“Dr. Death” Steve Williams Passes

Dr. Death will be missed...

I’m a few days late because of New Year’s and such, but the wrestling business has lost yet another great legend.  A man who’s name is synonymous with Oklahoma and pro wrestling.  A man who will always be remembered as a fighter inside of the ring… and outside of the ring.

I’m sorry to hear the passing of legendary “Dr. Death” Steve Williams.

He wasn’t glitzy.  He wasn’t as glamorous as many of the professional wrestlers in the past, present or the future… but he was a legitimate tough guy.  Graduating from the University of Oklahoma, where his coach once said he was “one of the best athletes to walk out the gates of the University”… Williams was a professional wrestling Champion on numerous occasions.  Wrestling all over the world, Steve Williams is most well-known for his days with WCW and WWF.

I wasn’t a huge fan of Williams.  I, however, had more respect for the guy than I could ever tell you.  Battling cancer is a very brave feat.  Being a great football player and then becoming one of the most feared guys in the wrestling world is no easy feat, either.  The guy carried himself inside the ring like a monster.  And that’s how I always viewed Dr. Death.  As a monster!

My fondest memory of Steve Williams probably isn’t one that he’d like to know.  Certainly, the tough man tournament that WWF did back in the ’90’s was supposed to be built around Williams.  He was supposed to excel in the legitimate, tough man fighting.  However, things did not go as planned… and ultimately it ended his tenure with WWF.  Bart Gunn knocked Williams out cold, in the middle of the ring.

Just goes to show you that anything can… and WILL happen in the wrestling business.

Williams was huge in Japan.  He was huge in the United States.  He’s a legend of the wrestling industry that no one will soon forget.  Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for another ten-bell salute.  I’m just glad to say that this man went down fighting…

We will miss you, Dr. Death.

Concussions

Last week, I posted a column entitled: “Newsbites“.  In that blog, I touched on several topics.  One of those news items I discussed briefly was concussions in wrestling.  Specifically, I talked a little bit about a column written by ESPN’s Greg Garber.  It’s entitled: “Doctors: Wrestler Had Brain Damage“.  Garber specifically discussed Andrew “Test” Martin and his death.  Chris Benoit, like always, was mentioned in the column, as well.

You can take a look at those columns by clicking the links.  Read them over before moving on because I have a little more to say about the issues.  This time, I want to put it a little more in perspective from an independent wrestler’s point of view.

Let me ask you this, right here and now – You think this type of thing doesn’t happen on the local-level of sports entertainment?

Patrick Swayze Dead at Age 57

When I first heard the news, I was as shocked as anyone.  I knew he’d been battling cancer for quite some time but it never crossed my mind that he would actually pass away from it.  Maybe I wasn’t being realistic.  Maybe I just knew he’d live forever no matter if he were on this earth with us or not.  Think about it for a moment, will you?  Patrick Swayze will live forever.

Actors, entertainers… any celebrity would just want that fifteen seconds of fame.  One big gig that can set you up for life.  Patrick Swayze got that opportunity and turned it into a smash hit.  Yes, I watched Dirty Dancing, last night.  I’m sure Patrick Swayze movies were on television sets all across the world.  We chose to watch Dirty Dancing because, you got it:  “Nobody sits Baby in a corner.”  A catch-phrase that will live as long as “I’ll be back.”

Patrick Swayze meant a lot of things to a lot of people.  I didn’t know him.  I don’t know anyone that knew him personally.  But I feel the pain of losing such a legendary star, as do a few of my friends.  I saw a loved one actually CRY last night, as she read a story on the web about Swayze’s life and career.  How he’s leaving behind a wife.  How he’s fought cancer for over twenty months.  How he grew up wanting to be a professional dancer and an old football injury took that dream away. 

Steve McNair Story: Your Thoughts

I’m glad I’m not the only one who has thoughts on this topic.  To me, it really hits hard at home.  Steve McNair, to me, has and always will be looked at as one of the best of the best.  Quarterbacks who sit out because of stubbed toes, nowadays, and he’s out playing with a cracked sternum.  Not only that, but to never hear a bad word about the guy… until he DIES.

It makes me think of one word:  TYPICAL.

But it’s a hot topic to many of you, as well.  I’m glad to see that.  Man, there were some great comments.  You all look at it in a different perspective.  It gives me a little bit of a different view, as well.  Some I agree with and some I do not agree with.  Let’s take a look, in case you missed it:

Steve “Air” McNair

A legend in the National Football League.  A legend on the field… and a legend OFF the football field.  I’m shocked at not only Steve McNair’s passing, but the way he was taken from the world.  It’s a tragedy in every sense of the word.  For one of the toughest football players who ever lived to die the way that he did, it certainly tarnishes his legacy a bit.

Let’s take a look at this for a moment, shall we?

I would assume that many of my readers are male.  Wrestling fans equals males.  Right?  On the other hand, many of my readers are female.  How do I know this?  Well, take a look at some of the comments.  Also, I hear most of my questions and compliments on my blog from my female audience.  Very interesting, to say the least.  Female readers usually have a different perspective on things than the males do.  Does this go without saying?  Yes.  Certainly it does.  We all have different points of view.

Steve McNair was known for his on the field toughness.  Known for being an MVP caliber player.  The guy tied in MVP voting with Peyton Manning.  He went to the Super Bowl and was ONE YARD from forcing overtime.  McNair played with a CRACKED STERNUM.  He couldn’t even practice because of the pain… but he was on the field playing week after week, proving how tough and how great he really was.  In addition to his on the field play, McNair was known for his generosity off the field.

Devastated

That’s the only word I can think of to describe the happenings of the last week or so.  I’m simply devastated.  Look at all the great people we have lost.  All the entertainment we’ll never have again.  I can not remember a single period in my life where so much has happened in so little of time.  From my personal life, my business life, people dying left and right in the real world… what in the heck is going on here?

Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays and now Steve McNair.  I apologize for leaving anyone out – but these are the ones that come right to mind.  The greatest entertainer of all time and a music genius.  The infommercial king, whom recently had his own reality television show.  Farrah Fawcett, the lady of many men’s wildest dreams.  Steve McNair – arguably the toughest quarterback to ever play the game of professional football. 

Remembering the Tragedy

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.

Tank Note

Just one last story regarding Tank.  It freaked me out a little bit and sent chills down my spine.

After I heard what had happened, I called a few friends to discuss it.  You know, the regular, “Did you hear!?”  I was surprised to know that I was one of the last ones to find out.  I didn’t get a phone call like I normally do.  But anyway, back to the story.  I was discussing the news with a friend, when they dropped the bombshell on me.

Apparently, Tank’s MySpace page had the updated status to read:  “im up in heaven with my dad. Call my wife’cell for info on my arrange ments at (phone number)”

Anyone else get chills?

Memories of Tank

The professional wrestling business has lost another brother at a very young age.  This has nothing to do with drug abuse.  No alcohol abuse.  This passing doesn’t have anything to do with a typical wrestling-related passing. Just a matter of life.  An apparent natural death that no one could have guessed or prevented.

Mid-South wrestling fans, we lost “Tank” Tim Robertson last week due to an apparent heart attack.  A sad, hard-hitting death to this area -no question about it.  Maybe to the average, everyday wrestling fan, they may not know Tank by name.  But to me and the rest of the boys, it’s a very big deal.  Sitting in the locker room with him one week and the next, he’s gone.  You just don’t plan to lose a guy like him.

Tank Dies at Age 29

Wow.  I don’t know what to say.  At the age of 29 years old – former NBW wrestlers, Tank, passes away this afternoon.  I will have more to say later, as I’ve worked with Tank and been in the same locker room with him several times.

This truly is hitting home.  I have goosebumps.  Someone so close to our area in this business passes away?  And at such a young age?

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

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