10/17/02
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
Hello all! Hope everyone had a good couple of weeks while I was away. I was up in Windsor, Ontario, Canada working at the Border City Wrestling show and then on Friday we were in Detroit for Maximum Pro Wrestling. It was a very good two days of TV tapings. Our production values aren’t in the same league as WWE (and neither is our budget), but I’d put our storylines and work rate to an even comparison any day.
I’ve said this before and (since it’s my column) I’ll say it again; I love working with the young talent that’s hungry to ‘make it.’ They don’t do it for the money – they do it for the love of the game.
Money is a double-edged sword:
I admire those football players who sacrificed themselves for the greater good of the team. There’s honor in that. Now, college players who have never played a second of pro sports enter the league guaranteed $100 million! The work ethic that made America great is gone. People think they’re “owed” something and the thought of playing injured is unthinkable. I was a part of promotions where we put the company first and we were a part of something special. The most obvious example was Mid South/UWF wrestling in the mid eighties. We worked so hard, but we knew if we were hurt – we went! We knew the other guys would never no-show because there was almost a code of honor. You know I’ll always be there and I know you’ll never let the team or me, down. There’s a bond money can’t buy. I am happy to have been a small part of that piece of history. Every week some one comes up and says that was their favorite period in wrestling – and then they THANK ME!?!?!?! I should be thanking them and I am.
I don’t really have a topic, so I have some random thoughts I’d like to share. I have been invited by WWE to work this weekend’s No Mercy PPV, Raw, and Smackdown. Of course, I jumped at the chance because I love the excitement and pressure of a live telecast. It’s not for the faint of heart. One has to be able to think, solve problems, and perform under intense stress. It never gets easy, no matter how long one does it. It’s been in my blood for 23 years and this time away has rekindled my passion for our business.
I was asked today to make these three dates and we didn’t discuss terms, duration, or compensation. I don’t demand anything. If they decide to hire me full time (and in spite of the internet, they have not), I’ll be the most productive and least problematic employee they have ever had. I’ve been out of work for 20 months and have had a long time to consider my behavior.
I’ll be honored and excited to go to work for WWE, if asked.
I am wrestling in New Orleans on Saturday night. This is a prior booking and WWE is wonderful about allowing talent to honor their commitments. That’s the good news – I will be in New Orleans Saturday night. The bad news is I have to drive to Little Rock after the show. It’s 445 miles and that means I’ll get into Little Rock just in time to shower and head to the production meeting. I don’t care, I’m grateful for both opportunities.
That brings me to the opposite side of coin. I talked to “Paul Bearer” today for about 45 minutes. It’s ironic, I’m hoping to go back to WWE and he retired on Monday. To his friends, Paul is called Percy Pringle. It’s a name he used in his early years of the business and to be honest – he looks like a “Percy!” There’s a standing joke in the business that says, “You’re an old timer if you remember Paul Bearer as ‘Percy.” I do.
Percy has been in the WWF/WWE for 12 – 14 years, longer than ANYBODY and doesn’t have a bad word to say about anyone. I think one would be hard pressed to find one person who dislikes Percy. He didn’t gossip, was on time, and did his job. What a novel concept!
His WWE family will sorely miss him, but he has decided to stay home with his wife who has just won her battle with cancer. That family will embrace the father and husband who sacrificed so much family time to provide for their needs. God Bless you, Percy. You’re one of the good guys! The business will be a little less than it was, without you.
I am going to wrap this up, but before I do I want to share something with you I saw regarding unemployment. It’s clever and I laughed out loud when I read it. I hope you do, too.
Take care and until next week…..
My first job was working
in an orange juice factory, but I got canned... couldn't
concentrate.
Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn't
hack it, so they gave me the ax.
After that I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited for
it, mainly because it was a sew-sew job.
Next I tried working in a muffler factory, but that was too
exhausting.
Then I tried to be a chef, I figured it would add a little spice
to my life, but I just didn't have the thyme.
I attempted to be a deli worker, but any way I sliced it, I
couldn't cut the mustard.
My best job was being a musician, but eventually I found I wasn't
noteworthy.
I studied a long time to become a doctor, but I didn't have any
patience.
Next was a job in a shoe factory I tried, but I just didn't fit
in.
I became a professional fisherman, but discovered that I couldn't
live on my net income.
I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance
company, but the work was just too draining.
So then I got a job in a workout center, but they said I wasn't
fit for the job.
After many years of trying to find steady work I finally got a
job as a historian, but there was no future in it.
My last job was working at Starbucks, but I had to quit, because
it was always the same old grind.
SO I RETIRED AND FOUND I AM PERFECT FOR THE JOB!
Terry Taylor