One on one with Bret Hart

One on one with Bret Hart

The Hitman says he doesn't lose his temper anymore, but he would like to put Osama Bin Laden in the Sharpshooter

By ANGELA MACISAAC - Calgary Sun

Dynamite Kid on a high-speed trip into the turnbuckle, with Bret Hart providing energetic propulsion in Stampede Wrestling, circa 1980. -- photo by Bob Leonard

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The Calgary Sun sat down with Bret "The Hitman" Hart for a one-on-one interview, touching on both the serious and the whimsical side of the former world champion.

HOW THE DEVIL ARE YOU?

I am really good. I've never been better. I have a new lease on life. After everything I've been through, the sun is shining.

IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS. WHATCHA GONNA DO?

Probably going out for dinner.

WHERE?

I like the Oceania downtown. I don't go out a whole lot. I can't handle the loud scenes anymore. I appreciate my tranquility these days.

PICK FIVE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF.

Cool and cool. No, just kidding. How about calm, reserved, undaunted and happy?

WHAT WERE YOU LIKE AT SCHOOL?

It's funny you ask that. I meet people all the time who knew me in school. They always tell me I was really quiet and unnoticed. I don't remember that at all. I always find that an odd take on my demeanour. I think I was a bit of a joker. I had a pretty good sense of humour. I had a lot of fun at school. I had a pretty good attitude. It was the same in wrestling. A lot of people would tell you I was just a quiet guy who never said much but there are other people who were around me more that would tell you the complete opposite, that I was totally out of control. I guess I was Jekyll and Hyde.

AN ENIGMA?

Yeah. I think I was a contradiction sometimes. I was the quiet type when I thought that was the role I had to play. But I could get into a lot of trouble, depending on who I was with and what I was doing. I always had an alter-ego that I carried on into my Hitman character.

WHAT'S YOUR POISON?

Chocolate.

WHO'S THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON IN YOUR CELLPHONE?

Wait, I have to look. I have quite a few. I guess I'll say Wayne Gretzky.

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU PUNCHED AND WHY?

Vince McMahon and, uh, it's a long story. But it's the truth.

WHO DO YOU WANT MOST TO PUT IN A SHARPSHOOTER RIGHT NOW? RIC FLAIR?

Nah. Osama bin Laden.

WHAT'S YOUR MOST UNPLEASANT CHARACTERISTIC?

(Long pause) Can you give me an example?

HOW ABOUT TEMPER? THAT'S MINE.

I don't have one anymore. Since I had my stroke, I find it hard to get mad about anything.

OK, HOW ABOUT WHAT'S THE MOST RIDICULOUS THINK YOU'VE BOUGHT?

That would be that stupid rubber man sitting in an electric chair in my basement. You hit the switch and he goes nuts, like he's getting electrocuted. I never did know why I bought it but I did for some stupid reason.

IT MUST HAVE BEEN A GOOD REASON AT THE TIME.

I thought it would look funny in my basement but I don't know.

WHAT REPAIRS COULD YOU PERFORM ON YOUR CAR?</p>

I can tip the coffee cup back up into its holder.

WHAT'S YOUR CULINARY SPECIALTY?

Roast duck a l'orange.

WHAT TV SERIES DO YOU WANT ON DVD?

Deadwood.

SHOULD YOU HAVE WON A GEMINI AWARD FOR LONESOME DOVE?

No. But they should have kept that series going then maybe I'd have a different answer. I did pretty good for a walk-on. I didn't have a lot of help or practise before I rode into town.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE UNHEALTHY FOOD?

Ice cream or chocolate.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO HOLIDAY?

Hawaii.

WHAT'S THE BEST CONCERT YOU'VE SEEN?

Bruce Springsteen in Palo Alto, Calif., at the Bridge Benefit (a concert series organized by Neil Young) in probably 1996.

BOBBLEHEADS. THEY'RE KIND OF SILLY, AREN'T THEY?

No, I like mine. I think they're neat.

YOU HAVE A FEW HOURS TO KILL. BOOK OR VIDEO GAME?

Book, for sure.

WHAT'S YOUR GREATEST FEAR?

Drowning.

WHAT'S YOUR WORST HABIT?

Being late.

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?

The Simpsons.

WHAT MOVIE MADE YOU TEARY-EYED?

Tarzan. The Disney version.

MOST PRO ATHLETES WE ASK DENY THEY'VE ORDERED PRO WRESTLING ON PPV. THEY'RE LYING, AREN'T THEY?

I'm sure almost 99 percent of them are liars.

STRANGEST PIECE OF FAN MAIL?

I've had fan letters that would make Penthouse blush.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE MATCH OF ALL-TIME?

A ladder match with The Dynamite Kid in Regina in 1980.

WHO'S YOUR FAVOURITE WRESTLER TO WATCH TODAY?

(Canadian Olympian) Daniel Igali.

HOW TOUGH WAS IT TO SAY GOODBYE TO HART HOUSE AND THE DUNGEON?

It was pretty tough.

DID YOU DO ANYTHING SPECIAL THAT DAY?

I was actually out of town so I missed it. You know, I'd said goodbye to it a thousand times before that so I had made my peace with it. After everything else, it was just one more obstacle, one more hurdle, one more door to close to move forward.

WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED?

Do your best and keep your promises. That came from my dad.

CAN YOU BE CONVINCED TO KARAOKE? IF SO, WHAT'S YOUR SONG?

Please Release Me. I've done it many times in a drunken stupor in Japan. Left them in tears.

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