Kurt Angle Statement On Steroid Allegations; Eric Bischoff Talks Foley, Jim Ross' Latest Blog
Kurt Angle issued the following statement regarding the Sports Illustrated story linking him to a Steroids Scandal in Florida:
"I did not improperly receive prescriptions. It is well documented that in my career I have broken vertebrae in my neck on five occasions and each time the course of treatment was under the care and supervision of my Doctors. Any attempt to link me to the athletes in the current news accounts who may have improperly sought performance-enhancing drugs is without foundation."
Eric Bischoff posted the following blog on his official website. It's definitely worth a look:
Enough Already!!!
Just when I begin to think that the subject of “The Monday Night Wars” has been discussed, dissected, debated, distorted, and done to death, something happens to remind me just how important of a period TMNW (let me be the first to assign an acronym) is/was to the industry we know as sports entertainment.
This time it came as a result of a call from one of the producers at WWE (name withheld to protect the innocent from endless, mind numbing e mails from obsessive compulsive “fans” who thrive on anonymously abusing talented individuals who work hard and produce amazing results).
I was invited to be a guest in a series of episodes that are a part of WWE’s 24/7 package. The plan was to bring Jerry Lawler, Michael Hayes, Jim Ross, Mick Foley, and me together in an informal roundtable discussion of different “legends of wrestling”, as well as a segment where we all give our different perspectives of “TMNW” (this acronym is going to catch on…I can just feel it!). It had been some time since I had the opportunity to do anything on camera for WWE, and I was flattered to be invited, so I jumped at the opportunity. I had some non TV business to discuss with the fine folks in licensing at WWE as we prepare for the nation-wide launch of “Raw Attitude” powered by Socko in mid May, and to top it all off the production schedule was over Valentines Day so it was a great excuse to bring my wife to New York for a few days.
I won’t go in to all of the details of the discussion, as I don’t want to give away anything or take away from anyone’s enjoyment of the series, but suffice to say it was, without question, one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had in a long time for a number of reasons: The format itself was very relaxed. We were all encouraged to just be ourselves and discuss the topics in a freeform manner (no scripts!) and be as honest about the subject matter as possible (no censorship!).
More importantly, it was also the first time people who were really at the epicenter during the period have ever debated their perspectives on TMNW face to face for the viewing audience. Up until this episode of 24/7, the only thing fans have been exposed to has been the WWE DVD of “The Monday Night Wars”, which was a good representation of both sides of the war (although skewed to WWE’s view of history), and more interviews and internet discussion than should be allowed by law. The “Monday Night Wars” DVD, as well as all of the various interviews, have always given the subject the ability to pontificate his/her point of view without ever being challenged by someone with an opposing view. Again, I refrain from revealing the specifics of the discussion, only because I don’t want to skew anyone’s opinion or enjoyment before seeing it for themselves. There was one very interesting take-away for me personally however.
Listening to Mick Foley describe how much it bothered him that we (I) gave away (and marginalized) his winning of the WWE title on NITRO.
I’ve read more interviews and have been asked to comment on the subject more times than I can even begin to count. The truth is, I don’t really have a vivid recollection of the, who, when, how, where, and why of the decision to reveal the outcome of Mick’s title winning moment. I know that we (I) did, and by no means do I intend any disrespect to Mick, but the truth is there were a lot very similar “NITRO MOMENTS” during that period. Mick’s moment was really nothing special or out of the ordinary when it came to my formula of diminishing the competitions action du jour. I know, despite rumor to the contrary, I did not “feed” Tony Schiavonne his lines. I may very well have told Tony how I wanted the information characterized, but anything beyond that wasn’t my style.
What was really (ironic?) though, was hearing Mick describe how, previous to joining WWE, Mick would “cut promo’s on Uncle Eric”. During that ECW period in Mick’s career, Mick spent a fair amount of time, and did a very good job getting himself over at Eric Bischoff’s expense, and I sincerely doubt that Mick ever concerned himself with how I may have felt about the things he said to try and get himself over, or how my wife and children felt as Mick minimized and marginalized my real life role at WCW.
The truth is it didn’t bother me a bit. I have always had a very thick skin and recognize when talent uses other talent and situations to get themselves over and generate interest in their character. It’s part of this unique business. I doubt my wife and kids were aware of Mick’s escapades. And if they were, even my kids, who spent all but the first two years of their lives watching their Dad on TV, understood that what was said, and what was done on a wrestling show was not real. It was all designed to generate interest and, most importantly, business.
But after listening to Mick describe his feelings on the subject, and hearing how much our (my) treatment of of his “moment” bothered him, that was clearly not the case with Mick when the roles were reversed.
During the 24/7 episode where we all discussed our individual points of view during that period, it was apparent to me that the decision to reveal (and marginalize) Mick’s title win was a real sore spot with Mick. Mick took it very personally. When Mick revealed that it bothered him so much that he actually called Tony Schiavonne (NITRO play by play announcer at the time) to ask WHY Tony disrespected the moment to the extent he did, I was really quite surprised.
Now before the sports entertainment conspiracy cult (SECC…hey I’m getting good at this!) launches the inevitable “Bischoff buried Foley because he was pissed about Foley’s interviews in ECW” theory, let me say: I established a well-documented pattern of pissing on everyone’s parade at WWE during that time. Mick was no exception.
Mick has a new book coming out this week called “The Hard Core Diaries”. Knowing Mick, it’s a must read for sports entertainment fans and particularly fans on Mick. I look forward to reading it and getting Mick’s unique view of the world.
I just wonder if it will answer one question for me: In light of Mick’s well documented efforts to get himself over at the expense of “Uncle Eric” while in ECW before coming to WWE, is Mick’s sensitivity to the way his title win was portrayed on Nitro irony…. or hypocrisy?
Check out WWE 24/7. Decide for yourself.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Jim Ross has posted a new blog over at his website, jrbarbq.com.
CLICK HERE to read JR's Blog.
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