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Columns & Editorials TODAY'S (FRIDAY MARCH 28, 2008) WRESTLEMANIA ARTICLE FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL...
Columns & Editorials TODAY'S (FRIDAY MARCH 28, 2008) WRESTLEMANIA ARTICLE FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL...| TODAY'S (FRIDAY MARCH 28, 2008) WRESTLEMANIA ARTICLE FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL... |
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| Written by SamJerry | ||||
| Friday, 28 March 2008 22:04 | ||||
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TODAY'S (FRIDAY MARCH 28, 2008) WRESTLEMANIA ARTICLE FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL... BY SAMJERRY Yesterday, Grandpa Dudley put his foot down (and this time it wasn't on cousin Bobby Joe Joe's neck) and said, "No Yankee is gonna get the Article from the Orlando Sentinel out afore I do," and he didn't. Following is today's Article from the newspaper in BDLD's southern suburb, the small town of Orlando, where Wrestlemania will be held. If you go to the Link for this Article, you'll find several sidebar Articles on Wrestlemania. http://www.orlandos WWE still wrestling with stigma of steroids, particularly in the light of recent deaths Early deaths are a stain on the industry's image, despite a much-touted drug-testing policy. Andrea Adelson | Sentinel Staff Writer March 28, 2008 No matter how hard World Wrestling Entertainment tries, it is difficult for some people to look at its muscle-bound superstars and see anything but steroids. Shedding that image might be virtually impossible, even with beefed-up testing. Not only have steroids had a long history in pro wrestling, but over the last 10 years at least 65 pro wrestlers under the age of 50 have died of many causes, from drug overdoses to heart problems to suicide. In autopsies done in more than half the deaths, the cause was consistent with steroid use. None of the deaths was more gruesome than the murder-suicide of WWE performer Chris Benoit, who killed himself, his wife and son last year at their home outside Atlanta. That shoved the steroid issue to the forefront once again, and WWE had to defend itself against its image of employing 'roided-up freaks. WWE says it is doing all it can to deter steroid and drug use among its athletes, pointing to its Talent Wellness Program implemented in 2006 shortly after the death of another top superstar, Eddie Guerrero. Since the program went into effect, more than 30 wrestlers have been suspended for a positive drug test. That includes Jeff Hardy, who was recently suspended 60 days for a second failed test. But some wonder whether WWE really is serious about eradicating steroids from its business. Critics of the company accuse WWE chairman Vince McMahon of ignoring the issue because super-sized wrestlers draw fans. McMahon, an admitted steroid user, was acquitted in 1994 of distributing steroids and telling his wrestlers they needed to use them. "I believe professional wrestling has got to be regulated," said Marc Mero, a former professional wrestler who owns an Altamonte Springs personal training studio and admits to having abused steroids and prescription pain killers. "Vince McMahon is the most powerful man in the industry. If he wants to, he can make changes tomorrow that will save lives and we won't see more people on a death list." Though this issue is one WWE has had to deal with for years, it is more scrutinized than ever because of the role the government is taking in policing steroids in professional sports. WWE has given more than 3,000 documents on its drug-testing programs to the two Congressional committees conducting investigations. McMahon declined to participate in a hearing held by the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection in February, leading chairman Bobby Rush to say McMahon "flipped his finger" at the committee for failing to attend McMahon said he declined because his longtime lawyer had a conflict and would not have been able to make the hearing. But the fact remains -- some people tend to believe wrestling has gotten a pass for so many years because it is not a real sport. Steroids are not the only drug problem plaguing pro wrestling. Pain killers and recreational drugs also have been an issue, especially in the past. Wrestlers lived rock-star lives, traveling from city to city with no time off and very little rest. They needed medication to make it through a match, then went out and partied all night, then took something else to calm them down. A tragedy ignored Dave Meltzer, who has published the Wrestling Observer newsletter for 25 years, did a study in which he took the number of wrestling deaths over the last 10 years and estimated equivalent figures for the NFL or Major League Baseball. Meltzer guessed it would be equal to 435 NFL players or 186 baseball players dead. "This couldn't happen in the NFL or Major League Baseball because when the deaths started to happen, Congress would get involved and ask what is wrong with you when guys are not living to be 50," Meltzer said. "No one cares about wrestling and because the fans are so defensive and the people in charge are so defensive nothing was ever done." WWE still is defensive about the number of pro wrestlers who have died, saying only five were actively on its roster at the time of their deaths. But because it is the only major pro wrestling business in this country, it must bear the brunt of this issue. McMahon declined an interview request for this story. The only person WWE made available to comment was Gary Davis, vice president of corporate communications, who responded to questions by e-mail. "WWE is committed to doing everything it can to help WWE performers of today lead healthier lives than pro wrestlers of past generations, Testing the limits Wrestlers of past generations certainly had their share of problems. "Superstar" Billy Graham admitted in his autobiography that he started taking steroids in 1975 -- and it was his physique that helped the image of a wrestler evolve. Then, with the explosion of wrestling in the 1980s -- the Hulk Hogan era -- bigger personalities and even bigger bodies made taking steroids almost required.WWE (then WWF) took a crack at a random testing program in 1987 but only tested when it saw just cause. In 1991, Dr. George Zahorian was convicted of prescribing steroids to pro wrestlers. At the trial, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Rick Martel and Graham all admitted they purchased steroids and controlled drugs from him. Mero saw the drug use in pro wrestling first hand as the character Johnny B. Badd in World Championship Wrestling. When you're getting into professional wrestling, you look at the size of the people you're going to be in the ring with, logic tells you that you have to be able to compete," Mero said. "Of course, no one says you have to do steroids but you want to make it, you're going to do whatever it takes." Mero says he quit using drugs by the time he joined WWE, where he wrestled from 1996-2001 as "Wildman" Marc Mero and "Marvelous" Marc Mero. He says he was drug-tested four total times in his career with WCW and WWE. He has been an outspoken critic of the WWE and its drug-testing policies, because 30 people he has wrestled with have died. After what happened with Benoit, who was found to have 10 times the normal amount of testosterone in his system, Mero went on the talk show circuit. WWE discredits him, saying he has been long gone from the company and has no idea about its new testing policy. Mero doesn't care. He started a program called Champion of Choices, where he goes to schools around Central Florida warning kids about the dangers of using drugs ( www.championofchoic "Being a lightning rod of controversy is a small price to pay if you're going to save some young people's lives," Mero said. Video Former champ speaks out As if the Benoit deaths weren't devastating enough, 10 WWE performers were suspended last September after receiving steroids from mail-order clinics, including Signature Pharmacy in Orlando. "For years, they've been talking about this when they get negative publicity we're going to start taking more measures but when things quiet down, you hear nothing," said Bruno Sammartino, who wrestled from 1959-87 and is known as one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time. "It will continue to be like that until Congress or whoever really gets tough to where there's no excuse, no phony testing or any of that nonsense." The WWE says it is serious about testing. All performers are randomly tested four times a year for steroids, illegal drugs and masking agents. A first violation gets a 30-day suspension, second 60 days and third is automatic termination. It is also policy to publicly announce any suspensions under the program -- and the names of performers who are being suspended. For those who need help after their careers, WWE makes drug rehabilitation available. But there are ways around getting caught, just like there are in sports. There is no reliable test for human growth hormone. Also, a wrestler is allowed to provide a doctor's prescription for a medical condition, though Davis says the use of this exemption is "rare." Still, many critics laughed at the testing system after the Benoit deaths because it should have caught his elevated testosterone level. Despite the increased testing, many of today's superstars are all bulging brawn. Fans have shown they don't care what the wrestlers put in their bodies, as long as they look good. "Vince McMahon only needs steroids to maximize profits for this huge publicly traded company," said Irv Muchnick, author of Wrestling Babylon: Piledriving Tales of Drugs, Sex, Death and Scandal. "They don't need them because it's not performance enhancement. It's only imagine enhancement. Silent treatment Many former and current wrestlers are reluctant to talk about the drug issue. Current WWE performer Shawn Michaels, who is in one of the featured matches at WrestleMania 24 Sunday, described drinking heavily and using drugs in his autobiography. He did not specify what he took. Michaels, whose real name is Michael Shawn Hickenbottom, said in an interview last week that in the end, each person must take responsibility for their actions. "It's a humbling, humbling, humbling thing to have to go through, to look at yourself in the mirror and call yourself a loser and a coward, but ultimately that's what it is," Michaels said. "Until a man is willing to humble himself, he's going to continue to have whatever that problem is." And wrestling will continue to have that problem, too.
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