Mick Foley's Blog, page 4

HOW I LOST MY F*$KING EARAs many of you may know, there...

HOW I LOST MY F*$KING EAR



As many of you may know, there is a rather detailed account of how I lost that f*&ing ear in the first chapter of my first book, "Have a Nice Day". So I'm not going to relive every moment here. But, in light of the recent popularity the video of that f*$king ear injury has received, look at this as a guide to more fully understand and enjoy the video. Sounds, like fun, right? So let's get right to it.



At the :05 mark, I catch my head in the ropes in a "hangman", a move that creates the illusion of hanging by, um..actually hanging. I'd done the move many times in the past, always with great pain, sometimes with significant injury - including multiple emergency room visits for post-match stitches. So I think the question of "why continue doing it" is a valid one..and one I wish I'd examined more extensively pre-March 16, 1994.



The actual injury occurs at the :13 second mark, when I remove myself from the ropes. Amazingly, I was only caught in the ropes for 5 seconds, since it certainly seemed like an eternity while it was happening. For many months, my opponent that night, Vader, took credit for removing me from the ropes, but looking at the video, that is clearly not the case.



As I got to my knees outside the ring, i was aware that the injury had to be pretty bad, as there was a constant pitter-pattering of bright red blood on the protective mats outside the ring - a contrast to the injuries to the ear I'd suffered before, which although fairly nasty (more than 10 stitches on at least three occasions) had resulted in almost no blood loss.



The ear actually falls from my head at the :51. Go ahead, look a few times; it is indeed a human ear.



The referee picks up the ear at :53. Earlier in the tour one of our regular referees had been sent home due to a knee injury, and another had gone home due to a death in the family. As a result, we had to take whatever referee we could get, which ended up being one from France, who spoke no English, and was therefore unable to tell me of his unique find. The referee handed the ear to ring announcer Gary Michael Capetta who (unseen of this video) brought the ear backstage and told Ric Flair that he was in possession of my ear. "I have Cactus Jack's ear", he told the Nature Boy. What would you like me to do with it?" By the time I got to the back, someone had put the ear in a plastic bag.



In the ring, you can see me check on the injury at the 1:10 mark. I could see there was significant bleeding, but did not, at that point, know the extent of it.



The match ends at the 1:41 point. I had claimed for years that the match had continued for about five minutes after the loss of the ear. Clearly, this video indicates that this claim was not true. The match continued for a mere 1:28 after the ear loss. At approximately 2:14, I come to the realization that I have, indeed, lost my f*&king ear - a sentiment I make clear upon my return to the dressing room, with the quote, "I think I lost my f*&king ear...bang bang!" Two eye-witnesses, Booker T, and Sting have told me that I had a fairly big smile on my face at the time of the quote. I believe William Regal would concur, but I am not certain. I believe he would be glad to share his thoughts at the time, if asked. So ask.



Later, upon arriving at the hospital (krankenhaus in German) in the ambulance (krankenwagon) I said the following words to the EMT's: "Vergessen Sie nicht, bitte, mein ohr in der plasiktasche zu bringen." Loosely translated, it means "please don't forget to bring my ear in the plastic bag."



I hope you have enjoyed, or at least appreciated this little stroll down memory lane. Have a nice day.

BID HIGH, BID OFTEN, MAKE IT HURT! First things first - ...

BID HIGH, BID OFTEN, MAKE IT HURT!

First things first - WOW! One Hundred Thousand Dollars! That is simply amazing, and NO ONE saw it coming! Thanks so much to all of you who made it possible, through donations, tweets, conversation, hope, and prayer. Our #10forRAINN campaign is available for donations through May 11th at http://rainn.org/mickfoley , and following the 11th, donations are always welcome at http://rainn.org ...same location, just without my name attached. This is the place to come to make donations, to learn about volunteer opportunities, or to seek help (along with our National phone-line,if you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted).

My #10forRAINN online auction of my favorite wrestling memorabilia started on May 4th, and runs for one week, with 100% of the proceeds (minus auction commissions) going directly to RAINN. So far, with one day down, we are up to $4,200 in bids, which is simply amazing. In a few months, we are going to try a much bigger auction, involving far more items from the world of wrestling, sports-entertainment, and sports and entertainment in general. But for now, with the exception of a beautiful Billy Corgan model Fender Stratocaster guitar, donated, signed and personalized by Billy himself, and an INCREDIBLE TNA VIP package that has to be seen to be believed, this is all my stuff - some of my very favorite things, which I want you to have...for a very high price.

I want to mention two specific tweets that had an impact on me. The first said that he thought my constant tweets about #10forRAINN were annoying at first, until he realized just how much the campaign meant to me. At that point, he not only became a donor, but wrote a very strong blog, talking about the campaign, urging others to donate as well.

The second tweet was from a guy who simply said, "the hell in a cell shirt? Wow, you must be hard up for money." When I told him I just wanted to put my best stuff out there, to show people how much this cause meant to me he understood, but said, "isn't that like Superman auctioning off his cape?"

Well, not quite, because the Cell shirt, although it means a lot to me, has been hanging in a closet for 13 years, looking for a home where it can be more proudly displayed. Now, the Cactus Jack boots...those are a different story! Maybe not quite Superman's cape, but quite possibly on a level with the way Dorothy felt about those ruby slippers. I LOVE those boots, filled with great memories of some of my favorite matches...as well as with 149 thumbtacks (yes, I did count) from that October Impact match with Ric Flair.

Look, I can be cynical about giving just like everyone else. When I hear about some incredibly generous gift, I immediately wonder if the same amount would have been given if not for the tax-break, or I look at the donor's immense personal wealth, and wonder how hard such a donation really affected him; if he (or she) ever really felt it. Poor NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg - the guy gave 250 million, yes MILLION to charity last year, and gets guys like me thinking, "hey, he can afford it. It won't hurt him." I'm probably right, just as anyone reading this would be right to assume that there is no amount I can donate to RAINN that I don't think I can eventually make up for, even if it requires another potentially embarrassing comeback match.

But I can't recoup those Cactus boots..or the original Mankind shirt, or the hell in a Cell shirt, or the Brody shirt the Nature Boy ripped from my body. I love these things, but I want you to have them, and I want them to serve as a sign of how much this campaign, this group, and this cause mean to me.

Go ahead, I beg you. Get out there on that auction site (run by my son Dewey) and hurt me as much as you possibly can, in the best possible way. http://myworld.ebay.com/pickels01

A few things to remember:

Bidding began Wednesday, May 4th and will end Saturday, May 11th at 7:47am.
Your item will be delivered between the dates of Saturday, May 18th and Friday, May 24th.
No returns are accepted.
The amount you pay for your auction item will not be tax-deductible. Because you are receiving merchandise for your money, the IRS does not consider your payment to be a charitable donation.
Shipping is free on match-worn items.

BID HIGH, BID OFTEN, MAKE IT HURT!First things first - ...

BID HIGH, BID OFTEN, MAKE IT HURT!



First things first - WOW!, One Hundred Thousand Dollars! That is simply amazing, and NO ONE saw it coming! Thanks so much to all of you who made it possible, through donations, tweets, conversation, hope and prayer. Out #10forRAINN campaign is available for donations through Mother's Day at http://rainn.org/mickfoley , and following Mother's Day, donations are always welcome at http://rainn.org ...same location, just without my name attached. This is the place to come to make donations, to learn about volunteer opportunities, or to seek help (along with our National phone-line,if you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted.



My #10forRAINN online auction of my favorite wrestling memorabilia started on May 4th, and runs for one week, with 100% of the proceeds (minus auction commissions) going directly to RAINN. So far, with one day down, we are up to $4,200 in bids, which is simply amazing. In a few months, we are going to try a much bigger auction, involving far more items from the world of wrestling, sports-entertainment, and sports and entertainment in general. But for now, with the exception of a beautiful Billy Corgan model Fender Stratocaster guitar, donated, signed and personalized by Billy himself, and an INCREDIBLE TNA VIP package that has to be seen to be believed, this is all my stuff - some of my very favorite things, which I want you to have...for a very high price.



I want to mention two specific tweets that had an impact on me. The first said that he thought my constant tweets about #10forRAINN were annoying at first, until he realized just how much the campaign meant to me. At that point, he not only became a donor, but wrote a very strong blog, talking about the campaign, urging others to donate as well.



The second tweet was from a guy who simply said, "the hell in a cell shirt? Wow, you must be hard up for money." When I told him I just wanted to put my best stuff out there, to show people how much this cause meant to me he understood, but said, "isn't that like Superman auctioning off his cape?"



Well, not quite, because the Cell shirt, although it means a lot to me, has been hanging in a closet for 13 years, looking for a home where it can be more proudly displayed. Now, the Cactus Jack boots...those are a different story! Maybe not quite Superman's cape, but quite possibly on a level with the way Dorothy felt about those ruby slippers. I LOVE those boots, filled with great memories of some of my favorite matches...as well as with 149 thumbtacks (yes, I did count) from that October Impact match with Ric Flair.



look, I can be cynical about giving just like everyone else. When I hear about some incredibly generous gift, I immediately wonder if the same amount would have been given if not for the tax-break, or I look at the donor's immense personal wealth, and wonder how hard such a donation really affected him; if he (or she) ever really felt it. Poor NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg - the guy gave 250 million, yes MILLION to charity last year, and gets guys like me thinking, "hey, he can afford it. It won't hurt him." I'm probably right, just as anyone reading this would be right to assume that there is no amount I can donate to RAINN that I don't think I can eventually make up for, even if it requires another potentially embarrassing comeback match.



But I can't recoup those Cactus boots..or the original Mankind shirt, or the hell in a Cell shirt, or the Brody shirt the Nature Boy ripped from my body. I love these things, but I want you to have them, and I want their and I want them to serve as a sign of how much this campaign, this group, this cause mean to me.



Go ahead, I beg you. get out there on that auction site (run by my son Dewey) and hurt me as much as you possibly can, in the best possible way. http://myworld.ebay.com/pickels01

MOTIVATING THE ROCK: A HAPPY BIRTHDAY STORY

Ok, I know on one level that bribing, um, I mean, "motivating" the Rock to help me break through that $100,000 mark is a crummy thing to do. But only if he doesn't see it or know about it. Because I know the Rock has a good heart, and I know he loves a good story, and I know, on his birthday, he would love to help his former parner in "The Rock and Sock Connection" pull off the greatest tag-team move in the history of sports entertainament.

Here's the deal, the reason I would call upon the help of my dozens..and dozens of fans to get the word out to Dwayne Johnson. This #10forRAINN campaign has just exploded in the last week. We started out looking to raise $10,000, and we are now over $80,000. The ammount of good this money will do for survivors of sexual violence is amazing - but the potential that this campaign has to create awareness, educate and prevent further assaults and rapes in incalcuable. But I just have this feeling about the one hundred thousand dollar figure, and the potential that particular figure has to make out fund-raiser real news in the real world; wrestlers and wrestling fans raising money and awareness for a subject that is too often (almost always) hidden in the secret, shadowed corners of society.

I have an online auction starting tomorrow, which will include me very best wrestling memorabilia. Stuff I really love, stuff I will really miss, stuff that will actually hurt me on some level to part with. I do think that these items, combined with the continued generosity of all of you out there, will get us there by Mother's Day. Here's the problem: the interview I did with ABC World News is airing this week, before the auction ends. To borrow a phrase from The Rock, The Mick wants Diane Sawyer to tell the people about that $100,000. The Mick needs Diane Sawyer to tell the people about that $100,000. And to get there, he's going to need The Rock's help.

A little background: until four months ago, my life had been a continual showing of the Bill Murray movie Groundhog's Day, where each new day is exactly like the one that preceded it, and exactly like the one to follow. Every day, for 13 years, I've been asked the same questions about Hell in a Cell against the Undertaker. Every single day! But about four months ago, I noticed a turning of the tide. About four months ago, prompted by The Rock's return to WWE, I noticed a gradual change.Slowly but surely, the questions about the Cell slowed down, relaced insted by questions of The Rock..and The Sock. Since the announcement on The Rock's May 2nd birthday party, these Rock and Sock Connection questions are almost all I hear. "Are you going to the Rock's birthday", they ask, over and over again. Some offer their opinion that The Rock and Sock was the greatest tag-team of all time! I usually ask tose people what their favorite match of the R+S was and get a blank stare. If I ask them to name a tag-team move we did, the blank stare only gets blanker. Look, I have a photographic memory when it comes to some of my matches; I can remember every single move, sound, smell of some specific matches. Certainly, I remember every move of some of classic single's matches with The Rock. But tag-team? Hmm. I know we had a good one with The Dudley's, because that was the one that showed our fans and the boys in the back that these new ECW guys could do more than just break tables. I know we wrestled the New Age Outlaws, because I hurt my shoulder in that one. But that's about it.

So why all the talk about The Rock and Sock Connection? Because we made people feel good! I watch the video clips fabs send to me on Twitter, and I think they are funnier today than they were when we did them. The chemistry was just so good, so much of the humor spontaneous and infectious. Fans had fun seeing us have fun, and despite the fact that my body was more or less crumbling from all the years of doing the wild stuff, being part of the R+S helped me reach heights of popularity previously not thought possible.

I'm asking The Rock to shine that same magic light on the subject of sexual violence. I truly believe that The Rock (and I, but mostly The Rock) can help pull off the greatest tag-team move in sports entertainment history - and be of incalcuable help to survivors of sexual violence.

I know what I want the Rock to do. But more importantly, I know what The People want The Rock to do. The People want The Rock to contact RAINN by linking on to http://rainn.org/mickfoley . The People need The Rock to link onto http://rainn.org/mickfoley. Listen as the millions and MILLIONS of the Rock's fans who will learn to have a better understanding of the role men can play in ending sexual violence chant The Rock's name...ROCKY. ROCKY, ROCKY!

Listen as the Great One, still somewhat skeptical of of his former tag-partner calls the RAINN number just to make sure he's got his facts straight.

"So what you're telling me is Mick Foley wants The Rock to find out the exact number of dollars needed to reach $100,000?  What's your name anyway?"

"Chels.."

"It doesn't MATTER what your na....oh, sorry Chelsea, old habit. Now tell the Rock how much money you need  to reach $100,000 to help survivors of sexual violence."

"Well, with the $1,400 donation that Mick's son Dewey made, we only need $18,000."

"Chelsea, that's amazing. And you're saying that all the Great One has to do is take out the People's credit card, and make a donation for HALF that ammount, and that Mick Foley will personally donate the other $9,000?"

"That's right, Rock."

"That's an incredible idea, Chelsea. There's only one problem. The Rock isn't going to do all the work, just to see Mick Foley get the hot tag and make the final donation. So call up Mick Foley and tell him while I am giving you The People's crdit card number, he can be giving his online, meaning we will help RAINN reach it's goal of $100,000 together!"

 

THERE YOU GO. THAT'S THE PLAN. THE ROCK AND SOCK CONNECTION COMBINE ON THE GREATEST TAG TEAM MOVE IN THE HISTORY OF SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT!

Despite all the rumors, I will not be at the Rock's birthday tomorrow in Miami. I'm sure it will be a blast. There may be many gifts for the Great One. But, the greatest gift on The Rock's birthday will be the one he gives. I know it's emotional bribery...but, man, it's a great story. And the sounds of the thousands of The Rock's fans will pale in comparison to the echoes that reverberate from his generosity. I really feel like he will make this donation gladly IF he hears about it. So make him hear it. Tweet it, Facebook it, shout it, make signs about it in Miami.

Something tells me The Rock and Sock Connection is about to make people feel good once again.

we welcome all of your donations at http://rainn.org/mickfoley

 

 

TNA, WWE, YOU AND ME AND RAINN. Just two weeks ago, I wa...

TNA, WWE, YOU AND ME AND RAINN.

Just two weeks ago, I was a little down about the #10forRAINN campaign. We had received two large donations from one family, and I had matched those funds as I'd promised to do. So the campaign, while it may have looked like a success on paper, was feeling like a failure to me. I looked at the numbers. Outside of the money from 3 people, it did not look like anyone cared enough to contribute. I woke up at 5 am on April 17th and let the discouragement I felt make its way onto my Twitter site. "I had really hoped this campaign might be a way of showing people what good the wrestling world was capable of."

By the time I got to Washington, DC, for an interview with ABC World News (to be shown sometime this week) my perception of success had changed, almost entirely due to a few dozen messages I'd received from survivors of sexual violence, who echoed a similar message time and time again: it's not about the money. I'd once written that the main weapons in the fight against sexual violence were education, compassion and understanding. These survivors convinced me that the campaign was working on all these fronts; it was shining a light, especially among men, on a subject usually relegated to the shadows, and it was making a case, one tweet and re-tweet (and we were getting plenty of those) that the fight against sexual violence was not one to be fought only by women and survivors.

A friend I'd known for years donated $250 for a phone call. "Don't worry. Mick", she told me. "These things take time. This is a new subject for many people, and they may not donate right away. But give it time, things are going to get better." So, basically, she gave my #10forRAINN campaign $250 to give me advice, and allow me to see the bigger picture.

If only JR had been there at that moment to tell me "business it about to pick up!" Because it certainly has.

Four days ago, we were up to $35,000, with a realistic shot at hitting 40. The $10 dollar donations were coming in constantly, and the enthusiastic tweets from so many of my fellow wrestlers (and sports entertainers) were helping fans realize they really could make a difference with every donation. I came to marvel at my eclectic blend of supporters, my unique patchwork quilt of wrestling fans, wrestlers, feminists, survivors and big Tori Amos fans. Cheryl Burke sent out a tweet. As did Neil Gaiman, Billy Corgan, Jill Thompson, and a Professor of mid-evil literature.

A neighbor I'd met for the first time sent my wife a text, saying she was making a $2,000 donation. A follower on Twitter asked if would do an interview for his blog about Milking a Magic Dragon if he could raise $1,000. He came up with $2,100..and I had a blast doing the video. My son Dewey decided to donate 100% of his card auction to the campaign - $906 so far, with more to come.

And two of my employers stepped up in a major way. My current employer and my past employer both stepped up to the tune of $10,000 each, putting us first over $50,000 and next over $75,000. I'd mentioned recently that I had been residing in the TNA doghouse as of late. I'm hoping to get out of there soon. My differences with WWE are well documented, including my last book, "Countdown to Lockdown", paperback available July 1st. Yes, a cheap lug, even in a serious article!
Despite these differences, TNA and WWE thought enough of my cause and enough of me to make a major difference in this campaign - and more importantly, in the lives of so many whose lives have been affected by sexual violence.

Two weeks ago, I wrote that I had hoped my #10forRAINN campaign could show the world what good the world of wrestling (and sports entertainment) could do. It has..in a major way. Thanks to all of you who have made it happen.

________________________________________________________

Today was supposed to be the last day of the campaign. But we are going to continue on until next Sunday, Mothers Day, in order to allow for a few of the promoters who have expressed interest in exchanging bookings for RAINN donations. We have $8,000 in pleges that we hope will come in. And you can still pool together $5,000 for a lawn mowing, a celebration of your choosing. Donations of $10 or more through #10forRAINN are welcome and appreciated, and can be made here.

I have an on-line auction starting Monday, featuring some of my very favorite pieces of wrestling memorabilia. Stuff that will actually pain me to part with, like the Cactus Jack leopard boots, and hand-written manuscripts of a couple of my books. But, no pain, no gain, as they say. So go ahead, hurt me..and help so many people at the same time.

TNA, WWE, YOU AND ME AND RAINN.Just two weeks ago, I wa...

TNA, WWE, YOU AND ME AND RAINN.



Just two weeks ago, I was a little down about the #10forRAINN campaign. We had received two large donations from one family, and I had matched those funds as I'd promised to do. So the campaign, while it may have looked like a success on paper, was feeling like a failure to me. I looked at the numbers. Outside of the money from 3 people, it did not look like anyone cared enough to contribute. I woke up at 5 am on April 17th and let the discouragement I felt make its way onto my Twitter site. "I had really hoped this campaign might be a way of showing people what good the wrestling world was capable of."



By the time I got to Washington, DC, for an interview with ABC World News (to be shown sometime this week) my perception of success had changed, almost entirely due to a few dozen messages I'd received from survivors of sexual violence, who echoed a similar message time and time again: it's not about the money. I'd once written that the main weapons in the fight against sexual violence were education, compassion and understanding. These survivors convinced me that the campaign was working on all these fronts; it was shining a light, especially among men, on a subject usually relegated to the shadows, and it was making a case, one tweet and re-tweet (and we were getting plenty of those) that the fight against sexual violence was not one to be fought only by women and survivors.



A friend I'd known for years donated $250 for a phone call. "Don't worry. Mick", she told me. "These things take time. This is a new subject for many people, and they may not donate right away. But give it time, things are going to get better." So, basically, she gave my #10forRAINN campaign $250 to give me advice, and allow me to see the bigger picture.



If only JR had been there at that moment to tell me "business it about to pick up!" Because it certainly has.



Four days ago, we were up to $35,000, with a realistic shot at hitting 40. The $10 dollar donations were coming in constantly, and the enthusiastic tweets from so many of my fellow wrestlers (and sports entertainers) were helping fans realize they really could make a difference with every donation. I came to marvel at my eclectic blend of supporters, my unique patchwork quilt of wrestling fans, wrestlers, feminists, survivors and big Tori Amos fans. Cheryl Burke sent out a tweet. As did Neil Gaiman, Billy Corgan, Jill Thompson, and a Professor of mid-evil literature.



A neighbor I'd met for the first time sent my wife a text, saying she was making a $2,000 donation. A follower on Twitter asked if would do an interview for his blog about Milking a Magic Dragon if he could raise $1,000. He came up with $2,100..and I had a blast doing the video. My son Dewey decided to donate 100% of his card auction to the campaign - $906 so far, with more to come.



And two of my employers stepped up in a major way. My current employer and my past employer both stepped up to the tune of $10,000 each, putting us first over $50,000 and next over $75,000. I'd mentioned recently that I had been residing in the TNA doghouse as of late. I'm hoping to get out of there soon. My differences with WWE are well documented, including my last book, "Countdown to Lockdown", paperback available July 1st. Yes, a cheap lug, even in a serious article!

Despite these differences, TNA and WWE thought enough of my cause and enough of me to make a major difference in this campaign - and more importantly, in the lives of so many whose lives have been affected by sexual violence.



Two weeks ago, I wrote that I had hoped my #10forRAINN campaign could show the world what good the world of wrestling (and sports entertainment) could do. It has..in a major way. Thanks to all of you who have made it happen.



________________________________________________________



Today was supposed to be the last day of the campaign. But we are going to continue on until next Sunday, Mothers Day, in order to allow for a few of the promoters who have expressed interest in exchanging bookings for RAINN donations. We have $8,000 in pleges that we hope will come in. And you can still pool together $5,000 for a lawn mowing, or a celebration of your choosing.



I have an on-line auction starting Monday, featuring some of my very favorite pieces of wrestling memorabilia. Stuff that will actually pain me to part with, like the Cactus Jack leopard boots, and hand-written manuscripts of a couple of my books. But, no pain, no gain, as they say. So go ahead, hurt me..and help so many people at the same time.

Q&A: Mick Foley's #10forRAINN Campaign

1. What is Mick Foley's #10forRAINN Campaign?

This April, Mick Foley launched a campaign to raise funds for the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN). Through the month of April, Mick is asking his followers, fans, and others who care about fighting sexual violence to contribute $10 or more to the  #10forRAINN campaign.

To learn more about the #10forRAINN campaign, please visit http://www.rainn.org/mickfoley. Or, take a look at Mick's short web video, where Mick explains why he supports RAINN and how you can make him like you more than other fans.

2. What is RAINN?

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault violence organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org, and publicizes the hotlines' free, confidential services; educates the public about sexual violence; and leads national efforts to prevent sexual violence, improve services to victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. To learn more, please visit rainn.org.

3. Why does Mick care about RAINN?

Learn why Mick cares about RAINN through his blog. Scroll down to the entry titled "Could You Help Me Out"?

4. Where can I make my donation to RAINN through Mick Foley's #10forRAINN Campaign?

Donate online: Please visit https://donate.rainn.org/mick/donate.cfm
Donate by check: Please make your check out to RAINN and send to: #10forRAINN, 2000 L ST NW, Suite 406, Washington DC, 20036

5. I heard that Mick would mow my lawn for a $5,000 donation.  Is that for real?

Yes! Mick is devoted to engaging his fans in the fight against sexual violence. He wants #10forRAINN to show the world what a difference the wrestling world, and others who care, can actually make.

    a. $100 Donation: A Hand-Signed Photograph from Mick

Description: Mick will mail you a signed 5x7 photograph (no later than June 1, 2011). Limit of one signed photograph per donation.

    b. $250 Donation: A Personal Phone Call from Mick

Description: RAINN will set up a mutually agreeable time for the call. The call can last up to five minutes. Please answer the call at the agreed-upon time or Mick will not be able to call you back.

    c. $5,000+ Donation: Mick Will Mow Your Lawn. Or Just Hang Out.

Description: Mick will come to your home and mow your lawn. Seriously. Or he'll join the party after your kid's Communion, bar or bat mitzvah, or similar ceremony. He'll even appear at your wrestling show. If you don't have a lawn, don't have kids or a wrestling show, or would prefer to just hang out, that's OK, too! You've got him for two hours.

The following restrictions apply:

Donation must be made no later than 11:59 pm on April 30, 2011 on RAINN's website,or be postmarked no later than April 30, 2011.
Donation must be $5,000 or more.
Mick can only visit you if you live within two hours of a major airport (the kind with big jets and regularly scheduled flights). He can visit you anywhere in the continental  U.S., or anywhere in the UK. If you're from the UK, he will only be available to visit in July, 2011.
If you want Mick to mow your lawn, you must supply the lawnmower and fuel. If it's a really big lawn, he can only mow the first acre. If it's raining when he arrives, he'll hang out instead of mowing.
Mick is happy to take part in the party after your kid's Communion or bar/bat mitzvah or other ceremony. He's even happy to say a few words (in English; his Hebrew is a little rusty). He'll even dance a song, if you've got a good deejay!
The visit will be made on a mutually agreeable date no later than April 30, 2012. If the date you want him isn't flexible, you should call RAINN first (see contact information below) to make sure he's available then. If you live in the UK, he will come visit in July, 2011.
Mick will spend up to two hours at your place. He won't object if you want to feed him!

6. Will Mick come hang out or mow my lawn in the UK?

Yes! He will come visit you in July 2011, anywhere in the UK (including Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England).

7. I heard that TNA released a new DVD documentary about Mick.  Where can I buy it?

You can purchase Mick's DVD here. If you want to see his self critique of the DVD, check out his blog.

8. What kind of media coverage has Mick received for #10forRAINN?

CNN's Headline News
TMZ
Guardian
Red Eye

9. I have more questions.  Who can I contact?

If you have questions, please call or email Chelsea Bowers at 202.544.3561 or chelseab@rainn.org.

Thank you so much for supporting my #10forRAINN campaign!

MICK FOLEY: HARDCORE LEGEND

MY NEW DVD: A SELF CRITIQUE

It's AWESOME! Well, many parts of it really are! I had the pleasure of signing and handed out several hundred copies of this bad boy at yesterday's Fanfest in Cinci, always with the same request/suggestion: skip the matches, watch the documentary.

As a documentary, I really love this DVD. Clearly, alot of thought and work was put into this DVD by director Bryan Edwards. He had told me from the onset that his goal was to put toghether a product that could be enjoyed by fans and non-fans alike, and I could easily see this airing (without the matches) as a special on Spike somewhere down the road. I can see all the work that went into the editing, the music, the careful selection of interview clips. One of my pet complaints about WWE DVD's is that wrestlers are sometimes grabbed for comnents for the sake of conveniance, as opposed to careful consideration of what their viewpoint has to offer. So, if you happen to be a fan of random Steve Lombardi comments, you might want to take a pass on this one.

Instead, I think this DVD has commentay from people who really should be in it, offering valuable insight, from guys I've known for twenty years - Tommy Dreamer, Taz, Al Snow, Jeff Jarrett, to people who are in unique postions to talk about my recent work, both in and out of the ring - Dixie Carter, JB, Abyss and Matt Morgan. I think viewers will really enjoy Kurt Angle's somewhat contrarian views, which are not slams at all, but a genuine questioning if the hardcore path I chose was the right one. I think comments from Sting and the Nature Boy would have been valuable, but as comedian Stephen Wright once observed, "you can't have everything..where would you put it.

 

But ,if there's one thing that bothers me about most wrestling documentaries, it's the tendency to weave the matches in and out of the narrative, instead of giving them their own separate disk to be enjoyed (or not enjoyed) on their own. I spoke to a number of wrestlers about this subject, and they all seemed to be in agreement - that the matches are better left to their own disc, possibly with bonus commentary by the featured wrestler. Combine that with the fact that some of the matches on this DVD are not exactly mat classics, and you realize that I'm asking viewers to keep their remote handy throughout quite a bit of this three hour offering.

Not to say there isn't some good wrestling stuff here. I really like the cage match with Sting, the Monster's Ball with Abyss, the single's match with Kurt, and the bloody confrontation with Ric Flair. I think viewers will enjoy the stories behind the matches, as explained by me and JB, even if a few of the stories seem to be crying out for a little B-roll footage. The tag with me and Jeff Jarrett vs Kurt Angle worked really well as an angle, and would have been great in clips, but not as well as a complete match on a DVD. Honestly, my debut promo was fine, but I can't picture anyone needing to relive it, unless their cable, internet, and game system are down, and they just outright refuse to consider reading a book. Thankfully, the promo with Sting, where I interview myself is on the DVD, as are the two promos with Ric Flair - the buildup to our last match standing match, and the one that covers the pleasant topic of brain donation. I think these three make up the best promos of my TNA tenure, and are among the best of my entire career, and I'm proud to have them on this disc.


In the old days of record albums (anyone remember those?) in order to creat a lasting masterpiece, each song had to work within some larger theme to make for a great album side, and both sides had to compliment each other to make for a truly memorable viewing experience. Getting up and manually moving the phonograph needle from one song to the next could ruin the entire vibe of a party, or even the feeling of an extended make-out session. With new technology, a product need not be a winner from start to finish, in order to be memorable, or even great. An uneven CD can have songs skipped with the touch of a button, and in my mind, if you can find four or five songs to truly connect with, you have a winner on your hands. "Mick Foley: Hardcore Legend" is like one of these CD's. Press a button every now and then, and with just a little looking, I think you will find four or five things here you can really connect with.

For me, those things come right after ther matches, in the chapters about parenting, concussions, and charitable work. In fact, if I was aked to incluse five things in a time capsule, to show people 100 years from now what my life and career stood for, I would include the parenting and charity chapters, along with my first book, "Beyond the Mat" and the complete "Hell in a Cell" match. OK, I might throw in Al Snow's "Kennel From Hell" match, too - just to assure that I'll get the last laugh in the afterlife. Yes!

Maybe this disc isn't perfect. Maybe it's not the Sgt Pepper of wrestling DVD's. But it's pretty damn good.

MY NEW DVD: A SELF CRITIQUEIt's AWESOME! Well, parts of...

MY NEW DVD: A SELF CRITIQUE



It's AWESOME! Well, parts of it are. I had the pleasure of signing and hundred out several hundred copies of this bad biy at yesterday's Fanfest in Cinci, always with the same request/suggestion: skip the matches, watch the documentary.



If there's one thing that bothers me about most wrestling documentaries, it's the tendency to weave the matches in and out of the narrative, instead of giving them their own separate disk to be enjoyed (or not enjoyed) on their own. I spoke to a number of wrestlers about this subject, and they all seemed to be in agreement, that the matches are better left to their own disc, possibly with bonus commentary by the featured wrestler. Combine that with the fact that some of the matches on this DVD are not exactly mat classics, and you realize that I'm asking viewers to keep their remote handy throughout quite a bit of this three hour offering.



Not to say there isn't some good wrestling stuff here. I really like the cage match with Sting, the Monster's Ball with Abyss, the single's match with Kurt, and the bloody confrontation with Ric Flair. I think viewers will enjoy the stories behind the matches, as explained by me and JB, even if a few of the stories seem to be crying out for a little B-roll footage. The tag with me and Jeff Jarrett vs Kurt Angle worked really well as an angle, and would have been great in clips, but not as well as a complete match on a DVD. Honestly, my debut promo was fine, but I can't picture anyone needing to relive it, unless their cable, internet, and game system are down, and they just outright refuse to consider reading a book. Thankfully, the promo with Sting, where I interview myself is on the DVD, as are the two promos with Ric Flair - the buildup to our last match standing match, and the one that covers the pleasant topic of brain donation. I think these three make up the best promos of my TNA tenure, and I'm proud to have them on this disc.



Speaking of proud..I really do love so many parts of this DVD. Director Bryan Edwards clearly wanted to make this something more than "just" a wrestling DVD, and I think in that regard, he has a major success on his hands, and a product that can easily be enjoyed by viewers who have no regular interest in wrestling. I love the opening segment, and the stuff after the matches (which you will skip, right?) especially the "Hardcore Dad" and "Hardcore Charity" segments are among the things I'm proudest of in my entire career. If I could put four things from my career in a time capsule, to let people 100 years from now know what my career was all about, it would consist of my first book, "Beyond the Mat", those two chapters from the "Mick Foley: Hardcore Legend DVD" (which I would have edited and put on their own disc) and "Hell in a Cell".



In the old days of record albums, each side, each song had to work within a larger theme to create a truly memorable viewing experience. This si not one of those albums. It's not "Sgt Pepper". But in today's modern age -when skipping a song no longer means getting up from a comfy chair and physically moving a record needle - a CD need only contain a few killer tracks to be memorable. "Mick Foley: Hardcore Legend" is like one of these CD's. Press a button every now and then, skip to the parts that really matter, and enjoy it as much as I did.

AN AMAZING CAREERFor those of you who don't know, Edge ...

AN AMAZING CAREER



For those of you who don't know, Edge and I used to regularly perform one of the greatest tag-team moves of all time. Let me set the scene for you. Any arena, in any part of the country for roughly an eighteen month period -maybe early 1999 through late 2000. Al Snow, despite what I may have written in the past, was actually quite a witty guy; more than capable of holding his during the course of our legendary (if ridiculously drawn-out) battle of the brains. Think of each insult or joke as a punch, putting together as many as possible - some better than others, some hitting their mark, other missing wildly – with the ultimate goal of knocking your verbal sparring partner out. It was not unusual for Al to start off strong, peppering me with jabs, sinking some solid body shots. But like DeNiro in Raging Bull, Al Snow never did put me down. Why? Because he lacked my secret weapon. Because, literally, he had no Edge. But I did.



Sensing that his friend might be in danger of an embarrassing loss to the underdog Snow, Edge would leap into action, overselling the laughs at whatever feeble comeback I tried to mount, before combining with me to hit the valiant, yet doomed Snow with that most incredible of finishers – The White Guy Jumping High Five! The move was a guaranteed knockout: creating such waves of laughter among my WWE contemporaries, that Al would simply concede defeat, saying something about how it wasn't fair, that Edge was my henchman, that my jokes weren't even funny, blah, blah blah. All valid points, but none of that mattered at the time..or even now. All that mattered then..and now, is that Edge was my secret weapon, and that I was undefeated in locker-room (or airplane, train, boat, baseball games..you get it) showdowns with Al Snow.



It didn't take a crystal ball to see that Edge was going to be a star. He clearly had the moves, the look, the charisma. But it wasn't until a particular "Brood" interview, where Gangrel seemed to stumble verbally, that Edge was given a chance on the stick – an opportunity he took full advantage of; leaving all the boys with that unmistakable "ohh, he can talk, he's going to draw money" feeling. Clearly, this guy was not meant to be either silent or brooding, and within a matter of weeks (or so it seemed) Edge and Christian had been de-Brooded and began to explore their more comedic side, from the 5 second poses for those with the benefit of flash photography, to their stellar showdowns with the kick-ass, take-names new Commissioner of WWE –me! I've often mentioned that my days as WWE Commissioner were among the happiest of my career. And of all the things that went into making that time so happy, nothing made me happier than to work with Edge and Christian on a series of bizarre, innocent and ridiculous backstage vignettes we collectively referred to as "Chredgeley" – as in CHRistian, EDGE, and foLEY. You know, until I wrote that out, I never realized that Edge got his whole name in there, and Christian and I only got three letters each. Hey, that doesn't seem fair! Not trying to sell A DVD here, (especially since I have a new one coming out on 4/19 that I WILL be trying to sell) but I enjoyed working with Jay and Adam (pretty sure you know which is which) so much, that I specifically asked for a "Credgely" compilation package on 2000's "Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops" video.



As funny, and as talented as each were, it wasn't until Summerslam 2000's "Tables, Ladders and Chairs" match that the world began to see them as legitimate superstars, and ironically, not until returning from 2003 spinal fusion surgery on his neck, that Edge was given a legitimate chance at breaking through that glass ceiling; the invisible, yet very real barrier that prevented most WWE Superstars from ever taking that final step from Superstar to SUPERSTAR – from valuable role-player to main eventer. The 2003 Edge didn't tap at that ceiling. He didn't ask politely if he might gain entry. He smashed through it, just bleeping shattered it. He didn't take that final step; he pretty much just vaulted over everybody. And he did it with a hybrid of tools – ring experience, psychology, humor, physicality, determination – that allowed him to steal just about every show he appeared on. I got to see a few of those matches live. I watched many more on television. Hell, I even got to be in one of them – Wrestlemania XXII, where the Edgester wove his magic spell on a clearly out of shape, past his prime relic of a by-gone era and allowed him (meaning me) to have that one elusive great Wrestlemania moment.



I had no doubt at the time, 2006, that Edge was the number one wrestler in the business. I think one could put up an argument that he was the number one wrestler for a period of time during any one of a number of years. His matches with the top WWE stars of his era – The Undertaker, Triple H, Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton, John Cena, etc. etc. – are the stuff of legend. If there is any weakness to an argument for Edge, it is that he did amazing matches with such regularity that I'm not sure fans could completely appreciate just how amazing they were. Following my Mania match with Edge, I spent a LONG time in bed, caught a late flight, and made it home just in time to see Edge on Raw, stealing the show again – less than 24 hours after stealing the biggest show of the year.



I don't know if there will ever be a consensus on who the best wrestler or worker of that era (call it 2003-2011, starting and ending with the neck injury) is or was. I once said I could make a good argument for Shawn Michaels - and I can. I think I could make a pretty good argument for Kurt Angle. Based on big money matches, some might say Triple H. For pure wrestling, maybe AJ Styles or Samoa Joe, or any number of Japanese stars who have flown beneath the mainstream radar.



But look at the other attributes that Edge brought to the table. A willingness to fully immerse himself in every storyline – to make people believe, or at least to believe that he believed. He embraced the ridiculous. He loved the emotional. He thrived under pressure. He stood up for what he thought was best for his characters, his matches, his opponents, and the shows. As viewers, we knew that every segment he appeared in was going to be good. But more importantly, we knew that any segment with Edge had the potential be great. In baseball terms, he was a five-tool player; a guy who could do it all. There have been other five-tool players in the wrestling game – guys who could wrestle, draw money, talk, create characters, be dramatic or comedic. But to me, he was the most versatile, and the most entertaining. So while there may be an argument over who the GREATEST WRESTLER was from 2003-2008, to me, there is no real argument over who was the era's GREATEST PERFORMER. Hands down, it goes to Edge. What an incredible person. What an amazing career.



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