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Cucch's Book Review: "Chris and Nancy: The True Story of the Benoit Murder-Suicide and Pro Wrestling's Cocktail of Death."






Well, my last book review had someone allege that I had fallen off the wagon and was back on drugs. So WHY NOT this book?


No wrestling fan will ever forget where they were on Monday, June 25, 2007. It was a day that evoked some pretty tangible memories. I have stated my own as such in reviewing two of the books authored on the wrestler once known as Chris Benoit. I say once known, because WWE canon has all but erased the man, ex-sponged him from history.  The unfortunate thing is that many of us who were fans of the man cannot simply do that. The horrible reality still stares us in the face, strikes us in the heart like a flaming dagger. Here was a man celebrated for being an in-ring maestro, an absolute artist who took the medium of pro wrestling to its rarest of heights, a man who was never truly appreciated by whatever American organization was pushing or de-pushing him, a man not necessarily understood by the so-called "unwashed masses" of wrestling fans, who ascended to the top of the organization's mountain, and provided a orgasmic release from many longtime fans, real fans, inside fans who truly understood, or thought they understood, what pro wrestling was all about. Here was a wrestler's wrestler, the heir apparent to the thrones of both Dynamite Kid and Bret Hart, a man who personified the in ring craft as the truest form of art, who gave his all for the fans, who paid his dues. Chris Benoit was every wrestler's favorite wrestler. That is a statement many have made. I was one of those die hard fans who enjoyed everything Benoit had to offer, left on the table, sacrificed for. And now...as far as my friends go, I look like the biggest moron in the world. All because of one horrific weekend in 2007.

That is a paragraph that, more or less, not necessarily word for word, that I have had to write when discussing the relative merits of my favorite wrestler for six years now. The events of that weekend not only shook WWE to its core, but all of wrestling and its many fans, and all of America, and I dare say Canada and Japan. The Benoit double murder suicide was catastrophic in a sense that it destroyed the psyches of so many people in so many places, from so many walks of life. It was an unthinkable act perpetuated from the most unlikely source. So we thought. And to this day we still grieve.

Now, I have reviewed both "Ring of Hell" and "Benoit", and both are recommended reads. I have steered clear of reviewing the nameskae of this website's book for a while now, but, trust me, it will be forthcoming. What I want to address, what needs to be reviewed, is Irv Muchnick's "Chris and Nancy."

It is, by and large, the most salacious book published in this post 6/27 world. While many who read my reviews probably know of my distaste for Irv Muchnick, this is one book where I can lay most of my bias aside and acknowledge the facts. Irv has written a hell of a book here. It is detailed and fairly accurate. Yet, there are aspects of the book that I still find distasteful and loaded with anti-wrestling hubris.

This book is not so much a life history of Benoit, or even a history of Nancy Toffoloni.  It isn't even necessarily a character study. The basic gist of this book barely has anything to do at all with Chris, Nancy, or Daniel Benoit, really, God rest two of the three souls. No, this book is more about the investigation of Fayette County Georgia police officials, the ineptitude of DA Scott Ballard, and WWE's reaction to the whole sordid mess.

The book features two quick and dirty chapters on the life's of Chris Benoit and Nancy Toffoloni. Like 50 pages worth. Not much, and other books have done their lives justice better, like "Ring of Hell", "Benoit", and, yes, "Dungeon of Death." All do a better job of describing the humanity of the individuals who perished better than this book. Even if none directly deal with the most tragic figure of the tragedy, Daniel. What Muchnick does is expose the holes in the whole shitty investigation by the Fayette County Sheriff's department. It depicts a police force not equipped for the crime that happened, and a complete ineptitude from the office of the District Attorney Scott Ballard. Muchnick actually does an amazing job of laying out the issues that any sane person, wrestling fan, non wrestling fan, would allay in terms of the evidence provided. For that, it is just an outstanding read, and one I recommend whole-heartedly.

Another aspect of the book, as Muchnick strays from the actual history of the Benoit family, is the link between Benoit and Dr. Astin, which, do not get me wrong, is significant. But if you are to write a proper story on this whole sordid mess, you NEED that backstory. Muchnick merely plows ahead, ignoring the humanity of what happened and delves straight into the why, what and how instead of the more significant WHO and WHY. Now, Astin was no angel, a complete asswipe drug dealer with no conscience or fear of repercussion, which may be the one positive that came out of this whole nasty mess. A corrupt Doctor off the streets means less drugs funneled to dependent addicts without a script. For that, I applaud Law Enforcement.

The largest portion of this book, like most else, is devoted to the Media Circus surrounding the whole affair. It was a joke. But whereas other books deal with the Press following the crisis, this one details Congress' handling of the shit. And, much like the hearings of Major League Baseball? It is absolutely laughable. I will not get into details, because no detail is needed. All that needs to be asked is these: Has Pro Wrestling been charged? Has MLB been charged? NO. I sit here on a night where a lifetime ban of Alex Rodriguez (justified) is being bandied about. What wrestler has truly been called out? NONE. And it will sadly remain that way.

Irv Muchnick's "Chris and Nancy" is a fine book, but far from the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But it IS must read. The only thing that pisses me off about it is the fact that he constantly, CONSTANTLY, in footnotes throughout the book, makes reference to the materials he came across in studying the case. And they are available for $25 from Irv AFTER the fact.

A true journalist, that Muchnick.

Comments

  1. I've read this book and it really makes you wonder how much wwe knew earlier than they lead you to believe. With armstrong, dave taylor, chavo (again involving a death) all misrepresenting facts and timelines, it's truly a fascinating study of a protection of the business.

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  2. Actually, I have no idea where I was on June 25, 2007.

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  3. I was going to the Dollar Movie Theater to see Wild Hogs I believe.

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  4. Looks like Rob Van Dam has hacked into Zanadude's account.

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  5. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryJuly 31, 2013 at 10:44 PM

    Condolences, even for a buck.

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  6. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryJuly 31, 2013 at 10:48 PM

    The thing I remember most, besides bawling my fucking eyes out when I heard, was that my mother -- whose wrestling knowledge starts and stops at "Hulk Hogan and Jake Roberts were in the WWF when I was a kid" -- called me to ask how I was doing because she somehow remembered that Chris Benoit was my favorite wrestler. I had been away at college for three years at that point, and growing up, I rarely talked about wrestling with my mom to begin with, and yet there was she was, on the ball almost as soon as I found out myself.


    Moms are the fucking best.

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  7. After I watched RAW that night, one of the many things that stood out about that bizarre episode is a story from Shawn Michaels.
    Shawn claimed that one day, a talent who by then was no longer in WWE and whose name was never once mentioned by Shawn had disrespected him. Benoit was mad about it and decided to teach the kid a lesson in respect by making him do calisthenics. Shawn claimed that as a testament to what a great man Chris was (I strongly disagree with that claim but that's only my opinion), instead of just berating the guy, Chris decided to do the exercises with him.
    Does anybody know who Shawn was referring to? Because so many guys came and went from Shawn's return in 2002 up until that point and so many of those guys reportedly had attitude problems that I can't put my finger on just who that person could have been.
    One thing I have noticed lately: Ever since Triple H took over Talent Relations, virtually nobody gets fired anymore. Quite the contrast from the Johnny Ace days when 10 to 15 people would usually get fired every six months or so.

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  8. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryJuly 31, 2013 at 10:54 PM

    I think their roster size is just the right size where they can use the bottom tier on the international shows and have able bodies for house shows in case of injury; it does like HHH is valuing the depth and not just cutting everyone who doesn't make an impact on RAW or SD. Was there even any notables during the spring cleaning this year?

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  9. The David Taylor shit is interesting and odd.

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  10. Even a penny would be too much money to spend to see that movie and I spent 5 bucks for the Rifftrax version of Birdemic which unlike Wild Hogs was at least hilarious.

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  11. No wrestling fan will ever forget where they were on Monday, June 25, 2007.

    It is, by and large, the most salacious book published in this post 6/27 world.

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  12. I don't even think there was a spring cleaning this year.
    JTG and Yoshi Tatsu are still around. You just know they would be the first two guys fired if there's a firing spree looming ahead.

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  13. Has Pro Wrestling been charged? Has MLB been charged? NO. I sit here on a night where a lifetime ban of Alex Rodriguez (justified) is being bandied about. What wrestler has truly been called out? NONE. And it will sadly remain that way.



    Oh my God. Pro wrestling should be charged with what exactly? MLB should be charged with what?


    Why should A-Rod be given a lifetime ban? So your Yankees can get out of his contract?


    Also, you need to learn about proper nouns and what gets capitalized and what doesn't.

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  14. I think I've read it was Davari.

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  15. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryJuly 31, 2013 at 11:07 PM

    All I remember is Derrick Bateman being let go and some random NXT folks and that's just about it.

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  16. I quit reading at ex-sponged. Really?

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  17. Great points altogether, especially about A-Rod.
    All the Yankees had to do to get out of that contract was not sign him to a renewal in the first place. It's not anyone put a gun to their heads forcing them to sign him to a new deal where they would get to keep that albatross for a few more years.
    And it's not like he had any good performances to justify getting that kind of deal in the first place because if he was any good then the Texas Rangers would have begged him to come back by now.

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  18. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryJuly 31, 2013 at 11:10 PM

    Tonight, he's Zanaduuuuuuuuude

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  19. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryJuly 31, 2013 at 11:11 PM

    Yeah, A-Rod's a piece of shit who deserves to be shown the door...but I can't help but root that he gets every last cent of that stupid contract that he should've never been signed to. I miss George Steinbrenner bidding against himself.

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  20. A-Rod doesn't deserve a lifetime ban.


    The 2007 contract never made any sense. A-Rod opted out (during Game 4 of the World Series, because he's that big of a cunt), the Steinbrenners stick out their dicks and decide they he isn't coming back....

    and then somehow gave him an even more insane contract than the last one.


    The Yankees should have to pay every cent of that contract. A-Rod should probably be suspended, but I don't give a shit about steroids or Biogenesis anymore. Let him play, who cares.

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  21. Ladies and gents, THIS is the best response I I have heard. Straight up and to the point. The rest of you are just fronting and perpetuating what WWE says.

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  22. Why don't you respond to the criticisms of the points you made or your numerous typos? Do you read your work before you publish?


    I give Caliber a lot of shit, but at least he got someone to edit his work so it looked more professional and readable.


    What would Pro Wrestling be charged with? Who would charge Pro Wrestling? Who would be the one indicted for the charges? Punishments, etc?


    The federal government did try going after people. They whiffed on Clemens, Bonds and Armstrong. So maybe charging people doesn't really work.

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  23. The best part of Benoit's death was how quickly it went from NOOO YOU WERE THE BEST EVER to FUCK YOU CHILD KILLER.


    Hilarious.

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  24. Because you have nothing valid to say.

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  25. You make arguments and points. I am questioning those arguments. How is that not valid?

    Oh speaking of validity, what is valid about this:

    Has Pro Wrestling been charged? Has MLB been charged?



    Also, what is not valid about pointing out your frequent typos, unfunny jokes, weird comments and the fact that the Lita debut had duplicate paragraphs? Shouldn't a writer be aware when his work needs touching up?

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  26. Found out about their deaths from Princess' post on this very blog. That Tuesday as the details emerged was - no exagerration - one of the worst days of my life. Benoit was a bigger hero than I'd admitted to myself and the fog I was in that day was comparable to family members dying. Only it lingered longer.
    Truth be told, I wasn't sure if I could be a wrestling fan anymore. I had to find a litmus test of some sort and came up with the idea of watching one of the funniest matches I've seen: Samoa Joe vs. Jack Evans vs. Ebessan vs. Delirious from ROH's Final Showdown. It had me laughing by the end, but if it hadn't... I would probably be long gone.
    To this day I have more than 200 Chris Benoit matches from all over the world - STILL by far the most of any wrestler. Since he's died, the total number I've watched: two. Watching them is not only depressing, it has me asking unanswerable questions about what happened while they're going on.
    I don't think I will ever really live this down.

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  27. The mental image of Dave Taylor walking around with a tray of deli meats outside of the Benoit house , right when the police got there, creeps me out for some reason.

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  28. Also, Pro Wrestling WAS charged when the federal government indicted Vince for steroids in 1994.


    He was acquitted.


    Valid point?

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  29. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 12:15 AM

    maybe he was watchin' that seinfeld ep

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  30. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 12:20 AM

    hey, 6/27 lives in infamy, dude... that was the day i had the major poops, with poop cramps to boot

    i'm lucky i made it out of mighty taco alive

    ...though a little part of me did die that day. a stinky, poopy, gooey little part of me.

    rip lil' poop, i miss you

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  31. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 12:23 AM

    DID YOU KNOW?


    that wild hogs is vinces favourite movie?

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  32. Cool, a book review by someone who is barely literate.

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  33. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 12:24 AM

    what if it was tylene buck?

    would you offer condolences or a free testing?

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  34. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 12:26 AM

    please to be explaining the dave taylor stuff

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  35. Some of you guys might care a little two much about fake fighting. It's like a flaming dagger?! You'll never get over it?!? And still we grieve?!
    The guy was the worst kind of person you can be, and besides that, he wasn't even over. Seriously. He wasn't as over as Santino.

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  36. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 12:28 AM

    'And still we grieve'



    that would make a kickass song title

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  37. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 12:31 AM

    there should have been a 'sid and nancy' book...

    ...but it would be about sid eudy and nancy sullivan-benoit's wacky adventures

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  38. davidbonzaisaldanamontgomeryAugust 1, 2013 at 12:59 AM

    Haha, totally forgot about that.

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  39. It's a shame that Peter Steele is no longer with us because that would definitely be an ideal title for a Type O Negative song.

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  40. Yoshi Tatsu is useful for the Japan market, so they wouldn't dump him without a replacement Jap lined up.

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  41. Please. Don't spoil it for the people that don't know about it yet.

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  42. If WWE says that 2 + 2 = 4, are we supposed to disagree with them to avoid toeing the company line?

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  43. Pretty sure that'll be on the next Pallbearer album, brah.

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  44. What happened on Monday, June 25, 2007?

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  45. I still remember the day I found out about Benoit's death very clearly. I was at work at the time and totally unaware of what was happening and my gf at the time texted me that Benoit and his wife had died. The funny thing was that she wasn't even a wrestling fan, she just knew that I liked wrestling and she mispelled Benoit's name, but I could tell who she meant, and without any specific details to go on, my first thought was 'holy shit....I wonder if Kevin Sullivan has been arrested yet...'

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  46. My mom did the exact same thing!

    However, it devolved into phone sex as usual.

    Moms are the fucking best.

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  47. I will say, despite all the negative feefback this article is getting I find it awesome that you used terms "bandied about" and "asswipe" in the same review.

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  48. SPOILER: They all die in the end :(

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  49. I don't get what the cops needed to investigate? Its a murder/suicide. Tag em and bag em baby!
    And why give a Dr so much shit, people wanted drugs, he got them for them. Excuse me for not jizzing myself over out corrupt fucking government ruining his life and incarcerating him, that's a real plus for society

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  50. I actually did the very same..

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  51. "Coctail of Death"?

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  52. When I first heard about all three members of the family dying around the same time, I thought it was carbon monoxide poisoning.

    Also, is it now definitely true that Vince found out that it was murder before that Raw went on the air, but with so little time left before the Tribute Show, said "ah, hell, let's act oblivious and then discuss it tomorrow on ECW." ?

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  53. Ok, I read a bit more.
    I was a pretty big Benoit fan, but I can honestly say that he never provided me with any "orgasmic release". That's cool for you and all, but it's not how I roll.
    Where was I on, uh, 6/27? At home I'm pretty sure, and read it on 411. My wife had brought home a new fish that day and named it Crippler in his honour until we found out the story and then we renamed the fish Charles Nelson Reilly.
    Charles Nelson Reilly is no longer with us.

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  54. don't hold back now, tell us how you really feel

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  55. AverageJoeEverymanAugust 1, 2013 at 7:01 AM

    This was the real tragedy that sad day.

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  56. Sorry I really need to comment on the A-rod thing. No way in hell does he deserve a Lifetime ban, especially since he ahs never even been suspended before for PED's.

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  57. You should have named it Stevie Richards instead. Though you could do worse than CNR (I prefer Dumb Dora myself)

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  58. Is he on his account or was it a one-shot deal?

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  59. Agreed. It's supposed to go 50 games, 100 games, then life, for positive PED tests. They're going straight for the lifetime ban just because Selig doesn't like A-Rod personally and this would make a big splash.

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  60. And then you say that, showing us you have nothing to say. Good jorb.

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  61. Dude, proof-reading.And the language was a little dramatic

    And i'll echo others asking what would "Pro Wrestling" be charged with? Without claiming i'm perpetuating what WWE says, whatever that means?

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  62. Yeah at worst he should get a 50 game suspension. The lifetime ban thing is dumb, and another reason to despise MLB

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  63. I was at a show by The Evens, Ian MacKaye from Minor Threat's band. Really cool show, it was in a small church with a smal crowd and only maybe 50 people were there, really tiny and intimate. Then I got home and my sister texted me saying Benoit was dead (I missed Raw due to the concert). I didn't know the details until the next day, watching CNN. Wasn't really online ever at the time, so I was late to tthe party on that one.

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  64. Not sure I buy that.


    Vince has been happy ("happy") to re-write Raw as it goes along. I'm pretty sure if he knew it was a double murder, he'd have changed things up PRETTY quickly.

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  65. Without giving out the whole story, MLB seems to be railroading ARod for little-to-no reason, giving him a harsher penalty than other guys who did the same thing. ARod hasn't failed any drug tests since they started doing them, never been suspended for PED use before, nothing. And yet...


    As a Yankees fan who never liked ARod's contract, I wouldn't mind the lifetime ban, but as a Yankees fan watching a mediocre season of minimal production, I wouldn't mind having his bat back, even if he only hits .250.

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  66. I was at a bar with some friends when I looked up and saw Benoit's photo on TV, which was on ESPN. I thought it was odd that SportsCenter would do something on Benoit missing a PPV match, so when I went home that night I went online to see what was up.

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  67. I don't get the Stevie Richards thing,,? I've seen people using his name to refer to Benoit lately, but where did it come from?

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  68. Amsterdam_Adam_CurryAugust 1, 2013 at 8:05 AM

    Actually he has failed a drug test, back when they were just testing but not penalizing people. And he's facing a possible lifetime ban because MLB is considering the Biogenesis deal as multiple violations, which kind of makes sense.

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  69. Dave Taylor and his wife were hanging around outside the house
    before police showed up (he even had a plate of cold cuts like people give after hearing of someone's passing). Neighbors confirmed it and Taylor later denied ever being in the same state. The mystery is how did he know there was anything going on at the house before any reports (or even deaths) and who told him to check on the house. Reports are that WWE brass knew what happened and wanted him there to clean up anything that would tie to them (like drugs) before police were notified. Taylor claims that he was in Texas with the WWE tour even though he wasn't booked, so he could serve as a substitute if necessary and/or draw an advance on his guaranteed salary. This has been rebutted by various wrestlers, who have said that this never happens. There is also no record of him being at the event.

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  70. Sorry, I meant failed a drug test since they began suspending people for them. He never served a 50-game first offense suspension.

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  71. The lifetime ban would not be for the drug use; it would be for tampering with the investigation and destroying evidence.

    The coverup is worse than the crime.

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  72. He's facing a lifetime ban because MLB wants to strong arm in him into taking a bullshit plea agreement.


    No way would that ever hold up and Selig is completely overstepping his bounds.

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  73. They found the bodies.

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  74. They knew before the show started. You can also see a change in town throughout the show.

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  75. "Chris and Nancy: The True Story of the Benoit Murder-Suicide and Pro Wrestling's Coctail of Death."


    How did I miss this?


    Chris Cucchiara, is this an invalid thing to point out?

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  76. It is a real plus for society.

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  77. So wrong, but damn if I didn't laugh.

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  78. Your comment popped up on Disqus and I just noticed "Coctail" in the title. I know English teachers that would give this writing not just an F, but tear it up and burn it right in front of the student.

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  79. She went to a TNA show thinking she'd see Pamela Anderson

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  80. http://deadspin.com/can-baseball-actually-ban-alex-rodriguez-982446662

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  81. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 1, 2013 at 9:05 AM

    God, I want people like you to quit existing. Perhaps if we put Sterilization Rays in the transmissions of Big Bang Theory & How I Met Your Mother that will do it.

    Why do you think anyone gives a fuck that you quit reading at a certain point? What drives people like to announce shit like that? You're the same kind of person who tells a certain person on twitter that you're unfollowing.


    Great, he made a mistake, who cares. I know you've done everything perfectly, and are free from judgment & ridicule.

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  82. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 1, 2013 at 9:06 AM

    And a comment from someone who means nothing to the World and thus has to jack himself off by trying to be funny & insulting.

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  83. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 1, 2013 at 9:06 AM

    Hey, you're stepping on today's QOTD!

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  84. Shit. Delete delete!

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  85. Caliber, it's not just that he made one mistake. We all make typos and errors, that's fine.


    It's that his reviews are littered with typos, random capitalization, odd opinions he refuses to back up, overwrought writing... if he's going to put his writing out there and have it be so incoherent, he deserves to be mocked and ridiculed.


    He had a typo in the headline of the article. Come on, if this guy doesn't give a shit about how he comes of, why should we treat him with kid gloves?

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  86. No, this comment was funny. Of all the people to white knight for, why pick the shitty book reviewer?

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  87. >Why do you think anyone gives a fuck that you quit reading at a certain point? What drives people like to announce shit like that?



    Because it's funny and he deserves to be called out for that, especially since people have repeatedly complained about his typos and odd word usage?


    And if hsimpson put out a book review like this, he would absolutely deserved to be judged and ridiculed, as would anyone. It sucks.


    Why do you hate How I Met Your Mother so much Caliber? I admit the show has a lot of flaws, and it got really annoying around Season 5 or 6, but at its peak, it was one of the best shows out there. Carter Bays and Craig Thomas deserve credit for creating this multi-layered universe of flashbacks, flashforwards, running gags, in-jokes, and most of all making the show really funny.


    Clearly, How I Met is a show that was never meant to run for 9 seasons, and I am iffy on the final season, but I'd like to know where this hatred comes from.


    We've debated Big Bang Theory in the past.

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  88. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 1, 2013 at 9:24 AM

    Because I know what it's like. Before most people turned the corner on me, I was considered a monster. They'd rally up the pitchforks & torches and come knocking on Castle Winfieldenstein the second I'd post a review. For no reasons really, other than I had conflicting views.

    I mean, Chris is a nice guy. He offers up reviews for free, which are entertaining and insightful. OK, so he has a few typos, and flubs with words here and there. He writes a lot, and it's bound to happen. Even with an editor I still have typos here and there.

    I just don't see the point in being so negative to someone, and so insulting, when they aren't doing anything to harm anyone, or be malicious in anyway.

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  89. Being criticised and negative feedback is part of writing, especially when your writing is not very good, like Chris' is.


    He doesn't just have a few typos, his reviews are littered with them. In the Lita review, he wrote the same paragraph twice. In this one, he had a typo in the headline.


    He has been called out for his random capitalization numerous times, yet makes no effort to fix it.


    He makes points and arguments in his reviews (some that are absurd), yet when called on it, he just dismisses it as "not valid".


    His writing is overwrought in an attempt to add gravitas.


    and provided a orgasmic release from many longtime fans



    And to this day we still grieve.



    I feel like I'm reading a review written by a drunk Aaron Brown.


    Final paragraph:


    If Chris doesn't want or can't handle criticism, he should not be posting his writing in a public setting.

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  90. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 1, 2013 at 9:34 AM

    I just come from the school of thought of if someone isn't hurting anyone, or being a dick, why be a dick to them? Why not offer up constructive criticism? Like, how about saying "You know Chris, I noticed a few typos here and there, perhaps get an editor? Or proof read a bit more before posting? I like what you're doing, but you could use some work." What's so wrong with acting kind & helpful?

    As for HIMYM, it's just one of those sit-coms of the current era that I can't stand. It uses laugh-tracks, and the same tired characters & jokes. Oh look, Barney is a guy who gets laid and is a total man, he acts like a complete, over the top ass who thinks he's super smooth but in reality he's an idiot! Or the bashful "ah shucks, I just want a good woman" guy who's after the Slutty Pumpkin. Then we have the "dorky couple" played by Jason & Alison. Alison is one of those "goody-two shoes" type girls who will get her laughs by saying something "raunchy" or what have you, and then Jason is like "oh snaps! What did you say?!". About 5 years ago my girlfriend and I kept hearing about how great the show was, so we rented the first season. We watched about 8 episodes and turned to each other like "Are you serious?".

    It just bugs me so much when shows like My Name Is Earl, or Freaks & Geeks get canned, but programs like HIMYM or Yes, Dear keep on rockin' for years.

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  91. Yes Dear and My Name Is Earl are the same guy.


    MIND BLOWN.

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  92. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 1, 2013 at 9:38 AM

    I'll be honest, I don't know how often he's told about his mistakes, because I usually just read the review and that's it.

    If he's being told time and time again, then he really should be better at making changes.

    But see, criticism is one thing. It's OK to tell people what's wrong, so long as you have something helpful to say. I just never understand being a complete dick to someone when it's completely unwarranted.

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  93. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 1, 2013 at 9:39 AM

    Haha, I know. I couldn't believe that when I saw the credits a few years ago. Greg must not have as much say in Yes, Dear or something. Because the format & comedy style are night & day to each other.

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  94. Also, My Name Is Earl got cancelled for a reason. It sucked.


    Hold on, let me finish.


    The first few seasons were great, and I loved the show, but Earl going to prison was awful. He didn't just stay in prison, he spent the first half of the season in prison!


    It completely killed the show and it never recovered. You can't just flip your audience off like that and expect to hold them like that.


    I think Greg Garcia was the only person in the world who thought that was a good idea. I hope.

    ReplyDelete
  95. Oh come on, these last couple of reviews have been TERRIBLE. If you're publishing your work then you're opening yourself to critque.

    If you're work is just THAT bad, then you're going to get less constructive critisism and more "this is too bad to even continue reading."

    You're right about those shows though. Absolute drek.

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  96. And this, my friends, is the embodiment of the participation ribbon culture we've fostered in American education. Nobody deserves to be criticized, nobody deserves to have their mistakes pointed out, nobody deserves to fail. I have tried to read the writer's reviews but they are getting increasingly more bizarre and unreadable. I have made several mistakes in my life - who hasn't? If someone didn't point out my mistakes I would have never learned from them. This writer has shown zero improvement, therefore, deserves not to be read.

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  97. Basically what I wanted to say.


    Until you dismissed Big Bang Theory and How I Met. You leave my CBS comedies alone!

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  98. "Also, My Name Is Earl got cancelled for a reason. It sucked."

    Stop it! You're being critical!

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  99. He has been numerous times. The Lita review was filled with criticisms about his random capitalization nonsense, and he does the same thing again.


    Being a dick to him has been warranted. His reviews and opinions are, as the other guy put it, bizarre and often incoherent. He refuses to acknowledge this or defend any points he makes.


    Of all the people to defend from getting shit on, Chris isn't one of them. He sucks, and if he's going to keep posting stuff like this, he deserves and will get criticism.

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  100. Caliber_Winfield_The_3rdAugust 1, 2013 at 9:56 AM

    Yeah, the prison ordeal was a mistake. But they realized as such and even made fun of it in the 4th season. Sometimes you have to take a risk, and sometimes you pay big time for it. After all the experimentation of season 3 they just went back to Earl helping people, and got back to what made the show great.

    Then it ended on a cliff hanger. I mean, would it have killed them to film a 2 hour TV movie to finish shit off? I hate it when networks pull crap like that.

    ReplyDelete
  101. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 10:00 AM

    'If you're work is just THAT bad"'


    psst... *your


    sorry, couldnt resist


    i still love you... even though you wouldnt share yer kit kat

    ReplyDelete
  102. Damnit, I thought I fixed that before anyone noticed.

    Quit following me around!

    ReplyDelete
  103. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 10:08 AM

    GIMME KIT KAT

    ReplyDelete
  104. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 10:09 AM

    i like that one wife, the one who's married to the idiot

    ReplyDelete
  105. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 10:13 AM

    it was benoit in the office with the telephone cord


    and it was also benoit in the bedroom with the crossface


    and it was also benoit in the weight room with the pulley

    ReplyDelete
  106. NEVER!

    But if you want then I'll share this Pep with you.

    They don't split well though, and I'm keeping the bigger half.

    ReplyDelete
  107. I do it for orgasmic release!!!!! BTW did you spell "world" with a capital W in honor of the author?

    ReplyDelete
  108. Yes.


    A two-hour TV movie would be really expensive for something that no one would watch.

    ReplyDelete
  109. I've been a dick to him, I admit, but people here have been pointing out the flaws in his reviews for a while now and his reviews are getting more incoherent by the review.


    Why be nice to someone who refuses to listen and is getting worse, if possible?

    ReplyDelete
  110. and instead she saw BLANK.

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  111. "ex-sponged" made me laugh the most...

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  112. Same here. He made him do 1000 Hindu Squats with him which caused Davari to tear some ligament or something that ended up coming out in his piss... I remember this because it was described as being "Dr. Pepper colored"

    ReplyDelete
  113. Let's tackle the How I Met criticism!


    >As for HIMYM, it's just one of those sit-coms of the current era that I can't stand. It uses laugh-tracks, and the same tired characters & jokes.








    Caliber, sitcom is one word. Your favourite show is Married With Children, which is the epitome of laugh track audience sitcoms. That's not a fair criticism. There is nothing with having a laugh track or shooting in front of a studio audience.




    >Oh look, Barney is a guy who gets laid and is a total man, he acts like a complete, over the top ass who thinks he's super smooth but in reality he's an idiot!


    Yea and Barney is awesome. Neil Patrick Harris is so charismatic and is just so much fun to watch that he makes the Barney character a joy to watch.


    >Or the bashful "ah shucks, I just want a good woman" guy who's after the Slutty Pumpkin.


    Yea, Ted and Josh Radnor both suck.


    >Then we have the "dorky couple" played by Jason & Alison. Alison is one of those "goody-two shoes" type girls who will get her laughs by saying something "raunchy" or what have you, and then Jason is like "oh snaps! What did you say?!"


    Alyson Hannigan can get annoying at times, especially every time they go back to wahhh I'm just a kindergarten teacher SERIOUS ARTIST but Marshall is great. I thought the episode where he attended his dad's funeral was very well done. And the show is exploring all different committed relationships- the guy looking for love, the couple found love and the player. It's a classic television trope.


    Rules of Engagement did the same thing.


    >About 5 years ago my girlfriend and I kept hearing about how great the show was, so we rented the first season. We watched about 8 episodes and turned to each other like "Are you serious?".



    It's also amazing how many sitcoms have ripped off How I Met or used a lot of their bits through the years. Truly innovative. The Winner on FOX was such a rip-off that FOX should've sued. Or look at Golden Boy on CBS.

    ReplyDelete
  114. Coctail of Death kills me

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  115. Yeah, there may be a 5 year old reading this who has never heard of a "Chris Benoit" and probably also believes the popular WWE spin of John Cena getting 99% boos is a "mixed reaction".

    ReplyDelete
  116. Neither. Just taking an opportunity to make fun of RVD having short term memory due to smoking weed for 25 years.

    ReplyDelete
  117. I'm going to bite my tongue this time on how incredibly wrong your second paragraph was.

    ReplyDelete
  118. Regal in particular

    ReplyDelete
  119. Regal was because JBL said you don't think he killed the kid right before his tribute.


    And Benoit wouldn't let him in the house to watch puro. What a dick!

    ReplyDelete
  120. Well he's never going to make the wwe hall of fame but I'll take some solace in the fact that Benoit is still a monster draw on the BoD

    ReplyDelete
  121. Let's just agree to disagree!

    ReplyDelete
  122. Are you not allowed to edit the topic titles?

    ReplyDelete
  123. Honestly, the lack of releases probably has more to do with Linda's Senate dreams than anything Triple H is doing. They haven't done their post-WM purge ever since she started running for office (with a top claim being that she gives people jobs).

    ReplyDelete
  124. Your_Favourite_AssholeAugust 1, 2013 at 12:26 PM

    didnt you get the memo that technically he is in the hof since the horsemen went in.


    and that austin put a hit on owen

    ReplyDelete
  125. Don't read 411mania?

    ReplyDelete
  126. Lord no. I don't go anywhere near that malware filled cesspool.

    ReplyDelete
  127. Upvoting for The Evens.

    ReplyDelete
  128. How can You criticize the writing on HIMYM or BBT? It's unfAir to criticize anything,ever. As long as the Writers tried their best and participated,they're all wiNners.

    ReplyDelete
  129. The Ghost of Faffner HallAugust 1, 2013 at 9:34 PM

    Actually I'm pretty sure HIMYM records its episodes and then plays it in front of a studio audience, so what you're hearing on TV is actual audience laughter, not canned.

    ReplyDelete
  130. That is correct, though they have shot some less ambitious episodes in front of an audience.

    ReplyDelete
  131. Pretty much agreed- HIMYM isn't that funny or amusing, but gets more credit than it deserves because people decided that Neil Patrick Harris was the uber-talented God of Gays and all pro-gay people must automatically find him amazing.

    Barney is also totally a "fan's dream" kind of character- a guy who can say whatever he wants and get away with it, and also bang hot chicks.

    ReplyDelete
  132. See, it's weird, because while I was a huge Benoit fan, I was basically laughing like "WHAT?!?! WHAT!?!?!" when my friend phoned me with the news. I found it almost absurd and crazy, and unbelievable in that shocked-laugh sort of way.

    ReplyDelete
  133. ...what?


    Neil Patrick Harris received critical and fan acclaim as Barney before he officially came out. (Even though it wasn't actually a big secret)


    Nice homophobia.

    ReplyDelete
  134. He's a decent actor, but brutally overrated- people act like he's the most talented person EVER, and he's all over the place these days.

    As a pro-gay rights person myself, I think it's asinine and way over-done. Actually, thanks to Dr. Horrible, he's also a God of Nerds as well, so BOTH groups end up over-inflating his talents.

    ReplyDelete
  135. When I found out he died, I was eating dinner with my brothers and a friend, and I turned Raw on, and it began with "R.I.P. Chris Benoit" and we were all like "WTF?!" It was especially jarring because they were in the middle of the silly Vince is dead storyline, so it was a little hard at that point to determine whether it was real or a work, but that was resolved seconds later when Vince appeared.

    ReplyDelete

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