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GUEST EDITORIAL
By Brian M. Kettler of Richmond, Ky.
PWTorch.com Reader

It seems like bashing Hulk Hogan has become the favorite pastime of everyone lately, and I'm personally sick and tired of hearing about it. When it comes to Nick Bollea, from everything I've read, it sounds like his eight month sentence was right in line with what another 17 year old kid might have got in the same situation. I won't talk much about Nick here, as I want to focus mainly on Hulk, and what I think a lot of people have wrong about him.
 
Why in the world has everyone made such a big deal out of Hulk wearing his doo-rag in the court room. Jim Ross said it was "distracting," and made it look like he was "performing," and still stuck in the '80s "brother." Last time I checked J.R., it's 2008 now, and Hogan still wears his trademark doo-rag on "American Gladiators," or "Hogan Knows Best," or just around in real life in general. It's his look, and he doesn't like showing off his bald head, which I think he has every right to do. I believe he wore the doo-rag back in 1994, for at least part of the Vince McMahon trial, and he has worn it to many funerals as well. I don't think it's disrespectful, as he always wears a solid black doo-rag, and black dress clothes for serious situations. Plus the court room had the option of asking him to remove it, and they chose not to. And for all we know, Hulk might have asked ahead of time if that was ok, and they gave him the green light. It's not a hat, so stop overthinking it people, let the man cover his bald head if he wants to.
 
After reading the rest of Jim Ross's most recent blog, it is clear he doesn't care much for Hulk anyway. No offense Wade Keller, but you and Bruce Mitchell are in the same boat as Jim Ross - you're huge Ric Flair fans, and have always looked at Hulk in a negative light because of their natural competition. Obviously, Jim Ross is a huge Steve Austin fan as well, with their friendship and all. I have no problem with any of this, as long as you keep your facts straight, and don't let your personal feelings get in the way of the truth. Now I'll admit I'm as big of a Hulk Hogan fan as there has ever been, but I try to always give credit where credit is due.
 
First off Jim Ross, no, Steve Austin does not hold every record WWE has ever set. To hear him talk about Austin the way he does, you'd think Austin was God, walking on the face of the earth for all of our enjoyment. Here is the truth people, Hulk Hogan has sold more tickets, put more butts in seats, and made more money for himself, and the wrestling business, than anyone in history, period! Sure, Ric Flair was a better in ring performer, and Hulk would tell you that himself, but this is still a business, and the name of the game is to make money, and Hulk would blow him out of the water in almost every category. Don't get me wrong, I love Ric Flair to death, but sorry guys, Hulk is the man!

As for Steve Austin, he was really only hot for about a six year stretch, Hulk has been in main events for 30 years. Hulk always jokes about that on radio interviews, but it's really the truth. Sure, that six year stretch stacks up well with what Hulk did, but it was only for six years. Austin might have had Hulk beat in merchandise, but he was in an era where every wrestler had ten t-shirts, not just one or two, like Hulk did back in the '80s. And actually, if you combine all the yellow and red t-shirts, plus all the NWO t-shirts that were sold, I'll bet that would stack up toe to toe with Austin anyday. Even Kevin Nash and Scott Hall have talked about how the NWO shirts were worn out in public all the time, much more than the Austin t-shirts. They said you could go to any bar you wanted to in 1997, and you would see NWO t-shirts everywhere, but very few Austin shirts.
 
As for Wade and Bruce here at The Torch, it seems like you guys have the same mind set that a lot of the so called "smart marks" have, and that is, "if you really know and understand about the wrestling business, Ric Flair is the man, not Hulk Hogan." Again, I have no problem with this if that's how you feel, as clearly Flair was better than Hulk as an in-ring worker, and his interviews had more of an adult content to them. But I'm tired of this, Hogan was for the "kids," and Flair was for the "real" wrestling fans attitude. Again, what makes professional wrestling so great, is the fact that you can get over with the crowd in any way possible. You can be a great athlete, 7 feet tall, 500 lbs, have long hair, have big muscles, have great interviews, or any number of other qualities. Hogan was Superman come to life, and did so better than anyone in the history of the business. He was larger than life, and still is to this day. He simply made more money, and entertained more fans for the longest time period, than any other wrestler who's ever lived, and that is the truth.
 
Now onto some more recent Hogan news. This stuff about him putting sun tan lotion on Brooke, are you serious? This just shows how screwed up and perverted the media is today, by taking a one second clip of him putting lotion on her leg, and trying to turn it into some weird father/daughter story. Anyone who would even think about that type stuff, or read anything into that, has clearly got some problems of their own. Again people, please let the man live his life, and stop trying to read something into every little thing he does. And no, his new girlfriend doesn't look like Brooke, she looks like Linda. Hulk likes blondes with big boobs, nothing wrong with that. 
 
The Bollea family obviously are going through some tough times right now, and I wish them all the best. Hulk may not be the perfect father, but try putting yourself into his shoes, and see if you would do much better. I'm sure some of you think you would, but that's easier said than done. And for all you "I'm a real wrestling fan, and I'm too mature to praise Hulk Hogan" type fans out there, please stop giving into peer pressure, and learn to tell the truth. Every damn one of you have cupped your hand to your ear, or flexed in the mirror, and deep down know that Hulk Hogan is, was, and will always be the man!

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