Post by McKenna on Dec 12, 2005 18:10:57 GMT 1
Please read this in full, and then put whatever comments you wish to make on this.
I found it fascinating, as it made me realise the Eddie's death did not really touch in the mainstream media.
When Owen died, I recall in the UK, there was a small article down the side of a main piece on something or other.
When Davey Boy Smith died, he got some local attention being from Wigan, which to those not in the know with UK geography, is around 20 miles from Liverpool.
But the amount of wrestlers dying is not making national attention, so please read this care of rajah.com and pass your comments on here.
When a wrestler from your area has passed away, how much, if any media attention did it get?
The Voice of Wrestling had the rare chance to interview NY Post columnist, Phil Mushnick, right on the heels of his controversial article regarding Eddie Guerrero's passing and steroids in professional wrestling. Also on the show, "The Ricky Morton Story" as the best friend of Morton came on the show to discuss why he was in jail and why they were asking for the fans' help to get him out. Don't forget, the Voice of Wrestling returns live tonight from 7-9 EST, leading you into Raw with hosts, Chris Cash and Nick "The Man of a Thousand Names". Christy Hemme is tentatively scheduled as the featured guest of the show, but has not been confirmed. You can tune in to the show live tonight, plus listen to the Phil Mushnick interview by visiting the Wrestling Radio Network at the link below.
To Visit WRN: Click Here!
Chris Cash began the Mushnick interview by asking him why he hesitated to come on the show and do the interview. "Everything I've written has been, I feel, intentionally misrepresented, especially on websites through McMahon's devices and his minions and I just felt that if I had said on this interview today that my favorite color is blue, it will be misconstrued, it will be taken out of context, it will be remixed and it will come out that my favorite color is whatever Nazi's like or something like that," Phil responded. His change of heart came from trusting Chris Cash after speaking with him.
Elaborating on the Ryder situation, Mushnick explained his reasoning behind writing the article on Guerrero's death, stating that it wasn't the first time he had followed up a wrestlers' death under the age of forty with a similar piece. "Look what happened with major league baseball and Congress," he said, "and yes, it was not one active major league baseball player who died from drug-related death, but in pro wrestling, it goes on and on and on and it's four, five, six times a year and yet the mainstream media is quiet...how many more does it take? Is it because these people are perceived as not human beings?"
Mushnick claimed that this was also not the first time wrestling reporters on the 'net, save a few, misrepresented an article he had written about the business. "I wrote that the reason [Brian] Pillman's death was not a big issue in the mainstream media was because he's a pro wrestler and the mainstream media's more inclined to make fun of it or have fun with pro wrestling. It doesn't see these people as people; it sees them as cartoon characters. And, of course, the pro wrestling websites...not all of them...it was portrayed as me writing that who cares whether Brian Pillman lives or dies, he's just a cartoon character and of course that's not even close to what I wrote and to this day, that's the general perception among many wrestlers that that's what I wrote and the same thing happened following Eddie Guerrero's death".
Regarding how much Vince McMahon is to blame for wrestling's non-existence in the mainstream media, Mushnick explains that you can't discuss pro wrestling without pointing to Vince McMahon. "He's the king," Mushnick explains, "what happens..it doesn't happen without his tacit approval meaning his 'wink and nod' approval. The fact that these guys went from athletes to muscle-men 20, 25, 30 years ago, their physiques exceeding natural physiological limits, that with a wink and a nod, the common phrase was 'go see a doctor'...I firmly believe this happened with Vince's tacit approval if not his direct approval or his direct encouragement. Let's put it this way..."
Quote of the Week: "If you're asking me if there was a person who was not as misanthropic as Vince McMahon in charge of pro wrestling, would many of these wrestlers be alive today...I could answer you with a lot of confidence - yes, they would".
Here's where the discussion got more in-depth, as Chris Cash felt like Phil was indirectly or even directly blaming Vince McMahon for the deaths, yet Mushnick denied that exact fact, claiming he blamed Vince for an industry that has created a very dangerous drug culture. "You tell me," Phil asked the hosts, "of all the t.v. things you've seen, why does this one [the wrestling business] bury its young so often? Do you know of any other industry, sports or athletics-related, that has so many young people die of drug-related deaths?" The hosts responded with a negative and that was the simple point Mushnick wanted to make. "You answered your own question, no offense".
Mushnick continued making his point asking the number of times McMahon has tried a drug-testing policy, using the Zahorian case in the early 90's as an example. McMahon had denied there being a problem at all with steroids within his company, later saying that there was instead a "profound problem". "Then he said 'I am going to be the leader in drug testing' and he brought in whom," Mushnick rhetorically asked Chris and Nick, "he brought in Dr. Marrow Depasquale who is known for what? He wrote a handbook on how to beat drug testing! And it was rediculous too, because what was he going to do...suspend someone for testing positive before a big pay per view? It was nonsense, but everyone swallowed it and then right after that it became 'nobody cares'".
Regarding the comments Colin Cowherd (ESPN radio host) made following Eddie's death, Mushnick said that they were "insensitive" and that he missed the point. Yet, comparing the comments to his column, Mushnick believes that there was a difference in what he wrote to what Cowherd said. "I'm not trying to be condescending," he said, "but if you've got a brain and you read what I wrote and you've read what I've written about the pro wrestling industry since 1989 and you conclude that I think these people aren't humans, therefore who cares if they live or die, then you're dillusional".
Mushnick continued by mentioning what he claims to be one of the great and saddest ironies concerning the deaths in professional wrestling. "Of all the deaths of pro wrestlers since 1982-85, the one that made the biggest news was Owen Hart," Phil explained, "and that, for better or worse, was an accident. That wasn't systemic as it related to drugs. That was McMahon threw him up on a ceiling and told him to jump off. Again..I don't know where your listeners are listening from..tell them to consider that in their office, four or five or six guys under the age of 40 die every year. And there's that sense that you have to be big, and you have to get to sleep and you have to get up early and keep going the next day to be in your business and the boss stands there and says, 'How is this happening'?"
Due to conversation and requests from the chat room, despite being covered earlier in a round-about way, Chris Cash blantantly asked Phil one more time whether he blamed Vince McMahon, rather than Eddie Guerrero, for his death. "You've got to be careful here..Mr. McMahon is a litigious gentleman," Phil hesitated with a response, "I blame the culture of pro wrestling. I blame the culture of pro wrestling. Who is the kind of pro wrestling? Answer that for yourselves". After a lot of back and forth between Phil and the hosts, Mushnick also mentioned that he's not blaming anyone indirectly, but feels that if there is truly a king in professional wrestling, that person would make more on an effort to provide a better environment for these people to stay alive.
The bantering goes back and forth as Chris and Nick try hard to get Phil to say that he at least "indirectly" blames Vince for the early deaths in professional wrestling, but he never cooperates in that manner. However, he does reiterate later in the interview that he believes if he had been in charge of the WWE, instead of Vince McMahon, that Eddie Guerrero and the majority of the wrestlers that died of drug-related causes would still be alive. A very rare, revealing, and informative interview that is a must-listen if you've ever read Mushnick's previous work regarding the pro wrestling business and want to understand him a little more. Also, don't forget to tune in to the Voice of Wrestling, live tonight, from 7-9 EST at WrestlingRadioNetwork.com.
thanks
I found it fascinating, as it made me realise the Eddie's death did not really touch in the mainstream media.
When Owen died, I recall in the UK, there was a small article down the side of a main piece on something or other.
When Davey Boy Smith died, he got some local attention being from Wigan, which to those not in the know with UK geography, is around 20 miles from Liverpool.
But the amount of wrestlers dying is not making national attention, so please read this care of rajah.com and pass your comments on here.
When a wrestler from your area has passed away, how much, if any media attention did it get?
The Voice of Wrestling had the rare chance to interview NY Post columnist, Phil Mushnick, right on the heels of his controversial article regarding Eddie Guerrero's passing and steroids in professional wrestling. Also on the show, "The Ricky Morton Story" as the best friend of Morton came on the show to discuss why he was in jail and why they were asking for the fans' help to get him out. Don't forget, the Voice of Wrestling returns live tonight from 7-9 EST, leading you into Raw with hosts, Chris Cash and Nick "The Man of a Thousand Names". Christy Hemme is tentatively scheduled as the featured guest of the show, but has not been confirmed. You can tune in to the show live tonight, plus listen to the Phil Mushnick interview by visiting the Wrestling Radio Network at the link below.
To Visit WRN: Click Here!
Chris Cash began the Mushnick interview by asking him why he hesitated to come on the show and do the interview. "Everything I've written has been, I feel, intentionally misrepresented, especially on websites through McMahon's devices and his minions and I just felt that if I had said on this interview today that my favorite color is blue, it will be misconstrued, it will be taken out of context, it will be remixed and it will come out that my favorite color is whatever Nazi's like or something like that," Phil responded. His change of heart came from trusting Chris Cash after speaking with him.
Elaborating on the Ryder situation, Mushnick explained his reasoning behind writing the article on Guerrero's death, stating that it wasn't the first time he had followed up a wrestlers' death under the age of forty with a similar piece. "Look what happened with major league baseball and Congress," he said, "and yes, it was not one active major league baseball player who died from drug-related death, but in pro wrestling, it goes on and on and on and it's four, five, six times a year and yet the mainstream media is quiet...how many more does it take? Is it because these people are perceived as not human beings?"
Mushnick claimed that this was also not the first time wrestling reporters on the 'net, save a few, misrepresented an article he had written about the business. "I wrote that the reason [Brian] Pillman's death was not a big issue in the mainstream media was because he's a pro wrestler and the mainstream media's more inclined to make fun of it or have fun with pro wrestling. It doesn't see these people as people; it sees them as cartoon characters. And, of course, the pro wrestling websites...not all of them...it was portrayed as me writing that who cares whether Brian Pillman lives or dies, he's just a cartoon character and of course that's not even close to what I wrote and to this day, that's the general perception among many wrestlers that that's what I wrote and the same thing happened following Eddie Guerrero's death".
Regarding how much Vince McMahon is to blame for wrestling's non-existence in the mainstream media, Mushnick explains that you can't discuss pro wrestling without pointing to Vince McMahon. "He's the king," Mushnick explains, "what happens..it doesn't happen without his tacit approval meaning his 'wink and nod' approval. The fact that these guys went from athletes to muscle-men 20, 25, 30 years ago, their physiques exceeding natural physiological limits, that with a wink and a nod, the common phrase was 'go see a doctor'...I firmly believe this happened with Vince's tacit approval if not his direct approval or his direct encouragement. Let's put it this way..."
Quote of the Week: "If you're asking me if there was a person who was not as misanthropic as Vince McMahon in charge of pro wrestling, would many of these wrestlers be alive today...I could answer you with a lot of confidence - yes, they would".
Here's where the discussion got more in-depth, as Chris Cash felt like Phil was indirectly or even directly blaming Vince McMahon for the deaths, yet Mushnick denied that exact fact, claiming he blamed Vince for an industry that has created a very dangerous drug culture. "You tell me," Phil asked the hosts, "of all the t.v. things you've seen, why does this one [the wrestling business] bury its young so often? Do you know of any other industry, sports or athletics-related, that has so many young people die of drug-related deaths?" The hosts responded with a negative and that was the simple point Mushnick wanted to make. "You answered your own question, no offense".
Mushnick continued making his point asking the number of times McMahon has tried a drug-testing policy, using the Zahorian case in the early 90's as an example. McMahon had denied there being a problem at all with steroids within his company, later saying that there was instead a "profound problem". "Then he said 'I am going to be the leader in drug testing' and he brought in whom," Mushnick rhetorically asked Chris and Nick, "he brought in Dr. Marrow Depasquale who is known for what? He wrote a handbook on how to beat drug testing! And it was rediculous too, because what was he going to do...suspend someone for testing positive before a big pay per view? It was nonsense, but everyone swallowed it and then right after that it became 'nobody cares'".
Regarding the comments Colin Cowherd (ESPN radio host) made following Eddie's death, Mushnick said that they were "insensitive" and that he missed the point. Yet, comparing the comments to his column, Mushnick believes that there was a difference in what he wrote to what Cowherd said. "I'm not trying to be condescending," he said, "but if you've got a brain and you read what I wrote and you've read what I've written about the pro wrestling industry since 1989 and you conclude that I think these people aren't humans, therefore who cares if they live or die, then you're dillusional".
Mushnick continued by mentioning what he claims to be one of the great and saddest ironies concerning the deaths in professional wrestling. "Of all the deaths of pro wrestlers since 1982-85, the one that made the biggest news was Owen Hart," Phil explained, "and that, for better or worse, was an accident. That wasn't systemic as it related to drugs. That was McMahon threw him up on a ceiling and told him to jump off. Again..I don't know where your listeners are listening from..tell them to consider that in their office, four or five or six guys under the age of 40 die every year. And there's that sense that you have to be big, and you have to get to sleep and you have to get up early and keep going the next day to be in your business and the boss stands there and says, 'How is this happening'?"
Due to conversation and requests from the chat room, despite being covered earlier in a round-about way, Chris Cash blantantly asked Phil one more time whether he blamed Vince McMahon, rather than Eddie Guerrero, for his death. "You've got to be careful here..Mr. McMahon is a litigious gentleman," Phil hesitated with a response, "I blame the culture of pro wrestling. I blame the culture of pro wrestling. Who is the kind of pro wrestling? Answer that for yourselves". After a lot of back and forth between Phil and the hosts, Mushnick also mentioned that he's not blaming anyone indirectly, but feels that if there is truly a king in professional wrestling, that person would make more on an effort to provide a better environment for these people to stay alive.
The bantering goes back and forth as Chris and Nick try hard to get Phil to say that he at least "indirectly" blames Vince for the early deaths in professional wrestling, but he never cooperates in that manner. However, he does reiterate later in the interview that he believes if he had been in charge of the WWE, instead of Vince McMahon, that Eddie Guerrero and the majority of the wrestlers that died of drug-related causes would still be alive. A very rare, revealing, and informative interview that is a must-listen if you've ever read Mushnick's previous work regarding the pro wrestling business and want to understand him a little more. Also, don't forget to tune in to the Voice of Wrestling, live tonight, from 7-9 EST at WrestlingRadioNetwork.com.
thanks
