When wrestling gets real.

I have a confession to make. For a little over 20 years I've watched professional wrestling. Yes I know it is scripted. But that does not mean it is fake in any way (it's pretty damn hard to fake being thrown through a table).

Here's something you probably didn't know: The average pro wrestler is on the road little over 300 days a year. That means they go from city to city doing basically the same match night after night and rarely do they get time off to be with family. These guys are entertainers/athletes. Talk about dedication.

When I was young fan coming up I was unaware of a lot of the things that go on behind the scene: the politics, the a drug use, the deaths and the backstabbing. I just thought it was a good violent fun. But as I grew older I started to notice some of these guys were dropping like flies. I guess it all started when "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert died of a heart attack in 1995. He was 33. When I first heard of his death I thought it was strange that a guy that young just up and died of a heart attack. Then two years later Brian Pillman (35) died. Brian Pillman bounced around the WCW and ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling), but spent the last few months of his career in the WWE (what was then called the WWF) he died right before a PPV. The following year ECW's Louie Spicoli died. He wasn't even 30.

Then in 1999 Owen Hart died. Now for those of you who really don't know anything about wrestling the Hart family are one of the most famous families in Pro-wrestling. The patriarch Stu Hart has trained some of wrestling's famous superstars (Chris Beniot, Chris Jericho, and Brett Hart to name a few). Owen Hart died in a tragic in-ring accident on a live PPV broadcast. The following night on Monday night Raw I got to see the people behind the personas. It was one of the most emotional things I've ever seen on TV. Please keep in mind that Owen wasn't a drug user he was a all around nice guy. Probably one of the nicest guys in the business, and for him to die that way was just unfair. Watching HHH break down was one of the most real and sincere things I've ever seen. Who knew they were that close?

Why do I bring all this up? Well it happened again. Eddie Guerrero died a couple of weeks ago in his hotel room in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Eddie Guerrero was the second Latino world champion in the history of the WWE. Here's another case of a decent nice guy who battled drugs and came back and fought for his life and family only to die. He not only was a great talent but he was also a father and husband. The thing that is most unfortunate is that his death could have been prevented if he had just gone for a check up.

I know I've been out of the loop for a while and my first post coming back is about the death of a pro wrestler. Some of you guys reading this may and ask; WHY the hell is he talking about these guys.? My answer is simple. These guys lead a lifestyle in where they've sacrificed a lot of themselves to entertain people and for that they get my respect. If you've ever seen a classic match (ex. Ric Flair vs. Sting) you'll know what I'm talking about. I'll miss you Eddie. Rest in peace.