CNN Proves Once Again That They’re Douchebags

November 12, 2007 at 2:26 pm (Uncategorized)
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Okay, so as those who were reading this blog in June know, I’m a pro wrestling fan. A pretty huge one. What with the Chris Benoit murder-suicide incident and all, the last few months haven’t been particularly fun ones to be a fan of the squared circle. The mainstream media have been all over pro wrestling (and in some ways, very rightly so) about the latest hot-button issue–steroids, human growth hormone, & performance-enhancing drugs. As I said, in some ways, they’re very right…steroid abuse is and always will be a problem in sports-entertainment, no question, and I haven’t commented on it because I felt I wore out my wrestling rants on Benoit and how shittily that was covered.

This time, however, the MSM has simply gone too far, and it’s muthafuggin’ rant time. Fasten your seat belts.

So, CNN, which has never been a paragon of journalistic integrity in the first place (but at least used to be able to claim a better job then Faux…err, FOX News) produced a documentary program called, with it’s usual lack of taste and sensationalist attitude, “Death Grip – Inside Pro Wrestling.” The program was about the use of steroids & the like in pro wrestling. While no one expected this thing to be particularly fair and balanced, they did start off semi-okay.

Then they got to John Cena.

John Cena, for those not in the know, is pretty much the flagship worker in the WWE. A three-time WWE Heavyweight Champion, he was also the star of his own movie (a surprisingly good 80’s throwback-style action time-waster called The Marine) and cut his own rap album, also surprisingly good (shockingly so, in fact). I’m not being overly kind here because he’s a wrestler…they were actually quite good, for those who like those genres. Cena is currently the brightest star the WWE has, and has unfortunately been sidelined with a (legitimate) torn pectoral muscle.

CNN interviewed John Cena about the topic of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs. During the interview, Cena did what everyone would expect a pro wrestler do, and makes himself and the industry sound bad. Very, very bad. Regarding the issue of whether he’s used steroids, Cena says “I can’t tell you that I haven’t…but you’ll never prove that I have.”

Or does he? I now present to you, as evidence…two videos.

The footage as aired in “Death Grip”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVm29YcTNMM

The Unedited Footage, as posted by WWE.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkj-vd-q5A8

……….yeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaah.

Seriously, people. Is the wrestling industry THAT fucking untouchable that CNN needs to make up shit like this? I mean, seriously, let’s run down the list.

  • Chris Benoit kills his wife and son, then himself. He’s found with elevated testosterone levels.
  • 66 professional wrestlers who died before the age of 50 (for various reasons, mind, not just drug-related)
  • Joanie Laurer (Former WWE wrestler Chyna to the majority of the world) being an absolute train-wreck on several celeb-reality programs, and just recently legally changing her name to Chyna and challenging Vince McMahon to a real fight.
  • Stupid parents who let their kids watch wrestling and don’t give them any guidance, then blame wrestling when they hurt and kill each other, such as Derek Garland and Lionel Tate.
  • WWE wrestlers failing steroids tests (for which the company is, to be fair to the WWE, now suspending the wrestlers and making such suspensions public…and even firing them or letting them quit, as is the case with Chris Masters and Booker T).
  • The entire image that professional wrestling has an engenders about being a pseudo-sport for ignorant, inbred, idiotic hicks to watch.

And that’s just for starters. So no, we really don’t need some shitty documentary piece-mealing together a response from the one guy still in the business who’s really, strongly considered a role model for kids giving a smarmy response. Fuck you, CNN, for lazy journalism and a complete lack of professionalism. I really don’t care that you’ve changed the documentary now that WWE has fired back at you (it now is accurate, and Cena says “Absolutely Not” when asked), I hope you get the SHIT sued out of you over this.

(And yes, I know CNN is probably not liable for this misrepresentation in that proving the slander as malicious would be difficult. They SHOULD be liable, though.)

Fucking assholes.

–Jer


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A Letter to Jim Litke re: AP Column “Maybe pro wrestling has lost control of the script”

June 29, 2007 at 2:58 pm (Uncategorized)
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The following is a letter written by me to Mr. Jim Litke, a sports columnist for the Associated Press, in response to his opinion column (posted in USA Today and other outlets), “Maybe pro wrestling has lost control of the script.” I think, finally, this is the last thing I’ll be writing in regards to the Chris Benoit story that’s been plaguing my blog and the sports entertainment industry I love. I think it’s time I moved on and put this behind me. I’ll be following the event as it unfolds, but I don’t think I need to keep spending digital ink, so to speak, sharing my thoughts.

Mr. Litke:

I have to say, upon reading your June 29th, AP Column “Has pro wrestling lost control?” that I am, without a doubt, completely disgusted by the slipshod manner in which you have presented your facts. The way you present your column is utterly sensationalistic and bereft of truth which, unlike the professional wrestling industry, does attempt a veneer of sincerity about it.

Let’s start rolling down the facts as you present them, and shooting holes right through them, shall we?

1: You Said: “just two days earlier, his World Wrestling Entertainment issued a statement insisting that even though anabolic steroids were found in Benoit’s home, they “were not, and could not be related” to the deaths.”

The Facts: The Press Release put out by World Wrestling Entertainment, rightly advocating some sensibility in terms of avoiding sensationalism in this horrific event, stated the following: “Steroids were not, and could not, be related to the cause of death (asphyxiation). Authorities had no factual basis to speculate as to Benoit’s state of mind, and rightly did not do so.” This is absolutely correct…steroids could not have caused asphyxiation, and had nothing to do with the CAUSE of the deaths. Of course, you neglected to include the bit about the fact that it could not have had anything to do with asphyxiation, or the very valid point that the authorities had no basis to speculate as to Benoit’s state of mind, because it wouldn’t let you vilify professional wrestling for a headline.

2. You Said: “In 2005, Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his Minneapolis hotel room, the victim of heart failure linked to steroid use”

The Facts: Eddie Guerrero’s death was never linked to steroid use. Guerrero’s death was linked to a past of many pain killer and alcohol abuse. At the time of his death, he was living a clean life; however, your reporting tries to imply that Guerrero was a juicer who death of a direct result of steroids. I’m sure that being an alcoholic doesn’t make your case against the WWE and Vince McMahon as well as you’d like.

3. You Said: “In 1999, real life intruded on wrestling’s art when Owen Hart was killed trying to perform a stunt during a pay-per-view event. The audience had no idea Hart’s death was real – not just a stunt – in large part because the show continued.”

The Facts: Owen Hart died because of a tragic accident in the ring, yes. The audience ~in the arena~ were not directly informed that it was not a storyline, this is true; however, few in the arena believed it was false. Those in their homes, watching on Pay-Per-View, knew exactly what had happened, because WWE Announcer Jim Ross informed them. The fact of the matter is this: WWE were in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation, and had to make a split decision on the moment. They made what many feel to be a mistake. Human beings do that.

4. You Said: “Just two weeks ago, McMahon had WWE cameras follow him out of the ring and toward a waiting limousine that exploded. His own publicists tried to pass off the spectacular fake as a real assassination and pretended the FBI was investigating. “

The Facts: The death of the “Mr. McMahon” character portrayed by Vince McMahon on WWE programming was a storyline. It was stated many times, by many people within the company, that it was a storyline, and that Vince McMahon himself was perfectly fine. His publicists never said such a thing…in fact, they said the exact opposite of what you claim. The WWE Announcers, on the air of RAW, ECW, and SmackDown, did. Are you going to accuse Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran, Keifer Sutherland, FOX, and the other people behind “24″ of creating a bomb scare during 2002 due to their storyline of a nuclear bomb threat? Of course not. But it’s okay to do with with professional wrestling.

What you are printing, Mr. Litke, is more then just sensationalistic. What you are printing is outright lies and mistruths.

The absolute fact of the matter is this, sir. You will have, no doubt, surmised that I am a fan of professional wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. My fandom has wavered at times, and I do not blindly support the company. I believe that their wellness program, while a step in the right direction, needs work. I believe that they are times unnecessarily provocative. I even stopped watching SmackDown! on Friday Nights for a long period of time after WWE Announcer John “Bradshaw” Layfield made a comment I found personally offensive. However, the deaths of Nancy, Daniel, and Chris Benoit cannot be laid at their feet, and the fact that you had to resort to complete misrepresentations and even utter untruths shows exactly how weak the foundation for the goal that you and many others within the mainstream media have–to blame WWE and Vince McMahon–truly is.

Next time, Mr. Litke, stick to college basketball and football. It’s an easier world to wrap your head around.

Jeremy Thomas, 31
Portland, OR

P.S. I attempted to find the email addresses of the newspapers this article has been posted to, but most have feedback forms only. Thus, I have included this feedback to WWE and to USA Today in a letter to the editor, so that they might be aware of your misrepresentation.


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More Benoit Stuff: Wikipedia and More

June 28, 2007 at 3:21 pm (Uncategorized)
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Welcome to Chris Benoit murder-suicide central. I know, I’ve been posting a lot about it, and it probably shows how much it has affected me. It has, in ways I’m probably not ready to understand yet. It also shows how increasingly bizarre this is getting.

Those that know me closer are already aware of this one…I found it Monday night, when the story of Benoit and his passing first broke. If anyone’s curious about why this whole thing seems so off…well, wonder no more. I didn’t feel like mentioning it here before, but now that mainstream media has picked up on it, I suppose it might seems less crackpot-ish to people. It certainly does to me.

Web Time Stamps Indicate Nancy Benoit’s Death Reported on Web at Least 13 Hours Before Police Found Bodies in Her Home

An anonymous user operating a computer traced to Stamford, Conn. – home to World Wrestling Entertainment – posted an entry to pro wrestler Chris Benoit’s biography on Wikipedia.org announcing the death of his wife Nancy at least 13 hours before police in suburban Atlanta said they found her body along with her husband’s and that of their 7-year-old son, FOXNews.com has learned.

Employees at Wikipedia.org said the posting went live on their site on Monday at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Police, however, said they found the bodies Monday at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

The posting reads: “Chris Benoit was replaced by [[Johnny Nitro]] for the ECW Championship match at Vengeance, as Benoit was not there due to personal issues, stemming from the death of his wife Nancy.” According to a Wikipedia.org report published after FOXNews.com made inquiries, the edit was reversed just under one hour later with the comment:

“Need a reliable source. Saying that his wife died is a pretty big statement, you need to back it up with something.”

The posting apparently was made in reference to Benoit’s scheduled appearance on Sunday night at an Extreme Championship Wrestling event in Texas.

An employee from Wikipedia.org told FOXNews.com that he called and left a message with investigative authorities in Fayetteville, Ga., at around 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, after the posting was brought to the attention of the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Web site.

“I chat with other editors on IRC – Internet relay chat – and somebody pointed it out to me on a relay chat and that it came from a Stamford connection, and that it took place at midnight Eastern Standard Time on Monday morning,” said Wikipedia.org volunteer coordinator Cary Bass. “I called and left a message with the police department.”

The computer-generated time and date stamp of the Benoit entry are listed as 4:01, 25 June 2007. Wikipedia.org lists its entries according to Universal Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time.

Further investigation, according to Wikipedia.com, shows that one hour after the first edit reversion, another anonymous edit by 125.63.148.173 using unwiredAustralia.com.au, a wireless Internet service provider, was made adding about the aforementioned personal issues: “which according to several pro wrestling websites is attributed to the passing of Benoit’s wife, Nancy.”

That edit was reverted less than 20 minutes later, with the following comment: “Saying ’several pro wrestling websites’ is still not reliable information.” The second edit was made by a computer in Australia from a wireless network, according to Wikipedia.org.

A message left by FOXNews.com with Lt. Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department was not immediately returned.

Investigators so far have ruled the Benoit killings as a double homicide-suicide.

Wikipedia.org claims to be one of the largest reference Web sites, and is written collaboratively by users from around the world. Approved users can make submissions and change entries that are posted on the site almost immediately. Bass said the site is constantly monitored to correct inaccuracies.

Bass said when there is a high-profile case, such as the Benoit killlings, Wikipedia.org limits postings to registered users, which is now indicated at the top of the Benoit entry. According to the listed history on the Benoit entry, the computer used to post the 12:01 a.m. entry had a Stamford, Conn., Internet Protocol – or IP – address, a numeric designation that is assigned to every computer with an Internet connection, and that same address has been used to post about a dozen other messages on the site, dating back to May 16, 2007.

Now, to clarify here…no pro wrestling sites reported Nancy Benoit’s death until Monday when the entire story broke. None. Nada. There was absolutely zero public knowledge until police found the bodies that any of the three were dead. So the question is–is this just a tragically coincidential vandalism edit in Wikipedia, so coincidential that it was edited in twice, or did someone have knowledge of this far in advance?

Several potential theories abound in my head on this…perhaps someone from WWE had foreknowledge of the deaths, and was trying to edit Wikipedia in order to put a positive spin on things, and make Chris out to be less of a monster. Unlikely, since it certainly wouldn’t have been enough to help, and no one would possibly think it is. Perhaps, as stated before, it’s a tragic coincidence of vandalism. That just doesn’t make any sense in my mind.

I’ve been talking with a friend of mine over this, who is not a wrestling fan but has been following it, and she and I have to wonder. The text messages Benoit sent to two co-workers could be explained by the official explanation, that it was Chris making sure the bodies would be found. But really..this man was a high-profile star (for wreslting at least) of the biggest wrestling company in the world. The argument can be made that he wasn’t in the right state of mind–I don’t think ANYONE would disagree with that–and wasn’t thinking of this, but the bodies would most certainly be discovered quickly, considering he had just missed a major Pay-Per-View, was on tap to appear on TV on Tuesday at the latest.

Don’t they also sound like a cry for help, without being obvious about it?

I’m not saying that this is a big conspiracy. I’m not suggesting that. What I am saying is that not all the facts are in yet, and this incident is looking more and more unusual by the day. No one…not a single person who knew Benoit…thinks this is characteristic of him. Fellow WWE Superstar Rob Van Dam, on his blog posted today, stated “How many murderers…baby murderers at that… are praised so highly by EVERYONE who knew them?” And he brings up a good point. None of this makes any fucking sense. That’s like a broken record I keep going back to, but it’s true. I just…don’t get it.

The full truth of this tragedy has yet to unfold. I only hope, when it does, we can put the whole thing to rest.

EDIT: The last known picture of Benoit is posted here, along with a report that his doctor, who saw him on Friday, saw nothing unusual about Benoit during his visit.

–Jer


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AP: Benoit’s Doctor Saw Him On Friday; WWE Confirms Benoit’s Son Had Fragile X

June 27, 2007 at 4:31 pm (Uncategorized)
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Professional wrestler Chris Benoit met with his personal physician hours before he allegedly killed his wife and son and then hanged himself in his basement, the doctor said Wednesday.

“He was in my office on Friday to stop by just to see my staff,” said Dr. Phil Astin of metro Atlanta. “He certainly didn’t show any signs of any distress or rage or anything.”

Authorities say Benoit strangled his wife, suffocated his 7-year-old son Daniel and placed a Bible next to their bodies before hanging himself with a weight-machine pulley over the weekend. No motive was offered for the killings, which were spread out over the weekend and discovered Monday.

Astin, who said he was Benoit’s longtime friend and physician, said he had prescribed testosterone to Benoit because he suffered from low amounts of the hormone. He said the condition likely originated from previous steroid use. He would not say what, if any, medications he prescribed the day of the meeting.

“I’m still very surprised and shocked, especially with his child Daniel involved,” said Benoit. “He worshipped his child.”

Investigators said Benoit’s 43-year-old wife was strangled Friday with what appeared to be a cable in an upstairs family room, and her feet and wrists were bound and there was blood under her head, indicating a possible struggle. Daniel was probably killed late Saturday or early Sunday, and his body was found in his bed, the district attorney said.

Before the killings, the family was struggling with how to care for the child, who suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism, said Jerry McDevitt, an attorney for World Wrestling Entertainment.

“Him and Nancy were clearly struggling about this whole issue, about how to take care of Daniel,” said McDevitt.

“I don’t know what he confronted when he went back into the house,” he said. “No one really knows that. We’ll have to see. Clearly this issue of the son was a stressor on both of their relationships for some time.”

District Attorney Scott Ballard said the autopsy indicated that there were no bruise marks on his neck, so authorities are now assuming he could have been killed using a choke hold. “It’s a process of elimination,” he said.

Anabolic steroids were found in Benoit’s home, leading officials to wonder whether the drugs may have caused the muscle man nicknamed the “Canadian Crippler” to kill his wife and child and then himself.

The WWE, based in Stamford, Conn., issued a news release Tuesday evening saying steroids “were not and could not be related to the cause of death” and that the findings indicate “deliberation, not rage.” It also added that Benoit tested negative April 10, the last time he was tested for drugs.

“The drugs they had found in there, including the steroids, were all pursuant to legitimate prescription. We know they know which doctor prescribed it,” McDevitt said. “There’s no question, none of these drugs are out there, none of these drugs came from Internet pharmacies.”

While steroids can cause the paranoia and explosive outbursts known as “roid rage,” the drug is also associated with deep and lengthy bouts of depression.

“Just as you have the extreme high of when you’re on steroids, you can get the opposite,” said Dr. Todd Schlifstein, a clinical assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine. “You can have a dramatic difference in mood swings. You can feel there’s no hope, there’s no future.”

This whole thing gets wierder and wierder. Benoit has no signs of problems the night he does this? It really makes me wonder what’s going on here, and likely, we’ll never know. Which makes it all hurt even more.


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WWE Posts Statement on Possible Steroid Motivation

June 26, 2007 at 3:42 pm (Uncategorized)
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I know, I’m probably over-reporting at this point, but I felt this post-worthy to make the point for those speculating:

WWE® Shocked At Latest Developments In Benoit Tragedy, Concerned By Sensationalistic Reporting

STAMFORD, Conn., June 26, 2007 – World Wrestling Entertainment is stunned and saddened by the details released by local authorities concerning the double homicide-suicide involving Chris Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and his son, Daniel.

However, WWE is concerned with the sensationalistic reporting and speculation being undertaken by some members of the media following the press conference held by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney. During the press conference, the investigating authorities made the following points, all of which run contrary to the media speculation that “roid rage” was a factor in the senseless murders and suicide:

1. The authorities stated that all drugs found in the house were believed to be legal prescriptions.

2. Steroids were not, and could not, be related to the cause of death (asphyxiation). Authorities had no factual basis to speculate as to Benoit’s state of mind, and rightly did not do so.

3. Toxicology tests have not even been completed, so there is no current evidence that Benoit even had steroids or any other substance in his body. In that regard, on the last test done on Benoit by WWE’s independently administered drug testing program, done on April 10, 2007, Benoit tested negative.

4. The physical findings announced by authorities indicate deliberation, not rage. The wife’s feet and hands were bound and she was asphyxiated, not beaten to death. By the account of the authorities, there were substantial periods of time between the death of the wife and the death of the son, again suggesting deliberate thought, not rage. The presence of a Bible by each is also not an act of rage.

5. WWE strongly suggests that it is entirely wrong for speculators to suggest that steroids had anything to do with these senseless acts, especially when the authorities plainly stated there is no evidence that Benoit had steroids in his body, pending the toxicological reports, and that they had no evidence at this time as to the motive for these acts.

WWE is continuing to monitor the ongoing investigation being conducted by local authorities.

Are they covering their ass? Yeah, pretty much. Doesn’t make their points any less valid–they have a right to cover their ass. It’s a tragedy, end of story. Whatever reason Chris had did for doing it, you can’t rightly claim that steroids are to blame, nor is the WWE at fault for the actions of a man that was, it’s obvious to me at least, not mentally well.

–Jer


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Addendum

June 26, 2007 at 2:10 pm (Uncategorized)
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To the two people who came to my site today looking for “chris benoit punchlines”:Die in a fire.

–Jer

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The Morning After (Thoughts on Chris Benoit)

June 26, 2007 at 9:57 am (Uncategorized)
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This is, by far, the saddest day to be a wrestling fan in quite some time.

As you may have noticed from seeing my post last night (or reading the news), WWE Superstar Chris Benoit has died, and as more details become available, it’s looking more and more disturbing. So, as it stands, it appears that Benoit killed his wife Nancy and seven-year-old son Daniel over the weekend, and then took his own life on Monday. Even writing this is just…I’m blown away. I’ve been a Chris Benoit fan for years and years, since I first saw him in WCW. Benoit was always one of the most consummate professionals in the ring, and a stand-up guy outside the ring, by all accounts. That he would have done this is inconceivable to most of us who follow this insane world we call sports-entertainment.

The WWE has scrapped all thoughts toward their “Vince McMahon has been assassinated” storyline, and for once, they’re doing the right thing. No one would be able to carry on with such a storyline after something like this. Hell, I don’t know if everyone will be able to wrestle in the company after this. It might all be too painful, and frankly, I wouldn’t blame them.

Professional wrestling is an industry where so many die young. I can count off a huge list, just off the top of my head. Chris and Nancy (who did, by the way, used to be a manager in WCW–that’s where she and Chris met), 40 and 43 respectively. Eddie Guerrero, 38. Own Hart, 33. Brian Pillman, 35. All three Von Erichs–21 year old Chris, 23 year old Mike, and 33 year old Kerry. Mike “Crash Holly” Lockwood, 32. Chris Candido, 33. Davey Boy Smith, 39. I could keep going…I really could. But I don’t want to. It makes me sick.

Somehow, Chris, Nancy, and Daniel’s death is the worst of them all. Every wrestling fan in the world is just stunned right now. This doesn’t make sense. Drugs, okay. Accidents, fine. Even suicide can be expected. But this? No. And not from a guy like Benoit. This just doesn’t make sense at all.

Of course, as I was typing this, three co-workers walked by my desk. One of them said to the other, “Did you hear about that crazy wrestler?” I got pissed. I watches them with narrowed eyes as, obliviously, they walked off, talking about it like it was a punchline. I wanted to stand up, walk over to them, and say “Hey! We don’t know anything for sure yet…have some fucking respect.”

But really, what’s the point? This is pro wrestling. Nothing’s worth respect in that industry. It’ll always be viewed as something that only a bunch of inbred, redneck fucking hicks could enjoy. And when someone falls sick and does something like this, or a wrestler dies of drug-related causes, or whatever, it’s expected. They were steroid freaks, after all, right? Just a roided-up meathead who snapped.

I started to type out a big “wrong” paragraph just now, but I deleted it. I don’t feel like defending professional wrestling to anyone. It’s fucking pointless anyway. People will believe what they want, and nothing more then that. It simply infuriates me that people can dismiss this so easily. In a week, Chris Benoit will be a punchline, the way the Virginia Tech Massacre became. And if you see someone gritting their teeth while it’s going on…that’s someone who, like me, watched Chris Benoit in the ring. Watched his “Hard Knocks” DVD, saw his shoot (non-storyline, real-life) interviews, and knew the man behind the wrestler as well as anyone can know another celebrity. That’s someone who looked up to Benoit as one of the greatest technical wrestlers ever to compete in the industry, and as far as anyone knew, a great man on top of it. Do all us fans a favor, and save it for another time.

After all. We’re all inbred hicks with three teeth and antisocial tendencies. Do you really wanna piss us off?

Rest in peace, Chris, Nancy, and Daniel. I don’t know what happened…and I don’t think, even after the facts come in, we ever will know what was truly going on. But I hope you’re all in a better place. And I hope Eddie, Owen, Brian, and the rest are there with you. Gods-speed.

–Jer


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Stunned

June 25, 2007 at 9:38 pm (Uncategorized)
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Chris Benoit 1967 – 2007
Nancy Daus 1964 – 2007
Daniel Benoit 2000 – 2007

I don’t even know if I’ll have thoughts on this. I may, but I may not post them here. I just…I…

–Jer


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Chair Shots and Soda For the Morning

June 4, 2007 at 12:28 pm (Uncategorized)
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Morning ramblings from work…ahh, such fun. This is what happens on slow days…I find occasion to spill my thoughts somewhere. So you get ramblings…enjoy.

Over the past week, I’ve spent part of my nights narrating the book Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks over the phone. It’s the autobiography of Mick Foley, multi-time New York Times Best-Selling (and award-winning) author and professional wrestler (better known in the wrestling world as Mankind, Cactus Jack, and Dude Love). I first read the book the week it came out, in October of 1999, and fell in love with it. Foley (who did the book without a ghostwriter or even a computer…760 pages in longhand on notebook paper) writes far better then any man who had his head busted open on a near-weekly basis–sometimes even more frequently then that–should. I put it on my bookshelf, then lent it out and didn’t get it back for nearly two years. Once I got it back, it found it’s way back to the trusty bookshelf until Thursday night. I’m happy to say it’s been a pleasure to rediscover Mick’s incredibly easy-to-read style and his incredible sense of humor. A sample below:

Now, we should probably get something straight. I know you didn’t pay $25 (unless your cheap ass waited for the paperback) to have your intelligence insulted. I will not try to portray professional wrestling as being a “real, competitive sport.” I will readily admit to occasionally stomping my foot on the mat, and always placing a greater emphasis on entertainment value than on winning. I have, however, over the course of fifteen years of blood, sweat, and tears, compiled a list of injuries that I would compare to that of any “legitimate” athlete.

That’s hardly the best part of it, by far, it’s simply the quickest excerpt I could find; however, it shows the man’s sense of humor and forthrightness that shines throughout the book. As my audience for the narration has told me… “I would love to meet Mick Foley.” And after reading the book, you would, too, I bet. It’s a book for wrestling and non-wrestling fans alike to enjoy (although, if you truly despise the industry, then I wouldn’t suggest it), and after you’re done, you’re likely to want to go out and buy his other books. You have my whole-hearted support in doing so.

–Jer


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