Owen Hart web address gets yanked
By LYLE HARVEY -- Calgary Sun
A moneymaking Internet address using the name of late Calgary
wrestler Owen Hart has been shut down by its U.S. operator.
Hart, known to fans as the "Blue Blazer," died from a fall during a World
Wrestling Federation event in Kansas City last May 23, barely two weeks after
his 34th birthday.
Until Thursday, typing the address -- or domain name -- owenhart.com
automatically sent Net surfers to a page of an Internet search engine called
goto.com.
The page provides links to the websites of companies selling WWF-related
merchandise, such as video games and clothing.
A check of owenhart.com showed it has been owned by U.S. businessman Roy
Messer since at least September 1999 -- which came as news to Hart's widow,
Martha Hart.
"It's offensive to me that someone would be exploiting Owen in that way,"
Hart said. "Who would want to make money this way anyway?"
But when contacted by the Sun at his business in Florida, Messer said he
meant no harm and would be willing to transfer ownership of owenhart.com to
Hart, free of charge.
