Owen Hart Tribute

From A Fan's Perspective
By: KGill87358@AOL.COM

The title says it all. I am not an insider or a journalist. I am just a
fan. Here it is one year ago today (Note: This was written on Tues May 23)
and I still miss Owen Hart. Wrestling lost a warrior, only one of a kind.
But a family lost a member of their own family. It was last year up until
this point that I truly realized that Wrestling can be very, very real and
the workers put their bodies on the line every single day. Now grant it,
there have been other tragedies in Wrestling with the deaths of such great
ring legends such as Rick Rude, Gorilla Monsoon, Brian Pillman, Bobby Duncam
Jr, Eddie Gilbert among other people. But this one hit hard, very hard. I
think mainly because it happened in the very ring that I have been watching
for over 15 years. I still remember where I was when it happened. Let me
take you back in time. it was the May WWF PPV "Over the Edge" a name that
sent chills down my spine after the event took place. It was the second
match of the night between The then current Intercontinental Champion, The
Godfather facing against The Blue Blazer (Owen Hart). Then something went
wrong, in fact the WWF didn't even show the entrance of The Blue Blazer.
Maybe it was a blessing in the disguise. I wasn't really paying too much
attention to the TV screen, in fact I was talking to my girlfriend on the
phone at the time, telling her I was watching the PPV, and then I saw Jim
Ross on the screen and right there, I knew something was going on. He had a
very concerned look on his face and then I turned up the TV to find out what
he was talking about, he uttered and I still remember the exact words like it
was yesterday..."Something went wrong" and then he even went on to say "This
isn't an angle or a storyline folkes, this is real". That's when it hit me
and I started to cry because I had a very bad feeling about this, I even told
my girlfriend that he wasn't going to make it. She assured me he was. Sadly
about an hour later, Jim Ross shared the news that owen James Hart had passed
away. I was in shock, then I broke down and cried. I couldn't believe it, I
couldn't even sleep that night because I just kept thinking about his family
and wonering if the business of Wrestling was worth it. I think though that
if I asked Owen that personally when I go to heaven, he would say you bet it
was. He was a wonderful man, someone I wanted my children to watch, and
believe me one day I break out the tapes when I have children so they can see
a wonderful man at work.

Here it is one year later and I still can't help but think about him.
But not only him but his family too. He left a beautiful wife, Martha and
two beautiful children. Not only that but a legacy, he is a part of the
famous Hart Family. The name breathes Wrestling, and I seem to feel he was
the most gifted out of them all because he learned from the very best, Brett,
Bruce, not to mention the man that truly trained him...Stu. Bruce wrote a
very loving and dearing commentary about owen this past week talking about
how Owen had always looked up to him and talking about his "Ribbing" days. I
have read Mick Foley's book like I am sure alot of you have and I laughed out
loud when Mick was talking about Owen and his "Ribbing" days. If I could be
a fly on the wall at the time. I watch some of the tapes and see Owen almost
bursting in laughter because he would say something hilarious in the ring
during one of his matches, and it's funny. I am supposed to be "Booing" this
guy, but I can't help but to laugh at him and really like him. My favorite
Owen Hart storyline would have to be The Slammys he had won and he brought
them to the ring each and every time he went out there, even if it were to
commentate. He was a true class gentleman and owen I am certainly going to
miss you forever.

Here is one thing that has troubled me this past week...WCW or WWF never
acknowledged his one year anniversary. At least say that they are still
thinking about him and in fact WCW had their last PPV in the same arena that
Owen had passed away, and they wanted Brett Hart to appear above the rafters.
That to me sounds very tasteless and I am glad that brett declined it. I
think though all we as fans should ask is at least to acknowledge that Owen
is still in our prayers and that the Wrestling World does miss him. Is that
too much to ask? Let me, as a fan say this...Owen thank you so much for the
wonderful matches you put forth each and every time you stepped in the ring.
Owen thank you for being you, no gimmick, but just Owen James Hart. And to
the entire Hart Family...My thoughts and prayers are with you right now.

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We love you and miss you Owen. God bless you. If any of you want to respond
with a story about Owen or at least a comment about him please feel free to
email me at KGill87358@AOL.COM and I promise you I will respond to each and
every one of you. Thank you.

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