WWE Daily

Mick Foley, an award author has written his thoughts on Bret Harts book, My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling:

Brets Book

Brets Book Wow its been more than a month since I’ve written anything, after promising my thoughts on Bret Harts new book. Its difficult to explain but I seem to go through phases where writing feels exhilerating where I can literally write for twelve hours at a stretch followed by extended periods of no writing what so ever. Where even the thought of writing seems like the most ardouis task this side of watching a JimWayne Yang career retrospective. Yeah I know Wang is a great performer, but its time for me to put the Test and Al Snow jokes to rest, and I need a new go to guy and I’ve decided on Yang. I dont think he’ll mind, and it will give us something to talk about besides our mutual appreciation of adult film icon Christy Canyon.

Before I get to Bret’s book, I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who helped make “The Mick Foley Wrestling Store” on ebay a success over the last several months. Everyone seemed happy withg their purchases, I was able to prove to me kids (no one’s going to want your old stuff dad” wrong and I was able homes for career articles that seemed destined to live out their lives lifetime in a cardboard boxes deep inside the Foley family closets. Unfortunatley thbough we will be closing down the store fro awhile atleast until fall.

Brets Book.
I think I’ve been holding back on my thoughts, because I was waiting for inspritaion to hit me, some burst of creative lightning. That would give my pen the power need to write to write the type of commentary that would do justice to Bret’s new book. Instead i’ll just do my best on this Southwest flight from Fay Island to Baltimore.

It’s a great book and a towering achievement. Without a doubt the most painstakingly thought out and most painfully sincere of any of the wrestling books. I enjoy most of the wrestling books that come out to some degree, probably because im fascinated by our business and feel that every individual in it has their own unique story to tell. But after a whole, the stoies seem to feel the same, especially the WWE chapters. Where most share hardworking wrestlers who love their families and their jobs, play it understandably safe.

Brets book stands out not only because he his story stands out as being unique even in a bizzare business, but because the story he tells is his own story in his own words. And because he cares so much about the story being told. Sure I like most of the books, but in most cases ( the Kevin Elliot Greenberg books exempted) the writers involved have a minimal emotional investment in their product. They spend a little time with the wrestler, change a few things, put the quotes into a narrative, make up a quote or two themsleves and presto. Weve got a servicable memoir on out hands.

I wondered why Bret felt the need to be so honest about so many specific details when a simple blanket admission of guilt would have seemed to be enough. But as I read on I realized that such brutal honesty served to solidify Bret’s credibilty, so that by the time the book reaches the Montreal screw job-a chapter I found as taught, tense and exciting as anything in any book I’ve found anywhere my trust in him was absolute.

I had hoped that the book would be available in the USA, and thought a deal through the WWEpublishingh would seem a perfect fit. Then I read it and realized it would probably be best if there was no literary collaberation between the two parties. To do so would mean that WWE would either put out a book that paints them quite often in an unflattering light, or that Bret agree to an editing process that would see his hefty tome reduced to ” wit and wisdom of Jimmy Wayne Yang size”.

Back in 1999 when I wrote “Have a nice day” I was under no delusion that the book was going to be kind of by seller. Of course I turned out to be wrong about that. But at the time of it writing, because I hadnt recieved any type of writers advance, and there was no expectation of sales. The books primary purpose seemed to be of a cathartic nature. Writing my story gave my career a sense of closure that most in my proffesion never get.

I hope Bret finds some closure. But I cant help but feel that hell face some resentment within his own family as a price for that closure. The written word stings in a way much more lasting that the spoken one. I should know, as not only was trhere some well documented tensions between myself and the nature boy due to our dueling documents. But a former friend of mine unnamed (and thus far for almost nine years, has kept that vow) never to speak to me after seeing her name in my book. And all idi was say she looked good in a white bikini. Brets words for several family members seem destined to create hard feelings. In a sense his honesty which is the readers gain, may turn out to be his loss. I hope im wrong.

I will try to put post some more thoughts in a few days. Hopefully, those few days wont turn into thirty. I’ll be writing a little bit about a great event I attended in Providence to benefit the survivors and families of that horrible Station club fire five years ago.

I will also be placing several personal items up for sale on the “Mick Foley Wrestling Store” on ebay where all of the money (except for postage) will go ti charity. Make sure to order the store closes on March 30th.

Mick’s Myspace