Before I begin, a little indulgence please. When you see the initial topic, you may choose to stop reading. However, allow me to vent a bit.
I've admitted I have been and continue to be a fan of professional wrestling. Yes I know it's not real, it's "pre determined", and has "pushed the envelope" for many years now.
When reality crossed into a storyline, sometimes things go a little too far.
Example; even if you're not a fan, you're probably aware of what happened to WWE Announcer/Part Time Wrestler Jerry Lawler.
If you're not, about a month ago, after "competing" in the ring, Lawler suffered a near fatal heart attack, live on the air.
This was NOT a storyline, this was actually happening to a 62 year old man, who many, along with me. feel shouldn't compete anymore, it's just too dangerous.
I was watching that night and knew it was real by the look of horror on the face of Co Host Michael Cole.
(A side note, I worked with Michael over 20 years ago when we were both employed by another station in town. He was doing News using his real name [not Michael Cole]. I was doing the hot rockin' flame throwin' Top 40 night show using a name, among others, "The Crier Of Desire"; [you just can't make this stuff up]).
Anyway, watching the all too true drama being played out was some scary sh....well let's just say it was VERY scary.
It was reported Lawler was clinically dead for about 20 minutes, and there was a chance he could have ended up with brain damage.
All for essentially doing what he shouldn't have been doing for a man his age.
I may be sounding overly sensitive about this, and I probably am, for good reason.
As I mentioned before, when I was 13 my dad passed at age 56, of a fatal heart attack, so a nerve was touched.
On the positive, Lawler is by all reports doing great, and I'm sure he'll be back to work eventually, and I also hope his thoughts getting in the squared circle again are a thing of the past.
That brings us to what I saw watching Monday Night RAW last night.
The main event has owner Vince McMahon taking on the current "bad guy/heel", CM Punk.
Vince McMahon is 67 years old.
He doesn't have to do this.
Watching the "match" (which again, was "pre determined"), I felt let down with what these guys were doing.
Mostly due to the fact that leading up to this "match", references were made to the fact that Vince isn't a young man...and don't forget what happened to Jerry Lawler..
!!!!!
?????
Bad taste, thy name is professional wrestling.
On a related note, Vince's wife Linda is in a very heated race for U.S. Senate in Connecticut.
Wonder if her opponant will use footage of last night in his next political ad?
Finally, despite all of this, I will still watch.
WWE is currently in a major campaign to help fight breast cancer.
Their heart is in the right place, even though their head occasionally is stuck where the sun doesn't shine.
Mike Patrick
