Recent picture of Bret Hart w/ Muhammad Ali

[Guest FeArHaVoC]

 

New Bret Hart commentary

 

Ya know, I have my dad’s big, meaty hands ... but just look at those

sledgehammers on Muhammad Ali!

When I was a kid I had numerous sports heroes that I admired and

emulated every chance I could. Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to

meet some of them - Jean Belleveau, Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, Joe DiMaggio,

Mario Andretti, George Chuvalo. But none of my boyhood heroes had a bigger

impact on me than Casius Clay, and then Muhammad Ali.

I can remember being riveted to the TV when Ali smooth talked Howard

Cosel. It held a similar fascination for me to when Sweet Daddy Siki

chatted it up with Ed Whalen.

Not many people realize that when Muhammad Ali was growing up he was

a big pro wrestling fan who later patterned most of his fancy fast talking

ring persona after none other than Gorgeous George.

When I was thirteen Ali stopped through Calgary on a sparring tour and

that’s when he met my dad. They knew and respected each other by reputation

through such mutual friends as Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis. Stu even had

Jersey Joe Walcott and Rocky Marciano come up and referee some big matches

here in Calgary, with great success. These two bulls soon took to jostling

for a photo op and to this day it’s one of my dad’s fondest memories.

So, back in December I attended a special invitational dinner

honoring the Miami Hurricanes football team and you can only imagine my

delight upon seeing Muhammad Ali walk in. Suddenly I felt like every little

kid that’s come up to me and asked if I’d pose for a picture with them. I was

amused at myself when I wasn’t sure how to even approach Ali... even though

he took time with anybody and everybody, smiling and shaking hands as he made

his way through the restaurant. I could tell that this was a man that loved

people. Loved his fans. And loved being a hero. As he drew closer my heart

beat a little faster and then it happened.

Suddenly, when he was about ten feet away from me, Muhammad Ali

stopped and stared at me! I mean, his rock hard gaze penetrated right

through me. I took a deep breath as he slowly and purposefully raised his

right arm and pointed directly at me without so much as blinking. People

at my table gasped going, “He’s calling you out!” Next thing you know

Muhammad Ali is clenching his dumb bell sized fists at me! If I hadn’t had a

stroke I would have thumped him right then and there (yeah right).

If I didn’t know Ali for being such a prankster his more than serious

face would have made me more than a little apprehensive.

I stood up and slowly made my way towards him and I could see that

light in his eyes - like he was a little kid wrestling fan again. These

days sometimes I limp and a confused, maybe even concerned, look washed

away the challenging stare from Ali’s face. When we stood together the whole

place broke into cheers. I learned into him and explained that I suffered a

stroke back in June. Being a victim of Parkinson's disease these days Ali

doesn’t chat much but he firmly squeezed my hand and smiled as he looked

deep into my eyes with the unique understanding of a fellow fighter battling

a challenger greater than any he ever faced in the ring.

I was once again inspired by my childhood hero. He endures without

complaint, still carrying himself with pride and dignity and kept his sense

of humor in spite of it all. I hope I can be even nearly as great a

champion as he. I will carry the lesson of his exemplary demeanor in my

heart forever.

I’ve found it unfortunate that with some of the stars I’ve met the

closer you get to them the more their glow fades. With Ali it was just the

opposite. The light in his eyes still burns, triumphant, strong and true.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

He's startin to look kinda old. Then again he is almost 50.

 

(Edit: Not to mention he had a stroke, too)

[Guest Nevermortal]

Ever notice that he looks like a thinner John Zandig?

[Guest HartFan86]

Bret's looking better than he originially did a few months ago from the stroke...I wish they didn't have that damn text on that picture, I'd use it as my new sig.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Ali's a Miami Hurricane fan?

 

it sorta makes sense

[Guest T®ITEC]

The youth is just gone from Hart now.. Sort of makes me sad, but I guess he's looking okay for a fifty-year-old from his profession. Sheesh.

 

Hard to believe how young he looked when I met him in Feb. '99...

[Guest geniusMoment]

"You either had your kids when you were twelve or you have really aged well."

How things have changed. By the way Bret should have hit that.

[Guest FeArHaVoC]

Bret Hart’s Calgary Sun Column for March 15, 2003

 

Hockey, WWE, Kurt Angle, Cuts off hair

 

 

First off I want to congratulate the Calgary Hitmen on their great

performance this past week when they defeated second ranked Red Deer Rebels

insuring themselves a playoff spot for the sixth year in a row! In my humble

opinion it’s tough to compare this team to the one that started out at the

beginning of the season. Coach Richard Kromm and GM Kelly Kisio have done a

great job of making adjustments throughout the season but I do believe that

they’ll pay off in the long run. I’ve always understood that the real

hockey season starts at playoff time and the Calgary Hitmen have always

managed to surprise their fans by digging deep and bringing out the magic

that’s been with the team since their inception. In particular I’ve been

most impressed with Brandon Segal and Fedrik Sjostrom who have both come

into their own late in the season. My guess is that we’ll be playing the Red

Deer Rebels in the first round of the playoffs. The Hitmen have nothing to

lose and I have no doubt after watching them beat the Rebels in a critical

game, one that was equally important to the Rebels (for home ice advantage),

that this Hitmen team has what it takes to upset the defending Memorial Cup

Champions.

On another topic, I’m getting a lot of comments about my recent haircut -

blame Tie Domi! On a recent trip to Toronto he practically wrestled me into

his barber’s chair. I took one look at Tie’s head and looked for the nearest

exit but I relented when the barber assured me that it wouldn’t be the same

haircut as Tie’s. So there went my trademark ponytail of over twenty years.

I thought it might be interesting to see what kind of money I could get for

it on eBay.

Judging by the TV ads for Wrestlemania, it looks like I’m one of a

diminishing number of wrestlers that actually has a head left on his head. I

can’t help but notice that nobody’s got any hair any more! I think it would

be interesting to have a battle royal ladder match with a toupee hung from a

string. Can you imagine, Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Goldberg, Kurt Angle,

Shawn Michaels - and now even the chrome-domed Rock all fighting and clawing

their way up that ladder for a hair piece!

Last week I put in a call to my pal Daniel Igali who is recovering from

having a vertebrae fused in his neck. He sounded very confident and is

hoping that he’ll be able to compete in the world amateur wrestling

championships in New York City in the fall. Speaking of wrestlers with bad

necks, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Kurt Angle a full

recovery from a similar injury as Igali’s. Kurt Angle was the best thing to

happen to the WWE in a long time.

A few years ago when concussion injuries forced me into retirement I’ve

always felt it was a less than spectacular ending to a great career. I can’t

help but have great empathy for another pal of mine, Doug “The Killer”

Gilmour. I know it was a heartbreak to all hockey fans to see him crawl off

the ice at the Dome on Thursday night. Hopefully this gritty scrapper will

recover and light the way for the Maple Leafs in their quest for the Stanley

Cup.

One last personal note. As a Flames fan I want to commend Dave Lowry,

who returned mid-way through the season. In my opinion his heart felt

determination and leadership made a difference and I only wish they’d

brought him back a lot sooner.

[Guest RugbyDiva]

Bret's looking better than he originially did a few months ago from the stroke...I wish they didn't have that damn text on that picture, I'd use it as my new sig.

I agree, I think he looks A LOT better.

[Guest dpac]

OH NO, Bret got a haircut, wonder if wwe mgt. was behind it

[Guest The Czech Republic]

Tie Domi is part of the McMahon-Helmsley Regime!

[LaParkaYourCar 0]

His hair isn't that short. When I read of a haircut I thought he meant he cut it real short.

[Guest Steviekick]

For everything he's been through, he looks in good shape. I'm glad he's recovering well.

[Guest Respect The 'Taker]

He looks so much like his father it's uncanny.

 

I wonder how ole' Stu is these days anyway..

[Guest wwF1587]

Kurt Angle was the best thing to

happen to the WWE in a long time.

FUCK YEAH...i dont read bret's columns hardly ever but that just made me smile..