Post by Man in Black on Jun 26, 2007 14:48:13 GMT -5
I don't know if any of you have heard of Chris Benoit, the pro wrestler, before he killed his wife and son then himself and made headline news.
I have been a wrestling fan for over 30 years and I don't say much about it here because I figure nobody here is interested in it.
Wrestler Benoit dead in apparent murder-suicide
Benoit was my favorite wrestler. He was the most highly regarded worker/performer by his peers and employers. He worked hard and helped everyone around him to be better. If the company wanted him to lose to put over a younger star he'd gladly do it. He performed at 110 percent whether he was headlining Wrestlemania or wrestling in front of a small crowd. I've lost count of how many live events I've attended but in an age where everyone knows matches are predetermined, Benoit was the only guy who still tried to convince the crowd that what he was doing was very real.
I admired this man on a level higher than a fan looking up to a star. He represented the pinnacle of what I aspire to be - the absolute best at what I do. Not from an egotistical standpoint, rather a complete effort to get the job done and done right. He never complained and what ever rewards he received in his field he earned, and accepted them graciously.
When I heard of his death, I was deeply saddened, then even more so when I learned that his family perished with him. I was angry at the person that killed them and hurt at the loss of somebody I admired. Then came the news that it was a murder suicide. Still in a sort of denial I was angry at his wife for committing the crime. Then as it became clear that Chris Benoit had killed his wife and seven year old son, my mind went into disarray.
I realized then that when someone you look up to dies that you need some way to feel, to grieve. At first I was sad and then angry, but when the story was clear I didn't know how to react. I would like to believe that Benoit truly was a good man who just snapped somehow, but I don't. I'm not sure of anything about him now. At this point I find myself just wanting to forget that he ever existed. I do know that in the future it will be hard for me put any stock in any inspiration I recieve from a celebrity - someone I don't know.
Ironically, yesterday - before the Benoit story broke - I took my collection of wrestling autographs off my office wall to make room for some other posters. I thought about leaving one up... Chris Benoit's. I thought about how many times he'd made me smile, then something made me file the photo away with the others - eerily the Benoit family was already dead at that time...
I'd like to hate him, I really would... hate is such a simple, yet strong emotional solution... but it's hard to hate your hero.
I have been a wrestling fan for over 30 years and I don't say much about it here because I figure nobody here is interested in it.
Wrestler Benoit dead in apparent murder-suicide
Benoit was my favorite wrestler. He was the most highly regarded worker/performer by his peers and employers. He worked hard and helped everyone around him to be better. If the company wanted him to lose to put over a younger star he'd gladly do it. He performed at 110 percent whether he was headlining Wrestlemania or wrestling in front of a small crowd. I've lost count of how many live events I've attended but in an age where everyone knows matches are predetermined, Benoit was the only guy who still tried to convince the crowd that what he was doing was very real.
I admired this man on a level higher than a fan looking up to a star. He represented the pinnacle of what I aspire to be - the absolute best at what I do. Not from an egotistical standpoint, rather a complete effort to get the job done and done right. He never complained and what ever rewards he received in his field he earned, and accepted them graciously.
When I heard of his death, I was deeply saddened, then even more so when I learned that his family perished with him. I was angry at the person that killed them and hurt at the loss of somebody I admired. Then came the news that it was a murder suicide. Still in a sort of denial I was angry at his wife for committing the crime. Then as it became clear that Chris Benoit had killed his wife and seven year old son, my mind went into disarray.
I realized then that when someone you look up to dies that you need some way to feel, to grieve. At first I was sad and then angry, but when the story was clear I didn't know how to react. I would like to believe that Benoit truly was a good man who just snapped somehow, but I don't. I'm not sure of anything about him now. At this point I find myself just wanting to forget that he ever existed. I do know that in the future it will be hard for me put any stock in any inspiration I recieve from a celebrity - someone I don't know.
Ironically, yesterday - before the Benoit story broke - I took my collection of wrestling autographs off my office wall to make room for some other posters. I thought about leaving one up... Chris Benoit's. I thought about how many times he'd made me smile, then something made me file the photo away with the others - eerily the Benoit family was already dead at that time...
I'd like to hate him, I really would... hate is such a simple, yet strong emotional solution... but it's hard to hate your hero.
