Wow. It's Worse Than I Could Have Imagined.

So here is what I blogged last night, as the first few sketchy scraps of information about the death of wrestler Chris Benoit and his wife and son first emerged:

"I've been lucky enough to experience a few pro wrestling 'house shows,' where you get to see the real athleticism of the performers up close and catch a glimpse of the real person behind each on-screen persona. Although I am not a huge pro wrestling fan, I loved those house shows because they put you in touch with the real people behind the characters, and I had the privilege of seeing Chris Benoit perform live at some of these events. He was one of my favorites because he played such a distinctive character, but he also seemed to possess some real character. It's shocking when a famous person you have watched perform live passes away, especially when they pass away so young, at the same age as your own husband. Chris, age 40, his wife Nancy, and his young 7-year-old son were found deceased today in Georgia, and it looks like homicide. It is too early yet to know what really happened. It is just sad. I wish them all peace, no matter what traumatic events may have transpired in their lives."

I'm quite shocked that someone so well loved by his friends and his fans for more than 20 years could suddenly turn into such a twisted monster. There is speculation that steroids are responsible for this terrible tragedy. If that is the case, then I hope this is a huge wake up call to all of the athletes out there who are using these drugs--stop using steroids right now before they change you and cause you to hurt someone or hurt yourself.

Benoit might have been one of my favorite performers in the ring in the past, but knowing what I know now, I have to completely re-evaluate my impressions of this person. I have to also completely re-evaluate my impressions of this form of entertainment: why do the pro wrestlers feel so strongly that they must do steroids to achieve a particular physical form? Isn't there a way for this type of entertainment to exist without steroids being involved?

At any rate, I still stand by two of my initial thoughts from last night:

1. This situation is sad. In fact, it is way sadder and more horrible than anything I could have imagined. Why do so many American families have to experience these murder-suicides? Why does this particular pattern repeat in our society?

2. I do wish the entire Benoit family--those both living and dead--peace.