Mike Adamle facts for kids
Adamle in 2008 as the General Manager
of WWE's Raw brand |
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| Position: | Running back Return specialist |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | October 4, 1949 Moline, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 197 lb (89 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Theodore Roosevelt (Kent, Ohio) | ||||||||||
| College: | Northwestern | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1971 / Round: 5 / Pick: 120 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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Michael David Adamle (born October 4, 1949) is an American who used to play American football professionally. He was also a well-known sports broadcaster. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL).
After his football career, Adamle became a sports anchor at different TV stations in Chicago. He worked at WLS-TV, then WMAQ-TV, and WBBM-TV. He also hosted the popular TV show American Gladiators.
In 2008, Adamle worked for World Wrestling Entertainment. He had several jobs there, including interviewer, commentator, and even the General Manager for the Raw brand. He retired from broadcasting in 2017 due to health reasons.
Contents
Early Life and College Football
Growing Up in Ohio
Mike Adamle was born in Moline, Illinois, on October 4, 1949. He grew up in Kent, Ohio, and finished high school at Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1967. Mike's father, Tony Adamle, was also a football player. He played as a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns in the late 1940s and early 1950s. After playing, his father became a doctor.
College Football Success
Mike Adamle played college football at Northwestern University. He was part of the Big Ten Conference. He was a team captain and an All-American fullback. In 1970, he was named the Big Ten MVP.
In 1969, Adamle set a school record for rushing yards in a single game. He ran for 316 yards against Wisconsin. This record still stands today. He also set a record for kick return yards in a year. He graduated from Northwestern in 1971.
NFL Career Highlights
Playing for Three Teams
Mike Adamle played in the National Football League for six years. He played two seasons for each of three different teams. The Kansas City Chiefs picked him in the fifth round of the 1971 NFL draft in 1971. He was the 120th player chosen overall.
After two seasons with the Chiefs, Adamle was traded to the New York Jets in 1973. He played for the Jets for two years. During this time, he played in 26 games and started 7 of them.
In 1975, the Jets traded Adamle to the Chicago Bears. He played for the Bears until 1977. His professional football career ended when the Bears released him from the team.
Life After Football
Sports Announcing Career
After his football career, Mike Adamle joined NBC Sports. He worked as a host and reporter for many different sports events. He hosted shows like SportsWorld and pre-game shows for the National Football League.
In 1984, he was a sideline reporter for ABC covering the United States Football League. He also reported from the sidelines for the XFL in 2001.
Hosting American Gladiators
Mike Adamle was also famous for co-hosting American Gladiators. He hosted the show from 1989 to 1996. He even appeared as a contestant in a special celebrity episode. Adamle also co-hosted International Gladiators. After American Gladiators ended, he became a reporter for ESPN.
Other Broadcasting Roles
Adamle covered the 1988 Winter Olympics and the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. In 2005, he hosted Battle of the Network Reality Stars for Bravo. In 2006, he became a commentator for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) events.
Working with WWE
On January 27, 2008, Mike Adamle started working for World Wrestling Entertainment. He began as an interviewer on WWE Raw. He sometimes made small mistakes during his interviews. Later, he became the play-by-play announcer for ECW in April.
On July 28, 2008, he was announced as the new General Manager for the Raw brand. He created special matches called "Adamle Originals." In October, he had a storyline where he slapped Randy Orton. The next week, he resigned from his General Manager role. This was his last appearance with WWE.
Arena Football League
Adamle also worked as the play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Rush team in the Arena Football League. He broadcasted their games for Comcast SportsNet Chicago and WGN. The Chicago Rush team stopped playing in 2013.
Personal Life and Health
Mike Adamle is married to Kim, and they have four children and four grandchildren.
Adamle has epilepsy, a condition that affects the brain and can cause seizures. He has worked with the Epilepsy Foundation and is on the board of directors for their Greater Chicago division. He received an award from them in 2007 for his achievements.
He is also an Ironman Triathlon competitor. He completed two Ironman Triathlons in Kona, Hawaii. In 2009, at 60 years old, he finished the race in just over 14 hours. He also completed other Ironman races, like Ironman USA in 2003.
In 2017, Mike Adamle shared that he was diagnosed with dementia. His doctor found signs of a brain condition often linked to repeated head injuries, which he believes came from concussions he had while playing football. He officially retired from WMAQ-TV on March 24, 2017.
Awards and Recognition
- WrestleCrap
- Gooker Award (2008) - For his time in WWE.
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Worst Television Announcer (2008)
See also
In Spanish: Mike Adamle para niños
