[WWW] Bret Hart column - Hawk's Gone

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Hawk's gone 

By BRET HART -- For SLAM! Wrestling

  Wrestling brotherhood loses another member 

Soldier of fortune 

He's a man of war 

Just can't remember 

What he's fighting for ... 

Can't predict the future 

Can't forget the past 

Feels like any moment 

Could be the last ... 

- - - 

I was writing a eulogy for my father when the call came. 

Yet another member of the wrestling brotherhood was gone. 

I couldn't help but think they're dying faster than we can bury them. 

Even the most casual wrestling fans are familiar with Hawk and Animal,
the infamous Road Warriors, also known as The Legion of Doom. They
were the most impressive-looking tag team in the history of wrestling
and certainly the most intimidating.

Hawk was the one whose trademark growl was, 'Oh what a rush.' 

But now he's gone. 

His birth name was Mike Hegstrand and he was the sort of guy who made
it fun to be in the locker-room. He was always a positive person.

In a business full of tough guys, nobody pulled his tail much and he
didn't take himself too seriously.

On Oct. 18, Mike and his wife were packing up their belongings at
their Florida home to move into a new house. At 8:30 p.m., Mike said
he was tired and went upstairs to lie down, asking his wife to wake
him later. When she went to bed at 1:30 a.m., she realized he was
never going to wake up again.

After a life of touring the world year after year, entertaining his
countless followers, he finally made it home, only to die in his own
bed, at 46.

The suddenness of it has given me pause. 

The Road Warriors are the only tag team in the history of wrestling to
hold the WWF, NWA, AWA and All Japan tag-team titles. As
groundbreaking a phenomenon as they were in their WWF heyday, their
stardom was unsurpassed in Japan where Hawk's death made headlines.

I was always a big fan of the Road Warriors, even though to me they
appeared to be stiff in the ring. But when The Hart Foundation worked
with them, we found them to be nothing but pros.

In the 1980s and early '90s, when tagteams reigned supreme, they were
known mostly for their size and they set the standard for mic work.

Three years ago, Hawk suffered a heart attack as a result of
cardiomyopathy, a disease that enlarges the heart due to steroid use.

After that, he found religion and, by all accounts, changed his wild
roadlife and had been clean for several years.

Unfortunately, his decision came too late. The years and the business
had taken its toll.

Besides Hawk, many wrestlers have passed away, only too soon. Texas
lost the four Von Erich boys, Bruiser Brody and Gino Hernandez.

Meanwhile, here at home, we said goodbye to Larry Cameron, Brian
Pillman, Davey Boy and Owen. Minnesota boys who grew up in Hawk's
neighbourhood, Robinsdale, have also suffered.

Ravishing Rick Rude and Curt (Mr Perfect) Hennig died of heart
problems, most likely caused by prolonged use of steroids and pain
killers.

Hawk also seems to have died of heart-related problems but final word
from the medical examiner will take a few months.

On Oct. 13, I intended to call Hawk to see how he was doing but now I
know he's doing fine, in the company of fallen comrades.

- - - 

Fallen Angel 

Casts a shadow up against the sun 

If my eyes could see 

The spirit of the chosen one 

In my dream the pipes were playing 

In my dream I lost a friend 

Come down Gabriel and blow your horn 

'Cause some day we will meet again 

-- Robbie Robertson