Listen up!!

Class is in session, and it's your turn. Last week, I delivered a two-part lecture. Part one explained how fake sports are a fantastic tonic for when real sports break our hearts. Part two took to task those who choose to turn their noses up at wrestling. Class, a lot of letters came in. So this week I'm printing the best of 'em. And yes, I edit this stuff down a bit, so more people get a chance to be heard. (Plus, some of you have terrible grammar! Shame!)

Professor's Choice: The Best Wrestling Web Sites Pro Wrestling Torch Wrestling Observer The Road Warriors Inc. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling World Wrestling Entertainment

Enough lame pregame, let's get to it.

First, a negative response from Tony Durham, who has had enough:

I have been a fan of wrestling for over 40 years and have always defended it as entertainment. But, the fact while people don't believe soap operas are real, many fans of wrestling do think wrestling is real and at least a vehicle for the good guy to win over the bad.

When the WWE decided to use the death of an unborn child in a recent storyline with Lita and Kane, for me they crossed the line big time. I am not a "Pro-Lifer." I am just a person with some idea of where the line of human decency gets crossed. The fact is whether or not we want to admit it, children growing up do get their sense of right and wrong from the shows they watch. To desensitize these kids with such a vile story ... is beyond any parents good sense.

At least this is my opinion. I have watched and been to matches literally thousands of times. But, I bet I don't support this crap with my money again.

Tony Durham

I print your letter first, Tony, because your opinion is to be respected. I just wish those on the other side of the fence would respect ours, and not laugh up their sleeves when we explain with joy why we love the squared circle. OK, enough preaching. Next, from Frank Lipscomb, who takes on the "real vs. fake" argument:

While the drama between the characters IS pre-worked, I dare anyone to say that those who step into the squared circle and run, jump, fall, flip and slam for anywhere from 5-20 minutes ISN'T athletic. For those that do, let's see you get in there and do the same, and not be sore for the following week(s).

Frank

Preachin' to the choir Frank. Dr. Roaddog is next:

Thanks again for the great column that also makes me feel better for loving wrestling. I know it is written and acted out, but it doesn't bother me. I like to try to guess where they are going with it next. My kids also know that it is written out, but not safe to do by them -- because they could get hurt.

Dr. Roaddog

Yeah, Professor Jr. always tries to put the Prof. in a variety of painful moves. That kid needs to take a field trip to an orphanage. The next one is from Wisconsin's Charles Anderberg, who like me, was also treated to great AWA action all those years ago.

I remember travelling to Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford ($5.00) to see Billy Robinson, Dr.X and others. But the best memory was of that poor guy next to me holding back his girlfriend from strangling me as I rooted for the heels.

I've taken my two sons to see "contests" in Madison. Not only was it a great bonding experience for us, but I'll never forget the look my son James had on his face when Jake 'the Snake' Roberts threw 'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan at James' feet. His eyeballs were as open as his mouth. It was great. My other son, Alex, got to sit in the luxury box at the Kohl Center to watch a WWF contest that lasted over three hours. What great fun we had!

Although I've slipped in the wrestling world lately, I say to all you pencil-necks: shut up. You're not paying their health insurance. They aren't chasing your daughters. But they may take your job if they weren't wrestling.

One final thing: I took my kids to the Packer Hall of Fame several years ago. The WWF was going to be at the Brown County Arena that night but Adam Bomb was getting a football autographed. When he walked out, we saw him. He looked like a little kid, looking at the signatures. Tough guy with a big grin on his face. Priceless.

Charles Anderberg

Thanks Charles.. Next, let's run the table with a bunch of short letters…without my pithy (yet important) commentary:

Amen - My wife, who is soap opera fanatic, gives me a hard time about watching wrestling. I explained to her how it is very similar to her soaps, but wrestlers don't have sex with their relatives (well,maybe).

Barry Lynch

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Dear Prof, You're right on the mark. Pro wrestling is the perfect "getaway" (temporarily) from life's snags. During the first Gulf War, my then 23-year-old son was driving a tank over there in the sand and I could hardly focus on anything. T.V. was my one diversion: old sitcoms and pro wrestling. These things removed the stress for a little while.

Katz

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I get so tired of people blaming other people when bad things happen. The violence that appears on "Raw" or "Smackdown!" can be seen on many T.V. shows today. And how often have you seen a kid in a violent R-rated movie that you knew wasn't over 17? I'm a parent of an 11-year-old boy. We watch wrestling together, and often discuss how the crazy storylines will play out. My kid knows it is fake and doesn't go around piledriving anyone. Wrestling and the video game industry have both been given a bad rap by people who many times have never seen or been to a match in their lives. Take responsibility for your kids, people.

Randy Taylor

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I have been watching it for over 30 years. I just love it, like I enjoy football. It has changed so much and even the bad and stupid stuff is funny sometimes. When people ask me why I watch wrestling, I ask them why they watch those stupid reality shows. You know they are not REAL. I don't care if they call them reality or not. I find wrestling a lot more entertaining.

Kim Ray

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Several months ago I was watching a taped episode of "Raw." I have three teenage boys, and all three had a few friends over, so I had a bit of a houseful. Some of the boys were watching with me, and one came passing thru to get a drink or whatever, and made the comment using the "f" (fake) word. I paused, then rewound the tape to where Trish Stratus was making her way to the ring, then paused it on her. I pointed to her most prominent assets and said, "Those are fake." The boys said, "So what?" And I said, "Exactly!"

Cheryl

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I would MUCH rather my 12-year-old son watch WWE than daytime soaps or any of the hundreds of "reality" shows that the networks are attempting to shove down our throats these days. The KEY is that I am an active parent, I know what my kid is watching, and I've given him enough of a foundation to be able to sort out the b.s. on his own. That's my job. What would we rather our kids see on T.V.: WWE, which he knows is for entertainment (geez, they even have the word in their name), or "reality" that is sold by the networks with sex?

Melissa Kerins, responsible parent and WWE fan

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I grew up in New Orleans and was enthralled every Saturday morning by NWA and the Mid-South and occasionally late night Saturdays with the WWF. I was made fun of constantly for being a fan of wrestling, but it was great to have a constsnt outlet, especially being a Saints fan.

I remember one year getting razzed by my co-workers for having tickets to a WWF event and then about six months later, them asking me for advice on the wrestlers due to their kids loving it.

Cajun aka John Bauman

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Now there's a nice run. Let's close it out with some common sense:

I'm not a fan of wrestling. In fact I hate it. Yet I also hate people who always seem to know what's best for everybody, the martyrs who would rise and save us from ourselves. If you like wrestling, watch it. If you don't like wrestling, change the channel, but let's all shut up about it and get back to the issue, freedom of choice!

Matthew Murphy

Speaking of freedom of choice, get out and there and vote Tuesday. I don't care who's running or what the issues are, students who fail to exercise that precious right deserve a few chair shots.

Comments, complaints, compliments? Send 'em right here.

That's it…now scram! Class dismissed!

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting Systems. Just to irritate everyone, he wants to vote for Ralph Nader. But if he did, and Mrs. Professor found out, he'd be sleeping in the garage for the better part of a month.)