In a sport/business full of slime balls and low life’s Doug was a true diamond in the rough. He was probably one of the few genuine people you will find in wrestling. He greeted everyone with a smile and treated everyone with nothing but the utmost respect. I can’t put into words what a truly great man Doug was. None of the words would even do him justice. In a business/sport where people have a laundry list of people they don’t like or hate, you’d be hard pressed to find even one that would have anything negative to say about Doug!

The last time I saw Doug I believe was while filming the “Model Behavior” DVD with Stiff Shots Robert Payes. It was a photo shoot that RF was filming to turn into the DVD. Doug was one of the first people on set that day (as was I) and we were close to the last to leave also. I remember how odd it was to me to have still shots taken of me while being filmed. If you watched the film, I pretty much spend my shoot having my pictures taken and goofing off with Doug. Having Doug there just made me feel a lot better about the situation. Made it feel less odd. Besides having Doug there was kind of just like hanging out with one of your buddies while he filmed you doing retarded stuff.

Another fond memory I have of Doug was when he was helping book for PWU. He had come up with this angle involving Sumie and me that he really wanted to do. I was just ring announcing at the time and it would have been an angle that would have thrust me into a more permanent wrestling position. We took the first step in the angle at one show and at the next show, Doug was no longer helping. The angle had gotten scrapped. However Doug then started helping Elite. He then talked to me about still doing the angle, just over at Elite. I agreed however the next Elite show I had a prior commitment and couldn’t make it. Doug and me said we’d eventually get it done. The angle was never done. Elite ran another show or two after that, show’s I couldn’t make, and then stopped running. It meant a lot to me that Doug thought of me for the spot. Especially since it was an angle he could have actually run with Sumie and anyone else. But he seemed determined to give it to me. In hindsight that was just Doug. He was loyal and honest. There wasn’t a shady or slimy thing about him.

There are a laundry list of people I could think about that probably deserve to be taken off this planet before Doug did! I guess it is true what they say, that only the good die young. Doug you will be missed beyond belief and knowing that I will never arrive at a show with the surprise that you are there taping it leaves me feeling like I’ve just been hit in the stomach with a baseball bat. This business is better for having had Doug in it and I am a better person for having known him. My prayers and condolences go out to his family and friends. RIP Doug!