Tim Hicks’ Wrestling-Buzz Blog

It’s Now Available!

August 23, 2008 | Current News

Well, it’s been over a year in the making, but it is finally available.  My new book, “Walking With My Savior” went on sale yesterday morning. 

This book tells the story of how I started life as an abused child, grew up in and around the wrestling business and spent years trying to heal hidden hurts and discover my true self-worth.  It also shows how our Heavenly Father was with me each and every step of the way. . . even when I didn’t realize it.

Although this book is definitely autobiographical in tone, it’s not meant to be my autobiography per se.  Instead, it is intended to encourage and uplift those who may be lost, hurting or struggling with their own walk with Jesus.  My sincere hope is that it will help someone see that the Lord doesn’t abandon them, even in their darkest hours.

The book is 172 pages and is available in paperback format.  If your order from the distributor, it is $14.95 plus shipping and handling. 

As a bonus for those who visit my websites, I will pay the postage if you order the book from me directly.  You may do so via PayPal at

If you would like your copy signed, please send me an e-mail letting me know this and also letting me know the name you would like in the inscription.  This free shipping offer is only available in the USA.

For those of you who prefer e-books, we have an electronic version of the book available from our distributor for $10.  If you would like to order the e-book version, or if you’re outside of the USA and wish to order the printed version, please do so from our distributor, Lulu.com.  Here’s the link.

 

I sincerely hope that you enjoy the book and that it blesses you.

Take care and God bless.

Tim

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New Editors Coming September 1.

August 10, 2008 | Site News

Hi Wrestling Fans.  I have some great news for you.  We have new editors coming to Wrestling-Buzz on September 1.  I can’t reveal names just yet, because the agreements haven’t been formally signed, but I know that you’re going to love their work.  This couple already operate very successful pro wrestling websites and they should be a real breath of fresh air here on WBC.

Wrestling-Buzz has always been one of my favorite sites ever since I first launched it back in 1998.  Unfortunately, time limitations did not allow me to keep it up the way I wanted and it fell into disrepair.  My hope is, with new editors at the helm, Wrestling-Buzz will return to its former glory and stature.

Before you ask, I’m not going anywhere.  I’ll still be writing for WBC as time permits.  My main job for the site will now be to make sure it stays on the Internet.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your support of WBC.

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Sorry For The Lack Of Activity.

June 29, 2008 | Uncategorized

Hi Folks.  I apologize for the lack of activity on this site.  I’ve been a bit distracted lately.

My mother, Joyce Hicks, passed away on May 28 at the age of 70.  I flew back to Virginia so that I could help with preaching her funeral.  While her service was the easiest one I’ve ever written, I must say that it was the toughest to deliver.

Since I’ve been back home, there have been a lot of projects to catch up on.  Now, with the projects back in order (somewhat) and my office in one piece (sort of), I think I’m ready to resume blogging and get this site started off right.

I appreciate your patience.  Take care and God bless.

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My Momma!

May 10, 2008 | Uncategorized

The photo at left is of me and my momma.  It was taken in March of 2006.

Since it is Mother’s Day, I wanted to take a few moments to tell you a little bit about my momma, Joyce Hicks.

As many of you know, my father committed suicide back in 1976 (when I was not quite nine years old). Momma was disabled, and our sisters were pretty much moved out of the house. Somehow, Momma managed to raise me and my brother, Michael, on the little bit of money she received from Social Security survivor benefits. I can honestly say that money was tight, but we didn’t want for very much.

Momma is also the person who is most responsible for my love of the Lord. I remember us going to church. She would get all dressed up and put on her perfume. Momma always smelled so good on church days. As we drove to church, she would give me and Michael some gum or a mint or something. I don’t know if she was passing a hint or just being nice.

Once we got to church, Momma loved to sing the hymns. I still remember hearing her sing to her King and Savior. There’s a song that says, "When momma sang, the angels stopped to listen." I believe that is true of my momma.

I also remember us going to many revival meetings. Those memories stay with me to this very day. It’s ironic. As I type this paragraph, the song "Precious Memories" is playing on my PC. It’s funny how things work sometimes.

While I was visiting Momma in March of 2006, she went to the doctor and he told her that she had inoperable lung cancer and he estimated she had six months to live. Momma would have none of that. She said that only God knew the day and hour when He would call her home.

For the past two years, Momma has continued to defy that doctor’s prediction. She just kept on going along. Over the past two years, her condition slowly got worse. She could no longer drive and getting about required an electric wheel chair, but the rapid decline that the doctor predicted was not there. That is, it wasn’t there until two weeks ago.

Two weeks ago, on Saturday morning, I called my mom to see how she was doing. Her reply was, "Not good. I’m having chest pain and trouble breathing. They think I have Pneumonia."

Momma went to the hospital where they discovered that the lung cancer has totally taken over the left lung and the right lung is full of Emphysema. The hospital sent Momma home for hospice care. My sister, Donna, who lives nearby, has been taking care of Momma, but her job didn’t allow her to be a full-time care giver. Fortunately, my sister, Debbie (who lives in South Carolina) was able to take leave from her job and go up and care for Mom.

On this Mother’s Day, I reflect on the many good times I’ve had with my Mom and all she’s given to me (and so many others) during her life. When I spoke to Momma a couple days ago, I must say that her body sounded weak, but her spirit is strong! You see, Momma is a bit frightened as anyone would be, but she loves the Lord and she knows her eternity is secure. The rest of our family takes great comfort in that fact.

I have a favor to ask. When you say your prayers, would you please remember my Momma? Please pray that God will continue to give her peace and comfort and, when her time comes, that He will dispatch His angels to take her by the hands and lead her home.

God bless you. I love you all.

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DX and Churches?

April 8, 2008 | Current News

This really isn’t a wrestling story, except for the fact that the name "DX" (for D-Generation X) is used in it.  It seems some vandals up in Indiana have been spray painting the letters "DX" and the group’s motto "Suck It" on the side of two churches in Anderson.

You can read the story and watch the news broadcast video by going here.

First off, it always amazes me when some young vandals do this sort of thing to a church.  It’s almost as if they just don’t understand the sanctity of church buildings and what they represent.  I know that our church was recently tagged and it was very disturbing.  In our case, however, the tagging was done by a local street gang as a way of marking "their turf."  In the Indiana cases, it was a way for someone to show their support for some wrestlers.  I just don’t get it.

What can you expect these days?  There was a time when wrestling was a morality play with clearly defined good guys and bad guys.  You had very few stars who straddled the fence.  Vince McMahon decided to change all of that.  In his zeal to build a sports entertainment company while destroying the entire U.S. pro wrestling industry, he decided to blur the line between good and evil.

Now, we’re treated to an entire roster full of "tweeners."  Fans cheer the wrestlers who disregard authority and are rebellious.  Now, it’s cool to drink too much, use foul language all the time, treat women as objects, flash your middle finger at everyone, disregard the rules and do what you want to do.  After all, when kids see their wrestling heroes doing this (no matter if they are fan favorites or alleged villains), it’s only normal that the kids will follow suit.

Thanks again Vince.  This is just one more service you’ve done for the world.

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How Times Have Changed

April 6, 2008 | Nostalgia

This post will probably cement my status as a grumpy ex-worker.

Friday night, I was watching TV and trying to finally get over the effects of Bronchitis.  As I flipped the channels, I happened upon WWE Smackdown.   There was a time in my life when I watched pretty much every minute of televised wrestling, but those days are long gone.  Still, I decided to watch this show for a while.

The match I saw was between MVP and Matt Hardy.  Now, I don’t want to take anything away from these two young men.  I’m sure that they were out there working the best they could, but this match was just one more sign that the wrestling business that I knew and loved is no more.

You see, these two young men, while athletic and acrobatic to say the least, do not even look like professional wrestlers.  Back in the 1970s and 80s, when giants ruled the ring, these two would not have even been hired as jobbers.  They would have been lucky to be ring crew.

The match had lots of flips and flops and spectacular moves, but it lacked the passion and it failed to connect on an emotional level. 

Obviously, I can’t blame these two young men totally.  Much of the lack of connection has been caused by the way the fans perceive the business.  Now, wrestlers have to rely on the fact that fans know that wrestling is a work, but are willing to put this fact aside and watch the show in spite of it.

Back in the day, fans may have thought they knew, but you always had wrestlers, such as Johnny Valentine, Blackjack Mulligan and Wahoo McDaniel, who could cause you to second guess yourself.  That’s why I find MVP laughable as U.S. Champ.  How in the world can you compare him to someone like Valentine, Flair, McDaniel, Mulligan or "Mr. Wrestling" Tim Woods?  The fact is that you can’t.  I remember watching Wahoo and Valentine slug it out until both men’s chests were bright red and blood was flowing like liquor at a Texas barbecue.  Now, we get treated to matches where each man takes his turn back-flipping his opponent twenty times.  It’s really quite sad.

When you watch the WWE on TV and you hear the announcers getting all loud and excited because one guy hits another guy with a move that you know is impossible unless the victim is a willing accomplice, it’s pretty hard to take the show seriously.

You know what?  I love the wrestling business.  I owe it a lot.  It’s just too bad that it doesn’t really exist in the WWE anymore.  "Sports Entertainment" stinks.

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Welcome

April 6, 2008 | Site News

Welcome to the newest version of Tim Hicks’ Wrestling-Buzz.  I’ve decided to recreate the site as a web log (or “blog”) to keep you up-to-date on all of the interesting stuff that crosses my desk.

I don’t envision this as a news site so much as a reflections site.  Sure, there will be news and I’ll be sure to jump on any chance I get to “scoop” the other sites, but that’s not the main reason this site is here.  It’s here to provide an outlet for my writing and for me to share a perspective that I’ve gained from over twenty-five years in and around the pro wrestling business.

We’ll be getting started soon.  Feel free to comment on posts that interest you.  Just please remember that spam will not be allowed and will be deleted.

I hope that you enjoy your visit and come on back by often.

Take care and God bless.

Tim

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