Is there anything more awkward than when witnessing someone totally embarrass themselves? You know, it’s like a train wreck – one you can’t turn away from despite the horror you see. Prior to the United States match against Germany in the 2014 World Cup, I came across the following tweet in my feed from one of my childhood idols, the one and only Mr. Hulk Hogan, that left me with that feeling.
At the age of 60 and after countless injuries, plastic surgeries, a nasty public divorce, sex scandal and suicide attempt, Terry Bollea – aka Hulk Hogan – is still sporting the red and yellow, desperately trying to hang on to ‘Hulkamania.’ Someone who once was so cool to me, now was just sad. So why do I follow the Hulk on social media? Why do I still care? Why can’t I look away?
Among the many difficult aspects of getting older is realizing the larger-than-life idols you once had or have aren’t indestructible, are far from perfect and in the end aren’t worthy of such admiration. Like the Wizard of Oz, finding out what is exactly behind the curtain can be, well, depressing.
The Hulkster isn’t the only one to fool me with smoke and mirrors. During an internship in college with KMBZ News Radio 980, the Kansas City Royals radio affiliate at the time, I learned the harsh reality that the majority of ball players, current and past, that I idolized and when younger even tried to be like, were far from the people I imagined and what was portrayed through interviews and television. Again, it was hard not to feel let down.
Over the years, the disappointment continued. From professional athletes to once respected journalists, many that I held in such high esteem were in the midst of their own personal train wrecks. Perhaps it is my fault for buying into the bull. Shame on me for being like Dorothy and believing in ‘all powerful wizards.’
Hulk Hogan used to preach, “to all my little Hulkamaniacs, say your prayers, take your vitamins and you will never go wrong.” At the end of the day all humans, regardless of stature, can and will ‘go wrong’ regardless of what they do to not. Maybe the Hulk will come to accept this the way I have and change his message to something more appropriate and realistic, something simple like, “try to make good decisions, be the best person you can and learn from your mistakes.” Maybe that is why I still follow him and have an interest. I am holding out for Terry Bollea to embrace who he really is, rather than clinging on to the past and his Hulk Hogan persona. Accepting reality could prevent youngsters from learning idols are human the hard way like so many of us adults.