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What do you mean I’m not funny?!?! I heard Buck make that statement on last week’s “No Name Show”, and then I find out that I have two votes for funniest, that’s right two votes and then I find out due to Buck and Dave making stupid jokes about Woodward living in East Overshoe, Mississippi that three of my votes weren’t counted and so now I plan to sue Dave, Buck, Mike, Jess, Richard, Stuart, and all the Elite subscribers, and I will run an entire column calling out all the Buck Woodward impersonators and beating the crap out of them, and calling the FBI to have that Woodward punk arrested for falsifying multiple stupid addresses, and impersonating a resident of said addresses!!!
Oh, never mind that gimmick was done to death already over the past ten days and come to think about it, after reading the above I’m really not very funny. Then as I read my morning paper on Memorial Day Monday I realized that the entire world may be of this mindset. A goof had barricaded himself in his van in the middle of I-75 South in Northern Kentucky, and the police had to shut the southbound lanes down for several hours. One of the founders of an area nudist colony had claimed squatter’s rights and refused to leave since 2007 (it might get damned cold there in January with no clothes) and a judge finally told him to pack it up and move on. Some 37 year old insane idiot shot up a high school graduation party in another part of the country wounding several people including two children…
Soooo, why would I find it crazy or without logic that those with the most to gain from a positive public image of our industry would throw us under the bus with vaudevillian like actions (there is a reason Vaudeville is dead)? Yes, I understand that both big companies have more money then the US Mint, and spend most of their time trying to change the psychology on which our industry was founded with no regard for the fact that it doesn’t need changing. But when there is opportunity for main stream media exposure, why must it always turn into a dog and pony show, or appear that the circus is coming to town?
There was no doubt in any of the main stream press that I witnessed that didn’t believe WWE was the injured party in the “Denver Debacle”, but…after the way WWE handled it; that same media also stated for the most part that if they had once been wrestling fans they weren’t fans of the current product, and or that WWE had gone over the top to gain cheap pub once again. Can I get an amen?
Then to follow up and trying to look just as “carny” TNA decided to go to Denver and offer a special to the injured fans who were being deprived of their God given right to see professional wrestling/sports entertainment/entertainment/bad comedy or whatever they are calling it this week. Now, some where in the not too distant future someone in these companies will decry the fact that they don’t understand why they can get the support of main stream press…Duh!
I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I figured out many years ago that the general public and press look at our business as a low rent operation, and beneath them for the most part. So I also came of the mind that it was up to all of us, did I say ALL OF US in the industry to try and elevate that image as best we could. Silly me!
These big corporations that have access to most of the wrestling fans serious and casual do a big percentage toward negative and then wonder why buy rates, television numbers, and or ticket sales at the box office are down? All they need to do is like myself listen to Mike and Buck spend 49 minutes this past Monday trying to rationalize why someone might actually buy and watch the last TNA PPV.
I won’t go on and on about this as we have chewed this hash until it is dry and tasteless. I will sum it up that sadly those with the most to gain are the ones shooting the entire industry in the foot, and there are those who try and gain respect for the business and are as ineffective as a fly on an elephants back, and the beat goes on. The industry as a whole, top to bottom could use a seminar in class and public image when it comes to projecting the image needed to elevate this business in the eyes of the world.
I feel the need to reiterate here once again that I don’t hate anyone, but this is my personal opinion. If someone’s over the top crazy behavior only marks them that is their business; however when your actions affect an entire industry in a negative way then that is harmful to everyone, and the industry itself. I think all of us need to show more respect for the business and those who paid a high price to pave the way for us to travel.
As many of you know I used to do a weekly Internet talk show beginning in 2005 called “Wrestling Weekly” with my co-host and show producer Doc Young. Doc came down with an illness in February of this past year, and so we took a short hiatus which turned into a forever as a battery of doctors couldn’t figure out how to cure Young’s chronic cough. Finally just a few weeks ago a specialist tagged it as “Cough Asthma”, and the best they can do is give him medication to control it, but he will have to live with the condition for the reminder of his years. Since he coughs every minute or so he has decided to hang it up and not try the talk show any longer.
I personally wouldn’t be hosting talk shows if it weren’t for Doc as he convinced me to join him on WW and I found I enjoyed it, and our chemistry was good. We actually won Internet show of the year in “07”, and then just a few months later he came down with this illness. Young was the glue that held it together and I know it’s painful for him to walk away.
Well on Wednesday June 10th we are going to do it one more time as Rich Tate of Georgia Wrestling History has invited Doc to join us for the show that evening at 9: PM EST as a farewell and I am inviting all of you who used to join Doc and I on Wrestling Weekly to call in and say so long to Doc, and kick around your memories of the show. You can find the call in number on the site at www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com . He will still hang around and help with both my web sites, but this is a chance to pay tribute to the person who started this talk thing for me on the Internet and for all of you who supported us over the years to give him props. Please join us.
Train hard and master your craft.
Till Next Time,
Les
Les and Harley Race form Elite Pro Wrestling Training along with the principles left by former staff members Ricky Steamboat and Dr. Tom Prichard. For information on the company go to www.epwt.com . To book an EPWT seminar, camp, or trainer contact Les at les@epwt.com .
Get your copy of “The Professional Wrestler’s Workout & Instructional Guide” by Harley, Ricky, Les, and Alex Marvez published by Sports Publishing LLC at your local bookstore and at this link: http://astore.amazon.com/pwincom-20/detail/1582619476
The annual Harley Race/Pro Wrestling Noah Training Camp is set for Sept. 28th thru Oct. 2nd at Harley’s school in Eldon, MO. This year’s special guest is Ric Flair. You can sign up now. All details at www.harleyrace.com .
This Saturday May 30th Les will be in Peoria, IL. At the Exposition Gardens for an afternoon seminar and an evening television taping sponsored by the Heartland Wrestling Association. For more information go to www.hwaonline.com or e-mail hwareborn@yahoo.com .
Join Les and host Rich Tate every Wednesday night at 9: PM EST for
“Peach State Pandemonium” at
www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com
