper realized that the limit had been reached, and the match was called a draw.