Tragedy follows famous dynasty
By MICHAEL WOOD --
Calgary Sun
The sudden death of Davey Boy Smith has cast another cloud of despair over Calgary's most famous clan, which for years has been plagued by family turmoil and tragic deaths.
Explosive tell-all books, criminal charges, Davey Boy's drug addiction and family feuds have thrown the Harts into a ring of infamy, rivalling even their legendary history of wrestling.
Perhaps the most critical tragedies to befall the family were the deaths of Owen and his mother, Helen.
It was three years ago this Thursday Owen attempted the now-infamous wrestling stunt which claimed his life.
In November 2001, Helen Hart, the family matriarch and binding force of the family, died after a five-week battle against poor health due to diabetes.
Before that, in 1996, Stu Hart's grandson Matthew Annis died of flesh-eating disease. But as family members struggled to deal with their deaths, the battles within the family proved near enough to rip it apart.
Last year, Smith's estranged wife Diana released an explosive expose of the family entitled Under The Mat, which most family members criticized as being untruthful.
It also brought on a lawsuit by Owen's wife, Martha, who successfully fought to have the book pulled off store shelves.
Davey Boy also found himself in court, up on charges of uttering death threats against Diana, her sister Ellie, and Bruce.
All charges were withdrawn. In the case involving Diana, they were pulled in return for an agreement he stay away from her and non-prescription drugs.
