The Three Count: Shootin’ Straight From The Heart

3/13/08
By Timothy “Timmy” Kemp
Critic Collunmist

Many of you who have read my columns in the past know about my love for the wrestling industry. Ever since I was five years old, I have been a fan of the incredible performers who put their bodies at risk 365 days a year. It is the only sport in the world that has no off season, and for that I have tremendous respect for them. It is the reason why I have chosen to have my own column in The Critic, because I feel that professional wrestling does not get enough positive recognition from the media or traditional sports fans.

Anyone who is not a fan themselves, and is on the outside looking into the wrestling world, would probably say that “Wrestling is nothing more than bunch of ‘roided up junkies who are bad actors and do fake stuff.”

Anyone who has that mindset, I am hear to tell you that you are sadly mistaken. Let me ask one question of you: have you ever actually watched a complete wrestling match from beginning to end, if not an entire show? Because I guarantee you that if you had, your perception would be far different. If you would put your opinion in the back burner and tune in week after week, you would have a greater respect for today’s stars.

One reason that a lot of traditional sports fans don’t respect professional wrestling is that it is not mentioned on SportsCenter, which for the life of me I cannot figure out why. If your reasoning is because, “Wrestling is not a legitimate sport because it has predetermined outcomes,” to me that is just not a good enough explanation. I know that ESPN used to broadcast the American Wrestling Association, (AWA), back in the 1980s and early ‘90s, but since then has distanced themselves from the entire business. I don’t understand why professional wrestling should have to take a backseat to poker tournaments and hot dog eating contests. Do people actually consider those games to be more of a sport, and more athletic, than wrestling? I wonder what is next; is ESPN going to broadcast a monopoly tournament on their network? If they really wanted to, they could easily report the current news of the wrestling industry, but they still have that stigma, which a lot of people in society still have.

As you can see, this is why I choose to write about wrestling. If I can change just a few people into wrestling fans, I will feel like a success. To be honest I want to hear your opinion about what I have written in this article. Throughout the next week, please e-mail me at the address listed below. I will address everyone’s opinion in my next article. I am a very passionate fan that wants to see wrestling be free of the negativity that seems to follow it.

Next Week’s Column – I will be discussing the rise and fall of the wrestling organization that used to be apart of Lyndon State College.