R.I.P. Mandingo

R.I.P. Mandingo (update)

OK, maybe his acting career wasn't part of his lifetime highlight reel, but Ken Norton was an amazing athlete. He not only defeated Mohammad Ali in their first encounter, but broke Ali's jaw in the process, thereby gaining the heavyweight title and handing "The Greatest" only the second loss of his career. Norton would hold a championship belt several times. When Norton was in his prime (1971-77), only George Foreman was able to handle him. Ali never was. Norton fought Ali two more times. Ali won both rematches, but Norton was never hurt or knocked down in any of the three fights, and the two losses were debatable.

I reckon he must have been an unbeatable track & field star in high school, so good that they had to change the rules because of him. Here's what it says in Wikipedia: "His track coach entered him in eight events, and Norton placed first in all of them. As a result, the 'Ken Norton Rule,' which limits participation of an athlete to a maximum of three track and field events, was instituted in Illinois high school sports."

Reader's comment:

Don't know which is correct, but this story has slightly different details: "According to a 2002 State Journal-Register story, Norton’s track coach, Al Rosenberger, entered Norton in eight events in a dual meet against Decatur Eisenhower. Norton, a 1961 Jacksonville graduate, won seven of the eight. It led to the Illinois High School Association limiting athletes to four events in a meet. It’s still known as the Norton Rule."