ɡɹˈuːl tˈɜːnd pɹəfˈɛʃənəl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti nˈaɪn wɪððə sˈædʒɪnˌɔː ɡˈɪɹz, ˈæftɚɹ ɐ tɹˈaɪaʊt wɪððə bˈɪŋəmtən dˈʌstɚz.
Gruhl turned professional in 1979 with the Saginaw Gears, after a tryout with the Binghamton Dusters.