The following is from a newsletter from April Hunter, an independent wrestler and nude model...
Quote:
"Roid Rage" and Benoit
Like everyone else, I am shocked to hear about the Benoit family deaths. There have already been many moving commentaries written. I mostly feel betrayed... because I feel that Chris Benoit was someone everyone loved, trusted, respected and looked up to. No one had a bad thing to say about him. He was the epitome of morality. If HE isn't truly like the person we believed him to be...then what about the rest of us?
However, I would rather comment on another part of this story. I've always felt that "roid rage" label was a media cop out to sensationalize a story or blame it on something.
A roid rage is a flash of heat, like a child's temper tantrum. It a quick outburst of violence or aggression and usually leaves as fast as it arrived. It certainly does not last an entire weekend. --When Phil Hartman's wife killed him and then herself not long ago it was never called roid rage.
--There are a lot of athletes (and people) who take steroids. Most of them manage to not kill family members.
--Is anyone investigating Bobby Cutts Jr for roid rage? He's accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend. But he's not a wrestler (he's a cop) - so no...they're not.
--PITTSBURGH PA. March 2007, George Terry, A retired custodian fatally shot his wife and two sons in their sleep, then turned the gun on himself, police said Thursday. As far as I know, he was not investigated for steroids.
"Wrestling" = "Steroids" to the general public. And "Steroids" = "Bad". That's the light it's been painted in.
A few facts: Anabolic steroids have used for numerous medical purposes including stimulation of bone growth, appetite, puberty, and muscle growth.
They have been used for prisoners of war to help them grow. For bone marrow stimulation, children with growth failure (dwarfs), to stimulate appetite, stimulate libido, testosterone therapy, fight many age related problems and bring on stalled puberty. The most widespread medical uses of anabolic steroids are used to help people with chronic wasting conditions, such as cancer and AIDS.
Despite rumors and heresy, no scientific evidence has shown any long-term serious health defects from proper use of anabolic steroids.
If someone's a violent, controlling person, using or not using steroids isn't going to change that --- or make them murder another. (That's like assuming that everyone who has ever used cocaine is an ATM robber or prostitute.)
I believe it's much deeper than that.
As someone who escaped a bad relationship that was very much headed in this direction, I know now that many entertainers have two personalities: the public/TV persona everyone knows and the private version few will ever.
I am not defending legal or illegal drugs. What I am questioning is why we can't look at things deeper and for what they really are, instead of giving them a sensational LABEL or placing blame elsewhere. Either way, it doesn't bring anyone back.
