Post by Johnzplan on Feb 9, 2006 23:43:54 GMT -5
Tangled Ropes by Superstar Billy Graham reviewer-Johnny Death
There are many great things about this book by Superstar Billy Graham, but some many annoying thigns as well. Ina ll, it is a remarkable read about the life of a man who is damned lucky to even be alive and has such a rough ride from the past that you cannot help but overlook some of his contradictory behavior.
Among the annoying things, it becomes all but infuriating to see how he has turned around and sucked up to Vince McMahon, after years spent blaming him for all the evils in wrestling. One cannot help to wonder if it is opportunity rather than religion, that has made him do so, but otherwise, all i can say is the monster heel from the past has become one sappy son of a bitch in present time. What isn't a bad book and could have been a great one, sadly has him looking in the end like just another of the ex-wrestlers sucking up to the McMahon empire for whatever table scraps the present WWE will flick him for dinner.
Likewise, being a born again christian is one thing, but he beats this to death, where rather than a wrestling book, a lot of it reads like a sermon or a spot on the Praise The Lord tv show. If you are into this type of thing, than this is the book for you, but like with the Michaels book (and I really have a hard time believing Michaels is not running a work, though Graham seems genuine), the religious theme becomes boring fast for those interested only in wrestling.
On the other hand, the stories from his humble beginnings in the southwest, working a nickel and dime circuit with mentor Jerry Graham before heading to California and the launch to well, superstardom, are some of the most interesting as are the stories about his early reign, before the drugs and roids really kicked in.
Do I feel for the man? Yes I do. Do I respect him for coming back from ordeal after ordeal? Yes I do. Do I believe he is a real christian and not running a scam like some of these guys out there? Yes I do. Did I like the book and can I reccomend it, well yes I can,. with some reservations. Do I shake my head in disgust at seeing Graham, one of the standout opponents of the WWF, second perhaps only to Bruno, and the direction this mega promotion took voer the past decade or so, suddenly become just another suckup to the promotion he once lambasted? Yes I do, and all the justification he gives does not cut it. The apology to Vince made me want to run upstairs and puke in the toilet. If anyone owed anyone an apology it should have been McMahon for the way he has ruined wrestling for true fans of the art form, treated former stars who helped him make his fortune but won't line up to kiss his ass (a la Bruno) and for just being an asshole. With Stephanie McMahon being pregnant, all I can say is I hope an abortion is in order, or we are going to have even yet another generation of this stupid shit bringing us high proiced, overglorified shit for five decades to come.
Still, it is a worthwhile read at many points and likewise should serve as a warning to any of these contemporary morons out there who want to use steroids. Read this book and learn from it.
Also, the price is too damned high. Get it from a library or wait a few months til you find it on sale at the reduced table iny our local bookstore
There are many great things about this book by Superstar Billy Graham, but some many annoying thigns as well. Ina ll, it is a remarkable read about the life of a man who is damned lucky to even be alive and has such a rough ride from the past that you cannot help but overlook some of his contradictory behavior.
Among the annoying things, it becomes all but infuriating to see how he has turned around and sucked up to Vince McMahon, after years spent blaming him for all the evils in wrestling. One cannot help to wonder if it is opportunity rather than religion, that has made him do so, but otherwise, all i can say is the monster heel from the past has become one sappy son of a bitch in present time. What isn't a bad book and could have been a great one, sadly has him looking in the end like just another of the ex-wrestlers sucking up to the McMahon empire for whatever table scraps the present WWE will flick him for dinner.
Likewise, being a born again christian is one thing, but he beats this to death, where rather than a wrestling book, a lot of it reads like a sermon or a spot on the Praise The Lord tv show. If you are into this type of thing, than this is the book for you, but like with the Michaels book (and I really have a hard time believing Michaels is not running a work, though Graham seems genuine), the religious theme becomes boring fast for those interested only in wrestling.
On the other hand, the stories from his humble beginnings in the southwest, working a nickel and dime circuit with mentor Jerry Graham before heading to California and the launch to well, superstardom, are some of the most interesting as are the stories about his early reign, before the drugs and roids really kicked in.
Do I feel for the man? Yes I do. Do I respect him for coming back from ordeal after ordeal? Yes I do. Do I believe he is a real christian and not running a scam like some of these guys out there? Yes I do. Did I like the book and can I reccomend it, well yes I can,. with some reservations. Do I shake my head in disgust at seeing Graham, one of the standout opponents of the WWF, second perhaps only to Bruno, and the direction this mega promotion took voer the past decade or so, suddenly become just another suckup to the promotion he once lambasted? Yes I do, and all the justification he gives does not cut it. The apology to Vince made me want to run upstairs and puke in the toilet. If anyone owed anyone an apology it should have been McMahon for the way he has ruined wrestling for true fans of the art form, treated former stars who helped him make his fortune but won't line up to kiss his ass (a la Bruno) and for just being an asshole. With Stephanie McMahon being pregnant, all I can say is I hope an abortion is in order, or we are going to have even yet another generation of this stupid shit bringing us high proiced, overglorified shit for five decades to come.
Still, it is a worthwhile read at many points and likewise should serve as a warning to any of these contemporary morons out there who want to use steroids. Read this book and learn from it.
Also, the price is too damned high. Get it from a library or wait a few months til you find it on sale at the reduced table iny our local bookstore