It happened ten years ago and I still remember every single detail of where I was and how I felt. Upon hearing the news, I was shattered. Please remember, I was fifteen years old at the time and had no personal ties with the family or individual involved. I was a wrestler-in-training. That is all.
Over the Edge at Kemper Arena – I wasn’t going to be able to watch the pay-per-view live because I had to work. However, my family usually ordered the shows, so I would see it on tape when I returned home. I hated the fact that I was going to miss out… I was at the peak of my love for wrestling as a fan. I never missed a show.
I was at Steak n Shake waiting tables when I was called to the phone. It was before everyone had cell phones. I certainly didn’t have one yet. Also, it was rare to be receiving a phone call at work. This odd situation turned even more strange, as I heard my father on the phone tell me that something terrible had happened.
When he broke the news, I couldn’t believe it. I felt a panic and the urge to leave. For some reason, I had the feeling that something had happened to my family and I needed to be there. It took a few minutes to really realize that it was someone I watched on television. Not a family member. There was nothing I could do. So, I calmed down a bit and tried to get some answers. (more…)
