A tribute to WWE legend Chris Benoit |
I was so shocked to hear of Chris Benoit's passing on Monday nigt that it didn't seem possible that I'd watched him on television only a few nights before, being so fit, competitve and happy. But even more tragic, was the death of his wife and young son. As I learned more through the news, I was angry, not so much at the way he passed away, but the way the media protrayed him as a failure and a murderer. No one mentioned the CEOs and boards of directors and investors who made a fortune from steroid sales. No one was calling for them to be held accountable. But I hope some day someonet will. Chris Benoit, Trish Stratus, Eddie Guererro and so many others have spent years telling kids to stay away from crack and marijuana and other drugs, and to stear clear of gang activities. They all spent a lof of years becoming strong enough and skilled enough to become professional wrestlers. and now so many of them must be wondering if their careers will last much longer, as the media turns up the heat on everyone's employer and their career. I watched Chris Benoit and so many others like Rhino, Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and even their boss, Vince McMahon go over to Baghdad, Iraq and to Bagram, Afghanistan to entertain the American trops at Christmas time. it was just like Bob Hope and Marilyn Monroe entertaining the troops in Korea so many years ago. It must have made so many of the men and women in uniform so happy to meet with their heroes and say thank you and shake their hand. no one was griling them about lies about weapons of mass destruction, or ties between Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaeda. The guys just wanted to meet the men and women who went in harm's way to keep us all safe from terrorism and to liberate people from tyranny. To see professional atheletes riding in helicopters and on the road in trucks when they could have been shot at or blown up, was incredible. I know so many people wonder about the reality fo WWE wrestling, and how many others might be on drugs. It just doesn't seem fair that guys like Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit have surgery and stay on the road away from their families a lot and give back to the community, without a lot of scandals like cocaine, hookers and bar fights. But I guess this recent tale shows they are human like so many others. I will always remember Chris Benoit for being dedicated to the sport, the community and for taking care of the kids. And I will keep trying to tell everyone I know, that it's the pharmaceutical giants that make the steroids, who are guilty. I know his wife and son must have died in pain, and crying because a god man turned on them. But it was someone else who made the drugs that made him ill. Someone else made him ill enough to kill them. Chris Benoit wasn't perfect. But there was a lot of good inside him and I will always remember the way he tried to do the right thing. It might not be popular. It might be a little naieve. But I think it's the right thing to do. Thanks Chris. We'll take care of things for now. |