That's certainly the case with the "below-the-radar" world of semi-professional wrestling, a combination of athletics and entertainment played out largely in small social clubs, halls of fraternal organizations and YMCAs.

Last month, the world of semi-professional wrestling took on a higher profile for Connecticut residents when Dan "Spider" Quirk, a Shelton native, was killed during a routine wrestling stunt called the "suicide dive" at an Ultimate Championship Wrestling match in Taunton, Mass.

In the aftermath of Quirk's death, it's been an eye-opener that independent wrestling is completely unregulated in the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts.

As a report in this Sunday's Connecticut Post pointed out, the state Department of Consumer Protection, which currently oversees boxing, has never moved to regulate wrestling because it is viewed as entertainment.

Given Quirk's death from massive head injuries that occurred when he fell just outside the ring, it's time for this state and Massachusetts to re-examine their policies.

People involved in the independent wrestling world told the Post that many problems on the circuit could be avoided by better training of wrestlers in basic maneuvers and above-board promoters.

That could be resolved by state licensing of wrestlers and promoters, such as is currently done with boxers and boxing promoters.

A state law as simple as requiring padding around the outside of a ring might have reduced the head injuries that killed Quirk.

State Rep. Stephen D. Dargan, D-West Haven, House chairman of the General Assembly's Public Safety and Security Committee, said his panel might look at the independent wrestling arena, especially if more spinoff promoters pop up.

In the interim before the 2006 session, Dargan's panel would do well to examine the issue, perhaps even reaching out to fellow lawmakers in Massachusetts to determine if remedies can be studied on a regional basis.

If a single life can be saved in the future, it's worth making the effort.