<<BACK TO WRESTLING-NEWS.com Reported by Anthony DeBlasi November 12, 2003   READER RESPONSES I've received an overwhelming response to comments I wrote about the lack of respect one particular wrestling newsletter used to break the news of the death of Michael Lockwood (aka Crash Holly, Mad Mikey). Quite a few people were stunned that such derogatory comments would be posted by that site, only 6 hours after the death of Crash. I wanted to post some of the responses, which are listed below. Some of these emails are from friends and fans of Michael, a friend of Elizabeth Hulette (Miss Elizabeth), and others. But first, for everyone that were quite upset at Mr. Keller's reporting, he actually responded to my comments. You MUST read them below, which might surprise some. M.J. Wright from Philadelphia, a friend of Stevie Richards and Crash, was extremely upset at how Wade Keller decided to notify his readers of Crash's death. Here is Wade Keller's response to the criticizm we expressed. After the response, I break his comments down a bit. (His quotes are in bold print)   ------------------------------------------------    From Wade Keller: I appreciate your concern, and I am sensitive to the points you make. I do believe it is also important to be up front about how these wrestlers lifestyles are leading to their deaths in many cases.   We don't know how Michael Lockwood died. We do know how he lived, and it wasn't a healthy lifestyle. He was living on the edge for years. I have had wrestlers who I considered friends die over the years, and  there are friends in wrestling today who may die in the future, because of drug abuse. I don't want to bury my head and ignore the harsh reality of these tragedies, which is that the lifestyle can and often does lead to death. Let's not celebrate the life of a thirtysomething wrestler at the expense of facing the reality of his tragic premature death. If I die from self-induced lifestyle choices, I fully assume that will be included in my obituary. It is the obligation of the person writing the story to include such information. I'm sure if my mother or father were to write a eulogy, it would be different. But I'm not Crash's father. I'm a reporter cover the facts of his life and death. ------------------------------------------------    Let's break his comments down a bit: (His quotes are in Bold Print)....." I have had wrestlers who I considered friends die over the years, and  there are friends in wrestling today who may die in the future, because of drug abuse." Do you mind sharing with us who your drug addict friends are? And if you refuse to publicly criticize and expose their problems, why do it to Michael Lockwood? Because he's dead now and he can't respond back to you? Here's a few possible excuses he'll give as to why he wouldn't do this, and how stupid the excuses are:   Excuse#1: "ITS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS". If you don't post their problems because you think it's none of our business, why post Michael's? Excuse#2: "I DONT WANT TO HURT MY FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PUBLICIZING THEIR PROBLEMS" If you are afraid to hurt the families of your drug addict "friends", it wasn't hard hurting the friends and family of Michael's. Excuse#3: "IF I POST THEM, IT COULD KILL THEIR CAREERS".  Funny, if you keep it quiet, don't you think they have a greater chance of killing something else...Themselves?   I don't want to bury my head and ignore the harsh reality of these tragedies, which is that the lifestyle can and often does lead to death. Read the above paragraph. I don't see you trying to confront your drug addict friends online.   If I die from self-induced lifestyle choices, I fully assume that will be included in my obituary. Pathetic. Ive yet to read an obituary that says "Here lies.....drug addict". Or how's about this obituary: "Here lies......who ate too much and died of a heartattack". Or maybe this one: "Here lies......alcoholic". Wade, you really are an idiot.   I'm sure if my mother or father were to write a eulogy, it would be different. So it's ok for parents or friends to water down someone's problem. But as a writer, it give you permission to be a classless piece of sh**?   Finally this comment from Mr. Keller: Let's not celebrate the life of a thirtysomething wrestler at the expense of facing the reality of his tragic premature death. This comment alone shows the true opposite of what respect is. Did you ever think celebrating life and the sadness of death may influence someone else to live a better life?   My final message to Wade. Be 100% complete. You took on the role of shilling a newsletter. Being a writer unfortunately forfeits your right to report some people's discressions, but not others. Want to report Crash Holly's faults hours after he dies? Fine. Have the balls to report the discressions of others alive, as you comment. Did you ever think that maybe you, not reporting others, is allowing them the privacy to abuse themselves more? Either report is all, or none at all.     Here are a few emails from friends of Michael, Elizabeth, and fans that expressed their feelings on this matter. My comments to each one are posted in Italics under each one:     From Tamara H. McClellan: "I read what you wrote regarding the article by Wade Keller and can I just say AMEN!  When Elizabeth died, there were several uncouth people out there writing trash about her from the get go when the rest of us were just getting the news.  The wrestling observer called her a ring rat, obviously not knowing what that meant and it was very hurtful, I was a friend of Elizabeth's and found it hard to read such garbage being written with no respect for the dead.  Thank you for standing up for those who can no longer defend themselves.  Go get em! (The comment you mentioned about Liz really proves something. Having connections in the business, and being very knowledgeable as they are, doesn't exempt them from being a bunch of assh****. Noone in this world is perfect. Every single person that passes away has faults. Even though Crash, or Liz passed away from a disease called additction, there may be someone out there that considered them a hero, a friend, Just like you. It's funny though how these newsletters will show such lack of respect to someone's death, unless it can sell "Special Edition" newsletters.) From JOHN SUIT: As a huge fan of Wrestling; the sport, the people, the feeling, I agree with you very much so. I read all these articles online everyday, yet I never respond. I responded to you because I wanted to say "THANKS". You made me feel better when I read your article, because I read Wade's first and the same thoughts you had were going through my head. I believe you must have feelings to write, and opinions to express what you are writing. Obviously Wade has no feelings and a meaningless opinion. KUDOS to YOU Bro. (Isn't it funny John that some people actually don't understand that you can report factual and have respect too. Wade won't get it because that's the way he is. His way of reporting this was by bringing up information he thought was necessary, but was tasteless. You see, tragedy and how people react to it shows their personality. Anyone can say Raw scored a 3.0 rating.)   From Carol Ojala I just wanted to say THANK YOU! It's nice to see that some people still care about these guys who pass on at such a young age. I am good friends with a former (WWF) superstar and I tell him all the time how much he's loved and appreciated. I think that is very important. Question, have you ever considered writing about all the wrestlers that have passed away before their time? Owen Hart, Davey Smith, Curt Henning, Rick Rude, etc. I think it's important to get the word out and try to put people to thinking, why is this happening to these guys? Thanks again.   (Ive thought about writing about stars like this. Here is the biggest problem with writing an article. None of us were close to them. I always felt that if anyone were to write about a particular star that passed away, it should be a spouse, girlfriend, close friend, family member. They are the ones that know the "little things" that made them special. Even in some cases, the problems they could have had that led to their disease, addiction, etc. None of us really know deep down inside why some of them had addictions. That's why I don't think people should "speculate" or try to "think" they know why they did certain things.   As far as "getting the word out", believe me; anyone who thinks the word is "not out there" is in denial. I smoke cigarrettes, which is true. I know that it's bad for me, and people die everyday from it. I know it causes cancer. Why do I still do it? It's my choice. Some people quit because they lose a family member. Some lose a family member from it, yet still don't quit. People smoke, drink, take painkillers, because they choose to. They know what the consequences are from abuse. The word is out there.)   From Bryan W. Simek I'm going to be in the minority on this but Wade has every right to do this. I don't care what wrestler contributed to the sport or not, if you die by choking on your own vomit from too much drinking, there should be no remorse. We've lost Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Miss Elizabeth, Louie Spicolli, Road Warrior Hawk, Pitbull #2 and now Crash Holly all to the abuse of drugs, alchoal and steroids. Sure some are after effects as was the case with Hawk. But these wrestlers need to understand that if they're going to keep doing this to themselves they're going to be examples and not suger coated as "good guys who God took before their time" This still isn't the worst of it. We still have Hogan, Savage, Steiner, Piper who's steroid and drug use will catch up with them. Sure you can celebrate their life but you have to be real in the fact that these men killed themselves.   (If it wasn't for this single sentence, I would have complimented you about your comments: You said: if you die by choking on your own vomit from too much drinking, there should be no remorse. You have to remember that alcoholism is a disease. If Michael Lockwood was a mass murderer, child molester, rapist, etc and died, he deserves no remorse. But Crash Holly having a disease and an addiction, didnt make him a bad person. What if Crash Holly had this disease, but died from some other cause? That would make his drinking problem any better? Not as important? He would then deserve remorse? As far as abuse of steroids, it doesn't happen in other sports because it's barred. When that happens widespread in wrestling and drug testing, that will diminish. Remember something important. Back in the 70's & 80's steroids were legal at some point. If in the future, you have a bunch of "veterans" and "legends" in wrestling passing away, remember when the abuse happened. Remember, something doesn't need to be illegal, to be abused.)   From Shannon: ...Another "so-called" reporter RYAN CLARK also wrote a report like that.  I sent him an email reflecting the same feelings.  I asked him to think about Mike's family (Mom, daughter) and not report such things.  Was it really necessary.   I unfortunately deleted his responses but in a nutshell he basically told me that he was reporting what happened and that it was from sources close to Steven Richards and that I shouldn't read his column and that I didn't know anything about the wrestling business and to not comment on things I don't know about. (To say this with the utmost sincerity, Ryan Clark is a 16 year old kid that has no connections in the business. He "cuts and pastes" articles, and has 10,000 Pop-up ads. This is not in anyway defending him. But he writes items in a way to get people clicking on the posts. Just look over the newsboard. Unfortunately for attention, pop-up ad money, to try and appear they are connected, there are many 16 year old "cut and paste" artists out there. Unfortunately, you personally had to be affected because of Mike's death.)   Thank you to everyone else that sent their comments. I will be posting another article with additional responses in the upcoming days. If anyone cares to comment, whether you agree or disagree, email it to us. webmaster@wrestling-news.com.   Thanks for reading. Anthony DeBlasi Wrestling-News.com Webmaster   CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO WRESTLING-NEWS.com