Every sport has its icon. Names like Tiger Woods, Mohammed Ali, Michael Jordan, Dale Earnhardt, Joe Namath, Wayne Gretsky and Babe Ruth immediately invoke the sport that their names are synonymous with. But when it comes to professional wrestling – there is only one name that truly defines the sport itself – and can be placed among those legends – Hulk Hogan.

Born on August 11, 1953, Terry Bollea originally wanted to be a musician. In a rock band called Ruckus, they played in a bar in Tampa that was frequented by wrestlers – including brothers Jack and Jerry Briscoe – who are the men responsible for introducing Hulk Hogan into the world of wrestling. At their suggestion, Hogan trained under the legendary Hiro Matsuda, who in his first lesson – broke Hogan’s arm. In his early years, he wrestled in various territories across America, giving his all and getting no money. Time and time again he would quit – almost ending Hulkamania before it began – but fate would persevere – and Hogan thankfully remained in wrestling.

His first tenure in the WWF was short lived. Wrestling as a bad guy managed by the late Freddy Blassie, Hogan was a force to be reckoned with, plowing through his opponents much to the chagrin of the fans. It was at this time that Hogan was offered a role in Rocky III – and walked away from the WWF to film the movie, which forever immortalized him and brought him both national attention and back to wrestling as a good guy – but this time to the AWA.

Run by Nick Bockwinkel, who was the Federation’s Champion, Hogan tried over and over again to win the championship, which would constantly elude him. It seemed that despite Hogan’s popularity following the release of the film, Bockwinkel refused to relinquish the belt – which frustrated Hogan and once again made him consider abandoning the sport of wrestling…

…until he received a call from the man who would join him in forever changing the industry – Vince McMahon, Jr.

Purchasing the company from his father, Vince wanted to take wrestling in an entirely new direction, and implement the new technology and media that was beginning to emerge at the time. After courting Hogan back to the WWF, he gave him a title shot in Madison Square Garden on January 23, 1984 against The Iron Sheik, who was the champion after defeating Bob Backlund only 29 days earlier…

…and in front of nearly 30,000 people – Hulk Hogan defeated the Iron Sheik to become the 9th World Wrestling Federation Champion – and Hulkamania was born.

Of all the tag teams that dominated the sport of wrestling in any federation – no team was more powerful than the team of McMahon and Hogan. Almost from the moment Hogan won the belt – the sport of wrestling changed – with Hogan and the WWF Championship crossing other Federation’s boundaries – and becoming the first wrestling company to gain national attention. With Hogan defeating the opponents and McMahon making the deals – these two men brought wrestling to places it had never been before. From merchandising and licensing deals, to pay-per-views – to late night television on NBC – there is no question that wrestling would not be what it is today if not for Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan.

When I was a teenager, I was a certified Hulkamaniac – and I still am. Week after week I would watch Hogan defeat opponents like King Kong Bundy, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, Big John Studd, and anyone else that would challenge him for the title. And every time he made a friend who he thought he could trust – he would turn on him. The biggest example of a wrestler betraying Hogan was literally the biggest man in the sport – Andre The Giant. I can remember watching Piper’s Pit and hearing Andre challenge Hogan to a match at Wrestlemania III. I remember freaking out when Hogan accepted Andre’s challenge the following week and prepared to face the biggest man in the sport in the biggest match in his career…

…and I remember Hogan slamming and pinning Andre The Giant in the Pontiac Silverdome in front of 93,173 people – retaining the WWF Championship in front of the largest crowd ever to witness a wrestling event at the time.

I have dozens upon dozens of memories of The Hulkster inside the ring, like when he would “Hulk-up” and defy impossible odds to come back to defeat his opponents, when he would tear off his shirt much to the delight of each and every fan in arenas all over the world – and when he would tell myself and his millions of Hulkamaniacs to, “Train, say your prayers and eat your vitamins.” But there are also some very special personal memories I have of Hogan outside the ring. I met him twice – at the Jacob Javits Convention Center for both the 1999 Auto Show and 2000 Licensing Show. When I met him in 1999, it was completely by accident. I was at the Auto Show like I always was and I saw a line forming. When I asked the person ahead of me what we were on line for – he said, “Hulk Hogan is here.”

As soon as I heard that, I began to freak out. I always wanted to meet him but never thought I would – and here I was, the co-host of a television show about to meet Hulk Hogan without my camera and microphone. But when I saw him and they called me up to the stage, I forgot all about the TV show. I distinctly remember how it felt to walk up to him – and I will never forget what I said. Thinking I would never have this opportunity again, I said, “Let me tell you something Hogan. I have been a fan of yours since you defeated The Iron Sheik on January 23, 1984, and I would like to thank you for bringing so much joy into my life.” At that moment, I handed him the only cigar I had in my pocket, because I know he loves a good smoke. He took it and said, “Hey, thanks brother, now let’s take a photo.” We posed for a Polaroid compliments of the WCW and before the shot was taken, he grabbed my arm and said, “C’mon brother, raise those arms and show your pythons.” That unexpected moment is one I will always treasure for the rest of my life.

In 2000, Ring Fever was filming at the Licensing Show and as the host, it was my job to interview anyone we could stick a microphone in front of. There were wrestlers there from both the WWF and the WCW – but when I heard that Hogan was there – I was elated because I got the opportunity to make up for missing out on interviewing him the year before. When I approached WCW and asked if we could set up and interview with The Hulkster, they told us that he was not available, but that we could film us meeting him on line like everyone else. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to talk to him on camera, our cameraman Lonnie wired me with a lavaliere microphone as I went on stage to meet him. When I reached out my hand to shake his, he said, “Ring Fever, what’s that?” I told him that it was a show about professional wrestling and that we wanted to interview him, but was told by WCW that he was unavailable…

…what he did next was incredible.

Hulk Hogan then flipped over the picture he was going to autograph for me and said, “Here is my home phone number. Call me so we can arrange an interview after the show.” When I got off the stage, all I kept saying to Lonnie and Rob our producer was, “Hogan gave me his home number! Hogan gave me his home number!” In all my years as a Hulkamaniac, I never thought I would meet him much less get his home number. From that moment on, all I wanted to do was run home and call him – and after a few days – I did. I left him a message and hoped that he would call me back…

…and he did.

I came home from work one day and saw my answering machine blinking. When I pushed the button, I was astounded to hear Hogan’s voice on the machine. I transferred the message to a cassette and I must have played it a million times to myself and my friends. Then, he left me a second message a few days later. After both messages, I called him back and asked his wife Linda who picked up the phone if he was home and if I could speak to him – and I then proceeded to have a 20-minute phone conversation with my wrestling hero – Hulk Hogan. With Rob sitting next to me, we talked about my show, his career and the wrestling business in general. As the conversation went on, I could not believe that I was talking to the man that I idolized for most of my adult life. And when it was time to say goodbye, I thanked him profusely for taking the time to speak with me – and he said the pleasure was all his.

Besides my own memories, each and every one of Hulk Hogan’s fans have their own personal memories of meeting him, talking with him, taking pictures with him, catching his ripped T-shirt, getting his autograph – and being there in person to see him defeat another opponent. He has touched the lives of millions of people across the globe through his charisma, his ability to embrace the fans who adore him – and his natural gift for the sport he changed so dramatically. Many have come after him and have reached monumental superstar status in the business – but no one then or now has reached the level that Hulk Hogan has by any means – and no one ever will.

Recently, Hogan returned to the WWE and will team with Shawn Michaels at Backlash, this Sunday’s pay-per-view. Even to this day, the fans screamed like maniacs when they heard him speak – and so did I. And even if Hogan is around 50 years from now, he will still have a legion of Hulkamaniacs behind him who will cheer him on – while they train, say their prayers, and eat their vitamins.