I think tonight is the night HBO(Inside Sports with Gumbel) does their segment on wrestling deaths and the WWE tonight. Do you think they will back off from the WWE and focus more on the deaths of these wrestlers or do you think they will totally rip Vinny Mac. and the WWE?
Being the WWE has not said a word on this segment, it can't be good for the WWE. That is my thought.
I think they'll focus on WWE. To most (99.9999%) people, WWE is the ONLY wrestling organization left in the US. And yes, WWE not mentioning the show is a very telling sign.
"--Armen Ketayian, who is hosting tonight's HBO piece, was on WEEI radio in Boston this morning, and said the death rate among wrestlers is about 400% higher than that of non-athletes in that same age group. They talked about Vince dropping steroid testing in 1996, saying it was because of expense and because WCW wasn't testing at the time and Vince was losing market share, and talked about talking with the Hart family (Bret is not in the piece) and said Roddy Piper is a big part of the piece. He said Piper's interview was very emotional and is the centerpiece of the story, and that the Vince McMahon interview with testy and contentious and Vince shrugged off any blame or responsibility for wrestling's high death rate. He said there is no union nor any movement among wrestlers to unionize because of the unwillingness to get on Vince's bad side because there are no other alternatives for them. I do know that I'm not featured in the piece, which I'm not sure is a blessing or a curse."
The last time VKM was on HBO he was interviewed by Bob Costas. It was either during or right after the XFL debacle. He was very defensive and adversarial with Costas, apologizing for nothing and givin the ole "Id rather be a colossal failure, than not try at all!" routine. Costas showed the footage of VKM soaking Trish in dirty mop water.
Bobby Knight was the other guest that show, and Costas quipped about how he never thought that Knight would be the tamest most subdued interview of the day.
Originally posted by cactuspeteThe last time VKM was on HBO he was interviewed by Bob Costas. It was either during or right after the XFL debacle. He was very defensive and adversarial with Costas, apologizing for nothing and givin the ole "Id rather be a colossal failure, than not try at all!" routine. Costas showed the footage of VKM soaking Trish in dirty mop water.
Bobby Knight was the other guest that show, and Costas quipped about how he never thought that Knight would be the tamest most subdued interview of the day.
Vince was on that show again about a year later, and was much more subdued and apologetic then.
Originally posted by fuelinjectedFrom Meltzer's daily update:
"--... and that the Vince McMahon interview with testy and contentious and Vince shrugged off any blame or responsibility for wrestling's high death rate..."
To be fair, Vince accepting responsibility for wrestling's high death rate wouldn't be smart from a legal perspective. That would come back and bite him in the ass in a lawsuit, no doubt about it.
Everything that is wrong in this world can be blamed on Freddie Prinze Jr.
This may entice a few more people to watch tonight (courtesy of Da Torch):
"Vince McMahon was interviewed for HBO's upcoming 'Real Sports' story on deaths in pro wrestling. The interview was said to be as hard-hitting as any McMahon has faced."
Well, I just finished watching the interview. Vince came off well, don't you think.
Jesus, McMahon. Would it kill you to try and represent your company in a respectable manner. I don't think non-wrestling fans who watched the show saw you slap the interviewers papers, and thought "Wow, what a great man. He's so honest and caring. He must have NO responsibility in these deaths, whatsoever."
For a man who claims to be such a smart business man, he sure likes to make WWE look like a complete and utter joke, doesn't he?
The first flaw, was taking so much of Roddy Piper's word. Piper is as much a con man as the promoters he resents. Piper lives in his own reality. However, he said what the interview
Talking to Del Wilkes, a man who was very marginal in the American scene for a very short time, was also a bad idea. Keep in mind that most of Wilkes' career was spent in Japan.
They should have spoken to Bret Hart. Bret worked very closely with several of the people who have died, and wouldn't be trying to get a paycheck from Vince.
They failed to point out that with the exception of Pillman (who was mentioned) and Owen Hart (who was shown, but not mentioned), none of these deaths happened while they were under WWF/E contract. Yet they ask Vince to explain the deaths anyways, which is where Vince got angry. A little more research would be helpful. Costas got Vince angrier, and was more accurate in doing so.
Interesting note: Showing some random funeral footage, featuring Dave Meltzer and Mark Madden walking down the street together. (I'm guessing it was probably Spicolli's funeral)
i'm trying to view what i just saw as a person who doesn't know too much about professional wrestling, and here is what i took from it: wrestlers work their bodies to the limit, and then take drugs to go further. then, we hear from a tippity top wrestling owner about this problem, and he comes off like a soulless, greedy asshole under fire.
now, we all know that a lot of the people that died from questionable circumstances were not under employment by vince, but what does his reaction say to the un informed public? basically, he came off as a guy who is willing to kill the weak to further prosper the "strong"; i.e. the guys who haven't developed a problem yet.
and that is why Vince completely sucks in an open "sports" forum; the man always seems to look so on guard and defensive to such an "asshole" point that anything he says makes him look like a seedy, greedhead promoter that would screw his stars for an extra dollar.
And the best way to express that steroids are a thing of the past is fly into a rage and smack the pages out of the interviewers hands because he didn’t like the way he looked at him.
If Piper lives in his own reality then Vince lives in another universe. He thinks every conversation is a promo. He really thinks he can say complete bullshit to another man’s face and the guy isn’t going to twitch his nose when he has to smell it.
Sorry. The Hulk ad blitz is driving me crazy. I mean it's so bad that you can't turn on the freaking TV or go to a damn 711 without ...uh oh... JACKSON ANGRY! JACKSON SMASH!
I am beginning to think Vince has a serious mental problem. He was given a golden opportunity to act professionally and to deal with a fairly predictable question.... and he acts like a complete sociopath. Fine, he feels he bears no responsibility.... but how in the hell is smacking the papers in the interviewer's hand a reasonable response? This is just basic fundamentals of human interaction... and he does not seem to be able to handle it.
The guy needs some serious help...
Over all, I thought the piece was a lot softer on the WWE than it could have been... maybe they felt Vince did enough to damage the company. Simply amazing....
"It's hard to be a prophet and still make a profit." - Da Bush Babees
Originally posted by Mild Mannered MadmanVince needs to stop being the company spokesman. Send Shane instead.
Damn good idea, Triple M..... He's proven to be intelligent and charismatic in the few mainstream media interviews he's done. ....and better yet, why not Linda McMahon? She is the corporate spokeswoman for WWE, and even while ducking questions at the recent conference she came across well. Yes, I realize that the network put Vince on because (a) he's the most well-known figure associated with wrestling aside from maybe two or three workers and (b) his ego wouldn't have it any other way. But the point is well-taken: Vince, someone else should be doing your PR.
I always held out hope that, on some basic level, Vince had a modicum of humanity. I was wrong. I have never seen a more cold-blooded individual in my life. You would think that a guy would have a bit of compassion for the people that make him all that money, but alas, not so with Vinny Mac. Wrestling is reminding me more and more of horse racing. Run 'em till they can't run anymore, then shoot 'em up and run them again till they break down - then shoot them and collect the insurance money. Evidently horses and wrestlers are equipment rather than living beings. Shame on you Vince.
Originally posted by magicdocI always held out hope that, on some basic level, Vince had a modicum of humanity. I was wrong. I have never seen a more cold-blooded individual in my life. You would think that a guy would have a bit of compassion for the people that make him all that money, but alas, not so with Vinny Mac.
You know, I haven't seen the segment (and won't likely, because I live in Canada), so I'm just going on what I've read and what I know about the situation.
Although I doubt McMahon carried himself well on television, what with attacking the reporter and all, he has every reason to act as ``cold-blooded'' as you claim he is.
The reason being: the report is blaming him personally for a lot of wrestlers who died largely from recreational drug use. He should absolutely be examined in this context, because of who the WWE is, and let's not kid anyone, the reasons wrestlers take steroids and painkillers are largely because of the look his company demands of its wrestlers. So I'm not saying he's 100 percent innocent.
But... Vince McMahon and his company have taken steps to take care of their wrestlers who have had drug problems in the past. Off the top of my head, I can think of them paying rehab costs for Road Dogg, X-Pac and (offered to) for Jeff Hardy. I'm sure I'm missing dozens of others.
If its steroids, that's one thing, and obviously Vince should be put under scrutiny for that. But for recreational drug use, WWE cannot be blamed.
Did they force Curt Hennig, or Elizabeth, or Brian Pillman, or whomever onto cocaine and other drugs? Of course not. That would be like a Hollywood film studio taking the blame for an actor's overdose. Sure, I'm just a guy saying this on the net, but read `Foley Is Good' for Mick's take on this. He makes the same arguments....
All I'm saying is it sounds like this report was forcing Vince McMahon to be accountable for deaths of people, who in most cases, had long left his company. He has every right to be pissed and he SHOULD probably be distancing himself from the situation, at least to some extent.
While I agree with a lot of what Vince said, he really came off poorly. However, he's a total carny so I'm sure he's looking for some extra publicity out of this.
If Vince is back on Mick Foley's good side again, he should ALWAYS send him for appearances and interviews. The guy is totally respectful, and ALWAYS comes off as a good and intelligent person.
Originally posted by CANADIAN BULLDOGAll I'm saying is it sounds like this report was forcing Vince McMahon to be accountable for deaths of people, who in most cases, had long left his company. He has every right to be pissed and he SHOULD probably be distancing himself from the situation, at least to some extent.
Perfect had long left the company? Rude?
Yeah, it would help for you to actually watch the segment, first.
Vince was a complete asshole. A whiskey-nosed bully. If I'm interviewing someone and they touch me, I'd probably stop it right there. I gave the reporter credit for continuing to push the issue, even while Vince regressed to schoolyard mocking.
He tried to paint himself as a regional promotion in the 80s, but you can't tell me that the WWF wasn't the biggest game, or at least ONE of the biggest games in town by that point. There was NWA/WCW and AWA was on its last legs by that point, that's about it for the competition. And he can blame those other promotions, but Vince was the one putting 80,000 people in the Silverdome by 1987. Surely, the WWF was the place to be.
And yeah, maybe he checks out people every now and then. But if he tested everyone for steroids, there'd be nobody left but Spike Dudley and Teddy Long. And Spike probably takes enough pain medication to kill a blue whale. Vince knows what they're going through. He knows what kind of bumps they take, what kind of lifestyle they're leading, even if there's not coke in the locker room anymore or syringes falling out of duffle bags.
I was hoping for more. Jeff Hardy would have made a great interview, as would Melanie Pillman, about the effects of drugs. Hell, talk to Davey Boy's kid, they had some video of him. A video of Louie Spiccolli stumbling around a hotel room doesn't get the whole picture. And basing it mostly around Piper and Del Wilks doesn't provide a complete picture, by any means.
-- Asteroid Boy
Wiener of the day: 23.7.02
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
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