Height, weight anomaly

[SeaEagleRock8]

 

[Chip and Chase]

Tell us your impressions of the giant, please! He is one of my all time favourite personalities, sporting and non-sporting!

I watched a doco on Mr A T Giant last year - can't remember what is was called now. Fascinating story. He was a prodigious drinker from all reports.

I remember he used to tag team with my favourite wrestler Jimmy Superfly Snuka

 

[The Who]

Tell us your impressions of the giant, please! He is one of my all time favourite personalities, sporting and non-sporting!

As stated, I only met him once and that was when he arrived in Australia for a tour. It was in the early 1970s. I was a young journo stationed at Sydney Airport where we'd interview visiting celebrities. I got to 'meet' several English bands, and the first question to them was usually the cringe-worthy "how do you like Australia?"
Great bogan memories.
Anyway, Andre was gentle and didn't have a huge command of English - especially spoken with an Australian accent. I felt a bit sorry for him as I doubt he liked all the attention. I shook his hand which felt like a baseball mitt swallowing a ball. Helping me with my daily round was a photographer and he may have suggested to Andre to hoist up a petite female journalist and lob her onto his shoulder. The photo was a cracker; much better, I'm sure, than my story, and it ended up on the front page.
Not long after this the media stopped having staff permanently stationed at the airport when visiting celebrities would have their PR agent organise for interviews to be held at the city hotel where the celebs were staying.

 

[manlyfan76]

I watched a doco on Mr A T Giant last year - can't remember what is was called now. Fascinating story. He was a prodigious drinker from all reports.

I remember he used to tag team with my favourite wrestler Jimmy Superfly Snuka

Saw that doco, was a bit sad to watch.

 

[cherry_poppins]

Should put Vince McMahon in charge.

All the forwards will be billed as 6'10" or taller unstoppable monsters 😎

Great, I can just see DCE cutting a promo on the premiers as the doctor of thuganomics

 

[globaleagle]

As stated, I only met him once and that was when he arrived in Australia for a tour. It was in the early 1970s. I was a young journo stationed at Sydney Airport where we'd interview visiting celebrities. I got to 'meet' several English bands, and the first question to them was usually the cringe-worthy "how do you like Australia?"
Great bogan memories.
Anyway, Andre was gentle and didn't have a huge command of English - especially spoken with an Australian accent. I felt a bit sorry for him as I doubt he liked all the attention. I shook his hand which felt like a baseball mitt swallowing a ball. Helping me with my daily round was a photographer and he may have suggested to Andre to hoist up a petite female journalist and lob her onto his shoulder. The photo was a cracker; much better, I'm sure, than my story, and it ended up on the front page.
Not long after this the media stopped having staff permanently stationed at the airport when visiting celebrities would have their PR agent organise for interviews to be held at the city hotel where the celebs were staying.

 

[The Who]

Yep. I don't think that was our photo but it was similar to this.

 

[Chip and Chase]

Saw that doco, was a bit sad to watch.

If I recall correctly he was offered treatment for his condition that would have solved some of his health issues and prolonged his life, but he refused as he didn't want to risk it changing him physically.