Nick Lassa facts for kids
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| Date of birth: | July 11, 1898 |
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| Place of birth: | Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana |
| Date of death: | September 4, 1964 (aged 66) |
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Career information
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| Position(s): | Tackle, center, guard, end |
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| College: | Carlisle Indian Haskell Indian |
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Organizations
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Career highlights and awards
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Career stats
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| Playing stats at NFL.com | |
Nicholas Anthony Lassa (born July 11, 1898 – died September 4, 1964) was a professional American football player. He was often called Long Time Sleep. Nick Lassa came from the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana.
Contents
Who Was Nick Lassa?
Nick Lassa was a talented athlete. He played football in the early days of the National Football League. He was also known for his amazing wrestling skills.
Early Life and His Special Nickname
Nick Lassa was born on July 11, 1898. He was a Native American person. He belonged to the Pend d'Orielle tribe. This tribe is part of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana.
His teammates gave him the nickname "Long Time Sleep." They called him this because he was very hard to wake up in the mornings!
Playing College and Pro Football
Nick Lassa played college football at two special schools. He attended the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and Haskell Indian Nations University. These schools were important for Native American students.
After college, Lassa joined the National Football League. He played for the Oorang Indians team in 1922.
The Oorang Indians Team
The Oorang Indians were a unique football team. All the players on the team were Native American. The team was based in LaRue, Ohio. A man named Walter Lingo started the team in 1922. He wanted to promote his dog kennel business.
Famous athlete Jim Thorpe helped organize the team. He also played and coached for them. Nick Lassa was the very first player to arrive in LaRue when the team was forming.
Wrestling a Bear!
Besides football, Nick Lassa loved wrestling. He would earn money from wrestling matches. He was most famous for wrestling a real bear! This happened during a halftime show at one of the Oorang Indians' games.
Lassa often won these wrestling matches. He would usually earn between $10 and $20 per match. This money was enough for the whole team to go out and have fun together.
Life After Football
The Oorang Indians team stopped playing in 1923. After that, Nick Lassa stayed near LaRue, Ohio. He continued to work as a professional wrestler and a strongman. He also worked for Walter Lingo and other local farmers.
In the early 1930s, Lassa left the area. He reportedly made positive changes in his life. He raised a family and became a respected person in his community. Nick Lassa passed away on September 4, 1964.
