Federal Government, media, steriods, and pro wrestling?

[brewcrewreview]

My question is why is the federal government so hell bent on going after steriods especially in sports and professional wrestling? Professional wrestling is ENTERTAINMENT and not a sport. If the federal government wants to clean up professional wrestling, why doesn't it stay consistent and go after all forms of entertainment? We just had the lead singer of Quiet Riot die of a cocaine overdose and hard drug use is abundant in all kinds of music, even Britney Spears. What about drug use for actors, actresses, and other celebrities? I'm sure the feds could walk on Willie Nelson's and Snoop Dogg's tour buses anytime and find pot. I'm sure there are many actors who take steriods and HGH for appearance reasons as well. Stallone was caught with possession of HGH not too long ago in a foreign country.

Why are professional wrestlers crucified while the Lohans, Hiltons, and Spears being able to get away with anything and everything?

Also, where is the positive media coverage on all of the good things that the WWE and its wrestlers do for charities, including their recent annual trip around Christmas time to Iraq to perform for the soldiers? Only the bad is reported in professional wrestling, yet other forms of entertainment have been getting away with anything and everything since the beginning of time.

[Fatter than Joey]

My question is why is the federal government so hell bent on going after steriods especially in sports and professional wrestling? Professional wrestling is ENTERTAINMENT and not a sport.

 

With regard to steroids, and probably all illegal narcotics wrestling probably is the biggest culprit.

 

If the federal government wants to clean up professional wrestling, why doesn't it stay consistent and go after all forms of entertainment?

 

Because the 2 things are independent of each other. Cleaning up other facets of entertainment, does nothing to clean up/regulate wrestling.

 

Professional wrestling is ENTERTAINMENT and not a sport.

 

This seems like a fine hair to split -- Wrestlers have to be sanctioned in states in order to perform. It really has nothing to do with the pre-ordained nature of outcomes, rather the risk that the performers take.

 

We just had the lead singer of Quiet Riot die of a cocaine overdose and hard drug use is abundant in all kinds of music

 

Cocaine use is illegal.

 

I'm sure the feds could walk on Willie Nelson's and Snoop Dogg's tour buses anytime and find pot

 

Sure -- pot though is legal in some states to possess in certain quantities -- you really cannot compare the reefer to steroids.

 

Why are professional wrestlers crucified while the Lohans, Hiltons, and Spears being able to get away with anything and everything?

 

Spears lost her children -- Paris Hilton got a pretty stiff penalty for a DUI -- Lohan has had all sorts of legal troubles.

 

Only the bad is reported in professional wrestling, yet other forms of entertainment have been getting away with anything and everything since the beginning of time.

 

Generally speaking -- no one cares about professional wrestling or even the entertainment industry at large. The only things that are going to make mainstream news is 30 year old dudes dying and/or murdering their wife and son. This happens in the other facets of entertainment as well. No one cares about Robert Blake up until he kills someone. Whenever a young celebrity dies it gets blown way out of proportion -- I am amazed that you think that wrestling is not representative of the entertainment industry as a whole.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I think professional wrestling, and unfortunately, its fans, carries a negative stigma with national, mainstream media. Its a situation similar to Nascar. Many people hold contempt for entertainment that they deem "unworthy" of their support.

 

The difference between the negativity surrounding steroids and professional athletes compared to narcotics and professional entertainers is that the steroids help a professional athlete perform what he is getting paid to do at a higher rate. I doubt that cocaine helps one act or sing better, but steroids do help baseball players and professional wrestlers move ahead in the sport.

 

Trust me, it bugs the heck out of me when I see these new age "divas" get caught for drugs and other indiscretions, too. Unfortunately, money talks in this society, and these stars have a lot of it.

 

Honestly, I think the heads of the major media outlets are downright embarrased that professional wrestling is popular in this country. I believe they think it makes the U.S. look like Hickville, USA. Give it a little more time, and you'll see Nascar attacked, too. Unfortunately, you'll never see the government come down on Hollywood. Pro sports are big, but it's pocket change compared to the bucks Hollywood brings in.

[alorrigan]

Why should we be embarrassed? Countries like Mexico and Japan and to a lesser extent Canada and England have long traditions of pro wrestling. I think a lot has to do with Vince McMahon has made it but it's not like it's something new to the world.

[brewcrewreview]

Joey,

I think your perceptions of wrestling are different from reality kind of like with poker.

 

First you said, "With regard to steroids, and probably all illegal narcotics wrestling probably is the biggest culprit. "

 

I doubt this. The Mitchell report will reveal tons of names of steroids in baseball. Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti (guys with first hand knowledge) say easily over half of baseball players were on steriods. This already puts the number higher than wrestlers. As far as wrestlers being the highest users of illegal narcotics, how do you know this? Just your perception I guess. I guarantee more NBA players use weed over wrestlers and no one would question that.

 

Then you say cocaine is illegal. Thanks for proving my point. Tons of actors, actresses, musicians, and other entertainers have had numerous reports on their cocaine use. Kevin Dubrow just died from it. Yet Congress is attacking baseball and professional wrestling only. Why? Your point proved mine.

 

Then you say, "Sure -- pot though is legal in some states to possess in certain quantities -- you really cannot compare the reefer to steroids."

I'm sure Willie, Snoop, and others do not get rid of their pot on their busses when they travel to states that forbid it. I also am sure they have more pot on them then what states that do allow it allow them to have. Also, why can't I compare pot to steriods, they are both illegal substances? Again, why attack baseball and wrestling but not other forms of entertainment?

 

 

 

Then you say, "Spears lost her children -- Paris Hilton got a pretty stiff penalty for a DUI -- Lohan has had all sorts of legal troubles."

 

Spears lost her kids, obviously she doesn't care. She is still doing the same stuff yet I don't see the government intervene. Lohan served less than an hour in jail, tons of legal problems there (lol). And how much time did Paris spend in jail? Less than a week. And that was only after the judge forced her to come back after a public outcry. Hardly a "pretty stiff penalty", to use your own words. Again, I don't see Congress going after these people.

 

And your last, and probably most uninformed comment, "Generally speaking -- no one cares about professional wrestling or even the entertainment industry at large."

Do you realize that WWE has had the top ten cable programming for the past ten years? Do you realize that WWE programming rating's are higher than the BNBA and MLB in general? Do you realize that WWE has attendance records set in many buildings all around the world? Do you realize the tens of millions of dollars that the WWE does in merchandise sales per year. Watch kids walk around in a school, mall, or playground and you will see them wearing more WWE clothing than any other sport. Do you see the tens of millions of dollars the WWE generates in pay per view sales in a year? Do you know that WWE Raw, which just celebrated it's fifteenth anniversary this week, is the longest running television program of ALL time?

Hard to say that "generally speaking, no one cares about professional wrestling." As far as the entertainment industry that "generally speaking--no one cares about." Movie and concert tickets are at an all time high in revenue generated. Many people still do care.

[Fatter than Joey]

I think your perceptions of wrestling are different from reality kind of like with poker.

 

I will be sure to update my resume again -- I hope I remain employable.

 

Jose Canseco and Ken Caminiti (guys with first hand knowledge) say easily over half of baseball players were on steroids.

 

Baseball has a steroid problem. It needs regulation and resolution, as does wrestling. Back in 94-95 Hulk Hogan testified in court about the rampant use of steroids. No matter how you slice it wrestling's steroid problem is a very significant one.

 

As far as wrestlers being the highest users of illegal narcotics, how do you know this? Just your perception I guess.

 

The Smoking Gun is wrestling's obituary column.

 

I guarantee more NBA players use weed over wrestlers and no one would question that.

 

The NBA has testing and rules in place. If players are caught they are punished.

 

Then you say cocaine is illegal. Thanks for proving my point.... Yet Congress is attacking baseball and professional wrestling only. Why? Your point proved mine.

 

You seem to fail to understand the function of Congress. Congress is a legislative body -- not federal prosecutors. Congress already has laws on the books concerning cocaine, it is up to police agencies and prosecutors to enforce the laws. What congress is trying to do with MLB and Wrestling is regulate the steroid use in those industries. Both MLB and wrestling have done a woeful job testing and restricting the use of steroids, therefore Congress is going to create laws, so police agencies and prosecutors can enforce the regulation of those industries. In short congress wants to make MLB and wrestling responsible for steroid use.

 

Also, why can't I compare pot to steriods, they are both illegal substances? Again, why attack baseball and wrestling but not other forms of entertainment?

 

Smoking the reefer doesn't help job performance in wrestling/baseball. However there may be a temptation for sports owners to look the other way or in fact encourage steroid use.

 

Hollywood has a ton of regulations imposed on it by congress.

 

Spears lost her kids, obviously she doesn't care. She is still doing the same stuff yet I don't see the government intervene

 

The government took her kids-- which seemed like an appropriate action for her offenses -- I am not sure what you think should happen, and again congress just can't go after Brittney Spears -- there are already laws in place that are being enforced.

 

Do you realize that WWE has had the top ten cable programming for the past ten years? Do you realize that WWE programming rating's are higher than the BNBA and MLB in general? Do you realize that WWE has attendance records set in many buildings all around the world?

 

Mainstream media does not care about wrestling -- Wrestling has it's hardcore fans for sure, but so does huffing model glue. The only time wrestling is going to hit the main stream media is when a wrestler dies at the age of 32, or murders his wife/son. The same is true for the entertainment industry -- No one cares about Robert Blake or Dana Plato until they kill someone or die young. Wrestling does not generate "news", until something tragic happens.

 

Movie and concert tickets are at an all time high in revenue generated. Many people still do care.

 

Let's not confuse "wanting to be entertained" with "caring about the industry".

[radman12484]

The Media is garbage. Media only goes after things that will give you ratings. As sick as this world is, people dieing gives them ratings. That is way when you watch the news at night, some type of killing or death is always first. You don't hear about, the good right off the bat. The media is about ratings.

 

The Federal Government is doing a good thing by getting involved in the WWE and MLB. Granted there are other sports and things they should be also getting into. You need to start out at the top where it is happening, and where you hear about it first. You see actors bulk up for big roles all the time. And you cannot tell me Will Smith didn't use some type of roid for his role in Ali. It's just the way the entertainment industry works.

[brewcrewreview]

I agree baseball and wrestling have a steriod problem. However many other forms of entertainment have drug problems also but no one wants to regulate them. That's my whole point of the thread.

The Smoking Gun reports on many celebrity mishaps. It doesn't just focus on wrestlers.

You are telling me the NBA players are weed free now? Plus you never answered my question if you really think there are more wrestlers than NBA players smoking weed. The WWE has testing programs in place and they suspended and fired many offenders of the program. You also ignored my points on Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg.

I understand Congress. Congress is having various hearings on drug use in baseball and wrestling. Why not have hearings against other forms of entertainment? Again, this is my point.

What regulations has Congress imposed on Hollywood and its performers?

Yes, the government has taken Britney's kids, but have they done any investigations on her supposed illegal substance abuse? Again, this is my point. Also, I liked how you conviently abondoned your viewpoints on Hilton and Lohan, especially Paris' "pretty stiff penalty for a DUI". Don't forget she also spent her time away from the hardened convicts, unlike you or me would have had to.

Lastly, you said in your original post that, "generally speaking, no one cares about professional wrestling." When quickly proven wrong,y ou conviently switched it to the mainstream media not caring. Interesting. By the way, thousands of more people care about Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and The Undertaker than they do about Robert Blake and Dana Plato.

My main point is I don't like Congress grandstanding and witchhunting baseball and wrestling when the same problems are existing in possibly even a worse fashion in Hollywood, music, and other forms of entertainment.

[radman12484]

I agree baseball and wrestling have a steriod problem. However many other forms of entertainment have drug problems also but no one wants to regulate them. That's my whole point of the thread.

The Smoking Gun reports on many celebrity mishaps. It doesn't just focus on wrestlers.

You are telling me the NBA players are weed free now? Plus you never answered my question if you really think there are more wrestlers than NBA players smoking weed. The WWE has testing programs in place and they suspended and fired many offenders of the program. You also ignored my points on Willie Nelson and Snoop Dogg.

I understand Congress. Congress is having various hearings on drug use in baseball and wrestling. Why not have hearings against other forms of entertainment? Again, this is my point.

What regulations has Congress imposed on Hollywood and its performers?

Yes, the government has taken Britney's kids, but have they done any investigations on her supposed illegal substance abuse? Again, this is my point. Also, I liked how you conviently abondoned your viewpoints on Hilton and Lohan, especially Paris' "pretty stiff penalty for a DUI". Don't forget she also spent her time away from the hardened convicts, unlike you or me would have had to.

Lastly, you said in your original post that, "generally speaking, no one cares about professional wrestling." When quickly proven wrong,y ou conviently switched it to the mainstream media not caring. Interesting. By the way, thousands of more people care about Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and The Undertaker than they do about Robert Blake and Dana Plato.

My main point is I don't like Congress grandstanding and witchhunting baseball and wrestling when the same problems are existing in possibly even a worse fashion in Hollywood, music, and other forms of entertainment.

 

I dont know how to do the quotes, but the part about weed. If you are just saying the WWE over the NBA? Then no, there is less WWE wrestlers using weed then the NBA only because theres more NBA players then WWE wrestling. Now if you are saying wrestlers in general, then I would say theres more wrestlers using weed the NBA players.

[brewcrewreview]

I don't know how to do the quotes either, but percentage wise, I would bet that more NBA players smoke the funky green over wrestlers, and I've been on a great roll in betting as of late.

The bottom line is that I don't care about that anyways. What I do care about is the singling out of baseball and professional wrestling over all of the other forms of entertainment.

[Point Beer Is Best]

Do you know that WWE Raw, which just celebrated it's fifteenth anniversary this week, is the longest running television program of ALL time?

There are many of your opinions that I disagree with in this thread, so I'll just point out where you have your facts wrong. I believe what you meant is the WWE Raw is the longest running cable program of all time. The Simpson, 60 Minutes, and Meet the Press have all been on much, much longer.

 

I guess I'm not sure what you want done. You're really just griping about the situation and not putting forth any solutions. Tons of people in bands are drug users - what do you propose we do about it? Go after the record companies for not cracking down on them? Have the police rummage through all their tour buses? Besides, have you heard any of Aerosmith's stuff since they've been clean? It's awful.

[brewcrewreview]

Point,

Thank you for correcting me on my error about Monday Night Raw. I was wrong, but it is a cable record. I'll admit when I'm wrong. However, it being on for fifteen years and generating consistent top ten cable ratings every week (and for a long time in first place) shows that a lot of people do care about professional wrestling.

You are also correct that I am griping. I am upset that two things I really enjoy are getting singled out and getting a bad rap when many other industries are doing the same thing and probably doing it worse, everyone knows it, and nothing is being done. Maybe musicians, actors, and actresses should be licensed and regulated to be fair. Although my personal belief is for the government to stay out of everyone's business, so I wish they would go away from baseball, wrestling, and everything. I just hate the inconsistency and hypocrisy of it all.

I also enjoy and agree with your point about Aerosmith.

The bottom line is I am ranting and I wish the government would stay out of baseball's and wrestling's business and quit grandstanding. Deep down they could really care less. They are just doing this to make them look good.

[Fatter than Joey]

The Smoking Gun reports on many celebrity mishaps. It doesn't just focus on wrestlers.

 

I was not referring to the actual website -- rather the fact that all the dead wrestlers point to a drug abuse problem.

 

I agree baseball and wrestling have a steriod problem.

 

Awesome, I am glad you have come around so that we are on the same page.

 

You are telling me the NBA players are weed free now?

 

Nope -- but there is a system in place that tries to address/discourages drug use, rather than Vince McMahon encouraging it.

 

Plus you never answered my question if you really think there are more wrestlers than NBA players smoking weed.

 

I think there are more wrestlers abusing any drugs than NBA players

 

I understand Congress.

 

I didn't pick up on that vibe.

 

Why not have hearings against other forms of entertainment?

 

I agree wholeheartedly. Here would be my proposed docket.

 

1.) Why is Kevin Costner still making movies?

2.) Enough with the family reality shows.

3.) Make sure the Eagles never reunite again.

4.) End all "Morning Zoo's".

 

Yes, the government has taken Britney's kids, but have they done any investigations on her supposed illegal substance abuse?

 

Why in the hell would congress investigate Brittney Spears drug use? -- that would be a police issue.

 

Also, I liked how you conviently abondoned your viewpoints on Hilton and Lohan, especially Paris' "pretty stiff penalty for a DUI"

 

Paris Hilton, in jail, pretty stiff. -- I could see it. --- Honestly I thought her penalty was excessive.

 

Lastly, you said in your original post that, "generally speaking, no one cares about professional wrestling." When quickly proven wrong, you conviently switched it to the mainstream media not caring.

 

You didn't prove anything -- you were moaning about how wrestling coverage is negative. Again, the population on a whole does not give a hoot about wrestling. I am not sure what the media or the average person is supposed to care about -- Predetermined matches? probably not. The only way a wrestler is going to get any exposure is when they die young or murder somebody.

 

By the way, thousands of more people care about Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and The Undertaker than they do about Robert Blake and Dana Plato.

 

Way more people know about Robert Blake than John Cena.

 

My main point is I don't like Congress grandstanding and witchhunting baseball and wrestling when the same problems are existing in possibly even a worse fashion in Hollywood, music, and other forms of entertainment.

 

There is far less steroid abuse in Hollywood.

[brettac1]

There is far less steroid abuse in Hollywood.

 

Nor is there a governing body for Hollywood that has an anti-trust exemption with the government and someone to actually hold accountable.