The following story was inspired by my friend Danae.
It is dedicated to women everywhere who suffer at the
hands of inhumanity and to my pro wrestler
friend- Jazzy.

Author's Note: The title of  this story is the title
of Chyna's New York Times best selling book.

IF THEY ONLY KNEW

By Peter Vuono
    On  April 20, 2016 the greatest female wrestling star of all time, Chyna, was found dead in her Redondo Beach California home. One of my friends told me that she had never hear of Chyna(whose real name was Joan Marie Laurer) and that is perfectly normal as most people do not follow wrestling. In fact, if I had told my friend that this was a top pro wrestler, college grad, Peace Corps volunteer, violin and cello player, candidate for the FBI rtaining school  and someone who was fluent in at least 4 languages, one would think that this was a renaissance woman and indeed she was. Her only problem was that her path was made next to impossible by the evil and inhumanity that often surrounded her.
   Joan was born on 12/27/70 in Rochester New York. Her biological father was  an alcoholic and her parents divorced when she was 4 years old. She would then suffer having 2 stepfathers and one stepmother.
In Penfield High School in New York she excelled in the violin and cello. She also joined the ROTC as a Cadet and worked out hard in the gym. Things started to look up until she suffered both physically and emotionally. Joan had an ovarian tumor removed and in the latter part of her high school career she was sexually abused by a much older teacher. Life would not get any easier.
  She earned a degree from the University of Tampa with a degree in Spanish Literature. She was fluent in Spanish, French, German and later in life she would teach English to Japanese citizens in Japan. While attending the U. of Tampa she was raped at a party by two men. They were never prosecuted and Joan moved on hoping to work for the FBI as a language specialist.She decided to serve in the Peace Corps and was sent to Guatemala.
  She continued to body build and went into many fitness contests. Unfortunately because of her size,(5'10"- 180lbs), she didn't do well. Undaunted, she moved to New Hampshire and commuted south to Malden Mas. to train under the auspices of Walter"Killer" Kowalski as a pro wrestler.
  After working the independents Joan was sought after by Ted turner's WCW. As a courtesy, and to further her career, Walter Kowalski called Shane McMahon and recommended that Shane NOT let this prospect go unnoticed. Shane hired her and Chyna was born. She would be a top male category number one contender and defeated some of the most immortal names in pro wrestling. She was easily the most dominant female figure to ever appear in the ring.
  Many think that a love triangle caused the release of Chyna from the WWE. Only those involved know for sure. However one thing that is certain is that Joan's life started to head in a downward spiral. After writing a very successful book(If They Only Knew), Joan started to suffer from depression and drug addiction.
  On her birthday in 2008 she was hospitalized after cutting her wrists. Also in Sept of 2010  she was hospitalized again for an accidental overdose of of sleeping pills. She would enlist in reality rehab shows and tried to keep her life and health together. Out of necessity she made a total of approx six adult movies and after a very brief comeback in TNA wrestling she lived a quiet private life battling her depression.
  In August of 1977, Groucho Marx, one of the greatest comedians of all time passed on. His life and struggles went completely unnoticed due to the fact that Elvis passed the same week. With Joan Laurer, history repeats itself with the untimely passing of music legend Prince passing one day after. This serves only to compound  her tragedy as Chyna's life mirrors all the evil and exploitation that is perpetrated on woman by men and go practically unnoticed.
  In honor of her and all the other women who have suffered similar fates at the hands of others, we must not forget Joan's plight and become more proactive in pointing out these tragedies. Joan's life was a pastiche of all that can happen to a woman due to man's inhumanity. In her words,"If they only knew".

  

Dedicated to my friends, Bev, Mike and Marie

STEROIDS, ALCOHOL AND GOD

By Peter Vuono

     Steroids ,Alcohol and God is the subtitle of an amazing book written by NFL great Tony Mandarich entitled-"My dirty Little Secrets- Steroids Alcohol and God". In 1957, after living under an oppressive communist regime, Tony's parents fled Yugoslavia after their infant daughter perished from malnutrition. They settled in Ontario and had two sons- John and Tony. Both boys would excel in football. The boys moved to Ohio so that Tony could play for an American high school. His talent grew along with enormous size. Tony was given a scholarship to Michigan State and grew to a height of 6'6' st 315lbs. He became an all American and was put on the front cover of Sports Illustrated in April of 1989 with the caption-"The Incredible Bulk"
   He was the second round draft pick behind Troy Aikman and in front of Barry Sanders. Tony was brash , outspoken and fearless. He intended to destroy all opponents who would dare challenge his pass or running block. He was easily the strongest man on the team with a 535 bench press. However, this strength was partially fueled by the use of anabloic steroids. Tony had ingenious ways to beat drug testing. Unfortunately, testing in the NFL was random and he knew that when he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, he would have to get off permanently. He would have to work harder and this would lead to a far worse addiction.
   Somewhere along the line, Tony took up drinking. He pretty much had it under control until he started to experience pain in his furious, off-season workouts. At the recommendation of a trainer, in order to kill pain, Tony started injecting the pain killer Stadol. It got to a point where he injected it 5 times per day! It didn't stop there, however as Tony exacerbated his condition with a concoction in pill form known as Fiorinal #3. This is a combination of codeine, barbiturates and caffeine. For the entire 4 years he played for Green Bay, Tony was high each and every day at a salary of 4.4 million.
  To make matters worse, he met and married an addict. Even on his wedding day, he injected Stadol moments before he took his vows. Soon after, his daughter Holly was born and she would spend the first 4 years of her life living with addicted parents. Tony, as one would imagine played terribly for Green Bay and was released.
   He would now live his life pursuing every connection he had to get drugs. He would sometimes drive 7 hours one way to get a prescription from a contact. Even when his brother was hospitalized and dying, Tony would look at the Morphine drip and was authentically tempted to pull the drip out, inject himself and return the drip before the nurse came in!! After his bother's death, tony was confronted by his friend and neighbor John. John, in a mini-intervention convinced Tony and his wife Amber to go to rehab.
  While in rehab counseling, Tony told the members of the group, that he couldn't wait to go home and have pizza and beer with his pals. They laughed him to scorn! He was told that he had to stay off everything and for good. He was ordered, upon his release to go to AA 90 times in 90 days. It was the beginning of a new life.
  After some soul searching, Tony decided that he would once again pursue his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL. He would do it, this time, however. clean. He trained with a vengeance with weights and drills. He went from 266lbs to a clean and solid 325! He  was ready.
  His old offensive line coach, Lindy Infante was now the head coach of the Colts. Tony was tested and given a chance to make the team which he did! This was a milestone for Tony. He did it clean and sober. He became the strongest man on the Indianapolis Colts clean with a 435 bench press and a 680 squat. He went from a year's contract to a 3 year contract at one million dollars a year. Today, he lives with his wife and 4 children in Arizona and happily runs a website business. In a 13 year period, he spoke 100 times at AA meetings and continues to go.
  Tony's story is not just for the addicted or for addicts and drinkers. It's for all of us. To me the most important  line in Tony's book is on P. 139 where he says "God does allow do-overs!" This is a message for us all. Some of us will fail a test, or a class, or a marriage or a relationship or at a job or even a dream. However, if I can paraphrase Bruce Lee, Tony is telling us that if we fall down 9 times, we must get up ten times. Tony got up and achieved the goal he dreamed of. His football career will be forgotten by most but I'm hoping that if you read his book or this blog, that his message will live on. God does allow do-overs!


AUTHOR'S NOTE: This book can easily be found on line. It's VERY inexpensive and should be read by everyone.

WHO BETTER THAN KANYON ?

By Peter Vuono

For Paul and Brian

     Back in the early 1990's one of the most popular and certainly most creative pro wrestlers was Chris Klucsaritis who later changed his name to Chris Kanyon.  The six foot 4 inch Kanyon, who grew up in Sunnyside Queens was a superlative athlete who excelled in floor hockey, basketball, baseball and rugby. He graduated from the Univ. of Buffalo with a degree in physical therapy and because of his huge frame, he moonlighted from his PT job to pro wrestling having started approx. in 1992.
     Kanyon was very creative and always seemed to have an amusing gimmick. Sometimes he'd enter the ring with a mask or as a hockey player or as a construction worker. One time, after making the big leagues, he went into the ring imitating Boy George and sang "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" to the Undertaker. Of, course, after his rendition, he was attacked by the Undertaker.This was an extremely controversial match. Kanyon was hit with many head shots with a chair. Some think it was just part of the game. Others think it was done out of malice. Perhaps his best gimmick was to take the microphone and rhetorically scream at the audience,"Who better than Kanyon?!". To which he would receive incredible anger(or "heat" in the wrestling vernacular) from the audience who would scream  back "Everybody!".
     Chris had two secrets, however, which would not be revealed until years later. He suffered from both bi-polar disorder and struggled with being a closeted gay man. Neither the audience nor many of his colleagues knew. He would later have a book published-Wrestling Reality- where he would talk about the struggles of being a closeted gay.
    However, for a brief period, his popularity soared from going from a "jobber",( one who loses to enhance other talent), to being a headliner in several big leagues such as TNA, the WCW and, of course, the WWE. The hectic travel, the money and the super stardom, helped Chris, for a time, to fend off his inner struggle to just be himself. Then calamity struck.
   Chris  was operated on for two major injuries; one for a torn ACL and the other for his shoulder. After convalescing, he went to the WWE farm league of the Ohio Valley and other independents such as Pro Wrestling Guerilla. However he was never able to achieve, once again the stardom he had..
His periods of depression were intensified and in 2003 he took 50 anti-depressants in a suicide attempt.
   After regaining his health he decided to wrestle again but "out of the closet". Unfortunately, it wasn't well received and Kanyon retired in 2007.  Depression persisted and weeks before his death, he hinted about suicide. On April 2, 2010, Chris Kanyon's brother found the body of Kanyon in his Sunnyside Queens apartment with an empty bottle of anti-depressants at his side. A letter of apology  to his family was next to him. It is well known that depression and suicide is so much higher in the LGBT community than with most other groups. I tried to think about what I could do to foster awareness of this so I decided to retell a tragic story about someone who only wanted the God given rights of acceptance and happiness. Who better than Kanyon?

"If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" Pope Francis- 7/29/13

WRESTLING'S BIGGEST CON

By Peter Vuono

   On February 4, 2016,  former pro wrestler Brian Knighton, better known as Axl Rotten passed away in a Maryland McDonalds at age 44. Brian hadn't wrestled in a long time and because of a spine injury he had previously been in rehab and confined to a wheelchair.He left behind a wife of 20 years. Part of Brian's notoriety was that he participated in one of the bloodiest matches in the history of the sport. In 1995, he and his fellow worker, John Williams participated in a Taipei Death Match where real glass was taped to their gloves. They both knew that we have not changed much since the Circus Maximus and the masses demanded their bread and circus.
   Brian once said to his partner," I don't know why I've lived this long; God must be punishing me".For  his blood and tears he would become one of 155 pro wrestlers who have died since 1985 who were younger than 65. He would be one of the 86` who were younger than 50!. According to Jim Wilson's fine book, "Chokehold" the mortality rate of pro wrestlers  in the 80's was  925% higher than the mortality rate of police officers who are killed while on duty. Did you enjoy the Super Bowl? Pro football players, on the average receive 50% of the gate as a group as opposed to 15% for pro wrestlers. It is my personal opinion that this incredible mortality rate is in part due to pro wrestling's biggest con.
   Wrestling was once surrounded by a shroud of secrecy known as "kayfabe". It was a code of silence which resisted vehemently in giving away back stage secrets. Now, nearly every fan knows that matches are predetermined and that the promoters and "bookers" call every shot. Only certain superstars have any leverage as to what will happen. However the fans are happy with this and like this author they continue to love the sport even though they are somewhat "smartened" up.
   However, because of the predetermination of the sport, no one, especially politicians, take it seriously and that is the biggest weapon which hides some of the worst unfair labor practices in the nation. Because of the small technicality of wrestlers being called "independent contractors" and not "employees" they have waived nearly all labor rights that the rest of us enjoy. They do not have insurance, they do not have hospitalization, they do not have a pension and they do not have a union like the NFL and others who have a players' association.
   Because the" booker" tells them where to go, when to go, who to wrestle, what gimmick to acquire, and how the match will be conducted, THAT constitutes an employee. Wrestlers do not have this and can be fired at the drop of a hat. It can also open the door for all sorts of harassment toward both men and women. I also believe  that the unstable status of pro wrestling's workers  contributes severely to their early demise.
   Since wrestlers have no rights, it is important to promote themselves in the best way they can to be "over" with the audience or popular if you will. To do this one must use anabolic steroids to at least look as good as his competitor. If he does not, then termination may follow. To stay "over" a wrestler must ignore pain caused by "bumps" and injuries, "botched" moves and the grueling travel or he or she may not be kept in the roster. This is where pain killers, and sleeping pills come in. What if, however, it was more difficult to fire them if they were unionized? Then it wouldn't be AS necessary to use all these ergogenic aids and perhaps elongate their lives.
   Some very brave people such as Anton" Ripper" Leone, Jesse Ventura and Jim Wilson have valiantly tried and failed. When Ventura tried to unionize he was "ratted" out by the world's most famous wrestler. Small victories were achieved by a few such as Brock Lesnar's wife Rena when she won a lawsuit over her refusing to conduct demeaning "angles". However for the most part. it's business as usual. The top stars don't want to lose the big paydays and the bottom dwelling "jebronies" don't dare say a word for fear of replacement.
   I'm well aware of the more impending atrocities that face us such as child abuse, spousal abuse, drug addiction, refugees. slave trade and terrorism. But the next time you watch your favorite wrestler, know that he or she is working under wrestling's biggest con and it's  just one more injustice that no one is doing anything about.

"Amusements should be our medicines"- Aristotle

CHARIOT OF FIRE

By Peter Vuono

   This short tale is dedicated to the memory of a forgotten American hero and to heroes of every kind everywhere.


   The NFL playoffs are upon us and we all look forward with great anticipation to cheering for our favorite team. However, as I contemplated the past year I thought about the great many players who gained notoriety with little penalty for acts of violence toward children, women and even animals. I also thought how unfair it was that true heroes sometimes don't get remembered. This is a short tale of a man who was definitely a hero and I write about him to preserve his memory and to honor our intrepid firefighters.
   Back in the 80's the debut of wrestler Scott"Bam Bam" Bigelow was greatly anticipated  by the fans. The Asbury Park New Jersey native was 6'4"" and weighed 390 lbs! He entered wrestling school with a legitimate Black Belt and was trained at the Monster Factory  by legendary wrestler Larry"Pretty Boy" Sharpe. Bigelow could do things as a 400 pounder that people thought that only light "high flyers" could do. One move was called a "sling shot". He would stand on the apron of the ring, grab the top rope and propel his 390lbs over the top rope in a swan dive  on top of his helpless prone opponent. He would attain a magnificent career in the WWE, WCW and, of course the ECW. Bam Bam once said that his best move came in July of 2000 when he was driving home from an ECW tour from Japan in a suburb of Philadelphia.
   At 3:30 in the morning he observed a home with the upstairs in flames. He exited the car and entered the home to hear three children, ages 3, 5 and 9 screaming upstairs for their lives.  The front stairway was impassable and engulfed in flames. In order to get to the back stairway Bigelow literally smashed through a built wall of 2 by 4's, plaster and sheet rock to the back stairway.
  After climbing the stairway he grabbed  the three children. They were left alone that evening by an inebriated single mother and managed to start a fire. As Bam Bam got down the stairway. he was on fire and engulfed in flames. Once out of the building and the children made safe, the fire dept. serviced Bam Bam.
  He received 2nd degree burns over 40 percent of his body. He would spend the next ten days in the hospital. Little publicity or credit was given but what slowly came about later would be far worse and tragic.
   Bigelow would take anti-anxiety medications coupled with pain killers for his back. As dosages increased, he would lose his career, his marriage and finally his life  On January 19, 2007. the cause of death was  heart disease and other after-effects of being in the ring so long.. A hero's life ended abruptly and quietly at age 45.
   He died without recognition but as a receipt he preserved three young lives; an act which will remain a shining star which will forever glow through the darkness.


" And suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire came down from heaven and separated the two"
2Kings 2:10-12

CHAMPION OF THE HEART


By Peter Vuono

     Back in the 80's I did security for Walter Kowalski's wrestling shows at Brockton High School.
One evening a wrestling legend, Johnny Valiant, walked in. After asking where he could buy his cherished Parodi cigars the conversation immediately centered on Rocky Marciano." Did he live very far from here? asked the former World Tag Team Champ. I've read so many books about him; I really try to follow him."
    Yes, all those that come to our city ask about Rocky, a great champion and one of the greatest athletes of all time. However what few of these visitors know is that he had a nephew who was an unbeaten champion of the heart.
When I met Peter , he was in his freshman year at Brockton High. I was bowled over by his sincerity and his enormous capacity to befriend people. One couldn't help but love him.
    We became friends and Peter trained with me in my ramshackle  garage gym. Even today, when I went out there , his lifting belt still hangs on a cobwebbed slab of sheet rock 30 years later. Peter and I shared many interests and he became like one of the family. He babysat  for my infant daughter and went to Wrestlemania I with me in 1985. On par with his befriending everyone was his unparalleled capacity to love.
   During  Peter's senior year I had in my special Ed. class a puckish rapscallion of a student named Ray. Ray was tough in both the discipline and the learning departments. I needed an ultimate weapon in helping him to succeed. Along came Peter. I asked him to tutor Ray one to one. When Pete Marciano walked in, it might as well have been Arnold or Lou Ferrigno! Ray looked at Peter as if a deity walked in.
   Pete worked his magic and Ray looked up to his new role model and friend.  Never before had I seen a needy kid like Ray get won over so easily. When I think of Christ saying" If you did it for these, the least of my brethren...", I think of Peter and the many wonderful students like him who devoted their time to my kids.
   Peter was a bigger than life person whose capacity to love and lift spirits was second to none. When I think about the last line of Brian's Song where Jack Warden says of Brian Piccolo," I don't think about how he died but how he lived", this is how I look  back at him. I can only think of the way he made me smile.
   Yes, we do have a great champion athlete  from Brockton in the name of Rocky Marciano; but Rocky had an equal who was a champion of the heart. His name is Peter.

"Remembrance is the only paradise from which we cannot be driven from"- Bruce Lee

THE SON OF ARAGORN

By Peter Vuono

     Some readers may remember my short story in Feb. of 2014 which was entitled GO TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS. This short tale told of the immense heroics of Brockton High School Science teacher, John Bergonzi disarming an assailant with a knife single-handed.  I believe in guardian angels and  the 6'5" Bergonzi who teaches at the Brockton Champion Charter School surely must be one who is moonlighting as a teacher.
     Once again, on November 18, 2015, Bergonzi's might and muscle were again put to the test.
John and his lovely wife Angie; also a teacher, were traveling Northbound from Cape Cod on a very well traveled highway, Route 495. Bergonzi observed that the car in front of him swerved completely to the right, off the road and hugged a guard rail at great length.
     When the guard rail ended, the car lost control, continued to swerve to the right and toppled in a 180 degree rollover! Bergonzi's brawn and bravery once again kicked in and he raced to the car as Angie called 911.. The driver was bloodied and unconscious and the driver's door would only open about 12 inches. John had nothing to break the window with and would have to squeeze his 6'5" 220 pound body in the opening.
    Although, I digress, I couldn't help but think of giant Olympian/ wrestler, Ken Patera who once braced his back up against a brick wall and with his feet pushed back a pick up truck which was in full throttle. John must have been thinking along those lines as he braced his back on the metal support between the front and back door. Then like a human jaw of life, Bergonzi proceeded to leg press the crushed door open freeing the passenger!!.
     As it turns out, the poor victim had incurred a heart attack and was raced away in an ambulance as his savior / Samaritan stood exhausted, bloodied and covered with mud. We all know that this guardian of the galaxy will receive an eternal reward in the hereafter but it is disconcerting to know that few knew of his heroics as once again, super teacher, John Bergonzi has gone to the head in class.


" I am Aragorn, the son of Arathorn; and if by life or death, I can save you, I will"

J.R.R. Tolkien