ESPN.com (sports.espn.go.com) is reporting that congressmen responsible for conducting steroid hearings into Major League Baseball have asked that Vince McMahon provide records relating to the WWE's drug-testing policies.
I'm glad to see this development, but I'd reserve judgment on how big a deal this is. First off, Congress is going to have no interest in trying to figure out how to legislate the industry regardless of what they find in a hearing. And I'm not at all confident that Congress will be any more capable than the media has been to look beyond the STEROID issue, and take up pain killers, working conditions and other contributory factors.
If the hearings are kept strictly to steroids, I think the E has a reasonable-enough defense with what will surely be a stricter Wellness Program by August. However, these hearings should be taken as a warning to Vince that he doesn't want to put himself in a situation where he may be asked to appear before Congress a second time. Often the *threat of Congressional action is enough to force change.
Not to mention the mere publicity from hearings could keep the story alive into the fall. I thought Benoit had just about played out with the tabloid shows that now have the Vick and Donaghy stories as fresh meat.
If this develops into full-blown congressional hearings, it's gonna be mighty unfair if Vince and the 'E are the only people hauled over the coals.
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Originally posted by TheOldMan And I'm not at all confident that Congress will be any more capable than the media has been to look beyond the STEROID issue, and take up pain killers, working conditions and other contributory factors.
Is there any cases where steroids were the primary cause of death of anybody, let alone wrestlers. You can say that the Benoit murders could be a case of roid rage but thats highly speculative. I'm not saying that steroids aren't dangerous and be cracked down on but I agree with TheOldMan. Aren't pain killers and combinations of drugs that they are combined with, account for most of the untimely deaths? If there are hearings, I hope that those that make a living writing about wrestling and use the tragedies to help sell subscriptions will send whatever information they have about them to the members of congress.
One of my good friends grew up with "Superbad" Steve Bradly and she says that he's been out of the business for the last few years because he developed an addiction to pain pills and he is scared he will redevelop an addiction if he tries to go back on the road.
According to her, she was told that there is a bigger problem with pain killer addiction than 'roids in the business.
Originally posted by TheOldManI'm glad to see this development, but I'd reserve judgment on how big a deal this is. First off, Congress is going to have no interest in trying to figure out how to legislate the industry regardless of what they find in a hearing. And I'm not at all confident that Congress will be any more capable than the media has been to look beyond the STEROID issue, and take up pain killers, working conditions and other contributory factors.
Pardon my skepticism, but I really don't believe Congress is interested in offering pragmatic solutions. This is an election year -- and the WWE is a highly attractive pinata. I'm guessing that an inquiry into Vince's drug-testing records is the preamble to full-fledge congressional hearings. If that happens, Vince is f'n screwed.
Congressional hearings affords members of both parties a terrific opportunity to show how much they gosh-darn CARE about children, family values, cultural decay, drug abuse, blah-blah-blah. And given the WWE's high-profile, some snappy soundbites and flamboyant finger-wagging can generate hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of free media time for Congressmen facing reelection.
Plus... any wrestlers who testify would face criminal charges if they lie to Congress. It's a daunting situation, to say the least... and I doubt if McMahon has many friends in DC right now who'll carry his water.
If hearings take place, it'll place pressure on sponsors to divorce themselves from WWE programing, networks to cancel shows, and probably won't result in an uptick for WWE stock....
Originally posted by rv581Plus... any wrestlers who testify would face criminal charges if they lie to Congress. It's a daunting situation, to say the least... and I doubt if McMahon has many friends in DC right now who'll carry his water.
If hearings take place, it'll place pressure on sponsors to divorce themselves from WWE programing, networks to cancel shows, and probably won't result in an uptick for WWE stock....
But on the other hand if the hearings concentrate on the wellness issues primarily and it turns out the WWE is doing everything it says it's doing and everything it should be doing, it would be a tremendous positive for the E. Looking a lot better than the NFL, NBA and MLB right now would be a big boost to the E, fans, etc. I'm not sure how likely that is, but Chris Jericho was pretty convincing during his interview that things were being handled.
Is there any cases where steroids were the primary cause of death of anybody, let alone wrestlers.
Well, Lyle Alzado comes to mind.
However, I don't think that a Congressional investigation is necessarily so awful for the WWE. Sure, the Congressmen want to wag their fingers...but they also want to show voters that they can "get things done". Vince makes some concessions, a deal is struck, and everyone's happy. It's, at the least, a possibility.
Who knows? Maybe it will lead to Vince no longer pushing the Chris Masterses of the world.
Originally posted by edougIs there any cases where steroids were the primary cause of death of anybody, let alone wrestlers.
No one has ever 'overdosed' on steroids, but plenty of wrestlers have died due to enlarged hearts.
Aren't pain killers and combinations of drugs that they are combined with, account for most of the untimely deaths?
There have been a lot of overdoses and a lot of heart-related deaths; I'm guessing they run just about even but the various DEATHLISTS! are out there and can be tallied up. In each case, too, one could've been contributing to the other in conjunction with the primary cause.
The nature of the letter doesn't single out steroids, though. It seems to be talking about overall drug use in wrestling, the company's drug policy, and the culture of wrestling and how drugs fit into it and vice versa.
Originally posted by djpettiLooking a lot better than the NFL, NBA and MLB right now would be a big boost to the E, fans, etc. I'm not sure how likely that is, but Chris Jericho was pretty convincing during his interview that things were being handled.
I dunno. For starters, in the NFL, NBA, and MLB, a doctor's note doesn't allow you to take steroids.
Originally posted by JustinShapiroI dunno. For starters, in the NFL, NBA, and MLB, a doctor's note doesn't allow you to take steroids.
No, but a doctor does inject a needle into the spine of an athlete who has no business going out there so that he can make the big game. And MLB still can't test for HGH, which seems to explain why Barry Bonds head is the size of a pumpkin.
Originally posted by Shem the PenmanDoes this mean we can expect the debut of a heel Congressman wrestler soon?
Lets see...Sgt. Slaughter supports Iraq, RTC to make fun of PTC, and finally Muhammed Hassan. Since John Layfield is pretty much retired then magic 8-Ball says "All signs point to yes".
On-Topic...sort of interested to see what plays out.
(edited by jwrestle on 30.7.07 2323)
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Originally posted by JustinShapiroI dunno. For starters, in the NFL, NBA, and MLB, a doctor's note doesn't allow you to take steroids.
No, but a doctor does inject a needle into the spine of an athlete who has no business going out there so that he can make the big game.
Isn't it cortisone that they inject into the spine? And isn't cortisone a steroid? JUSTIN HAS LIED TO US ALL.
I'm fairly sure the WWE uses cotisone shots. I remember Edge in an interview talking about how he needed them for a short while upon returning from his neck surgery until his body got used to the daily grind of wrestling again.
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