A Bum Deal: An Unlikely Journey from Hopeless to Humanitarian

by Rufus Hannah, Barry Soper

I was supposed to give a speech when I got the award, but I had no idea what to say. Given what my life had been like in recent years, I felt as if this were some kind of bad dream. I thought about being born in a small southern town, beginning my life by drinking beer from a baby bottle, getting kicked out of school, the whole army disaster, the crazy van trip out west, train jumping-and then, all those years I spent as a homeless drunk. And, of course, the Bumfights- when I risked life and limb for booze while some kids filmed the whole damn thing. Looking at all this on paper, I wondered how any man could have survived. And I noticed my hands. Even after a number of painful and expensive laser treatments the letters were still there, tattooed across my B-U-M-F-I-G-H-T. I thought about the damage these hands had done-to me, and even worse, to my best friend... The last thing Rufus Hannah expected the morning he climbed into an alley Dumpster was to have his life completely changed. It was the last thing Barry Soper expected either, when he spotted a homeless man sifting through the trash outside his apartment complex. But in that moment they'd join on a path of triumph and defeat, despair and salvation. Rufus Hannah is regrettably known to millions around the world as "Rufus the Stunt Bum" because of his participation in the infamous Bumfights-an underground video series in which homeless men were given booze and cash to fight or do bone-shattering stunts. But his story doesn't begin or end where the videos do...it is a story of incredible pride and perseverance, and a recovery no one-least of all Rufus himself-could have imagined. A Bum Deal is a story of our personal demons and a journey from the depths of despair to recovery and rebirth, and the ordinary man who risked everything to help this stranger survive against the most unimaginable cruelty. Rufus Hannah is an advocate for the homeless, and currently an assistant manager of a townhome development. He was formerly featured in the infamous Bumfights videos. Activist and businessman Barry Soper is chairman of the board of Oak Grove, a nonprofit educational and residential treatment center serving 160 children, ages five to eighteen. Soper has served on the board of St. Vincent DePaul Village, a key center for San Diego's large homeless population.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

238 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Azaghedi]

I am absolutely ashamed to say that I owned the Bumfight DVDs when they first came out in the early 2000s. I was in high school, so at least I can blame my poor judgment on immaturity...right?

I'm glad Rufus the "Stunt Bum," has turned his life around. Hopefully I find a copy of this one day, as I'm curious as to just how Rufus got on, and eventually off, the path he was going down.

[Byron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rufus Hannah was the guy from the Bumfights video who went on to become a sort of professional ex-homeless person, going out on the lecture circuit, consulting with agencies that aid homeless vets, so on and so forth. Perhaps you've seen him on 60 Minutes or any number of other similar news programs. A Bum Deal is the book he wrote about the ordeal with a guy named Barry Soper(?), who helped save him from the Bumfighsts crew. It goes all the way back to the beginning, with his parents giving him beer in a baby bottle, to his many failed relationships with women, to the ill-fated trip to Arizona that plunged him into a life of homeless and despair. He eventually ended up in San Diego, where dumbass kids famously paid ~$5 per to film him performing increasingly stupid and dangerous stunts. And then along comes businessman Soper, the self-described Jewish James Bond, to save the day. His portrayal can't help but come off as self-serving. But I guess for what it's worth, he did save a homeless guy's life. I wouldn't give a homeless guy my pocket change. My parents worked hard for that money!

[Keelow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this at the Main Library in downtown Louisville. Surprised it wasn't checked out or on reserve.

Comical as an "Autobiography". The high-minded first-person narrative and the story being told (that of being a Super-Bum) don't match. Ghostwriting, but hardly at its finest.

The story is compelling as a document of human weakness, suffering, adolescent cruelty, and hopefully redemption.

One bum up.

[Stacy culler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always want to disclaim a star rating on an autobiographical book or memoir: how can I rate someone’s life, or their story of their life? So this rating is more about my feelings about the story, not the quality of the book.

I have read several memoirs over the years regarding addiction, and this book shared common themes with those: a person who is controlled by their need for a substance, a pervasive attitude of defensiveness, and poor life choices, an epiphany, then an arduous journey toward either recovery or death. This book follows that pattern as well.

Where Rufus’ story differs, is that he encounters a certain level of fame during his homeless, alcoholic years on the streets. He becomes involved in a series of stunts for hire. He gets paid in beer and food for risking life and limb in a series of “Bumfight videos.” Along the way, the creators of the videos get rich, while Rufus gets injured and ashamed.

I am saddened that the creator of the Bumfight videos preyed on this man’s addictions to exploit him for financial gain. Much like those in the sex industry or the human trafficking industry, Ryan McPherson takes advantage of someone in a very vulnerable state, and cheaply buys a thrill or a service without regard to the human being he is selling.

Also paralleled with the sex industry, however, there often seems to be, at least at the outset of the abuse, some complicity or willingness on the part of the victim. Initially, Rufus thought a stunt for some beers was a good deal…he chose to take part in the videos. Since at this point he was an adult man (as opposed to young victims in the sex trade), it is difficult not to assign at least some culpability for the videos back to Rufus. I do feel that Rufus acknowledges the fact that early on, he still had some agency over the situation.

Ultimately, with some help from a persistent friend, Rufus claws his way out of the pit of his situation, and becomes a productive member of society as an employee and an advocate for the homeless population. He fights for legislation, voter representation, and understanding for the rights of the vulnerable homeless population.

I love a good redemption story. This one was definitely in that category, and I was glad to see Rufus safe and productive at the end.

[Rusty]

Two men find their lives completely changed by a chance meeting. When Rufus Hannah, a homeless man, climbed into an alley dumpster he was seen by Barry Soper who decides to met Hannah. Hannah was known by many as Rufus the Stunt Bum fighter for his participation in Bumfights. Bumfights was an underground video series where homeless men received alcohol and money to fight or do dangerous bone breaking stunts.

But Hannah’s story is not really based on the videos. It began when he was a baby receiving beer in a baby bottle from his parents. His life went ever downward. Many failed relationships with women and bad trips to Arizona and San Diego It was in San Diego stupid kids hired him at $5 per to film him for silly dangerous stunts. It depicts his determined pride and perseverance and the way to recovery that he did not think he could ever achieve.

Fighting his own demons, he climbs from lowest despair to recovery and a new life. He becomes somewhat of a professional ex-homeless person who lectures others to help the lost no matter how they became homeless. Barry Soper, helped him leave his homeless life and Bumfights behind, standing by his side and encouraging him. Together they wrote this book demonstrating that the homeless can find a better life. This one ordinary man proved that homelessness and despair can be left behind. And, he proves it by sharing his story through lectures to help others.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

During and after reading this book I felt myself FILLED with an emotion I could only identify as compassion. A deep and aching compassion. It was a beautiful experience; I aim to maintain this heart expansion.

This book also illuminated the importance of the power of a good story. The writing itself isn't especially captivating, it's written at an easy reading level, though pretty obviously for "mature audiences" only. But the story itself kept me so engaged I read the book in one sitting.

A Bum Deal is an honest account of one man's intensely difficult life, seeping with an endearing humility. It's inspirational without trying to be.

[Mark Canfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea they did such horrible things to this guy. I was always afraid of homeless people until I read this.

[Tyler Middleswart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for an English project. I enjoyed this book because it showed the problems that homeless people have first hand. It told how the homeless were treated poorly and how they got taken advantage of. It shows that even though the homeless are less fortunate than us, they still deserve the best, just the same as us. It ended as the homeless got their way after being forced to tape videos called Bumfights. They fought other homeless people and hurt themselves, just to entertain people. They were forced to get drunk, so they didn't really know what they wee doing. In the end, the producers were arrested, and the homeless got their rights back. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about problems getting solved and people gaining their rights back. This book puts a face to the issue. HIs name is Rufus Hannah, and he was a victim of Bumfights videos. You will not be disappointed if you read this book. I recommend it for teenagers and older because of the violence and profanity. Tyler Middleswart

[Lori Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on my Kindle during one of their sales.

It's interesting that the last two books I've read have been about either addiction or some sort of misery, true, or in some cases, nearly true.

This book is about the controversy of a group of college boys who thought it would be fun to hire bums (with booze and a free hotel room) purely to see what stupid and dangerous thing they could get the homeless to do, and then record it and sell it.

The way these idiots treated human beings, human beings incredibly down on their luck, is nauseating. Rufus Hannah writes about his rise from homelessness to the courtroom when the men who profited handsomely from their ridiculous videos were brought to trial.

An interesting read about homelessness.

Lori Anderson

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[Christina Lyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! This book really, really touched my heart. It saddens me that someone could take advantage of a person that is in such a dark place to begin with. As a recovering alcoholic myself, I understand what it's like to feel hopeless and be willing to go to extreme lengths to get the alcohol your body so desperately needs. That someone would take advantage of a person in that position for financial gain makes me so angry. However, Rufus' story is so incredibly uplifting and inspirational. It really makes me mindful of some of the issues going on in the world that I rarely thought about before.

[Guillermo Galvan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll never be able to prove it, but Rufus "the stunt bum" didn't write this book. Somebody who's lived in the gutter for over a decade and sent the better part of his life completely shit-faced does not write like a conservative Republican.

I picked up Bum deal and got a bum deal.

The book itself is so-so. It was good enough, barely, for me to finish it. It reads at a high 6th grade reading level. There are times when Rufus is allowed to speak for himself, and it hits you hard. But for the most part, you'll be reading the work of a Jewish nerd Berry Soper (no I'm not racist, he actually describes himself as that in the book).

I felt cheated by this false advertisement.

[Bill Glose · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Barry Soper found a couple of homeless men rooting through a dumpster behind one of his apartment building, he hired them to do yard work and other chores. After a while, they disappeared into the world of “Bumfights,” a sadomasochistic enterprise run by teenagers who paid the two alcoholics with booze to perform life-threatening stunts and fight each other…all while being filmed. Both men suffered brutally at the hands of these violent teens before Soper once again came to their rescue. A heart-rending read displaying mankind’s depths of depravity and heights of humanitarianism.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I got drawn into this book WAY more than I thought I would. It is about some high school kids who exploit bums. They get the bums to do dangerous and humiliating things in exchange for booze. It is written by one of the bums – who eventually gets clean. But he is permanently injured from the stunts. Very engaging.

[Barbara B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son had this book and told me he thought I would like it. I DID! It's a true story about some "punks" who filmed bums in San Diego who they goaded to do lousy things, and then put it on U-Tube. Great insight into the lives of the down and out.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant! I am so proud of my cousin Barry for taking a chance, forming a friendship and telling the story.

[Sara Bourgeois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a powerful story. Very easy to read.

[Kevin Hemphill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. It's a little disappointing that people take advantage of the less fortunate people.

[Miguel Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The autobiography of the star of the Bumfights videos. Mentions his childhood, decline and how he recuperated thanks to an unlikely friendship.