Fans show some Hart
By BRET "THE HIT MAN" HART -- For the Calgary Sun
I'm overwhelmed by the get-well cards I've received from
fans all over the world. Thanks for your support and concern. My knee is coming
along fine, it's my arms that are a bit sore from having to get around on
crutches -- in the snow!
Along with the wishes for my speedy recovery I've gotten lots of letters from
American fans telling me how much heat they're getting from their more ignorant
and blood-thirsty comrades for continuing to support the Hitman.
I want to take this opportunity to stand up (albeit on one leg) and applaud my
loyal American fans.
When I came home after Wrestlemania 12 to think about retirement, I got
countless letters from fans who were totally disgusted at all the bad
officiating. The Hitman and other rule-following wrestlers had been the victims
in the WWF.
They were adamant I should do "whatever it takes" to get the WWF
heavyweight title back.
That's exactly what I'm doing and yet some of those exact same fans are
writing me letters telling me they've lost respect for me because I'm a bad
guy. I'm no bad guy. This isn't about selling out, it's about
retribution.
Over and over, clueless fans write, `Bret Hart, you stink because you told the
American fans we're no good. I'm an American and I'm not gonna support somebody
that tells me I'm no good. I hope Stone Cold kicks your butt.'
Obviously they weren't listening when Stone Cold said that all fans are scum.
Just like they weren't listening when I said I have no problem with all the
American wrestling fans -- just the ones who have so much blood in their eyes
that they're blind to their own hypocrisy!
I give a lot of credit to fans who stand up as a voice of reason and are heard
above the din. One example is this letter written by American wrestling fan
Brian Moran from Tiverton, Rhode Island.
Brian can consider this a long-distance handshake from The Hitman. His letter
reads ...
"For more proof that the chip on Shawn Michaels shoulder is causing an
unbalance, I enter into evidence exhibit 2,678, the interview on the April 7
Raw.
"Michaels is one hell of an actor that he could say all he did with a straight
face. He complains Hart was kicking and screaming when he lost the title to
Michaels at Wrestlemania 12, but at least Hart showed up to do his
job.
"It was Michaels, who, a month before their Mania 13 rematch, decided to take
time off.
"Then he started up about Hart not being loyal and using a rival promotion to
up the price. Let's not be fooled for a second. If Michaels' contract was up
tomorrow, you mean to tell me he wouldn't look at a WCW offer?
"Bret Hart has been in the WWF longer than any current wrestler consistently --
except for his time off last summer.
"I'm afraid it is Michaels who is jealous. Not because Hart is a better worker
or makes more money or is a better actor. I think it's because there are fans
who will never cheer for him. When Michaels wrestles for another 10 straight
years in the WWF, I'll respect him as much as I do Hart. But 10 years from now,
Michaels will probably be losing to Hogan at Starcade."
To all the Brian Morans out there, keep banging the drum! I hear you -- but
it's got to get louder and louder until you drown out the chants of "we want
blood."
