The Orlando Magic WrestleMania

Dwight Howard is Kurt Angle

By Philip Rossman-Reich

The headliner for this year’s WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony was former amateur wrestling U.S. Olympian Kurt Angle. And Angle earned every bit of it.

He was part of the WWE title picture for several years and then jumped over TNA and continued a solid career there. Angle was a champion on multiple promotions and a staple of WWE shows.

What made him so good?

It starts with his technical skill. He had a great all-American gimmick going on too. But what really made him connect was his willingness to take a joke.

Some of his best promos came with jokes at his expense — there is something about him wearing a tiny cowboy hat and attacking other wrestlers with a milk truck. Angle was not afraid to have a little fun with his character. But he was all business in the ring.

That reminds me a lot of Dwight Howard.

Howard was not afraid to have fun off the court. The Sports Illustrated cover for the 2009 Playoffs featured Dwight Howard and the question: “Too Much Fun: Can the Orlando Magic center get serious for a minute?”

Howard had all the skill to perform on the court. When the game starts, he was all business. But in between, he brought a levity to the proceedings that was both endearing and annoying.

That is Angle in a nutshell.

Right down to Angle’s heel turn. The chords to Angle’s entrance music are still met with chants of “You suck!” At least now they are done endearingly and part of his character.

Howard may get there one day. For now, he remains one of the most hated players in Magic history. A hard fall for a former hero.

It’s true, it’s damn true.