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Book Review: How "Dr. Death" Became Dr. Life

Posted: Sep 17th 2007 By: CMBurnham

I had heard about this book prior to my opportunity to review. I had a variety of questions in my mind. I had heard that the book was very spiritual. If this turned out to be the only theme I would analyze the book from that prospective. It would be weighed on its worth based on a limited orientation. As such the book and the review could potentially be inspiring however the audience may be limited to those of us with that interest.

One of my other questions involved the devastating ?shoot match? with Bart Gunn. I was mainly interested to see what spin if any the author would put on this event. I also had many questions about Dr. Death?s storied multiple sport collegiate career. If this book turned out solely evangelical the answers may not be forthcoming.

We can start by assuring the audience that this is a complete autobiography from the beginning to the present. I will also accept the change of handle from Dr. Death to Dr. Life. The new name came during his life and death battle with cancer. His religious beliefs predated his illness but were also crystallized by it. Religion is a major part of Dr. Life?s existence. It is not shortchanged and is necessary if he wishes to tell his story from his vantage point. The book does not get bogged down in any type of dogma or ?holier than thou? arrogance (assuming that fear from the secular reader). If you do have an interest in the spiritual aspects you will find much to contemplate. If you are looking for a wrestling biography this book is for you also. I do not want to say that wrestling dominates the book because I believe the author would feel that shortchanges the spiritual. Regardless everything you want in a biography of a major wrestler from names to places and pictures are contained.

Dr. Life grew up in Colorado in a large family. He was the biggest kid on the block and acted the part. If he felt disrespected the offending party was likely to sustain a painful physical rebuke. His street fighting and barroom brawling were not limited to defense. If shown what he felt was the proper respect he could be very easy to get along with. Throughout the book he points out those who respected him and those who did not. The difference is Dr. Death would beat some respect into a person while Dr. Life takes a more cerebral approach. He was a dominating scholastic and collegiate athlete. He became known as Dr. Death in high school. He would often injure his nose when executing a certain wrestling move. His coach obtained an old fashioned hockey mask to protect the area. When his coach saw him in the mask he told him he looks like Dr. Death. That moniker stuck with him throughout his pro wrestling career.

He was an honored college wrestler and football player with Oklahoma. In fact he had his choice of a full scholarship in both sports. He was thus able to return his football scholarship. This made him technically one of the most successful walk-ons in college football history.
He was drafted into the United States Football league and apparently not considered a top prospect. Many times pro football requirements render some dominant college players unable to successfully transition. That appears to be the situation here however Steve blames it more on the coaching staff of the USFL Generals. His scholastic and collegiate athletic experiences are well chronicled. His greatest influences and admirations (outside of family) were his coaches in both football and wrestling.

Steve caught the eye of Bill Watts who in addition to being a famed wrestler and promoter was a friend of his father. He was more or less a prot?g? of Watts. He had his best experiences in Japan. He would always get his agreed upon payouts. He would do everything with a handshake. He would work for Antonio Ionki and or the Giant Baba. He had great respect and fondness for both. When he wrestled in the United States for the larger organizations he always had a signed contract. According to Dr. Life these contracts were never honored fully. He was always better off with the Japanese promoters? handshake. He felt greatly respected in Japan.

The problem with contracts did not end when Steve entered the WWE. He signed a multi year contract with huge merchandising potential. He was set to do a program with Stone Cold Steve Austin. Just before the program began he volunteered for the Brawl for All Shoot Tournament. It paid well but was a full unscripted shoot. Dr. Death was known as the toughest man in wrestling. He was a favorite to win the tournament. Potential participants such as Ken Shamrock backed out. He ended up being knocked out and injured by Bart Gunn. This derailed his WWE career and needless to say his Stone Cold program. Eventually the WWE terminated his contract for refusing to wrestle in Japan. He did not want to wrestle for a competitor of his good friend Baba. The situation is outlined in the book and any spin is minor. Anyone that writes an autobiography would tend to put themselves in a favorable light. Steve is no exception. Eric Bischoff?s book is the prime example of overdoing spin. Dr. Life unlike Eric manages to keep some reasonable prospective throughout.

Drugs, steroids, partying and the road destroyed Steve?s cherished marriage. He does have a good relationship with his adopted daughter and natural son. He was arrested on a variety of occasions as a result of his raucous but not uncommon to pro wrestling lifestyle. For the most part this continued up until the time of his illness.

If anyone has ever had or knew anyone closely that suffered from cancer they would develop a bonding with Dr. Life?s description of his illness and treatment. For those blessed by not having this experience this is a sobering detailed education. While smoking, steroids, and drugs may be a possible explanation Dr. Life feels he may never know what if anything caused the disease. For a man whose whole existence was based on his physicality the ravages of cancer were especially brutal. Dr. Life credits the doctor?s and hospitals for his recovery however he believes that his acceptance of his Lord and Savior was the main cause of his current cancer free status. I do not know anyone who is in a position to disagree with how this man feels since he survived this great test. He has used this experience to improve himself and aspires to become a minister. He has visited schools, churches and hospitals to help people become better through their behavior and acceptance of the lord. Through it all he has continued to work in pro wrestling and hoped to get a more permanent position. His hospital bills and other problems have left him living from day to day financially. Hopefully this book will sell well and give him some of the fiscal help he so very much needs.

I recommend this book to the secular reader as a solid informative autobiography. I also recommend this book to those that are looking for a way to turn around a misspent life either through religion or at least better behavior. In short there is something for everybody between the pages of this complex journey.