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Oklafan Associate Editor Mike Iles rants on deaths in wrestling and media coverage

Posted: Aug 19th 2007 By: mikeiles

I realize people die every day. I realize that young people die every day. But it seems every time a wrestler dies the media has to make a big deal out of it. Way too big a deal. Don't get me wrong Chris Benoit killing his wife and son then offing himself as well is a huge tragedy. But would there as much media play if Benoit was just an average joe? Several years ago, former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Phil Hartman was shot and killed by his wife and then she turned the gun on herself and killed herself. There was a lot of media coverage of that but nowhere near the magnitude of Benoit. That's what really makes me mad, all the media sensation, and more importantly how much mileage Marc Mero is getting. This guy was a midcard guy and the only thing people are going to remember about his wrestling career is that he impersonated Little Richard and his first wife was Sable. After that...meh. Also, why in the blue hell was Mero at Benoit's funeral?

Now I see Joanie "Chynna Doll" Laurer is back in rehab and she will also be a guest on an upcoming Nancy Grace show. I am sure Joanie will blame wrestling for her addictions. Now with Brian "Crush" Adams dying at the age of 44 the fire will be fueled again. Dewey "Missing Link" Robertson died recently from cancer at the age of 61 and he admitted to his addictions and abusing drugs in the past in his book. But he didn't blame wrestling. Former wrestler and World Class referee Bronko Lubich died last week at 81. The media won't mention Lubich dying in his 80's because they can't sensationalize an old man dying. They might mention Robertson but probably only because of his addictions.

When the media posts a list of wrestlers that have died at a young age, pay close attention to it. Yes there are plenty of tragedies: Benoit, the Von Erich boys, Mike Awesome, Bam Bam Bigelow, etc. But when the list has John Studd, who died of Hodgkins Disease, and Junkyard Dog who died in a car crash after he fell asleep at the wheel coming home from his daughter's high school graduation, how can wrestling be blamed for that? They would have died if they were construction workers, circus carneys, short order cooks, or worked at the local 7-11.

Wrestlers should not be blaming wrestling as a whole for their problems. They are grown adults and that is the lifestyle they chose. I know they get hurt and I know they travel much more than an average person. But Mick Foley turned out pretty good sleeping in his car and eating bologna sandwiches and staying in seedy motels in the early part of his career. There haven't been any stories of Foley being addicted to anything and it is well documented that Foley has had more injuries than most wrestlers. William Regal admitted his addictions in his book (good read by the way), and he didn't blame wrestling.

I realize that this has become something of a rant. But this has been weighing on my mind for quite some time. It is getting to be that when I look at wrestling news boards I see the headline "Wrestling Death" and I cringe to see who it is and the cause. The wrestlers need to take control of their lives and ask for help. Before its too late.