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Chairshots

9/14/01

Smackdown Thoughts
The WWF made a bold and controversial decision to air a live edition of Smackdown last night, just two days after the national tragedy. Many people question Vince McMahon's decision to put on a show so soon after it happened. I just want to weigh in with my opinion and say that I support it 100%. If you're like me, than you've been watching the news since 9am on Tuesday morning. I've seen and heard things I never thought possible in the world, let alone my country. Every conversation I've had over the last few days has involved the disaster in some way. Every newspaper, radio station, television broadcast and Internet site has some mention of it. You can't escape from it. When Thursday rolled around, I was looking forward to just a few precious hours of entertainment to take me away from it all. The WWF was not only able to do that, but also paid touching tribute to the victims and volunteers of this tragedy. And when it was all over, I tuned right back in to the news. Regardless of the WWF critics, watching Smackdown was the right thing to do for me, for the fans in Houston, and for the WWF. If you thought it was too soon for the WWF to go on, then you shouldn't have watched. It's just that simple. How soon is too soon is a personal decision for everyone. I made mine and I enjoyed the show.

WWF.com News
Jim Ross posted to WWF.com a brief commentary on why the WWF ran Smackdown. He talks about the WWF critics, Vince McMahon and what's on track for next week. You can read it here. Also on WWF.com, many of the wrestlers have posted their personal feelings towards the attack. Lillian Garcia, Tazz, Paul Heyman all have close ties to New York and have some interesting commentary. Check that out here.

Excess and Heat
The WWF is planning to rebroadcast last night's Smackdown on Saturday night in the TNN timeslot normally reserved for Excess. The overnight rating for the show was 4.1. Also, Sunday night Heat will not air this week on MTV.

WWF New York
WWF New York restaurant is in the heart of Times Square. It was unharmed during Tuesday's attack. The WWF has opened its doors as a safe haven, providing food and refreshments, for New York City police officers and fire fighters during the rescue efforts.

Soap Box
I've been trying only to comment on Tuesday's tragedy as it relates to wrestling, but I have something to say that I think is important. This attack was the result of hatred and racism. As I feared, I've been seeing reports of Muslim-Americans living in the U.S. being attacked and having their property damaged. I want to urge everyone not to judge all Muslims by the action of a handful of radicals. Remember that Timothy McVeigh, Theodore Kazinski and Jeffery Dahmer were all white Americans, but they do not represent the American community as a whole. I beg our citizens to not let their fear and anger turn to racism and blind hatred. That ability is what separates us from whoever did this.

Enough preaching for today. Join me on Monday when we try to get past all this and instead talk about how hot Torrie looks in that white one-piece jumper.

Michael Goodson

 

 

 

 

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