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RADICAN'S TAKE
RADICAN: What changes will the recent suspensions in the WWE and NFL bring about? Sep 2, 2007 - 4:36:00 PM
When I read Irv Muchnick's "Wrestling Babylon," one of the bigger themes was the drug problems that existed in professional wrestling would blow up in professional sports as well. After the news broke that ten WWE wrestlers were set to be suspended for thirty or sixty days for violating the WWE Wellness Policy, news also broke that Rodney Harrison of the New England Patriots admitted to using HGH and was suspended by the NFL. Believe it or not, Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson was suspended five games for using HGH as well.
In the last 48 hours Mike Bucci, Eugene, and Cryme Time have all been fired. We don't know why yet.
I got a lot of feedback on the take I wrote the other day after the suspension of ten unnamed wrestlers were announced. Most people were wondering how the suspensions would change the direction of WWE. How will the company cope?
It's also interesting that with my hometown team the Patriots losing one of there best players, I was wondering how the defense would cope. I'm sure the Dallas Cowboys are making adjustments at this time as well after losing one of the key members of their coaching staff.
The obvious answer is that in the wake of the suspensions in the WWE and the NFL, other wrestlers and players will have to step up and fill the holes left by those suspended. As Jim Ross indicated in his recent BLOG entry, television should be interesting to watch because new talents are going to get opportunities to plug the gaps left by the suspended wrestlers.
I won't spoil things for anyone, but The Raw house show report from Saturday as well as the ECW/Smackdown tapings showed that change in the WWE is in motion. The impact of the Benoit tragedy is likely to cause a domino effect that won't stop tumbling anytime soon.
Booker T, Mr. Kennedy, and Umaga all failed to appear on the WWE house show last night. The ECW/Smackdown tapings also indicated the direction the "B" and "C" brands will be taking in the coming weeks. Tonight, we'll get a good idea of how the Raw roster will be shaping up.
I applaud Rodney Harrison for addressing his drug use head on and not making excuses. He admitted to making a mistake in judgment when he used HGH to speed up his recovery from injuries. He has apologized, will serve his suspension, and will return to the Patriots after missing four games.
Will any suspended WWE wrestler apologize and admit wrongdoing?
Will Dr. Black admit there are faults in the Wellness Policy and answer questions truthfully about how so many wrestlers managed to receive drugs from an Internet pharmacy without the WWE knowing it?
There are still many questions left unanswered, but WWE television is about to change directions. Fans will get the answers they want about the direction WWE is going to take in the wake of these suspensions shortly as the Raw spoilers and overseas house show reports are made available. For now, it's obvious major substance abuse issues exist in professional sports and in pro wrestling, but what changes the recent suspensions in the NFL and WWE will bring about are still uncertain.
Email Sean Radican.
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