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Mick Foley's Latest Online Blog Column

Posted: Nov 16th 2010 By: mikeiles

COUNTDOWN IS OVER

Yes, the Countdown is over, literally, as my book was released over six weeks ago, an eternity in the publishing world. I've had so much time, energy and hope tied up in this book that I really don't know what I'll do with my time, now that Countdown won't be a big part of it anymore. But, as I look back, I think of the words that I first heard Paul Heyman say in a 1991 promo at Center Stage. Paul was a heel at the time, but his words were far from heelish; in fact, I found them to be words to live by, in and out of the ring: "What If?"

"What if?", as in a human being looking back, wondering if things could have been different, better, if he'd done more, tried harder, hadn't allowed his critics to hold him back. Perhaps there is nothing more tragic in the world than a life lived constantly asking that question. I think that's why I try to do whatever I can to avoid such a question, especially when it comes to projects I've worked on, things that I'm proud of, like the book in question, "Countdown to Lockdown". So maybe Countdown didn't put up the type of numbers I would have liked; I always knew selling a fourth memoir was going to be an uphill climb. At least I climbed as high as I could, talked about it as much as I could, did 19 book-signings in 3 different countries. Unless there is some kind of dramatic spike from The Daily Show, this will be my first memoir not to be a NY Times best-seller. Of course, if it hits a chart in Canada or the UK, the book immediately becomes "The International Best-seller" and since there is no scientific method for defining the word, "runaway" (in a non-Joan Jett fashion) I might as well attach that word to it as well.

But in all likelihood, that is not going to happen. Now that the smoke has cleared, it's just me and a book that didn't do as I'd hoped. Nonetheless, I'm pretty pumped up about what the book tour accomplished. I got to travel around and meet great fans, some of whom waited on some pretty excessive lines (Manchester) and some on no lines at all (talking to you Ft Bragg) I told lame jokes, did the Rocky impression around the loop, and apparently made some people happy along the way.

Most importantly, I got a chance to speak about things that were important to me. As some fans might have seen, there was no shortage of Mick Foley sightings, on the web, in the news, and on TV. At each stop, I was asked questions about subjects I cared about - the deaths of too many wrestlers, concussions in wrestling, the wonderful people at RAINN I am fortunate to work with, the little boy from Sierra Leone, my meeting with Tori Amos. I really think quite a bit of good came out of this book tour, far more good than can be measured in statistics and best-seller lists.

Best of all, I can sleep at night, knowing I did my best to sell books and raise awareness. I'm thankfully spared from ever wondering "what if?"

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:

November 18, Washington DC - RAINN fundraiser/celebration. I will be on hand along with KaDee Strickland of ABC's "Private Practice" to help RAINN raise money and celebrate the successes of the past year. This is a great event, and there is alot of honest to goodness mingling going on. So, if you are striving for an event in which wrestlers do more that sign autographs from a safe distance, and actually want to get a little hang time in, this is your chance. Ticket's start as low as $50 and can be found at www.rainn.org Hope to see some of you there.

November 27, Industry, California, 11am-2pm. Frank and Sons runs one of the largest collectibles shows in the country, and on this specific day, will be playing host to A DUDE AND THREE DIVAS. Yes, I will be signing autographs along with Torrie Wilson, Lilian Garcia, and TNA's very own Tara. I believe autographs are around $20-$25 and photo-ops are available. Great time to do a little early holiday shopping.

See you out there on the road, or perhaps some day soon in the Impact Zone.