Mike Adamle

Mike Adamle as the General Manager of WWE's Raw brand.
Position(s) Running back Jersey #(s) 1
Born	October 10, 1949 (1949-10-10) (age 60) Euclid, Ohio
Career information
Year(s)	1971–1977
NFL Draft	1971 / Round: 5 / Pick: 120
College	Northwestern
Professional teams
Kansas City Chiefs (1971–1972)[1] New York Jets (1973–1974)[1] Chicago Bears (1975–1977)[1]
Career stats
Rushing attempts	308
Rushing yards	1,149
Rushing touchdowns	4
Stats at NFL.com
Career highlights and awards
No notable achievements

Michael David "Mike" Adamle (born October 10, 1949) is a sports personality and former National Football League player. He is best known as the co-host of the cult-favorite American Gladiators series for seven years.

Adamle is currently a sports anchor and reporter at WMAQ-TV in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, he has previously been an anchor at other Chicago television stations, including WLS-TV from 1983-1989 before hosting American Gladiators, a first stint at WMAQ from 1998-2001, and then at WBBM-TV from 2001-2004 before returning to Channel 5. For much of 2008, Adamle worked for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in a variety of roles, including interviewer, play-by-play commentator, and General Manager of Raw until November 3 when as part of the storyline, he resigned. Adamle was released from his contract in January 2009.

[edit] Biography

Mike Adamle grew up in Kent, Ohio and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1967.^[2] His father, Tony Adamle, also found some success with the Cleveland Browns in the 1940s and 1950s.He also won the award for most uncool man alive by the people who claim to like him.

[edit] Football

Adamle played collegiate football for Northwestern University as part of their team the Wildcats.^[1] As a Wildcat, Adamle was team captain, an All-American fullback, and the Big Ten MVP in 1970.^[1] He graduated in 1971.^[1] Afterward, he joined the National Football League, where he played for seven years.^[1] He joined the Kansas City Chiefs as a fourth round draft pick.^[1] He also played for the New York Jets and Chicago Bears.^[1]

[edit] Hosting and announcing

After retiring from playing football professionally, Adamle joined NBC Sports, where he was both a studio host and sideline reporter for various events.^[1] He spent six years with NBC Sports, hosting SportsWorld and pre-game shows.^[1] He was also the host of GrandStand, which was both a pregame show for the National Football League (NFL) and a sports anthology show during the NFL's off-season. In 1984, he was ABC's sideline reporter for the United States Football League.^[1]

He was also the co-host of American Gladiators from 1989 to 1994.^[1] In addition, he was a contender in a celebrity contenders show towards the end of the show's run. Adamle also co-hosted International Gladiators with the UK and Australian Hosts and commentated in one series alongside UK commentator John Sachs. He appeared on the fourth season premiere of Family Matters playing himself in a fictional episode of American Gladiators. After American Gladiators ended, he became a reporter for ESPN.^[1]

Adamle (and fellow NBC local sports anchor Fred Roggin) were sideline reporters during the only season of XFL football in 2001. He has also covered the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. In the summer of 2005, Adamle was the host of another NBC property, Bravo's Battle of the Network Reality Stars. In July 2006, Adamle became a color commentator for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR)'s Built Ford Tough Series (another event which NBC has split rights).

[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment (2008–2009)

On January 27, 2008 at the Royal Rumble, Adamle began working as an interviewer for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).^[3] He then worked on WWE Raw as an interviewer until becoming ECW's play-by-play announcer on April 15, replacing Joey Styles.^[4] Adamle made mistakes during his commentary duties on ECW, with former ECW owner and booker Paul Heyman and former talent Lance Storm criticizing Adamle for them.^[5][6] On April 29, Adamle left a broadcast of ECW before the main event match, followed by his partner Tazz. As a part of a storyline, WWE reported that Adamle and Tazz may have left due to fan criticism of Adamle's commentary.^[7] The following week he cut a promo apologizing for his actions.

On the July 28, 2008 episode of Raw, Executive Vice President Shane McMahon announced that Adamle was the new General Manager for the Raw brand.^[8] During his tenure as General Manager, he promoted a variety of high-profile matches that he dubbed as "Adamle Originals." On the October 27, 2008 episode of Raw, as part of his storyline, he slapped Randy Orton after Orton insulted him personally. The following week on Raw, during an in-ring segment with Shane McMahon and Orton, Adamle resigned from his position as General Manager. Shortly afterward, Adamle was released from the company.

[edit] Personal life

Adamle is married to Kim, with whom he has one child, a daughter named Alex.^[1]

Adamle suffers from epilepsy. After work with Epilepsy Foundation, where he is currently a member of the Greater Chicago division's board of directors, Adamle was given their Personal Achievement Award at the 2007 Richard N. Rovner Awards Dinner.^[9][10] Adamle has completed two Ironman triathalons, most recently as a sixty year old in 2009, where he completed the race in 14 hours, 7 minutes and 39 seconds. ^[11]

[edit] References