Captain Lou, or “Cap” as I called him, debuted on the wrestling scene in 1953 in Canada. A “heel” – or bad guy – he dominated the sport for years. In the 1980s, he became a manager for the then World Wrestling Federation and was – with a group of fellow icons like Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper and Cyndi Lauper – was literally responsible for putting wrestling on the worldwide map. As Cyndi’s “father” in the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun video, he formed a friendship with her that led Cyndi to become immersed in the wrestling universe – leading to a confrontation with “Cap” that ended in “The War To Settle The Score” on February 18, 1985. The match took place live on then fledgling MTV – and put the WWF in the face of mainstream America for the first time.

In the years that followed, “Cap” went on to manage an unprecedented 17 WWF Tag Team Champions – and won such awards as Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Manager of the Year in 1986, an induction into the prestigious Cauliflower Alley Club (the Kiwanis Club of wrestling in 1995) – and then induction into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1996.

Besides being a wrestling fan and someone who has seen Captain Lou Albano on television and in person countless times – I am humbled and honored to say that I have many memories of him that involved him and I personally interacting together. I have been out to dinner with him on at least a half dozen occasions, he has been to my office and my favorite Italian restaurant, I have spoken to him on the phone and corresponded with him by mail many times, I have commentated matches with him – but the most memorable was when I was his roommate when we were both sent to Hilton Head, South Carolina to do a show for the WWF.

Here I was, watching television in a hotel room with a man that I have idolized as a lifelong fan of professional wrestling. Here he was, grabbing the phone from me to surprise my mom and say hello. Here we were, both getting ready to do live television the next afternoon…

…and here I am now – mourning the loss of an icon, and personally – a former roommate, commentating partner – and friend.

To offer a piece of trivia, when “Cap” was wrestling in the 1960s, a very young boy was a huge wrestling fan and, one day, waited outside a New Jersey arena to greet Albano. He said that his parents were very poor and he could not afford a wrestling ticket. He asked Albano if he could carry his gym bag into the arena to gain free entrance. Albano immediately befriended the boy and every time he had a match there, took him into the arena, backstage – and gave the boy just what he asked for – an opportunity to watch the matches that his family couldn’t afford…

… the boy’s name was Bruce Springsteen.

“Cap” always had a heart bigger than the career he built. I have met many wrestlers over the years that have made me feel as big a part of this business as they were. But of all those icons – only “Cap” made me feel like that little boy every time I interacted with him.

Rest in peace “Cap” – I shall miss you.