Monday, December 17, 2007

Organized Juice Threatens To Boycott Georgia

"Almost every state knows, and has known for years, that wrestling is entertainment and not a sport. It's like Ice Capades." That's by the lawyer for the WWE (the big guys that roll around the ring and hit each other with chairs) in reaction to Georgia's consideration of subjecting its "entertainers" to drug tests if they want to entertain in this state. If Georgia does, the WWE won't come here anymore he threatened.

From a March 2004 USA TODAY article:

"Since 1997, about 1,000 wrestlers 45 and younger have worked on pro wrestling circuits worldwide, wrestling officials estimate.

"USA TODAY's examination of medical documents, autopsies and police reports, along with interviews with family members and news accounts, shows that at least 65 wrestlers died in that time, 25 from heart attacks or other coronary problems — an extraordinarily high rate for people that young, medical officials say. Many had enlarged hearts.

****

"In five of the 25 deaths, medical examiners concluded that steroids might have played a role. Excessive steroid use can lead to an enlarged heart. In 12 others, examiners in medical reports cited evidence of use of painkillers, cocaine and other drugs."

Then there was local WWE wrestler Chris Benoit who killed his wife and child and then himself earlier this year.

Yep just like the Ice Capades. Barry Bonds is looking better everyday.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's amazing to me that drug testing is legal, and that Americans go along with it so willingly. A policeman can't look in your pocket without probable cause, but your employer can look in your bladder on a whim.

Most employers now believe they have the right to search their employee's body for signs of illegal drug use. I know K-Mart employees have to sign a waiver that grants their employer the right to search their homes, ostensibly to prevent shoplifting.

I wonder what other laws the government would like private employers to begin enforcing?

fermicat said...

I think an employer should have the right to check if employees are showing up to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Such people could be a danger to themselves, other employees, or customers. If this is a condition of employment, then you do have a choice to not be tested (i.e. don't work there). I do not think they should have the right to dictate what employees do when they are not working. That is clearly over the line. I agree that they should not have a right to search your home or car.

But enough of the serious talk. I'll be checking my newspaper for the new "Ice Capades: Roid Rage" show. I'd hate to miss any quality entertainment. The wrestlers could throw skaters at each other rather than chairs.

Debo Blue said...

Are you deliberately trying to hurt me (clutching my heart)?

Why oh why would you publish this completely erroneous hacked up article from this dirty rag (eyes filling with tears)?

I'm hurt Dave and nothing you do can make it better except, uh (hitching an eyebrow) maybe a maglite for Christmas?

*Sniff*

PS-that mozarella cheese recipe had me salivating! I'm gonna try it and let you know how it turns out.

Jeni said...

And, of those who are anti-drug testing, if you are in an accident on the highway caused by a truck driver or driver of a car for that matter, who is operating "under the influence" of any substance, be it alcohol or various other drugs, will you be among the first to scream then "foul?" Why was this person not tested for illegal drug usage? If you are eating in a restaurant and suppose the cook is using some substance and messes up your order, perhaps to the point of even poisoning you - are you still going to feel that drug testing is illegal or should not be allowed? If you have a family member who uses some substances and somehow manages to harm him/herself in the process, possibly even causing death, are you still going to feel drug testing is wrong? I don't LIKE drug testing, mandatory or anytype any more than the next person however, I know the need for it especially of those in the work place. Management has to take those steps in order to stay in business and protect themselves from lawsuits and also, as a means of trying to protect the public at large, their consumers from the harm that can happen via drug/alcohol usage. And don't think just because one works in an office that things can't go awry too and people are harmed by what others view as an imposition on their rights to use and abuse substances. I agree with Fermicat, if you find drug testing to be too intrusive on you in your workplace, then go find a different job, one where there is absolutely no way using can harm ANYONE!

dr sardonicus said...

They've been drug testing me for years, which I can accept on a professional level because if you screw up in my line of work, you risk exposing thousands of people to illness and/or death. I remain opposed on a philosophical level because drug testing opened the door to the erosion of privacy that we've seen in American society over the last 30 years. Back then, the mere suggestion of drug testing was enough to drive people to protest; today, all too many simply shrug their shoulders, presuming that the government is going to do whatever it wants and nobody can stop them.

Finding another job really isn't much of an option anymore because nearly everyone who pays decently drug tests nowadays. They even test burger-flippers now. A choice between drug testing and unemployment isn't much of a choice at all.