Harvard Man
By WILL POTTER

Christopher Nowinski graduated cum laude in sociology from Harvard University in 2000, but he needed a career change. Drawing inspiration from "day-to-day dealings with snobs at Harvard," the 6-foot-5, 270-pound Massachusetts native gave up flexing his mental muscle and took to the wrestling ring.

"There's a small population at Harvard that lives up to the image," says Mr. Nowinski, who played football for the Crimson and drew some interest from the NFL before turning to wrestling. "They're from rich families, very privileged, and look down on the rest of the world. I thought I could make a lot of them real mad."

The crowd jeers "Harvard sucks!" as Mr. Nowinski patrols the ring with a crimson sweater tied around his neck and a large H on the seat of his tights. He calls the fans country bumpkins and lets fly other verbal knockdowns, but there are some who love the insults. Mr. Nowinski, who wrestles for World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., has attracted a loyal following on wrestling-fan Web sites.

"His holier-than-thou attitude is definitely part of his appeal," says Kate Taylor-Steeves, co-creator of Honour-Roll.com, a Web site dedicated to Mr. Nowinski and named after his finishing move. "And well, let's face it, he's also very attractive."

Mr. Nowinski doesn't need the ego boost.

"Never before has someone of my intellect graced WWE's ring," Mr. Nowinski proclaims on the site. "Harvard men rule the world, and considering how puerile and simple-minded the other superstars are, all of them will soon be working for me."

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http://chronicle.com
Section: Short Subjects
Volume 49, Issue 27, Page A6

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