A Failed Tribute
Posted by: Mike Talon on 02/23/2004

Several weeks ago, the staff of theHTM.com was invited to submit commentaries to be featured on the main page of the site. Needless to say, we all jumped at the chance to have our personal views read by some of the thousands of people that visit here on a daily basis. I thought to myself: What could be easier than writing a few paragraphs? Was I ever wrong!

My original commentary was to be a tribute to one of my personal favorite wrestlers: None other than old school legend “Playboy” Buddy Rose. As a crucial part of my tribute, I wanted to include comments from some of the numerous talents Mr. Rose has worked with over the years. Of the twenty talents I emailed, not one person bothered to respond at all. The sad part is that every talent I emailed is a “regular presence” on their own site, and all are known to return fan emails within a few days – my own included.

In the wrestling business, it’s always been my impression that the better you put someone over, the better it makes you look as well. Countless talents preach about the importance of it, the necessity of it, and how they have benefited from it… yet when asked to provide a few short comments to put over a man they have all called “A good friend”, the silence is deafening. Is this what the wrestling world has come to? If so, it’s pathetic!

Where are the morals and standards that so many talents swear by? Does it hurt you or your career by dropping a few kind words for someone else? Judging by the stone wall I met, it’s apparent to some that it does indeed hurt if it’s not in your best interests. Being the professional that I am, pointing fingers at specific talents isn’t going to happen. You know exactly who you are, and it’s a crying shame that you can’t step outside your own little world to pay tribute to one of the men that got you to the position you are in today.

As for Mr. Rose, we here at theHTM.com would like to congratulate you on your upcoming 2004 CAC award for 30 years in the wrestling business. It is an honor that has been a long time coming, and one that you richly deserve. “Slim, trim, 217 lbs baby” !

Check out the official site of “Playboy” Buddy Rose here: www.playboybuddyrose.com

The information in this article is exclusive property of the Honky Tonk Man Website and cannot be used elsewhere without proper link credit.