Good day to all. It's time to roll up your sleeves, roll up something else (Mike Z.) and enjoy yourselves while you read yet another interesting, thought provoking, awe inspiring column from the one and only, TRUE KING OF THE ELKS, Matt Dawgs Da Infamous Angry Young Man.

Today's lesson will contain some controversy. Originally I was going to sit here and beat a dead horse once again by giving yet another lecture on "Haters, Fake Posters, & People who don't mind their own business" However I unfortunately came across some sad news as I was all set to start typing away so I decided to hold off a few days and get my thoughts together before I put my foot in my mouth which I will probably do anyway.

As I sat at my computer and browsed the message boards for the latest "hate posts" I found out the news about the passing of Jerry "The Wall/Malice/Gigantes" Tuite. Now I did not know the man very well but I was fortunate enough to meet him a few years back (prior to my start at USA Pro) at a show in the Bronx, NY. He was scheduled to wrestle for a show ran by a promoter known as "Little Rob". It is known by many in the wrestling business, that Rob may possibly be the worst stiffer in Indy wrestling and that is including you know who. I do not mean to take this as a shot to Jac so don't take it as such because I am being serious. "Little Rob" has stiffed plenty of people far worse than Jac has ever stiffed people and at least Jac pays people at a later date. This guy hasn't paid anyone. Just ask Simon Diamond about "Little Rob" and see the reaction he gives. But that is another story for another day.

Anyway, back to my point, it was a little while after WCW was sold that this show took place. There were several former ECW and WCW people scheduled to be on the show. Jerry was still using the WALL gimmick and I do believe he had won his battle with his personal demons at the time. He looked to be in great shape and in good spirits. The reason this day sticks out to me is because most of the other workers on the show were pissed since they found out that the promoter wasn't going to pay them and decided not to work. All of them were going to stomp a mud hole in the promoter's ass except for one, Jerry "The Wall" Tuite. Sure he was pissed like the rest of them. But while everyone was focused on getting their money and kicking someone's ass, Jerry was chatting with fans, taking pictures with people, socializing with the lesser known workers and was very approachable. He was kind and funny and showed a lot of compassion for the fans, most of who were little kids as it took place in a community center, and he seemed to appreciate the fact that many remembered him from WCW and they were awed by his size and his politeness. He didn't have to do that. He could have been a jerk or a prick. Instead, he was a nice guy at a time that he had every right not to be considering he and several others traveled a long way to not work or not get paid.

What even sticks out after that is that several months ago, (and a year or two after the Bronx show) I bumped into the Wall a second time. It was after a USA Pro show where he wrestled Wayne The Convenience Store Guy. I was not working for USA pro yet however I was at the show at the Elks and afterwards, I went to Sage diner to grab a bite to eat. Sitting at the counter was Jerry (now wrestling as Malice) and I patted him on the back and said, "Good match, glad to see you are doing well with TNA, etc." He was waiting for his food and said, "Thanks." When he looked up, I was shocked to see that he remembered me. He asked how I was and if I was working for USA Pro and getting dates. I mentioned that I wasn't yet but I was planning on trying to go places soon. He wished me well and said to stay focused if I want it bad enough. Again, something he didn't have to say and he didn't have to be social as he looked tired and a bit cranky. But he was very kind at a time he didn't have to be.

RIP Jerry "The Wall" Tuite.

Now that I have gotten that little flashback out of the way, it is now time for the rant portion of my commentary. I AM GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF GOING ON 1WRESTLINGPOPUP.COM, WRESTLINGOBSERVER.COM, PWTORCH.COM, DOI'S MESSAGE BOARD AND READING OBITUARIES EVERY SINGLE WEEK. It is starting to sicken me. It is going to end? Probably not. I don't want to start any rumors or hurt anyone's family or friends but according to Wade Keller (who, like him or hate him, is one of the most respected and factual wrestling journalists out there) is reporting in this week's Torch newsletter that a few weeks ago, Jerry Tuite had fell off the wagon a few months ago in Japan but has been clean for about 6-8 weeks. We all know the story of Crash Holly by now as well as the documented pasts of Curt Henning, Rick Rude, Brian Pillman, Road Warrior Hawk, Big Dick Dudley, Miss Elizabeth and others. I hate to by unsympathetic to these people but sometimes you have to be. The reason, well Eddie Guerrero and Raven both said it recently, these people don't take account for their actions. Many of them blame wrestling for their way of living. That is a cop out. People make choices in life and they have to live with them. It isn't the wrestling business that drives them to drugs or to drinking. It isn't the wrestling lifestyles that drives them to the way of life they choose to lead. If that was the case, hundreds of other wrestlers would be dead as well. There are many wrestler out there who wrestle harder, get injured more and worse and travel a lot more under worse conditions who don't use drugs and don't live that life.

For Christ's sake, Ric Flair is a known party animal who gets smashed at bars in every state he is in. He has probably frequented more bars and clubs than anyone in the United States, wrestler or not. He isn't dead yet. Why? Cause he can control himself and knows that there is so much to live for. These people do what they do without any regards to who is in their lives, those who they are supposed role models to or to the people who employ them. A lot of people say Vince McMahon is a scumbag. But you know what? I say he is a smart human being. Why? Because he tries to lend help to those who need it. If they don't want it, well then go find work elsewhere. He isn't going to employee someone who is killing themselves on his watch. AND RIGHFULLY SO.

He put William Regal through rehab a few years ago and he wasn't even a WWF employee. He was released a few months before that. He put Eddie Guerrero through rehab. He offers help to those who need it or those who seek it, no questions asked. Now I am not saying that Indy promoters or any promoter should do that. But I am saying that those around people with problems should speak up. I do not believe for a second that Stevie Richards (who was living with Crash Holly at the time of his death) did not know that Crash was having problems. I even quoted Wade Keller above as stating that several of Jerry Tuite's colleagues made mention of a recent relapse of his problem. How come no one spoke to him? Why are promoters still booking him? Sure we can't make people get help. You have to help yourself. That is how addiction works. But I am sure you can give some advice or words of encouragement to help these people. If there are those who did, then at least you tried. But by booking people for shows when they are sick, you are only contributing to the problem. People will realize they have a problem when they hit rock bottom. When they have no income. When their money isn't coming in. When their life is crashing. That is the wake up call.

So for all the Jerry Tuite's, Crash Holly's, Hawk's and countless others who have documented problems and their friends, WAKE UP. Before one day, you can't.