All Japan? His coverage of pay-per-views was always a must read, both during a show and afterwards. This thinly veiled world where anonymity gives strength and privacy is as powerful as one allows it. Despite the fact that we were on opposite schedules by necessity of our 411 duties, we almost always had some chance to have an interaction. There is not a column Ive written where I havent somehow, in some way, glanced over his work to double check my sources. Eileen Simmons is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Christi Csonka. Larry, thank you for all your contributions to this industry and to the world. rush to limelight it'll be like old times when larry csonka follows jim langer's lead into football's hall of fame JOIN ME AT THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME. Suport us with a Dot Net Membership and gain access to: Black Label Pro 2 Cold 2 Hold results: Vetters review of Billie Starkz vs. Cole Radrick vs. Skye Blue vs. Alec Price in a four-way for the BLP Title, Brogan Finlay vs. Matt Brannigan, Calvin Tankman vs. Levi Everett, Rachel Armstrong vs. Sandra Moone, 2 Cold Scorpio, Isaiah Moore, and Tre Lemar vs. Jordan Oliver, Davey Bang, and August Matthews, 04/30 Dot Net Weekly Five-Year Flashback: Jake Barnett and Jason Powell discuss the game changing WWE television deals with Smackdown going to Fox, Raw expected to stay on USA Network, and more, CM Punk visits the Impact Wrestling TV taping in Chicago, 4/29 NJPW Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni results: Vetters review of Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi for the KOPW Title, Aussie Open Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis vs. TMDK Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls for the IWGP Tag Team Titles, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi, and Bushi vs. Sanada, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and Douki, WWE Draft Tracker: The list of 2023 draft picks made during Fridays Smackdown and Saturdays Smackdown Lowdown, list of wrestlers eligible to be drafted during Raw. Well, understanding football and knowing what's going on on a football field is the first step to liking to play football. By Linnea Crowther June 22, 2020. I hope he rests in peace, and I pray for his family and friends. The rest of us can only hope to barely reach his level of work ethic. The aftertaste has a distinct Northeast Ohio flavor. The Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl Champion is a member of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, whose undefeated 17-0 season catapulted the team into the NFL history books. I did, I did and I did. He followed his friend's remarkable career closely. Thank you Larry. Asked what he hopes readers of his book glean from it, Csonka said, An appreciation of nature and life and the cards it deals you and learning to play the cards you're dealt. We all know how incredibly subjective match ratings are but in my mind, Larrys were always the right ones. View Tribute Book. Pro wrestling writer Larry Csonka's death announced Rest in peace, Larry. And the 75th anniversary of Larry Csonka, whose 29-yard run in the sixth period (yes, sixth) put the Miami Dolphins in position to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in that playoff game's 83rd minute. New Journey - Larry Csonka Death - Obituary | Dead - Facebook I wish I had asked a few more times how he was doing, how were his kids What Ill always remember about Larry, even more than the work ethic or the prolific reviewing is how much he loved his children. Voices of Wrestling along with the rest of the internet wrestling community were stunned by the sudden passing of 411Manias Larry Csonka. He worked tirelessly despite these to bring his readers the content that they wanted. Then he would crank out PPV reviews, RAW reviews, Smackdown reviews, Wrestler of the Week (BxB HULK, BITCHES), host pre-PPV, roundtable discussionsthen columns about any and everything wrestling. Also, he started making appearances in the NBC Sports Networks hunting and fishing shows as the host. To the typical outsider, 411Mania was just another indie pop culture website, but because of you, we became a family that continues on today and will live on forever.. Published: Nov. 08, 2022, 5:30 a.m. Larry Csonka has written "Head On: A Memoir," a fascinating look at his life - from Northeast Ohio roots to the gridirons of Syracuse and Miami and to his . He wanted us to shine, individually, as a writer of the site. PWG? There would be a random New Japan Road to Wrestling Dontaku show on at 4:30 in the morning and Larry would post that GIF on his Twitter feed from Ash vs. My heart breaks for everyone that has been affected by his loss whether family, friend, or fan. Hall of Famer Larry Csonka honors Northeast Ohio and Stow educator in Peoples careers got their start because of Larry. HOF! Through his articles and podcasts, Larry was able to bring so much joy and inspiration to the people that followed his work, as well as all of us who worked with him here at 411. Its hard to really capture what he has meant to not just this site, but to the online wrestling community and the entire wrestling industry. Rest easy brother. STARDOM? The Pro Football Hall of Fame came to Stow on Monday morning when Larry Csonka paid a visit to his old stomping grounds. I wouldnt be where Im at without Larry. Don't get me wrong. I picked those suckers up and put them in a bag, fell off bicycles with them, delivered them in people's mailboxes, got bit by a dog. Sean Sedor: When it came to reviewing wrestling shows, Larry Csonka was an absolute machine. Csonka is an Alaska resident. Larry is one of the most valuable resources pro wrestling has had since the turn of the century. In the spring of his seventh-grade year, he and some friends took bicycles off a sidewalk in downtown Akron and rode them back to Stow instead of walking or hitchhiking. As I thought through the companies that interest me, I had the thought if Csonka reviews it, its probably worthwhile. And that was my list. When Heat mercifully came to an end, Larry didnt ask if I wanted to keep writing for 411. May they find grace in his memory and May He Rest in Peace.. The outpouring of support over the last 24 hours have only validated that sentiment. He was constantly selfless with his time and suggestions, no matter what zone you wrote in, and the consistent quality he delivered on his own columns inspired you to stay on top of your game. Larry is really one of the reasons I started reading this website long before I ever became a writer here. I cant imagine how many people he introduced to new promotions and new wrestlers and just a general new way of viewing professional wrestling as an artform it has to be countless. My heart goes out to his wife and daughters, and to his family and friends during this time. Focus On Sport / Getty Images You and Mercury Morris made NFL history in 1972: you were the first teammates to rush for 1,000 yards apiece. I cant separate my love of professional wrestling from the time Ive spent writing for 411. STEVE GUSTAFSON: Chiefs in the playoffs, and it took two overtimes to do it. I dare you to search for any major or semi-major wrestling show in the last 15-20 years and not be met with a link to one of Larrys reviews. New Japan? Thank you for always letting me write what I wanted to write, even if it went against every other type of article on the site. Ten years ago, I didnt know Id publish two books; Larry pushed me. My personal interactions with him were brief, but I could tell he was an incredibly kind person. I always admired Larry as a writer but as a person he was so warm, so humble and hed always be happy to chat. To Larry, who Im sure is reading this from beyond this mortal ken: what can I say, man? There was always a sense of pride I felt whenever he shared a review I had written. My dad figured out a path for him because when he talked to me about it, he said, 'This kid's going to be a great football player someday,' Dr. Saltis said. His writing had a way of making you feel like you knew him and was a source of great enjoyment. He died in 2020 at the age of 90. Ricardo Gallegos: I didnt personally know Larry and I highly doubt he knew my name, but he was an inspiration for me. Larry made it here first, and brought me along soon afterward. See our GoFundMe Giving Guarantee. Professional wrestling is a niche and marginalized form of entertainment. After high school, he played wingback at Syracuse in a backfield that included All-Americans Larry Csonka and Floyd Little. I felt devastated whenever I had to take a hiatus from writing. Dennis O'Neil of Litchfield, a passionate and profane booster of the political left, organized labor and the Boston Red Sox, died Friday after a lengthy illness.He was 65. One only has to look at the outpouring of sadness and respect across social media to see the impact he made in peoples lives. As of 2022, he has an estimated net worth of $2 million. Csonka has a new book out called "Head On: A Memoir.". Its like taking a test and then looking at the answer key. Larry Csonka was born Lawrence Richard Csonka on the 25th of December 1946 in Stow, Ohio. I watch professional wrestling every day of my life. Nick graduated with honors from Columbia University and received his M.D. In Wasilla, they maintain their farms too. Larry Today - The Official Website of Larry Csonka It means writing about what it means to write about wrestling, about how to be a critic and a fan, about struggling to maintain your love for the industry while simultaneously acknowledging its many flaws. Hed cover the mainstream and the obscure with the same aplomb. Larry let us into his life more than I think people give him credit for. Harold was taken to Florida Hospital DeLand where he was pronounced dead. or Best Offer. His passing has left me numb. I woke up on Monday, May 18th, to the news that Larry had passed. It's . 1,000-yard Duo: Csonka and Morris | Pro Football Hall of Fame - pfhof Still, I couldnt say goodbye to Larry altogether. Now, itll always be one of my great regrets that I never did reach out when I was nearby. Larry Richard Csonka (/ z k /; born December 25, 1946) is an American former professional football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins for the majority of his career, along with the New York Giants for three years. A couple years after I started reading the site, a call went out looking for new columnists at 411 and I was all too eager to throw my hat in the ring. Find service information, send flowers, and leave memories and thoughts in the Guestbook for your loved one. I had to stop multiple times reading everybodys tributes here and over at 411 because they got me all choked up. I stopped writing regularly for 411mania a year after my son was born, out of a sense that I needed to better focus my time and mental energy on my family, and what other time I had to working to provide for my wife and child. In the memoir, Csonka explained he didn't consult Pam about the decision or reveal it to her until many years after they had agreed in the mid-1980s to a divorce. I like to sit in the woods and listen and still hear the same critters that I heard when I was a kid, he said. Honestly, it would be easier to list off the wrestling shows that Larry didnt review/write about. The man enjoyed what he did, even though it wasnt always (or ever) easy, and while losing him this early is an incredible tragedy, we were so lucky to have him for as long as we did. Send help right to the people and causes you care about. He played the world football league for the Memphis Southmen. Larry wasnt a mountain that left a shadow; he was an inspiring view just close enough to motivate, and far enough to let you live. Larry probably wont ever get his true due as one of the best wrestling journalists ever. I dealt with Larry for over a decade, and in every interaction I had with him, he was kind, courteous, but still drove me to be a better writer with his work ethic, his skills, and his humor. Larry Csonka, 1972 Dolphins keeping an eye on undefeated Eagles during 50th anniversary. Later that day, I got the response from him that he was happy to have me back on board. But I always read Larrys reviews to keep more or less up to date on what was going on in the world of wrestling. My heart is broken for his family, but I know hes in a better place and still watching over you. Kelly Harrass: In our little wrestling writing community, its hard to find someone as universally loved as Larry was. We both broke in around the same time on The Wrestle Talks Franchise way back in the day. She also said a vehicle pulled out in front of her, but police said witnesses never saw another vehicle, according to the report. 1999 Fleer Sports Illustrated Covers #13 Larry Csonka: $1.00: 1999 SP Signature #136 Larry Csonka: $0.46: 2001 Donruss Classics #177 Larry Csonka: $1.05: 2001 Donruss Elite Passing the Torch #9 Larry Csonka: $0.57: 2001 Leaf Quantum Leaf Century Season #32 Larry Csonka: $3.69: I dropped him a note once, just to let him know that I appreciate his consistency and that I use his work to cross-check my notes and he seemed genuinely thrilled by that. I was never called to service but several in my family have served our country. Peoples passions were discovered because of Larry. He was snarky (a prerequisite of being a pro wrestling writer), but not mean spirited. You walked that aisle every day, doing 60-minute Broadways just to prove that you could, for the thousands in attendance, and the millions watching around the world. The world was a better place for Larry Csonkas having been a part of it. I remember he was very excited because his insurance company was going to get him a top of the line prosthetic and how absolutely devastated he was when they said no. Eagles remind Larry Csonka of '72 Dolphins, who had perfect season His content forced those who were serious about raising their game to do just that. It lasts as a moment in the match, or as a memory in the viewers mind. Nicknamed "Zonk", Csonka is widely regarded as one of the greatest . TJ HAWKE: He taught me the value of hard work, which anyone can see by how much he did for this website. Through the years, any time I had an issue with something happening on the site / with my columns, I knew I could always reach out to him and have a fair discussion. For eight years, 2004-2012, I was a proud member of the 411Mania writers roster, and while we all had different styles and concepts, there was always a mutual respect and a were all in this together vibe. Funny enough, I often go back to some of his Hogan Knows Best reviews of all things because I cant help but crack up laughing. Larry Csonka was an institution at 411. ROBERT WINFREE: It's easy to say we're going to take the high road always, but when you're there and it's time to make the decision, when push comes to shove, Shula was what he was about, Csonka said. I always took particular joy in the tremendous nerdery of comparing star ratings during shows. It was a really pleasant surprise, Saltis, a neurologist whose office is on the west side of Akron, said Tuesday by phone. And thank you for your public modeling of what it means to love your family. I started writing for 411Mania only a few years after the wrestling business imploded following the end of the Monday Night Wars. A painting. I worked with him every weekday morning for eight years. Contributing to his columns, like when we would do yearly TNA Awards in the mid to late 2000s, was always an honor. I had messaged him some jokes to keep his spirits up after one of those cryptic tweets you sometimes do when youre in a room alone with your thoughts. Every single day I came to the site to read whatever Larry wrote. Larry Csonka - IMDb More than ten years ago, I sent an email to 411Mania hoping to become a writer for the Wrestling zone. My son, Paul, joined the Coast Guard and served part of his tenure in Alaska on Kodiak Island. Without Larry and those opportunities, I wouldnt have many of the friends that I still have today. I sent in my column Sunday, May 17th, in the evening, to Larry and Jeremy via email. He was there with advice, there with support and he helped legitimize this website in its very early days. 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Everyone who worked with Larry said the same things about him that he is so hardworking, so genuinely nice, so easy to work with and get along with. He was a loving husband and father, and my heart absolutely shatters for those left behind, struggling to figure out their next move. He went through so much in the time I knew him, yet he always came back and blew all of our work out of the water. A promoter who partnered with the Miami Dolphins on a complaint-ridden "fan cruise" wants the opportunity to try again and "make everything right" with the team and disgruntled fans. I really mean that. I felt the same thing that I felt on that night in 1999. Larry Csonka, 'heart' of Dolphins glory days, on his life of - MSN More than four decades after Csonka retired from the NFL, the Stow native remains a household name among football fans because of his legacy on the gridiron and larger-than-life persona. I will miss the odd interactions we had on the occasional late night/early morning show when wed joke on twitter about who had been awake longer, or whether a New Japan card felt longer than a UFC Fight Night from Singapore. But please, dont worry about us. His height is 6 feet 3 inches and his weight is around 108 kg. I mean Larry Csonka, 'cause I wouldn't mind If he tried to tackle me any old time So oh Lord won't you buy me a number 39." She sings to the big man with the crooked nose who is leaning against the back bar. I will cover RAW tonight and Ill do it the best I can. The email I got back was Its my real name. Its been ten years since I first covered a RAW for Larry so he could spend some time with his family, and within those ten years, the site and Larry altered the landscape of my life. I always tried to be punctual and professional in my work here, inspired in large part by Larry. Three years before Saltis died in 1990 at the age of 80, he attended Csonka's induction into the Hall of Fame in Canton. I soon realized I couldnt and opted to go the route of reviewing WWE Network shows and Larry was right there to offer me more. RIP.. Saltis received a call from the judge and arranged for Csonka to report to his office at school the next day rather than juvenile hall. I am very glad that I was born and brought up where I was born and brought up. Hell always be at 411 in spirit, but not having him around just seems impossible. He is a legend, and his writing and ratings will live on forever. As described above, those of us who grew up as fans of pro wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s and continue to follow it online today are all too familiar the phenomenon of learning that somebody who we had previously only known through a television or computer screen has left this world at a tragically young age. Whether you were looking for an objective review of a show, a respectful hat tip for work done well, or an honest take on life in general, Larry Csonka was a man you could set your watch to. In news that has left us all absolutely devastated, were extremely sad to announce the passing of @LarryCsonka411. With nothing but the utmost respect and love to everyone who has written for the section over the years, Larry Csonka really was for all intents and purposes 411 Wrestling. Not even a full two years after that, I tuned in to Monday Night Raw one evening in June, a ritual that I had since the very first episode aired in 1993. After taking retirement from Football, he became a motivational speaker. Larry made sure that everything was remembered, that the smallest wrestling shows would get just as much credit as the largest. He proceeded to tell me that during the show, which was still going on at that point, Owen Hart had fallen from the ceiling of the Kemper Arena as a result of a stunt gone wrong. A bull dozer of a runningback; Csonka ran with power and anger, even got penalized for roughing a defender. Thousands of words have been written, yet that poignant anecdote remained sealed in Csonka's memory until now. How old is Larry Csonka? I asked him why he wrote . I would not buy a DVD without reading Larrys thoughts on it. Both deaths came days before the 21st anniversary of Owen Hart's tragic death during WWE's Over The Edge event. Announces EX Stages, WWE 2K23 Releases New Patch With AI Improvements, GM Mode Updates, Steiner Row DLC Pack Hits WWE 2K23 Tomorrow, New MyFaction Packs, 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast: UFC 288 Preview, 411s UFC Fight Night Report: Song Stops Simon, 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast: UFC on ESPN+ 80 Review, 411s UFC Fight Night Report: Pavlovich Stops Blaydes. Physical proximity isnt the end all and be all of developing a relationship with somebody, though. Rush to Limelight It'Ll Be Like Old Times When Larry Csonka Follows Jim Even though WWE is a billion-dollar company, and as such is the benchmark for how mainstream the business and the art of wrestling can go, it is still mocked. He seemingly knew every goddamn wrestling promotion that ever existed and its history. Every time, he was kind, understanding, and told me that when I was ready to go, my spot was still there. Larry Csonka spent 11 seasons in the NFL playing fullback for the Dolphins and Giants, while managing to eclipse 1,000+ rushing yards 3 different times (they only played 14 game seasons back then). Together they produced several outdoor adventure television shows. The internet is a strange place; its a world with a sheen on it. He was just this extremely nice guy who went about his business, and his business just so happened to be reviewing every show known to man. If you are reading this on 411mania right now, there is nothing that I can tell you about Larrys writing that you dont already know. Opens in a new window or tab. Though backstage drama has been limited in my time writing for 411mania, when Larry was in charge and required to deal with a situation, you could count on him to adjudicate in the manner he felt best, not in the manner that would merely serve his own personal agenda. RYAN BYERS: Shula was born in Grand River and attended John Carroll University. Several years later, a second daughter came along, and Larry was just as proud, regularly sharing updates regarding the pregnancy and delivery. When things started to change for me in my personal life and I had to cut back on the work I was able to do here, Larry understood because he was also a family man and knew where I was coming from. It could be a partner, a friend, a co-worker, or just some person you happen to interact with. O'Neil was a fixture in . Larry Csonka Career Stats | StatMuse As it stands while Im writing this, Im still processing this horrible, tragic news. But Larry always took the time to check my stuff, advice me on words I needed to change and he really didnt need to do that. When I look back on the time Ive spent at 411mania.com, there has always been one constant; Larry. You could tell how much Larry loved wrestling in every single article he wrote, in his incredible ability to feel the vibe of the show at a level that few of us can. Just last week I was giving him some friendly needling over a comment someone left in his RAW review, because that was the kind of thing we did. For years my morning routine would start with me opening up his latest reviews from the night prior and finding out what wrestling needed watching; you could set your watch by his consistency and you could always trust his opinions. The whole gig was a paperboy routine.. Even with his health problems later in life, Larry found a way to power through them and keep up his machine-like pace. The last time I regularly watched WWE was all the way back in 2015, but in the 5 years since, I would still open up every single review that Larry posted, whether it was Main Event, Raw or Wrestlemania to get his take on whatever he watched. Csonka also has a daughter, Lori, as a result of agreeing to serve as a donor for a couple who had asked him to help them conceive in 1974. I have no idea how he managed to cover it all, produce, and never phone it in. Uncle Frank was a marine in the Pacific campaign and saw extensive action. Im just shocked, saddened, and angry. He was a prolific reviewer and the rarest of things in this weirdly tribal community thats as prone to forming cliques and cliques of cliques as any Ive ever encountered: someone who legitimately was loved by everyone. Were all still coming to terms with the sudden and tragic loss of Larry Csonka. On behalf of the entire ProWrestling.net team, I offer our heartfelt condolences to Larrys family, friends, and many readers. On a personal level, I didnt interact with Larry as much as some of my fellow colleagues, but every time I did he was always cool, always helpful. As much as this hurts us all, I cant imagine what youre going through and all my best thoughts and hopes go your way. He turned that encyclopedic knowledge into something else. I discovered that because of him. After Carley Csonka finished driving in excess of 80 mph down Old Daytona Road in October in DeLand, police say she told her two passengers she wanted to go faster. When I discovered 411Wrestling, it was a safe haven for me to share my love of wrestling with other likeminded people. It's an emotional high in "Head On," Csonka's compelling memoir to be published Oct. 4. Because much like Eddie, Larry has made me the fan I am today. All rights reserved.Click here for our privacy policy. CSONKA LAUGHS HIS WAY TO HALL - Chicago Tribune Not Meltzer, not Alvarez if I was in the middle of researching for an article of my own, I checked out what Larry researched because I knew he was serious about making sure his dates and sources were accurate. Aside from (maybe) Dave Meltzer, I dont think anybody on this planet has written as much about the crazy world of pro-wrestling as Larry did. or Best Offer. I think he took a special interest in Larry because he saw that he had so much potential, and it worked out that way, didn't it? Several people combined couldnt replicate his output as a writer. ), or even which show it was (Raw, maybe? David Harris is the Senior Content Editor for breaking news for the Orlando Sentinel. Please help us serve you better, fill out our survey. Fast forward six years. Thankfully, Csonka reviewed it all, so we all stood a chance. Thus, in some ways, learning about Larry passing away felt like part of a macabre pattern that has followed us throughout our adult lives. Topps Larry Csonka Football Sports Trading Card Singles Csonka gave Dolphin fans . We knew of the love for The Colony and Hana, we knew the adoration for the wife. Hes seen it all, hes reviewed it all, and in some ways, he was the end-all-be-all of pro wrestling reviewers. He was, by everything I can possibly be aware of, a wonderful father and husband and if you guys are reading this I want to send my love. He was an important pillar of our community and Im sure his legacy will live on through many conversations, reviews, articles and wrestling memories. And in that, Im sure Im not alone.. I mean, I thought I was a wrestling fan and that I knew a lot about it. He did it all, from filling in for live recaps when the Raw guy stopped showing up, to repeatedly reminding people that he wasnt THAT Larry Csonka, to covering for his idiot Monday news reporter at the absolute last minute way too many times, and he did it all with good humor and professionalism. You will be missed. Media. //larrycsonka.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/larry-sig-black.png, https://larrycsonka.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Larry-Csonka-Dad.png.