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Icon? No Way: The Hulkster Doesn't Live Up To The Word, My Friends

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Daniel Ruth

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2008

Trying to ferret out (with apologies to ferrets everywhere) last week's more readable letters was a bit like putting lipstick on a pig and ... oh never mind.

Joseph J. Rindosh, who wanted to let everyone know he is "retired and loving it," as if anyone gives a rat's patootie about his golden years, was extremely miffed, annoyed and offended by a column last week taking note of how Linda Bollea, the Joan Crawford of the living-in-a-box-down-by-the-river set, was running through her temporary support payment of $40,000 a month.

The very estranged wife of professional cartoon character Hulk Hogan who somehow dips into the pocketbook to drop $7,250 (a month!) on clothing still manages to looks like "What Not To Wear" on steroids.

And then there was the $6,100 (a month!!!) blown on vacations to get away from the monthlong vacation she already lives in the Hogan manse.

"I cannot sit back and read about your unjustified attack on an American icon, Hulk Hogan," pouted Rindosh, who might want to think about standing up to read the column if sitting is such a problem.

Rindosh extolled Hogan's support for law enforcement. Oh really? Is that why he basically allowed his nitwit son Nick to flout the law with his reckless speeding, which left a friend, John Graziano, potentially bedridden for the rest of his life?

"Why are you so hell-bent on destroying another American icon Hulk Hogan?" Rindosh asked. "I hope you are proud of this useless article. What do you tell your children to believe in?"

First of all, Hulk Hogan is an American "icon" about the same way Pedro's South of the Border is an American "icon" - tacky, over-priced and easy to pass by.

You want icons, sir? How about the men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan who actually do real fighting and risk real danger? How about schoolteachers? How about yourself, who served as a sheriff's deputy?

As for what I told my children to believe in, well, I told them many things and they've both turned out pretty well. But I sure never told them to hold up a phony, make-believe wrestling goon and his dysfunctional family who make the Borgias look like something out of Walton's Mountain as people to admire.

Thief? Oh Really?

Last week's letters column, which partially dealt with Joe Biden, sparked this reaction from someone named tohan: "Biden is a proven thief. After he was kicked out of the primary, an apologetic Biden said: 'I've done some dumb things in my life.' No kidding."

I suspect the writer was referring to the 1988 presidential campaign, when Biden inadvertently quoted a British Labour Party leader, Neil Kinnock, without attribution. The resulting brouhaha eventually forced Biden from the campaign trail.

It is hardly accurate to say Biden is a "proven thief," since he's never been convicted of stealing anything. He is certainly, by his own admission at the time, someone who had done a dumb thing. Imagine, a pol admitting he made a bonehead mistake!

Another writer, alneri, who is about as much fun as a bag of IRS agents, wrote to belittle Biden for a gaffe last week during a Columbia, Mo., rally, when he asked state Sen. Chuck Graham to stand up and be recognized, not realizing Graham is in a wheelchair.

It is true, a very embarrassed Biden did commit the mistake, before quickly recovering and inviting the crowd to stand and applaud Graham. Biden also waded into the crowd to greet Graham and apologize for the error. But alneri never mentioned that. Well, he probably just forgot.

Let's see here. We have a politician who, when he royally screws up, not only admits his failings, but apologizes for them.

Oh, the radicalism of it all!

They Arrested Him? Bottoms Up!

Lastly, James Jones wrote about last Saturday's column on the Riviera Beach arrest of a man who allowed his keister to be exposed over the top of his baggie pants.

"Although an arrest is major overkill, I have to agree with Mr. Ruth on the issue of the sanity of such a fashion decision," Jones noted. "I have been trying to find someone that can explain the irrationality of CHOOSING to have your pants fall down all day.

"It used to be complete embarrassment if you had a knicker failure. It is just sad all these people can't see it," Jones concluded.

Mr. Jones? It is not so sad that the boxer and brief scofflaws can't see it. It is sad that the rest of us can.

By the way, I loved "From Here to Eternity."

Keyword: Book of Ruth, to read and comment on Daniel Ruth's blog. Or tune into WWBA, NewsTalk 1040, on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. to listen to his radio show.

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