My first recollection of WWE programming as a kid was watching "Piper's Pit", the revolutionary talk segment hosted by the "Hot Rod" Rowdy Roddy Piper. "Just when they think they have all the answers, I change the questions!!!" I even remember the sports reporter on our local news station using that line at the time on-air. Roddy was a one-of-a-kind, once in a lifetime performer. Without question, one of the absolute greatest villains aka "heels" in professional wrestling history. I vividly remember prior to facing Hollywood's own Mr.T in a boxing match at WrestleMania 2, Piper along with "Ace" Cowboy Bob Orton Jr., shaved a mini-wrestlers head to resemble T's trademark mohawk hairstyle. At the time I thought it was the worst thing I'd ever seen a "bad guy" wrestler do. His gift of gab made him a star performer the fans "loved to hate". And it made "Piper's Pit" one of the most popular, and copied segments on pro wrestling television. Roddy smashing the coconut over "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka's head during a "Pit" segment, is one of the most iconic images in WWE history. His feud with Hulk Hogan defined a generation, making the World Wrestling Federation and WrestleMania a mainstream, pop culture phenomenon.
As much as the fans had hated him for so long, it was during his feud with Mr.T that the fans started to realize how incredible a performer he truly was. They simply couldn't boo him any longer, and Roddy went on to become one of the most beloved legends to ever lace a pair of boots. At one point I lived in an apartment building where my neighbor provided bagpipe lessons(no joke). I remember after working an overnight shift I was attempting to sleep during the day, when the bagpipes began to blare! At first I was furious, but then as my ears began to recognize the melody coming from across the hall, I realized it was the theme song of the "Rowdy Scott"!! I loved Roddy so much, my anger quickly changed to absolute joy.
As outlandish & volatile as his persona was on camera, I would later find out first hand that Roddy was a kind, genuine soul. I had the opportunity to meet & talk with Roddy on two different occassions. He gave me words of encouragement when I was going through a difficult stretch, words that have stayed with me to this very day. In a surreal moment, we hugged as he said "I love you man". I'll never forget that moment. To meet and talk with someone I had so much respect for, who had risked everything to entertain not only myself, but millions of others, it was simply a dream come true. When I found out about Roddy's passing, I had a hard time believing it was real. He had overcome so much in his life: coming from a broken home, living on the streets as a kid, beating cancer - it just didn't make any sense. With the current Hulk Hogan scandal, Dusty Rhodes passing, and now this - it truly feels like the fond memories I had as a child of professional wrestling are disappearing before my very eyes.
Regardless, I am incredibly grateful for the time I had with this remarkable man. His in-ring work speaks for itself. His legacy will live on through his family, his fans, and through performers he inspired like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson & the UFC's "Rowdy" Rhonda Rousey. I can just envision Roddy walking through the "pearly gates" right now, delivering his famous line from the John Carpenter movie "They Live", "I have come here to chew bubble gum & kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum!"
Thank you Roddy, for everything. I'm gonna start taking your advise and "make my own luck".
I've never been one to shy away from difficult subject matter, so I feel I need to comment on this. Anyone who knows me knows I'm not only a huge pro wrestling fan, but also a lifelong fan of Hulk Hogan. The Hulk Hogan character was for myself, and for many kids growing up in single parent households in the 80's, very much a father figure to us all. That character gave us all something to believe in, something more to aspire to. Over the years, the man behind the character, Terry Bollea, has shown that he is a flawed human being, as we all are to a degree. Steroid use, issues with his family, the inconsistencies in his recollection of past events, and probably the most embarrassing being the sex tape. The same tape that apparently includes the racial comments leaked to the press recently that has caused WWE to completely distance themselves from Hulk Hogan. This whole situation is just sad. Hulk has meant so much to me and so many others. Being a Hulkamaniac transcends race or religion. Which is exactly why the racial comments made on that tape are so incredibly disappointing. I've met Hulk on three different occasions, the last time being with my girlfriends 12 year-old son Logan. He has always been incredibly kind to me, and he went out of his way to talk with Logan on a few occasions when we met him at the Arnold Expo earlier this year. Which meant a lot to me and my family. With all that being said, I can in no way condone the comments made on that tape. I grew up in an older household where occasional racial slurs were used. But I didn't end up adopting those same beliefs and behaviors. I am a more private person, without a huge amount of friends. Two of my absolute closest friends are African American. Because I truly don't give a damn what color their skin is, I care about the genuine human beings they really are. Everyone makes mistakes, says or does things they regret in their lives, and I'm no different. I can only hope that those disgusting comments made on that tape are not an indication of who Terry Bollea truly is. I will hope that time will heal wounds, and that the wonderful memories so many of us have had of Hulk Hogan won't be forever erased, replaced with thoughts of bigotry & racial ignorance. We are all connected, regardless of race, creed , color or religion. I can only hope that love for thy fellow man & woman will prevail in the end. I will forever be a fan of pro wrestling. And I will continue to hold out hope that Terry Bollea aka Hulk Hogan will find a way to truly redeem himself. So myself and so many others can be proud, and not absolutely ashamed, to once gain call themselves a Hulkamaniac.
