"It shall be the responsibility of WWE Talent to provide, if not already provided, to the Medical Director, within seventy two (72) hours of notification of a positive test, suitable proof that the substance in question has been taken pursuant to a valid prescription for a legitimate medical purpose."
The above statement is a portion of WWE's Talent Wellness policy. However, recently suspended Rey Mysterio (Oscar Gutierrez) claims he was notified he would be suspended the following day if he could not provide a prescription for the medication his most recent test detected. Mysterio is now hoping WWE will overturn their hasty suspension and follow their own statutes. He contests he should have had until Saturday (which would've been 3 days) to provide them with the prescription, and it was initially reported he said he could provide one.
By not adhering to their own policy, WWE has done two things: handed out a hasty judgement which violates their own rules, and shown themselves to be hypocrits for punishing those who don't follow their rules. WWE policy clearly states talent has 3 days to provide prescriptions. Mysterio was not given 3 days - a clear violation of procedures. Therefore, WWE is in the wrong, period.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Orton's Latest Excuse?
WWE recently re-released Nick "Eugene" Dinsmore after having him face off against "The Calgary Kid" (a masked Mike Mizanin) on Raw in Calgary. Randy Orton has stated that he's now upset with Dinsmore after pulling some strings to get him re-hired. Dinsmore was re-hired and subsequently fired, and Orton claims it's because Dinsmore is overweight now. Orton was interviewed during SummerSlam and had some comments. "Nick is a good friend of mine. I pulled some strings to get his job back and he comes back all overweight," Orton said. "So all in all, I am a little upset right now with him."
This makes me wonder. If the reason Dinsmore was released is because he's overweight, why does WWE continue to pay and use Mark Henry and Big Show? They're both obviously overweight! Granted, Big Show suffers from acromegaly (as Andre the Giant did), but he's still heavier than he should be. Granted, Henry is a big-boned powerlifter, but he's been asked to slim down in the past, and he hasn't. Seems to suggest that Orton's comments are an excuse to cover something and close the issue. I don't buy it.
This makes me wonder. If the reason Dinsmore was released is because he's overweight, why does WWE continue to pay and use Mark Henry and Big Show? They're both obviously overweight! Granted, Big Show suffers from acromegaly (as Andre the Giant did), but he's still heavier than he should be. Granted, Henry is a big-boned powerlifter, but he's been asked to slim down in the past, and he hasn't. Seems to suggest that Orton's comments are an excuse to cover something and close the issue. I don't buy it.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Government is Not the Solution. Governance Is.
In June 2007, the entire country was buzzing with the news that professional wrestler Chris Benoit had likely murdered his wife and son and then taken his own life, potentially in a fit of steroid rage. People, including many former wrestlers, came out of the woodwork to comment and re-enforce the efficiency (or the lack thereof) of World Wrestling Entertainment's "Talent Wellness Policy." Even the usually anti-wrestling media and the unknowledegeable members of it seemed to want to comment - saying everything from how much of a "monster" Benoit must have been to blaming WWE Chairman Vincent K. McMahon. Congress stepped in, and things began to get even more busy.
The fact that Congress has elected to step into the mix due to the steroid and drug abuse allegations flying from everywhere is odd to me. Not only have they involved themselves in Major League Baseball's issues with steroids and other drugs, now they want to be involved in the pro wrestling industry - an industry which they, as well as the media, don't fully understand.
The problem with further government involvement is this:
Congress is not the drug police. That should be left to the police, DEA and FBI. Congress writes laws. They should not be writing thousands of letters and holding conferences attempting to get to the bottom of something that - by law - is not their responsibility. More government involvement usually just makes things about an agenda rather than a solution. Organizations such as Major League Baseball, wrestling promotions, and all other sports-related firms should be wise enough to police themselves according to federal law. It is wholly their problem - not Congress'. WWE's "Talent Wellness" concept has too many holes. For example, as long as a wrestler has a valid prescription, he/she is allowed to possess and use any legal drug they wish. They don't even have to show proof they need it! Someone could easily be taking Xanax or Somatropin for no medical reason!
If Congress feels someone must be involved in policing American sports - including pro wrestling - then they should do it the right way. Urge real investigations by the DEA and the FBI, and stop making it a Congressional inquest. Let them get to the bottom of who's doing the drugs, who's writing the prescriptions, and who's in serious trouble of risking their lives by doing so. Congress has much larger fish to fry within it's own ranks. In the words of former wrestling promoter Eric Bischoff, "Hey Congress: investigate thyself." He's far from wrong.
Again using words from Bischoff, "Perhaps congress hasn’t heard about the immigration problem, or issues like Katrina. Perhaps the fact that government funded and administered programs that allow astronauts to fly space shuttles while legally under the influence of alcohol is just not newsworthy enough. Maybe the fact that members of their own body like U.S. Representative William Jefferson is accused of soliciting bribes, laundering money, obstructing justice and hiding pay offs in his freezer is just too mundane and doesn’t equate to votes. Or how about the esteemed member of Congress from the state of Florida (Bob Allen) that was recently arrested for offering to polish the knob of an undercover police officer in a men’s room in exchange for a $20.00 bill? Congress feels the need/opportunity to stand up (get face time) and investigate professional wrestling."
What's the agenda here? Isn't there something more important? Bischoff thinks there is, and I agree. He goes on, "The proposed congressional hearings are not a criminal investigation. It is simply a way for politicians to get face time and try to convince their constituents that they are looking out for the publics’ interest by flogging professional wrestling. Because of the Benoit tragedy, professional wrestling is an easy target right now." The business isn't the major problem here, and an agenda-crammed Congressional involvement will never be the solution.
The fact that Congress has elected to step into the mix due to the steroid and drug abuse allegations flying from everywhere is odd to me. Not only have they involved themselves in Major League Baseball's issues with steroids and other drugs, now they want to be involved in the pro wrestling industry - an industry which they, as well as the media, don't fully understand.
The problem with further government involvement is this:
Congress is not the drug police. That should be left to the police, DEA and FBI. Congress writes laws. They should not be writing thousands of letters and holding conferences attempting to get to the bottom of something that - by law - is not their responsibility. More government involvement usually just makes things about an agenda rather than a solution. Organizations such as Major League Baseball, wrestling promotions, and all other sports-related firms should be wise enough to police themselves according to federal law. It is wholly their problem - not Congress'. WWE's "Talent Wellness" concept has too many holes. For example, as long as a wrestler has a valid prescription, he/she is allowed to possess and use any legal drug they wish. They don't even have to show proof they need it! Someone could easily be taking Xanax or Somatropin for no medical reason!
If Congress feels someone must be involved in policing American sports - including pro wrestling - then they should do it the right way. Urge real investigations by the DEA and the FBI, and stop making it a Congressional inquest. Let them get to the bottom of who's doing the drugs, who's writing the prescriptions, and who's in serious trouble of risking their lives by doing so. Congress has much larger fish to fry within it's own ranks. In the words of former wrestling promoter Eric Bischoff, "Hey Congress: investigate thyself." He's far from wrong.
Again using words from Bischoff, "Perhaps congress hasn’t heard about the immigration problem, or issues like Katrina. Perhaps the fact that government funded and administered programs that allow astronauts to fly space shuttles while legally under the influence of alcohol is just not newsworthy enough. Maybe the fact that members of their own body like U.S. Representative William Jefferson is accused of soliciting bribes, laundering money, obstructing justice and hiding pay offs in his freezer is just too mundane and doesn’t equate to votes. Or how about the esteemed member of Congress from the state of Florida (Bob Allen) that was recently arrested for offering to polish the knob of an undercover police officer in a men’s room in exchange for a $20.00 bill? Congress feels the need/opportunity to stand up (get face time) and investigate professional wrestling."
What's the agenda here? Isn't there something more important? Bischoff thinks there is, and I agree. He goes on, "The proposed congressional hearings are not a criminal investigation. It is simply a way for politicians to get face time and try to convince their constituents that they are looking out for the publics’ interest by flogging professional wrestling. Because of the Benoit tragedy, professional wrestling is an easy target right now." The business isn't the major problem here, and an agenda-crammed Congressional involvement will never be the solution.
Wrestling? Rasslin'?
I grew up on pro wrestling. I lived the '80s and the '90s, the "Rock & Wrestling" era, the "Attitude Era," the "Monday Night Wars." I've watched the death of what was once a widespread territorial system. So? Things have changed, my friends. It's now almost 2010. Gone are the Slim Jim snappin' days of the Ultimate Warrior, the height of Hulkamania, WCW from the Omni in Atlanta. They're distant memories in my mind, although some of it is available via YouTube. It's not the same nowadays.
Back then it was "wrestling." It seemed real, it wasn't cartoonized (until the "Rock & Wrestling" era), and it wasn't about the gimmick. It was about the skills, the personal problems between characters, and the fans. Who brought the most money to the promoter? Who did the fans hate? Those were questions that could be clearly answered. Today, it's not so simple.
"Sports Entertainment" is the buzzword of the business. Is it a sport? Is it even entertaining? Why does WWE operate a motion picture company too? What are those two guys doing pointing at their genital area like that? Who is the midget leprechaun guy and what's he doing in the ring? Today's wrestling is clearly not your father's NWA Mid-South territory. It's all about the revenue, the gimmick, the merchandise, and the next Pay-Per-View event where Geeky the Superhero Computer Techie faces off against Rodney "Thug" Anthony the gangster from Queens in a "First One to Get a Swirlie" match. I wonder what Ed "Strangler" Lewis would think...
Back then it was "wrestling." It seemed real, it wasn't cartoonized (until the "Rock & Wrestling" era), and it wasn't about the gimmick. It was about the skills, the personal problems between characters, and the fans. Who brought the most money to the promoter? Who did the fans hate? Those were questions that could be clearly answered. Today, it's not so simple.
"Sports Entertainment" is the buzzword of the business. Is it a sport? Is it even entertaining? Why does WWE operate a motion picture company too? What are those two guys doing pointing at their genital area like that? Who is the midget leprechaun guy and what's he doing in the ring? Today's wrestling is clearly not your father's NWA Mid-South territory. It's all about the revenue, the gimmick, the merchandise, and the next Pay-Per-View event where Geeky the Superhero Computer Techie faces off against Rodney "Thug" Anthony the gangster from Queens in a "First One to Get a Swirlie" match. I wonder what Ed "Strangler" Lewis would think...
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