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The Foley Files - January 29, 2010

Posted: Jan 30th 2010 By: mikeiles

As some of you may have heard, there was, um, let me say, an incident involving Bubba the Love Sponge and Awesome Kong backstage at last week?s Impact taping. Apparently, Ms Kong took issue with recent comments Bubba had made regarding the disaster in Haiti; a cause that has become very near to Kong?s (who I will alternately refer to as ?Kia?) heart. A couple of weeks ago, on ?The Foley Files?, I mentioned a fundraiser that Kia had put together on very short notice, to aid the victims of the horrific earthquake - with all proceeds going directly to the Red Cross. I was so proud of Kia, the fans, and TNA wrestlers who took part (including me), and within just a few days, the Wrestlers4Haiti crew had donated over five thousand dollars.

So, given Kia?s emotional investment in the situation, it?s really not surprising that Bubba?s words were just a little on the painful side for her to read. A situation that was so important to her was seemingly being mocked, in a fairly ugly way by a TNA on-air talent (though I?m sure some TNA fans will think I?m throwing that ?talent? word around a little too liberally here). She probably should have handled the situation differently, and in retrospect, I think even Kia would admit that she may have let her emotions get the best of her. I happen to like both people involved - and, no, I?m not just saying that because Bubba is Hogan?s buddy. But I do think this situation illustrates how certain situations -tragedies, natural disasters ? effect different people in such extremely different ways; how different people, or types of people are moved differently (or not at all) by certain situations. For example decent people may be moved to improve a run-down park, or playground, renovate a historic theatre, spend a day baking goodies for the ?Flag Day Kindergarten Bake Sale? etc., but feel no real connection to the desperate plight of hundreds of thousands, even millions just a few miles from America?s shores. Some of those good people even seem to resent the victims of these type of disasters ? I?ve really had quite enough of certain religious leaders who blame just about every disaster ? 9/11, Katrina, Haiti- on the people who live there. Some even seem to resent those who actually care.

I was flattered this past week, when RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network) put a story about me on their website rainn.org, mentioning that I would be contributing 50% of my advance royalty proceeds to fight sexual abuse in this country. The decision to donate to that particular group might strike some as surprising, but certainly not foolish; I really can?t see anyone in this country thinking the fight against sexual abuse is a waste of time or money. But when I have told a few people where most of the other 50% (I am donating 100% of my advance royalties) I get curious looks ? because the bulk of that money is going to aid the victims of sexual abuse in the West African country of Sierra Leone. ?Really??, a couple of people have said. ?Wow, that?s really nice.? Except I can tell, deep down, they think the money could have been better spent over here.

The difference between me and those people is I have seen the faces of the victims, I?ve heard their stories. They?re not just unfortunate statistics to me; they?re human beings, every bit as deserving of compassion as our brothers and sisters here in the Unites States. It was that trip to Sierra Leone that really bonded my friendship with Awesome Kong. She loved looking at the photos of my trip, and would talk frequently with me about her desire to make a real difference in people?s lives. And that is exactly what she has done through her recent efforts to aid the people of Haiti ? she has made a difference.

Like I wrote earlier, Kia may have let her emotions get the best of her. But I hope people ?TNA management, Bubba himself - can understand why the situation was so emotional for her. I don?t want this situation to hurt anyone involved, Bubba included. I like Bubba. I?ve known him for over ten years, ever since the epic battle with Gerald Brisco in Tampa that made the Brisco-Patterson evening gown match look like Flair-Steamboat. I understand that it is sometimes Bubba?s job to shock his audience, even if, in this case, I thought the shock was in the poorest use of words imaginable. Hey, I even wrote a letter to the ?O?Reilly Factor? when I?d heard that Bubba had been fired a few years ago, because one irate father happened to hear the show, and took offense to it. Granted, my letter was hand-written, and probably never made it to New York City, let alone onto Mr O?Reilly?s desk, but at least I tried - an effort that the Sponge man has never forgotten.

A day after the incident I asked Bubba if he was ok, than casually said, ?for the record, I couldn?t disagree with you more about Haiti?, and walked away. Bubba later said it was so much worse than being yelled at by some irate listener; it was like your dad giving you the dreaded ?I?m disappointed in you son? line. Bubba looked sad, maybe even sensitive, as he tried to explain himself to me. ?You know, I don?t think I really said anything that bad, Mick.? I looked at the Love Sponge in disbelief and laughed. ?Bubba, you said ?f**k Haiti?.

So Bubba and I had a little conversation about the F word, and how a comment that may not have seemed so offensive to him, could be so hurtful to others. We even had a good, respectful conversation about it on his radio show the next day. Part of his point, which is shared my so many Americans, is that we should be focusing more on our own problems at home - unemployment, housing crisis, two wars - before worrying about people in other lands.

Sorry, but it?s apples and oranges. I know things are pretty tough over here, especially as we try to work our way through this economy, but the challenges facing Haiti are so much worse than what we?re facing here that an attempt to prioritize needs based on one?s national origin seems to show an incredible inability to empathize with the suffering of our fellow human beings, be they citizens of this country or not. We are talking about human beings trapped under rubble, crying out to be saved, dying slow, agonizing deaths. I really think that people can more or less be divided into two groups: those who can imagine, see or hear those cries for help? and those who can?t. Personally, I think of those girls in Sierra Leone every single day; their hardships are very real to me?the same way the suffering in Haiti is very real to Kia. She really feels their pain, and unfortunately all that pain was looking for a way to work itself out on the day of the Bubba incident.

A much wiser man than me once said that ?true depression is the loss of all hope?. I think there?s much truth to that, and I think if there is a silver lining to this horrible cloud of despair that has enveloped that tiny island in the Caribbean, it is the hope that arrives with every ten dollar text, with every donation, big and small, with every grassroots fundraiser that someone like Awesome Kong finds the courage and love to organize. Can anyone who is really familiar with the facts on Haiti?s devastated ground, feel like Americans are giving too much? Can anyone even remotely familiar with the vastness of our county?s recourses, or the enormity of our nation?s economy (even with its current difficulties) think that the one hundred million dollars our government has pledged is too much? Not while human beings are suffering on such a massive level. Does it really matter that they are not citizens of our country? Does the fact that their tiny island lies just miles from our nation?s shores make those lives more or less valuable. Or that Christopher Columbus, while sailing the ocean blue, landed on their Island before ?discovering? America?

I am so encouraged by the recent outpouring of concern, donations and emotions that have made their way to Haiti. As a proud American, I want the rest of the world to see that side of us. I want the world to see that we can put aside petty differences, and dispatch two former US Presidents of vastly different political persuasions to do what needs to be done for the people of Haiti. Maybe some of the problems we face as a country are too difficult to simply text our way out of, but the contributions made by so many people in the US, of every age, gender and creed, is a case of the American people at their best. And if some of our citizens feel like they?d rather do their donating at home - than by all means do. Inevitably, when a disaster of this magnitude strikes, well-meaning people are going to give whatever they can, often in lieu of contributions they would otherwise be making at home. As a result, donations at home often do go down. These groups could really use help in picking up the slack. So, at the risk of sounding preachy; if you?re one of these people complaining about too much attention being spent on the people of Haiti; do something about it. Send an extra check to the Special Olympics. Spend a couple extra hours at the food pantry, helping our hungry. Do something constructive. But don?t just sit around complaining that too many Americans care, or too much attention is being given on TV to those who don?t reside within our borders. Maybe you can?t hear those screams, like Awesome Kong can, or even care to try. But please, let?s not suggest that we just stand by and f**k Haiti. Our country, and our people (including Bubba, who has since apologized, and even encouraged his vast army of listeners to contribute to the cause) are better than that.

SEE MICK FOLEY ON HIS UPCOMING COMEDY TOUR DATES

February 3 - Baltimore, Md
The Baltimore Comedy Factor
(410) 547-7798
baltimorecomedy.com

February 6 - Las Vegas, Nv.
The Las Vegas Hilton Hotel and Casino
lvhilton.com

March 5 - Manchester, NH
The Palace Theatre
palacetheatre.org

Tags: Mick Foley, TNA, Gerald Brisco, Pat Patterson, Ric Flair