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Recap of Mick Foley and Ted DiBiase On "Off The Record"

Posted: Feb 21st 2009 By: CMBurnham

Interview starts with Foley one-on-one. Mick said he was privileged to review "The Wrestler" at a small media screening with other journalists for the Washington Post website. Landsberg mentioned a Sports Illustrated writer who was also at the screening and thought Foley looked like a homeless man. Foley thought that the writer's reference to homeless people was insensitive especially in today's economic times (Foley does work with homeless people). Foley said he looks like the stereotype of a homeless person but homeless people look more like Landsberg.

Landsberg added that the writer mentioned that Foley was carrying around a bag and Santa Claus outfit, thinking he would do whatever he could for work and was a real-life example of "The Wrestler." Foley said if the guy did even a little research he would've seen that he was doing just fine. Landsberg lists off injuries that Foley amassed throughout his career - a list that went on forever.

Ted DiBiase joins Foley on the set after the break. Foley said he only met Dibiase five years ago when a fan won a contest to have lunch with him and Ted. Ted liked the movie and thought Mickey Rourke was tremendous. He said if his friends watched the movie they'd ask him why he let all of his sons get into wrestling.

Foley said if wrestling was a grand buffet then Darren Aronofsky picked one item and got everything ingredient right. Dibiase said his son, Ted Jr., felt he couldn't relate to the movie because he's never experienced anything like that. A younger wrestler told Foley, "Mick, you look at it and you think 'That could've been me,' we look at it and say, 'That might still be me'."

Landsberg asked who he thought the movie represents. DiBiase immediately mentions Jake Roberts. Foley says The Ram is an original character, but guys who have been mentioned are Jake Roberts, Lex Luger (for the look) and Greg Valentine (who Aronofsky spoke of). Foley said he heard there were shades from Beyond the Mat and looked for himself in the film but besides Randy's horrible wardrobe, he didn't see himself in the movie.

Foley's wife told him that he would have never ended up like Randy The Ram. Foley was about to say that he could have, but DiBiase interrupted and said Foley chose his family first, which is why he didn't end up that way. DiBiase warns his son that the crowd reaction can be like a drug.

Quirky Fact: In "The Wrestler", the scene where Mickey Rourke's character uses a fan's prosthetic leg in a match is based on something that happened at an ECW event. During that match, wrestler Tommy Dreamer used a fan's prosthetic leg to hit his opponent.

Foley said he and Ted are fortunate to have made a good enough living where wrestling can just be their playground and show up once and while and weed themselves off the pop, but others don't have that option.

Landsberg said today is Mick's son Dewey's 17th birthday and asked Foley what he would tell him if he wanted to get into the business. Foley joked that Ted Jr.'s group The Legacy could use another member in a few years. He said he would tell his son to finish school and then he could do what wants, but would warn Dewey with a lot of stories.

DiBiase said things are better today and drug tests are based on accountability. Guys today also only work four days a week and the benefits are much better.

When Foley first saw the movie he had two objections. One was that Randy The Ram's character had no difference in body physique after he had to get off the drugs following his heart attack. The other was the scene where Randy is buying steroids in what he thought was a wrestling locker room. After watching it a second time, Foley realized it was actually a hardcore body building locker room, so he no longer has a problem with the scene, because he doesn't know whether that actually happens or not. It reminded him of Travis Bickle buying all that weaponry in "Taxi Driver."

Next Question with Mick Foley:

Landsberg: How many red and black lumberjack shirts do you own?

Foley: Several. And I've given several away over the years.

Landsberg: Have you always dressed the way you're dressed now?

Foley: No, this is a step up for me.

Landsberg: When was the last time you said something nice about Al Snow?

Foley: I've never said anything nice about Al Snow.

Landsberg: Wanna say something nice now?

Foley: Yeah... he was overrated.

Landsberg: Who from the wrestling world would you be happy if you never saw again?

Foley: Leaping Lanny.

Landsberg: What was actually planned for the Hell in a Cell match with the Undertaker?

Foley: I'll admit the flight from the top was something I had in my head.

Landsberg: And when you look back do you think that was a mistake?

Foley: No because we got an awful lot of mileage out of that one foolish move.

Landsberg: You could've been killed, Mick.

Foley: I could've been seriously hurt.

Landsberg: What part of the body hurt the most when you woke up this morning?

Foley: Knees. Always the knees.

Landsberg: How many concussions have you had in your life?

Foley: Six documented. Several others that were iffy.

Landsberg: Did you ever take a peak at Chyna's spread in Playboy?

Foley: Only once (so his character on TV could be more convincing).

Landsberg: Are you still infatuated with Barbara Eden?

Foley: No, I've moved on from Barbara Eden.

Landsberg: Today, 6:00pm ET, so far, how many autographs have you signed?

Foley: I've signed four for you and your family alone. Probably twenty.

Landsberg: Are you planning on writing another book?

Foley: I'm working on a novel and a memoir.

Landsberg: Why didn't you get along with The Rock?

Foley: I do now and I have for several years.

Landsberg: Why didn't you back in the day?

Foley: Because we both had opposite views of where we should be going.

Landsberg: Who was the better amateur wrestler, you or your high school teammate, actor Kevin James?

Foley: We were both spectacularly mediocre.

Landsberg: What was the worst thing about having Vince as your boss?

Foley: Being fired publicly.

Landsberg: All time favourite guest on Off The Record - you, Mick Foley.

Foley: I've heard that and I appreciate it.

Tags: Mick Foley, Ted DiBiase, Jake Roberts, Greg Valentine, ECW, , Al Snow, Lanny Poffo