Pro Wrestling In The Crosshairs

It might be time for the world of pro wrestling to finally face the music.

With the events of Chris Benoit's double murder/suicide unfolding throughout this week, the world of pro wrestling has been brought into the news with it. People once again are starting to ask serious questions about the dark side of sports entertainment and a firestorm is beginning to brew that could take down the empire that is the WWE.

Now let's be honest, steroids are a way of life in the world of pro wrestling. On any given night you flip on the television to a wrestling broadcast you will see more than one person you know is using. While the WWE doesn't force their talent to use steroids and they do have a testing policy in place, there are ways to beat the tests and the wrestlers still do the steroids. Steroids aren't the only problem with these athletes. Wrestlers have also dealt with addiction to pain killers and other types of prescription medications. The life of a wrestler is not an easy one. Any given wrestler travels more than 300 days a year and works around 250 shows in that time span. Needless to say, such a schedule taxes the body in ways most humans couldn't comprehend. This is why these wrestlers turn to the steroids, along with building insane amounts of muscle mass, these drugs also speed up recovery time and allow these men to go out there and perform. You can call it evil, but some will tell you its a necessary evil.

Now as a fan of the WWE and pro wrestling for all of my life, it was hard to swallow the events of this past Monday. While to some extent there is quite the culture of death in the wrestling business, it never gets easier when a guy dies in the middle of his prime. Everyone in the wrestling community was in shock that in less than two years we had lost two of our greatest superstars in Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit. The WWE cancelled their live show for the evening and we all watched a moving tribute to the life and career of Chris Benoit. Then, less than a half hour after Raw went off the air the report started to break. "Murder-Suicide". None of us wanted to believe that a man who we had watched and respected for years had done such a thing. For those of you who don't know, let me fill you in on who Chris Benoit really was. In an age of over the top presentations and having it be all about yourself in the wrestling world, Benoit was the exception. Chris didn't have a huge pyro display and he didn't sell a ton of merchandise but Chris was what the business should be about. Benoit went out every night with the same intensity and passion and put on a show for the fans and helped anyone out that asked him to.

Now that's all gone.

People won't remember Chris Benoit for the great talent that he was, he'll go down as the man who murdered his family and took his own life. Benoit will be known as one of the biggest monsters in the wrestling business. That's assuming we'll hear about Benoit years from now. You can guarantee that the WWE will do anything to keep this memory a buried one and hope that no one hears of it again. They have already tried to do that to some extent. There is no superstar profile on their website, his merchandise is gone, and there is no mention of him in DVD descriptions. While details of this tragedy continue to come out the same question keeps getting asked; Why? Why would a man that everyone loved and respected for being a consummate family man and beacon for the wrestling business do this? We may never know exactly why Chris did what he did but the media always wants a reason and a fall guy and this time it might be the WWE themselves.

While most major media outlets have covered this story in one way or another, Fox News, the perveyours of misery and human suffering that they are have bludgeoned this story to death. While I have no issue with covering this story, its the way that they've covered this story. With graphics on the bottom of the screen like "Roid Rage?" it plants the idea that Benoit committed these acts in a fury or rage. Anyone who's seen the facts of the case knows that that's not exactly true or even possible. Benoit systematically killed his family of a period of two days in which he bound his wife's arms and legs and strangled her, then he killed his son in what seems to be a chokehold. Benoit also went through the process of laying Bibles next to the bodies, including his own before he hung himself.

Does that sound like the actions of a man who went into a fit of rage and committed these acts? While it might have not been "roid rage" that caused Chris to do this, it might have been due to the lethal cocktail of prolonged dependency on steroids, pain killers and other medications that is prevalent in wrestling circles. While the WWE may not be culpable for Benoit's actions, they need to address this issue of steroid and drug use. The WWE does have a testing program in place, your negative test will not count if you have a prescription for the steroids, which Benoit did. The WWE is doing and saying all of the right things right now and you can be sure that another strict round of testing will go through the ranks of the WWE roster in the coming weeks to show they are committed to the issue.

As I said earlier, there is a culture of death that goes hand in hand with the world of pro wrestling and it shows with all of the people that the wrestling community has lost over the recent years.

• Chris Benoit- 40- suicide
  
• Yokozuna- 34- heart attack
• Eddie Guerrero- 38- enlarged heart
• "Ravishing" Rick Rude- 41- heart attack (open bottle of pain killers at the bedside)
• Miss Elizabeth- 42- overdose of alcohol and pain killers
• Big Boss Man- 42- heart attack
• Earthquake- 42-bladder cancer
• Curt Hennig a.k.a. Mr. Perfect- 44- acute cocaine intoxication
• Bam Bam Bigelow- 45- drug overdose
• Andre The Giant- 46- heart attack
• Road Warrior Hawk- 46- heart attack
• Sensational Sherri- 49- cause unknown

Now that's 12 people over the last 14 years who died at the average age of 42 from something other than natural causes and that's just the tip of the iceberg. There have been WAY more deaths than that in the wrestling community in that time span and this issue seems to go ignored. The WWE has to step in and say enough is enough and really really crack down on all forms of drug abuse whether it be steroids or prescription medications. There is already a ton of pressure from the media about the link between professional wrestling and steroids and it might only be a matter of time before the United States government decides to step in and take a look themselves. If that scenario does play out, and the government takes a look at the dark, seedy underbelly of pro wrestling, none of us will like what we see.

Summer's In The Air

Its summer time in Philadelphia. The weather's warm, people are heading down the beach, and the Phillies are luring everyone into the same trap they have for the past three years.

I'll be honest, the Phillies are an average team masquerading as a division contender. The Phillies may have a good young nucleus of talent in Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Cole Hamels, but this is a deeply flawed team. Pat Burrell is a disaster in left field. So much so that Burrell has been riding pine for five out of the last nine games. The catcher's spot is a total wreck with Barajas and Ruiz batting a combined average of .248.

The pitching staff, other than Hamels, is just a patchwork staff. Jon Lieber has now gone on the DL, joining Freddy Garcia, who is unlikely to return this season. Reliver Tom Gordon is also on the DL, leaving the bullpen in shambles. The Phillies have become so desperate that they signed Jose Mesa to "bolster" the bullpen.

That leads me to why the Phillies do this to the fans of Philadelphia every year. Management. Dave Montgomery is always in the running for "Worst Owner of the Year". Montgomery has never done what's best for the team since he took over. The Phillies management not only manages to put out a product that seems to fall short every year, they also manage to disrespect the fans and play them for fools. They hire manager Charlie Manuel, who might be the worst manager in the league. The man can't manage a game to save his life and makes decisions that leave you talking out loud to the TV. When I think of Charlie Manuel, one sentence comes to mind. "Why is he doing that?"

This season will play out like the past few have gone for the Phillies. The Phillies will continue to make their run this season. They might even take the division lead at one point. Then the inevitable will happen. The Phillies will collapse, Manuel will blow a few games with his awful managing and the Phillies will fall a few games short of the playoffs. Management will then get the impression that this team is actually good enough to make the playoffs, they'll make a few minor moves that really do nothing to improve the team as a whole and the process will repeat itself all over again.

The fans of Philadelphia has suffered for a long time and they deserve better than what the Phillies put out on the field. Philly fans would step over their own mother for just one championship and its obvious that the Phillies will not give them one. But the dog days of summer carry on in the city of brotherly love, the fraud that is the Philadelphia Phillies will continue to perpetrate itself on the fans of the team.

The Association- June 23, 2007

Take Your Pick Portland

With Thursday's NBA Draft quickly approaching, the biggest question remains unanswered...who will be the first pick? The Portland Trail Blazers have the not-so fortunate position of having to pick between phenoms Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. There's no doubt that there is a lot of pressure on Portland to deliver on this pick. Portland is infamous for its selection of Sam Bowie in the '84 draft, passing Michael Jordan. Bowie was a complete and utter bust during his career, averaging 10.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.78 blocks per game during his eight year career. So there's no doubt that Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard is sweating more than Patrick Ewing in the fourth quarter right now.

If Portland passes on Oden it would go down as one of the most shocking moments in draft history and there will be more second guessing of that move then there was of the much maligned Sopranos finale. I'm sure that David Stern has been practicing saying "With the first pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, the Portland Trailblazers select Greg Oden, Center, Ohio State," since the day after the lottery. If Portland decides on Durant, the look on Stern's face could be as awkward as Eli Manning's after the Chargers took him number one a few years back.


No matter who Portland selects on Thursday, there's one certain, the fans in Portland win, and as long as ticket sales for next year are through the roof for next year, everyone wins....for now.


Talk About Burning Bridges


If there was an annual "Worst Teammate Award", I'm sure that Kobe Bryant would win in a landslide.

I don't think that there has been a player that has turned more people against him in such a short amount of time than Kobe. In a matter of weeks Kobe turned all of Laker Nation against him with his antics. First Kobe demands a trade. Okay, that's acceptable. Then Kobe backs off of his demands, saying that the Lakers are his team and he wants to stay. Bryant then repeated this process a couple of more times, solidifying himself as the most bi-polar athlete of all time.

Now this is where it gets REAL juicy....

This week, a video has surfaced on the internet (which is so stupidly being sold for $1.99 a view) of Kobe outside of a deli ripping Laker management and his teammate, Andrew Bynum. Now there has always been criticism of Kobe for being a less than model teammate. He's selfish on and off the court and was one of the leading reasons Shaq wanted out of L.A. For Kobe to go out and to rip on a center who is 19 years old is just insane. Kobe should go and review some old Laker tapes from his early days where he's throwing up airballs in clutch spots and not exactly playing up to snuff.

Bryant has crossed the point of no return with this latest stunt and solidifies himself as a first ballot entry into the "Worst Teammate Hall Of Fame" alongside such greats as Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones, and Barry Bonds. Kobe wants a trade and may get it, but no player should have the right to tell you where you're going to trade him. Kobe should take a page from Kevin Garnett's book and learn how to play the game on and off the court with class and dignity. You never hear KG complain, or whine, or throw his teammates under the bus. KG goes out there every night, for an awful team, plays his hardest and keeps his mouth shut, even though he has every right to be upset with his situation. Bryant is telling the makes of the video to stock up on Bulls gear. A little presumptuous don't you think? If I were Chicago, I'd be watching Kobe very closely right now, because if their situation doesn't pan out like Kobe seems to think it will (which there is a chance it will not due to the fact Chicago would likely have to include Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Ben Wallace, i.e. the core of their team to bring Bryant to the Bulls.) it might only be a matter of time before Kobe is crying up a storm again demanding a trade. Even though Kobe might be worth it on the court, sometimes players like him are too much of a headache to have on your team.

The Birth of a Legend

LeBron James takes over Game 5 vs. Detroit.

LeBron James has just joined elite company.

With his historic performance tonight, James put his name up there with the playoff greats of all time. After taking an enormous amount of criticism for his end of game performances in games 1 and 2 versus the Detroit Pistons, James left no questions after game 5 last night, scoring 48 points, including 29 of his team's last 30 points in the 4th quarter and the two overtime periods.

LeBron James didn't just beat the Pistons on Thursday night, he ripped their hearts out. James hit shots from every angle and distance, responding to every obstacle the Pistons threw his way, he drove to the basket and slammed it home with authority, with a look on his face that let you know that the Cavs were not headed home for game 6 empty handed.

James may have done all of the big things right, but he also did all of the little things too. In the first quarter, after Pistons forward Antonio McDyess fouled his teammate, Anderson Varejao, James ran across the court to confront McDyess, standing up for his fallen teammate. Along with his 48 points, James also grabbed 9 rebounds, dished out 7 assists, and had 2 steals.

The performance put forward by James tonight reminded fans across the nation of another number 23 who would take over games, will his team to victory and take the life right out of the opposing team and their fans, and that player is Michael Jordan. Ever since Jordan retired, many a player have been stamped with the "next Michael Jordan" tag and many have crumbled under it. But not James. James seems to revel in the spotlight, demands the ball, and wants to live up to those expectations.

This performance did more than just elevate James into the realm of the all time elites, it put the Cavs on the cusp of their first NBA Finals appearance in the team's history and has pushed the Detroit Pistons, one more time to the brink of elimination.

This position is nothing new for James, who just last year, pushed these same Pistons to the verge of elimination last year before eventually losing in seven games. However, this time, the Pistons may have no answer for James.

"We threw everything we had at him," said Pistons guard Chauncey Billups, "We just couldn't stop him."

"Its frustrating, he put on an unbelievable display out there. It's probably the best I've ever seen against us ever in the playoffs."

But if James has his way, its going to get more frustrating for the Pistons Saturday night when he looks to finish off Detroit in game 6 Saturday night.