TWO MORE ARTICLES ON BRET HART’s BOOK
- 10/30/2007 (6:57:03 am)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
plus more….
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2007
“HITMAN” PUTS HIMSELF IN THE CROSSHAIRS FOR TELL-ALL MEMOIR
By Anthony Kingdom James for ProWrestlingPundit.blogspot.com
When I was in my early teens, growing up in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, my friends Bobby and Wayne introduced me to the exciting world of professional wrestling. Soon, we were watching every minute of every match we could get our hands on. There was Jim Crockett’s NWA from the Mid-Atlantic States. Verne Gagne’s AWA from the mid-west. The hours upon hours of Japanese tapes the Wayne brought home from his job as a dish-washer in a local sushi restaurant. The three hours of Bill Watts’ incredible UWF promotion that my cousin had on tape. A new version of Stampede Wrestling was being shown across Canada on TSN. And of course, there was Vince McMahon’s WWF.
Back then, there were three wrestlers in the WWF (now WWE) that I couldn’t get enough of: The Dynamite Kid, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart and Bret “The Hitman” Hart. The latter two formed a tag team aptly named “The Hart Foundation”. When we wrestled on the lawn next to our apartment building, that’s exactly who Wayne and Bobby and I thought we were. Dynamite, The Anvil and The Hitman. Then, as well as now, I was shaped more like Neidhart, so that was the part I played... but man, did I want to be Bret Hart.
As the Dynamite Kid’s body succumbed to years of abuse in and out of thering and Neidhart’s star faded, I followed along as Bret Hart’s career blossomed. From opening match “jobber” to mid-card workhorse to World Champion to icon, Hart grew in both stature and ability.
When I became a professional wrestler myself, I was still always more Anvil than Hitman but I tried to emulate Hart in small ways. When I finally had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Hart in January 2006, he had been living in Italy for some time after remarrying. I tried to soak in every moment I could; asking him questions, listening to his stories... catching him up on NHL and CFL goings-on. And still, those few days only gave me a small window into this man who was still a personal hero to me.
Now, Bret Hart has thrown that window wide open for fans and detractors alike to get a good look at the life of the man behind “The Hitman”.
"Life as a pro wrestler is highly addictive”, says Bret Hart in his new autobiography "Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling". "Once you get a taste for it, your old life fades away and disappears", and oh, what a strange new life awaits those who join Hart and make the journey.
Hart describes a life that harkens the reader to thoughts of living within The Matrix. He paints a picture that makes life on the road as a wrestler sound vibrant, colorful and adventurous yet fraught with pitfalls and temptations. And much like Keanu Reeves’ character of Neo, Hart must learn a very special and sometimes logic-defying fighting system to survive in this surrealistic world. When Hart occasionally disconnects from that life, a life he knows isn't quite real, it means returning home to the drabness of marital strife and the type of familial in-fighting that most people attribute to Shakespeare's writing.... or possibly an
episode of some tawdry afternoon talk show.
The 7-time World Heavyweight champion calls upon over two decades worth of audio journals he recorded during his time on the road as the foundation for writing the monstrous 500+ pages of this book. Hart chronicles his long struggle to protect the honor and integrity of his wrestling persona while admitting to a laundry list of indiscretions in his personal life and Hart's recounting of his life as meticulous as it is scathing. On one hand, Hart praises himself repeatedly for his professionalism as a wrestler; never missing shows, never injuring opponents, never “screwing” anyone. On the other hand, he frankly admits to dabbling in steroid and narcotics use in the spring of his career and having a voracious sexual
appetite. And while he doesn’t absolve himself of his sins, he at least attempts to justify the latter vice by claiming that chasing women distracted him from falling into the bottomless pit of heavy drug and alcohol abuse that swallowed up so many other wrestlers of his generation.
Part of the fun of this weighty tell-all tome is that Hart doesn’t just employ these moral yardsticks for his own behavior but rather as a set of standards that he held everyone to. Both good and bad, Hart scrutinizes the behavior and the work ethic (or lack thereof) of everyone in his life: wrestlers and employers, fans and family. No one is spared, especially those closest to him.
Hart comes off as thoughtful and well-spoken, truthful and deeply emotional. At the same time, he uses the book to offer himself up as one of many martyrs to the wrestling industry. The problem with this is most people expect our martyrs to be humble and while it might be wrong to call Hart braggadocios neither could you quite call him humble. And although a lot has been said, written and put to film about Hart’s life already, this book is a must.
Growing up as one of 12 children.Trying to measure up to his famous father’s reputation and expectations. Learning the art and science of professional wrestling. The growth of his career. The slow death of his marriage. The infamous, industry-altering “Montreal Screw-Job”. The death of his brother Owen. The accident that ended his career. His stroke and recovery. And all of the friends, enemies, parties, fights, triumphs and tragedies in between.
It’s all there and it’s all true, even the "fake" stuff. In fact, the fake stuff may be the truest of all.
"Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling" by Bret Hart is available now in Canada from Random House Publishing. Visit the publisher’s official webpage for the book at http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307355669
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Anthony Kingdom James is a former professional wrestler living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. James now promotes shows under the banner of The Union of Independent Professional Wrestlers. For more information, please visit UIPW’s official website at www.wrestlersunion.ca
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Canadian Press/James Bisson article:
ENTERTAINMENT
Last Update: Oct 24, 2007 12:22 PM (© News from the Canadian Press)
Bret Hart chronicles wrestling career, family drama in long-awaited autobiography
James Bisson, THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO - A debilitating stroke in 2002 left Bret Hart with paralysis on his left side, forcing him into a lengthy rehabilitation process.
But it didn't keep the Calgary native from completing one of his greatest personal achievements - an autobiography that details the ecstasies and tragedies of one of Canada's most revered grapplers.
"I was so committed to finishing it," Hart said Wednesday in an interview. "I told myself I wouldn't stop until I finished. I was writing in my hospital bed, on notepads. "
"I almost (became) obsessed, I think. I'd write, and then I'd sleep. I was crazy about finishing it."
Hart's autobiography, "Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling," takes readers on a roller-coaster ride as Hart looks back on his 23-year wrestling career, and the impact it had on his family. Hart, who turned 50 earlier this year, holds nothing back as he details the animosity that still exists between himself and several of his 11 brothers and sisters.
"I had to say what needed to be said," Hart said. "I felt good about dropping a lot of that baggage off and not worrying about it."
Hart, who won seven heavyweight championships between the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling, also addresses his controversial departure from the WWF in September 1997. In an unscripted ending, Hart dropped the title to rival Shawn Michaels in Montreal, with Hart the victim of a double-cross by WWF chairman Vince McMahon.
The incident garnered international attention, and while Hart has since forgiven McMahon, he remains bitter towards Michaels, who has insisted he knew nothing about McMahon's plan.
"Shawn was in the trenches with me, like a brother," said Hart, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. "His betrayal was on a different level. He was a jealous backstabber, and was really lousy about it. He still is."
In one of the book's more poignant sections, Hart candidly describes the anguish he felt upon learning of the death of his younger brother Owen at a WWF event in Kansas City in 1999. Owen plummeted 24 metres to his death in a freak stunt accident, and Bret insists that he would have talked Owen out of the stunt had he remained in the WWF.
The loss of loved ones is a recurring theme throughout the book, with Hart assembling a laundry list of friends and family members who died young. Owen was just 34 when he died, while older brother Dean succumbed to kidney disease at the same age. Davey Boy Smith, Hart's brother-in-law and longtime wrestling comrade, died in his sleep of a heart attack. He was 40.
"It's just become so incredibly unreal how many people have expired," said Hart, "and I think there are more coming. "
"A lot of these wrestlers are in serious pain. They get addicted to these pain pills, and they all think they have it under control. They think they're superhuman, and they're finding out the hard way that they aren't."
While Hart largely portrays himself throughout the book as an honourable man who took pride in his work - and the fact that he never seriously injured an opponent - he was equally upfront about his flaws. He cheated on his first wife Julie. He took pain medication to ease the nightly aches, and sampled cocaine with fellow wrestlers. He even considered taking his own life a time or two.
Hart said he had no trouble exposing his transgressions to his fans.
"I wanted to be honest when I started out," said Hart. "I don't know that I ever intended to be this honest. Something brought it out of me."
"I'm not trying to glorify the things I've done. I just want people to understand my situation, and ask themselves if maybe they would have done the same thing."
Hart said the only regret he has about the autobiography is that his mother Helen and father Stu weren't alive to see it. Stu is featured prominently throughout the book, having carved a niche in the wrestling world as one of the greatest trainers of raw talent.
Hart acknowledged that while Stu wasn't the friendliest father on the planet, he was someone Bret admired greatly.
"I love my dad, and I love how he raised us," said Hart. "I never thought of my dad as a bad person. I always admired how he never gave up. He was so dedicated to everything."
Hart spent more than six years crafting his 573-page life story, and he says the book easily could have been 500 pages longer. But he insists he's satisfied with the finished product - especially considering how close he came to never finishing it at all.
"There were times when I wondered if it would ever get done," said Hart, who now has 90 per cent use of his left side. "I got derailed a few times. But I think the stroke really humbled me and helped me write a more intelligent book."
ENTERTAINMENT
Last Update: Oct 24, 2007 12:22 PM (© News from the Canadian Press)
Bret Hart chronicles wrestling career, family drama in long-awaited autobiography
James Bisson, THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO - A debilitating stroke in 2002 left Bret Hart with paralysis on his left side, forcing him into a lengthy rehabilitation process.
But it didn't keep the Calgary native from completing one of his greatest personal achievements - an autobiography that details the ecstasies and tragedies of one of Canada's most revered grapplers.
"I was so committed to finishing it," Hart said Wednesday in an interview. "I told myself I wouldn't stop until I finished. I was writing in my hospital bed, on notepads. "
"I almost (became) obsessed, I think. I'd write, and then I'd sleep. I was crazy about finishing it."
Hart's autobiography, "Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling," takes readers on a roller-coaster ride as Hart looks back on his 23-year wrestling career, and the impact it had on his family. Hart, who turned 50 earlier this year, holds nothing back as he details the animosity that still exists between himself and several of his 11 brothers and sisters.
"I had to say what needed to be said," Hart said. "I felt good about dropping a lot of that baggage off and not worrying about it."
Hart, who won seven heavyweight championships between the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling, also addresses his controversial departure from the WWF in September 1997. In an unscripted ending, Hart dropped the title to rival Shawn Michaels in Montreal, with Hart the victim of a double-cross by WWF chairman Vince McMahon.
The incident garnered international attention, and while Hart has since forgiven McMahon, he remains bitter towards Michaels, who has insisted he knew nothing about McMahon's plan.
"Shawn was in the trenches with me, like a brother," said Hart, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. "His betrayal was on a different level. He was a jealous backstabber, and was really lousy about it. He still is."
In one of the book's more poignant sections, Hart candidly describes the anguish he felt upon learning of the death of his younger brother Owen at a WWF event in Kansas City in 1999. Owen plummeted 24 metres to his death in a freak stunt accident, and Bret insists that he would have talked Owen out of the stunt had he remained in the WWF.
The loss of loved ones is a recurring theme throughout the book, with Hart assembling a laundry list of friends and family members who died young. Owen was just 34 when he died, while older brother Dean succumbed to kidney disease at the same age. Davey Boy Smith, Hart's brother-in-law and longtime wrestling comrade, died in his sleep of a heart attack. He was 40.
"It's just become so incredibly unreal how many people have expired," said Hart, "and I think there are more coming. "
"A lot of these wrestlers are in serious pain. They get addicted to these pain pills, and they all think they have it under control. They think they're superhuman, and they're finding out the hard way that they aren't."
While Hart largely portrays himself throughout the book as an honourable man who took pride in his work - and the fact that he never seriously injured an opponent - he was equally upfront about his flaws. He cheated on his first wife Julie. He took pain medication to ease the nightly aches, and sampled cocaine with fellow wrestlers. He even considered taking his own life a time or two.
Hart said he had no trouble exposing his transgressions to his fans.
"I wanted to be honest when I started out," said Hart. "I don't know that I ever intended to be this honest. Something brought it out of me."
"I'm not trying to glorify the things I've done. I just want people to understand my situation, and ask themselves if maybe they would have done the same thing."
Hart said the only regret he has about the autobiography is that his mother Helen and father Stu weren't alive to see it. Stu is featured prominently throughout the book, having carved a niche in the wrestling world as one of the greatest trainers of raw talent.
Hart acknowledged that while Stu wasn't the friendliest father on the planet, he was someone Bret admired greatly.
"I love my dad, and I love how he raised us," said Hart. "I never thought of my dad as a bad person. I always admired how he never gave up. He was so dedicated to everything."
Hart spent more than six years crafting his 573-page life story, and he says the book easily could have been 500 pages longer. But he insists he's satisfied with the finished product - especially considering how close he came to never finishing it at all.
"There were times when I wondered if it would ever get done," said Hart, who now has 90 per cent use of his left side. "I got derailed a few times. But I think the stroke really humbled me and helped me write a more intelligent book."
Bret's book is fluctuating between 1st and 3rd place on amazon.ca. I am told that the publisher expects the book to peak around Christmas time.
REMINDER: Don't forget that you will be able to obtain Bret's book at Ringside Fest on November 10th @ Caroline's. The rest of the talent list should be announced in a day or two. Ringside Fest 2007 - Presented by Ringside Collectibles Bret's book won't be released until sometime in 2008 in USA.
Georgie [email protected]
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