IN DISTINCT MINORITY, IF YOU DIDN'T THINK HULKSTER WAS GREATEST

 

“He was more than a great wrestler … more than a 

great entertainer. He was the very embodiment of 

American optimism.” – Josh Holmes

Wow! Who knew?

He was talking about TERRY BOLLEA, better 

known as HULK HOGAN, undoubtedly best known 

of all pro rasslers, who died this week. He was 71 … 

and, from the way the news was greeted, you would 

have thought Hogan was something special.

It would have been un-American (well, almost) if 

cable and radio shows didn’t allow themselves to be 

hijacked and devote most of their programming for a 

day to Hogan … especially the call-ins which 

attracted what could only be described as the love-in 

of all love-ins … all for a big stiff of a man whose 

talent was limited to some fast talk and few, if any, 

remarkable or memorable holds, none of which 

changed for the duration of a career that began 

without fanfare in the deep South, gathered some 

momentum in the upper Midwest and finally, without 

warning, took hold in the World Wrestling 

Federation about the time VINCE 

McMAHON decided to expand his base in the East 

and (ultimately) destroy the Territories.

Frankly, Hogan owed his immense popularity to 

McMahon, the ultimate huckster, and (to a lesser 

extent) to “MEAN GENE” OKERLAND, a 

WWF/WWE announcer who brought out the best in 

Hogan. They were the perfect tag team.

The Hulkster was only marginally more talented than

 ANDRE, the GIANT who at least was absolutely 

huge ... upwards of seven-feet tall, with the biggest 

hands … The memory man once shook his right paw. 

Thank goodness, the likable Frenchman didn’t have 

a strong grip. He probably understood what damage 

he could deliver if he really wanted.

VERNE GAGNE, BUDDY ROGERS, RICK 

FLAIR, “STONE COLD” STEVE AUSTIN,

 RANDY SAVAGE, RICKY STEAMBOAT, and 

 RODDY PIPER … to mention a few from the old 

days … all had more talent (not even close) than 

Hogan yet never were, never will be considered with 

the same reverence as Hogan.

How to explain? We can’t. 

We might have been the only negative caller 

regarding Hogan to the new Pro Wrestling 

Nation24/7 channel 157 on SiriusXM … had we 

dialed in … but why bother?

For all his problems away from the ring, Hogan’s 

many, many, MANY fans were willing to overlook 

them. He had been a big part of their lives (as one 

put it). If only one of the hosts had the courage to ask 

… oh, never mind. Think kindly of the dead … even 

if they didn’t deserve it when alive.

RIP, Terry, RIP.

COMMENTS: Please E-MAIL  mbl749@comcast.net