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Real Goldberg: Reality TV Has The Mother Lode Of The Tulsan

Posted: Mar 7th 2010 By: CMBurnham

For almost a decade, arenas around the country echoed with the name of one of Tulsa's own, professional wrestling champion Bill Goldberg.

This spring, Goldberg's name will be heard nationwide again, but it won't be because of his wrestling exploits. The Edison High School graduate will be showing up on television screens across the U.S. on three different series, including "The Celebrity Apprentice" with billionaire Donald Trump.

Goldberg admits it may be a little overkill.

"I personally believe that over the next three or four months, people may get sick of seeing me on TV, " he said in a recent telephone interview. "If you're a fan of me, you're going to get satiated. If you're not a fan of me, you're going to want to puke."

Goldberg's personal TV floodgates opened last month with the beginning of the fourth season of "Bullrun", a road-rally reality show that he hosts on the Speed Channel (9 p.m. Thursday, cable 261)

The Goldberg deluge will continue April 9 with the third season of "Garage Mahal" on the DIY Network (8 p.m. cable 171)

His "Apprentice" debut at 8 p. m. (March 14 on NBC channel 2, cable 9) will offer Goldberg the highest profile, though., He will be one of 14 celebrities -- including Bret Michaels, Sharon Osbourne, Darryl Strawberry, Cyndi Lauper and Sinbad -- vying for money for their charity of choice.

Goldberg will be competing for the Specchio Family Foundation in support of One Good Turn Ranch, a camp for children who have lost a family member due to military action. Goldberg visited a camp in Colorado and spent time with the boys there, a trip he described as "very tough" but also a "wonderful opportunity".

"I've got a 3 1/2-year-old little boy, and I couldn't imagine for two seconds his life without his father," he said. "So, I try to put myself in these kids' shoes. You just try to do everything you can. You can't replace their fathers, by any stretch of the imagination, but you can try to put a smile on their face, you can try to get their mind off the pain that they've experienced by losing a loved one."

Goldberg has another project involving the military set for this spring, the "Ford/Goldberg Salute the Troops Military Tour" The tour begins April 24 in Lawton/Fort Sill in southwest Oklahoma.

Goldberg said he's looking forward to returning to his home state and plans to visit Tulsa, something he doesn't get to do as much as he'd like.

"Growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was the best thing that every happened to me," he said. "Living out here in San Diego, California, and working in L. A., it kind of makes you long for Tulsa, not only because of Goldie's hamburgers and the Coney I-Lander, but also because of the great, great attitudes that the people in the Midwest have.

"I truly miss that. I miss the people."

Goldberg said he has other projects in the works, but he doesn't see his future including a return to the wrestling ring. Some Internet reports claimed wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan said in late January that Goldberg could be joining the promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, which Hogan recently became involved with. Goldberg was rather blunt when asked about the possibility.

"Pardon my French, but Hulk Hogan's full of crap because I was never in negotiations with TNA," he said. "Do I see myself getting back in the wrestling ring? I'm 43 years old. Do I want to be Ric Flair? Do I want to be Hulk Hogan? In the twilight of my life, do I want to be running around in my underwear trying to injure people? Absolutely not."

Instead, Goldberg said he plans to focus on other aspects of his life, including being a father to his son, Gage.

"(Wrestling) was a stage in my life, a wonderful stage," he said. "Do I ever see it happening again? You never say never, but I don't see it likely by any stretch of the imagination.

"I'm putting together chicken nuggets that are shaped like dinosaurs for my kid and I'm watching 'Spongebob' as opposed to sitting up at the gym, thinking about myself. I've just kind of moved on, and I don't see it happening."

Tags: Bill Goldberg, TNA, Ric Flair