Golden Knights Super Fan ‘Hulk’ Dies; VGK Fans Left Heartbroken After Hearing Sad News Monday: ‘It’s Like We Lost A Family Member’
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
Vegas Golden Knights fans were deeply saddened Monday when they learned that one of the Golden Knights’ most visible and popular fans — John Baratta, the man known as Hulk for ripping his red shirt when the Knights scored a goal — had died.
Sporting the Hulk Hogan-style mustache, Baratta, 68, was a well-known fan who was often pictured on the T-Mobile Arena jumbotron tearing his shirt a la pro wrestler Hogan after the Knights scored a goal.
Some VGK fans noted on Facebook that they saw Baratta only the night before when the Golden Knights lost to the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena and wrote heartfelt words on the Facebook pages of Baratta and Baratta’s other Facebook page dubbed, “Vegas Hulkamania.” Several reports said Baratta died from a heart attack.
Jessica Nepper, Baratta’s daughter, wrote in a Facebook message to LVSportsBiz.com: “He loved going to every knights game 
he will be truly missed by so many! He touched so many lives and had a lot of fans himself ”
Golden Knights fan Linda Grandis, who wears Golden Knights-theme jackets and is seen on the jumbotron often, observed, “It’s like we lost a family member.”
Baratta was a fixture in section 8 in the arena’s bottom bowl. He was friends with all and came to every home VGK game with the red “Hulkamania” shirt seen below. After the Knights scored, fans roared and enjoyed the KnightTron video image of Baratta tearing the shirt.
Nepper posted this Facebook tribute below to her dad Monday afternoon. She said her dad was born in Omaha, Nebraska and had six kids. “He also had 21 grandkids and 2 great grandkids that he loved dearly,” Nepper said. “He also loved going to the games with his wife Priscilla and traveling to all the away games.”
This was also posted on Baratta’s Facebook page:
Others shared their thoughts on Facebook, too.
Drew Johnson We all knew John from the KnightTron, but I’ll remember him from road games. In places like Winnipeg, DC and Florida, where my wife & I were sure we wouldn’t see a single VGK fan we’d recognize (maybe other than the ever-present and always glittering Tommy & Donna Rocker), John would almost always be there. Whether it was just a quick “hi” or a longer conversation, he was always a joy to be around. Your day was always a little better by having crossed paths with John.
LVSportsBiz.com met Baratta many times at Golden Knights games, even seeing him in Los Angeles for a Golden Knights-Kings playoff game in season one.
In fact, LVSportsBiz.com photographer Tyge O’Donnell snapped this photo of Baratta just last Wednesday before the Golden Knights played the Edmonton Oilers. That’s Baratta in the middle flanked by Christopher Green (right) and Matt Smiejan (left).
LVSportsBiz.com also posted this Twitter item on the “Hulk” this season.
Arena beer vendor Martin Martin wrote to LVSportsBiz.com to say he had the honor of selling Baratta his final beer at Sunday’s VGK-Kings game: “We are the walking beer vendors working every VGK game at the arena. John was one of my loyal and regular customers as my assigned sections are 7 through 9 and I had the Honor, privilege and pleasure of being the beer vendor that sold him his final favorite beer at the Kings game. He loved Estrella Jalisco!”
Another friend, Jerry Smith, wrote and sent a photo, too.
“John had become a wonderful friend and was the ultimate VGK Fan. I’m simply devastated…He was a HUGE part of the VGK comments…
RIP MY FRIEND
VGK FOREVER”
LVSportsBiz.com will be holding a special “Top of the Escalator” segment in Baratta’s memory before Tuesday’s Golden Knights-New Jersey Devils game. Come by and share your memories on Facebook Live. The Knights are discussing have a tribute to Baratta on the KnightTron center scoreboard during tonight’s game.
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