Benoit book already in the works

ECW Press Announces CHRIS AND NANCY by Irvin Muchnick,
Story of the Benoit Murder-Suicide, for 2008 Publication

July 16, 2007 - ECW Press announced today that it has signed author Irvin Muchnick to write a book about the sensational case of wrestler Chris Benoit.

The book, entitled CHRIS AND NANCY: The True Story of the Benoit Murder-Suicide and Pro Wrestling's Cocktail of Death, will be published in 2008.

Muchnick is author of the hot-selling ECW Press book, WRESTLING BABYLON: Piledriving Tales of Drugs, Sex, Death, and Scandal (site: http://wrestlingbabylon.com; blog: http://muchnick.net/babylon, and has appeared extensively in media coverage of the Benoit case. The appendix of WRESTLING BABYLON documents the premature deaths of nearly 100 wrestlers over the last generation from drugs and related aspects of the pro wrestling lifestyle. That information has been cited both by commentators and by a member of Congress urging investigation of the billion-dollar pro wrestling industry...More?

JR's Comments about Nancy and Daniel's Funeral

...The media was strategically hovering outside the church to where one could not enter the facility under the normal, covered walkway during the heavy rain without walking by the reporters, who I realize have a job to do. They had questions with the first being something along the lines of “what about the steroid issue?” It wasn’t “what are your memories of Nancy and Daniel?” or “Is there anything you would like to say to the families?” It was the tired, “steroid” question...

...The wrestling business, like our lives, is far from perfect and many areas of it need to be addressed and improved upon. Perhaps this mission should be approached as if tomorrow was our first day on the job and we have the chance to start fresh and make things better for everyone who wants to play by the rules and to do the right things so the business will continue to thrive long after guys like me are nothing more than a fleeting memory of bygone days...More?

Don't pin sport of wrestling for Benoit tragedy

...Why is everyone so quick to blame professional wrestling? I don't remember anyone asking if football made a "monster" of O.J. Simpson. When Brandon Lee was accidentally killed on the set of "The Crow," no one blamed the film industry.

The media are quick to vilify professional wrestling and not solely steroid abuse, because the profession has never been truly respected. Ever since McMahon re-dubbed it "sports entertainment" - a virtual admission that the matches were staged and the finishes predetermined - wrestling has been rejected as a sport. But since wrestling also presents itself as a competition, it's never been accepted on its own terms.

Even as new details surrounding this tragedy unfold, professional wrestling deserves to be appreciated as a wonderful form of entertainment. Every show is a ballistic ballet, combing the holds and counter-holds originated by the ancient Greeks and Romans, the daredevil athleticism of the high-fliers, and an occasional chair shot to the head. We cheer the larger-than-life heroes, boo the sinister villains, and everyday emotions are stirred up in rousing fashion.

Chris Benoit's legacy is forever tarnished. Whatever the outcome of the investigation, the public should look at this as both a tragedy and a cautionary tale against the damages of steroid abuse. But it's not a reason to attack wrestling. We should blame the man, not the business.

source: www.newsday.com

Dreaming of stardom in the ring

Bodies were flying and weights were clanking throughout his red-, white- and blue-painted gym, but Booker T. Huffman — better known as Booker T and, now, King Booker — lowered his voice when he talked about fellow wrestler Chris Benoit.

"He was a really good friend of mine," said Huffman, referring to the World Wrestling Entertainment pro wrestler who last month allegedly committed murder-suicide. "I just really think that he was under a lot of pressure and a lot of stress. Whatever it was, it was just too much for him to bear."

Despite the cloud cast on the professional wrestling community, young men and women across the city continue to crowd into dark, hot rings with dreams of being the next WWE superstars. Houston offers lots of opportunity...More?

Chris Benoit & Son Go Swimming Before Murders?

The Wrestling Observer is reporting more details on the Benoit tragedy:

Chris Benoit spoke to a pool boy (not named) during a period on Saturday. Meltzer reports that multiple sources have stated that this pool boy saw both Chris and Daniel Benoit. One of those sources claim the two were swimming in the Benoit pool. This would have been while Nancy was already dead inside the home. Just hours later, Chris wound up killing Daniel and then himself.

Re-cap of Fit Finaly on Nancy Grace

WWE’s Fit Finlay appeared on Nancy Grace last night along with Marc Mero, Bryan Alvarez from Figure 4 Wrestling Online and others. Finaly said WWE’s testing is “very comprehensive“, and went on to say this:

“They watch us every test we do. It’s very strict. It’s probably one of the best screening things out there. No other wrestling company has done this. WCW tried. We have done it. We tried it, I think in the late-’80s, early-’90s, and now in the last year and a half. Guys are being suspended or fired if they’re caught. As regards to someone turning up with a script and getting away with whatever you want, that is absolutely not true. Their doctors need to communicate with Dr. Black. If that is a legitimate cause for the prescription, they take it from there. It is not a Get out of Jail free card. That is absolute garbage.”...

...Finlay said he’d been in the business over 30 years without drugs. He said if you’re under contract to WWE, you can ask for time off and that if you’ve not been in the WWE in the last two years, you’re not in a position to comment...More?

Giambi meets with Mitchell

Yankees slugger Jason Giambi met with George Mitchell on Friday, becoming the first active player known to talk with baseball's steroids investigator...More?

Snoop Dogg's Life to Be E! Reality Show

Snoop Dogg's home and work lives will be on display in a new reality series, E! Entertainment Television said Friday.

The series, scheduled to debut in late 2007 and described by the cable channel as "hilarious and heartwarming," will show the hip-hop heavyweight trying to balance his different worlds.

"The juggling act that Snoop faces day-in, day-out between career and family is certain to resonate with our viewers," said Ted Harbert, president and CEO of Comcast Entertainment Group, which operates the E! channel.

The rapper, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus Jr., has three children, is active in community causes and is involved in a youth football league he founded, E! said...More?

Wrestling Fans Going to War with Nancy Grace

The wrestling forums are lighting up with wrestling fans that are outraged at Nancy Grace for her coverage of the Chris Benoit murder/suicide story. Wrestling fans are saying she did not have her facts straight before reporting the story.

Her angle of attack on the story was that anabolic steroids had to have played a part in the actions of Chris Benoit. Nancy Grace quoted the WWE in the statement that anabolic steroids did not play a part in the murders. She attempted to make a statement that the WWE would "of course deny the possibility."

The fans of wrestling became angered because of the fact that the police have announced that they are looking into the possibility that Chris Benoit had been giving the steroids to his child in an attempt to make him grow to average size for his age. Being a former lawyer, the WWE fans would have thought that Nancy Grace would have argued this case after researching it...More?

Spike TV To Shell Out Over $100 Million To Keep UFC

Spike TV is on the verge of pinning down a multiyear, multimillion-dollar renewal of its Ultimate Fighting Championship distribution deal, according to sources close to the network.

The new deal, which is expected to cost Spike in excess of $100 million, will allow the men’s-targeted network to keep its popular Ultimate Fighter reality series. The pact will also give Spike more live UFC events than the previous agreement, which expired at the end of last year.

Diamond Dallas Page & Jay-Z Agree in Principle to Settle Lawsuit

It appears as if former wrestling superstar Diamond Dallas Page is close to settling his trademark infringement lawsuit with hip hop mogul Jay-Z. The two sides reached a settlement in principle on June 15th after a lengthy period of mediation.

The settlement will be presented in court on August 10th. If the court signs off on it, the case will then be dismissed. For those that do not remember, Page sued Jay-Z (and a number of his companies) for allegedly infringing on his “Diamond Cutter” hand gesture.

source: PWInsider.com

Anything Goes

IT IS WELL PAST MIDNIGHT WHEN MARIO YAMASAKI DECIDES HE WANTS TO CHOKE SOMEONE UNCONSCIOUS AT HIS BARBECUE. The Brazilian jiujitsu expert unfolds his brawny arms, tanned from a weekend of boating on the Potomac, and leans forward in his chair. A floodlight flickers on and off. His Rockville neigh...

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