| Zeeboe |
05-28-2009 10:07 PM |
Heartbreak and Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story
I'm a huge Bret Hart fan who had just got done reading Bret's book before reading Shawn's. I was debating if I should even read his bio. At first, I wasn't going to, but I decided to give the Devil his due. I like to think of myself as a highly open-minded person who always listens to both sides in a debate because I realize it takes two to tango.
So I went into reading Shawn Michaels book expecting to hate him even more after I was done. However, as I read Shawn's book, I found myself being able to relate to him more then I thought. Shawn was a shy kid who was a slow learner, and had a weird name that the other kids in school made fun of. Shawn was a fighter who always defended his name whenever kids would make fun of him however. Shawn had very low self-confidence, and often did a good job of acting like it didn't bother him if people didn't like him, but it really did. Shawn also would allow people to push him around so many times before finally taking the gloves off, and let his enemies know enough was enough. Shawn also admits that there are times when he needed the reassurance of others. Shawn claims to have been a victim of gossip and lies through out his wrestling career. Shawn says he has always ignored the nonsense and would often play along to the part that his co-workers had written for him, and go in the dressing room, acting exactly how the other wrestlers thought he was, and behaved highly sarcastically.
I can literally relate to all of the above issues Shawn has faced in his life, and I found Shawn's book to very comforting, especially since I was going through some tough times at my job because of gossip and lies, and as I read about his own problems, it was almost like he was there with me, offering me advice, which was helpful and consoling. But this isn't about me. I just felt that it needed to be said that I did feel kinship with him through out the book.
Now I don't think Shawn was totally honest in his book. For example, he never talked much about his partying days much, or the women he slept around with, and I think it's common knowledge that Shawn partyed hard in his younger days. Infact, I think all wrestlers had groupies, or ring rats as they call them in the wrestling business, and Shawn never admitted much to the things he's done like Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, and Bret Hart did admit to doing in their books. Now I'm not saying this is true, but there have been rumors that besides being a liar, Shawn Michaels knows how to manipulate people. Bret claims he did it to him, and he did the same to Owen too, and at times, I felt like Shawn was manipulating the readers as well. Now I don't think Shawn should have told Bret to get out of the ring in such a rude way at Wrestlemania 12 after their match, and rather's Shawn's injury before Wrestlemania 13 was real or not is up to debate, but I honestly think he was lying. Why? Because he's Shawn Michaels. Shawn also failed to mention in his book that he once went on live TV, and called Bret a "mark", and then not long after, Shawn did a "shoot interview" on Bret where he claimed all Bret cared about was money, and he made all sorts of other very disrespectful comments.
After reading Shawn's book, I want to like Shawn. He's a great wrestler, and he seems like a nice guy, but all the Bret Hart stuff makes it impossible for me to have any respect for Shawn Michaels. He was wrong implying that Bret was cheating on his wife with Sunny. That caused problems within the Hart family. It wasn't funny at all, and I know Shawn didn't have a family at the time, but how would he feel if someone came along and tried to dispute the peace among his family? When Bret and Shawn fought for real in the locker room, Bret was right to defend his family honor. And heck, Shawn in my view, provoked the fight. Bret wanted to talk to Shawn, and Shawn should have been mature, and talked to him instead of cussing him out. In the end, no matter what was said and done between Bret and Shawn, Shawn Michaels was wrong for what he did to Bret and I found Shawn's lack of compassion towards Bret Hart absolutely disgusting. And no matter what anyone thinks of Bret, Bret NEVER crossed the like Shawn did, which Shawn actually did twice. First, when he brought Bret's family into it, and then when he screwed him out of the title.
I'm not a Christian, but I think it's great Shawn found the balance he needed in his life. I also think he cares about his family, and fans, and I'm sure he's a polite person, but screwing Bret over was cowardly and wrong, and then him hiding behind Triple H and the Harris Brothers was more cowardly. Shawn Michaels was a liar, and a coward, and until he apologizes to Bret Hart and can acknowledge that what he did was wrong, this fan will never forgive him. I may have a few things in common with Shawn Michaels, but that doesn't matter. Shawn Michaels is a liar and a coward.
In closing, Bret Hart's book will always find itself among my collection of books and films on my big book shelf.....but Shawn Michaels book....will find itself at the bottom of my closet.....maybe I'll use it to hold the bathroom door open from time to time.....
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