Post by Stanley Hetz on Aug 17, 2005 11:52:42 GMT -5
I was just reading an interesting article, and I thought that some of you might like to check it out. I am posting a copy of the article here for everyone to read, but please be sure to check out the page where I got the article from, which is at www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1282&dept_id=553365&newsid=15017110&PAG=461&rfi=9
Hart's heart still beats strongly for wrestling
By BRIAN KRASMAN, Daily News Editor
August 12, 2005
For Jimmy Hart, the hits keep on coming.
Those who grew up watching the heyday of WWE wrestling in the 1980s surely remember the small, skinny, colorful suit-wearing manager with the high-pitched voice, grating laugh and heart-adorned megaphone. Standing in the corner of such notable tag teams and singles such as the Hart Foundation, the Nasty Boys, Money Inc., Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr., the Honkytonk Man and Hulk Hogan, the legendary figure has more than made a name for himself in pro wrestling.
All of that came after he and his band the Gentrys had a massive hit "Keep on Dancing" in the 1960s that put them on the road with thingy Clark, the Dave Clark Five, the Beach Boys and plenty of others.
"I came from a great musical career," Hart said during a telephone call to promote NWA-Total Nonstop Action's pay-per-view event "Sacrifice." "Well, we were a one-hit wonder, but one hit's better than no hits."
The high-energy, mile-a-minute chattering Hart fans see on TV isn't much different from the man who, away from ringside and the TV screen, maintains a deep love for the wrestling business. Early on this weekday morning, Hart is bursting at the seams with energy, sounding like he's either had too much coffee or is getting himself psyched for a long-distance marathon.
Hart, a personable, friendly man, still is bursting with excitement over his March induction into WWE's Hall of Fame and is just as pumped about TNA's rising stock and new television show "Impact!" that's set to debut on Spike TV Oct. 1.
"Vince McMahon, my hat goes off to him for keeping wrestling alive," he said. "But also, my hat goes off to (TNA executives) Dixie and Bob Carter, because I know Dixie had a dream. Three-and-a-half years of ups and downs and their love for the business kept them in it."
TNA began as a promotion that presented weekly PPV shows. Eventually, the group landed a deal on Fox Sports Net for a Friday afternoon slot and now they've got their big break, hitting male-dominated Spike TV.
More significantly for the domestic wrestling scene, TNA's weekly major cable slot puts it into direct competition with WWE, something the McMahon-owned company hasn't had since WCW went out of business in 2000.
While "Impact!" won't go head-to-head with WWE's flagship "Raw" (which moves to USA Network on Oct. 3), it gives wrestlers an alternative place to work and a chance to enjoy a less-grueling schedule.
"When I was in New York, we always had WCW, so there was always another place you could go," Hart said. "After Vince bought up WCW and ECW, there was really only one company. So by Dixie and TNA jumping into the game, it really gives the guys another place to wind up."
Currently, Hart is working the corner of TNA tag champs the Naturals, a role served briefly by the late Chris Candido. While he's thrilled to have a chance to be an on-air personality again, he said he keeps Candido, who died suddenly in May after leg surgery, in his thoughts.
"He came over to TNA, and they gave him an opportunity and he really took advantage of it," Hart said, his voice taking a solemn turn. "He was on time, he was dependable and his work in the ring was great."
Naturals members Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens, Hart said, are like many of TNA's younger talent, a group of workers he feels could be stars in the industry for years to come. But while he wants to see the two get better in the ring, he said he's trying to impress upon them and their peers the importance of transcending the ring.
"It's not just how good you are in the ring, it's how you are outside the ring," he said. "It's people skills and how you handle the public and radio interviews and stuff for newspapers. That's something I think is really missing in wrestling now."
In addition to his work ringside, Hart is keeping his hands in music. Over the years, he's composed a large portion of ring music for both WWE and WCW - some of his more notable entrance themes are Shawn Michaels' "Sexy Boy" and Hulk Hogan's WCW song "American Made" - and he said he's been putting together new songs for consideration once the Spike show airs.
"They have a young kid down there who's been doing their music and doing a great job," Hart said. "But just this week I've been working on some new numbers, a few Jimmy Hart originals, I wanted them to hear."
When asked what TNA offers that WWE isn't delivering, Hart said he can't complain about McMahon's product but feels NWA's is more wrestling-based and contains far less talk.
He also pushed the company's six-sided ring, exciting X division and crop of heavyweights that's a mix of familiar and new faces as a selling point for someone in doubt.
Even after years in the business, time spent planting his seeds in Memphis for a career that would take him around the world, things remain fresh for Hart. You can hear it in his voice.
"I still get excited when I go to the park," he said. "The two best-kept secrets in the world were NASCAR and wrestling, and who knew both would get so hot?"
By BRIAN KRASMAN, Daily News Editor
August 12, 2005
For Jimmy Hart, the hits keep on coming.
Those who grew up watching the heyday of WWE wrestling in the 1980s surely remember the small, skinny, colorful suit-wearing manager with the high-pitched voice, grating laugh and heart-adorned megaphone. Standing in the corner of such notable tag teams and singles such as the Hart Foundation, the Nasty Boys, Money Inc., Terry Funk and Dory Funk Jr., the Honkytonk Man and Hulk Hogan, the legendary figure has more than made a name for himself in pro wrestling.
All of that came after he and his band the Gentrys had a massive hit "Keep on Dancing" in the 1960s that put them on the road with thingy Clark, the Dave Clark Five, the Beach Boys and plenty of others.
"I came from a great musical career," Hart said during a telephone call to promote NWA-Total Nonstop Action's pay-per-view event "Sacrifice." "Well, we were a one-hit wonder, but one hit's better than no hits."
The high-energy, mile-a-minute chattering Hart fans see on TV isn't much different from the man who, away from ringside and the TV screen, maintains a deep love for the wrestling business. Early on this weekday morning, Hart is bursting at the seams with energy, sounding like he's either had too much coffee or is getting himself psyched for a long-distance marathon.
Hart, a personable, friendly man, still is bursting with excitement over his March induction into WWE's Hall of Fame and is just as pumped about TNA's rising stock and new television show "Impact!" that's set to debut on Spike TV Oct. 1.
"Vince McMahon, my hat goes off to him for keeping wrestling alive," he said. "But also, my hat goes off to (TNA executives) Dixie and Bob Carter, because I know Dixie had a dream. Three-and-a-half years of ups and downs and their love for the business kept them in it."
TNA began as a promotion that presented weekly PPV shows. Eventually, the group landed a deal on Fox Sports Net for a Friday afternoon slot and now they've got their big break, hitting male-dominated Spike TV.
More significantly for the domestic wrestling scene, TNA's weekly major cable slot puts it into direct competition with WWE, something the McMahon-owned company hasn't had since WCW went out of business in 2000.
While "Impact!" won't go head-to-head with WWE's flagship "Raw" (which moves to USA Network on Oct. 3), it gives wrestlers an alternative place to work and a chance to enjoy a less-grueling schedule.
"When I was in New York, we always had WCW, so there was always another place you could go," Hart said. "After Vince bought up WCW and ECW, there was really only one company. So by Dixie and TNA jumping into the game, it really gives the guys another place to wind up."
Currently, Hart is working the corner of TNA tag champs the Naturals, a role served briefly by the late Chris Candido. While he's thrilled to have a chance to be an on-air personality again, he said he keeps Candido, who died suddenly in May after leg surgery, in his thoughts.
"He came over to TNA, and they gave him an opportunity and he really took advantage of it," Hart said, his voice taking a solemn turn. "He was on time, he was dependable and his work in the ring was great."
Naturals members Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens, Hart said, are like many of TNA's younger talent, a group of workers he feels could be stars in the industry for years to come. But while he wants to see the two get better in the ring, he said he's trying to impress upon them and their peers the importance of transcending the ring.
"It's not just how good you are in the ring, it's how you are outside the ring," he said. "It's people skills and how you handle the public and radio interviews and stuff for newspapers. That's something I think is really missing in wrestling now."
In addition to his work ringside, Hart is keeping his hands in music. Over the years, he's composed a large portion of ring music for both WWE and WCW - some of his more notable entrance themes are Shawn Michaels' "Sexy Boy" and Hulk Hogan's WCW song "American Made" - and he said he's been putting together new songs for consideration once the Spike show airs.
"They have a young kid down there who's been doing their music and doing a great job," Hart said. "But just this week I've been working on some new numbers, a few Jimmy Hart originals, I wanted them to hear."
When asked what TNA offers that WWE isn't delivering, Hart said he can't complain about McMahon's product but feels NWA's is more wrestling-based and contains far less talk.
He also pushed the company's six-sided ring, exciting X division and crop of heavyweights that's a mix of familiar and new faces as a selling point for someone in doubt.
Even after years in the business, time spent planting his seeds in Memphis for a career that would take him around the world, things remain fresh for Hart. You can hear it in his voice.
"I still get excited when I go to the park," he said. "The two best-kept secrets in the world were NASCAR and wrestling, and who knew both would get so hot?"