JR Remembers Owen Hart On Owens 43rd Birthday

[Reddevilbigevil]

Jim Ross has posted his latest blog entry on his official website. In it, he remembers Owen Hart who would have been 43 years old yesterday. Below is an excerpt from JR's blog:

It’s hard to believe that Owen Hart would have been 43 years of age this week. Owen was one of the really good guys in the business. The youngest of Stu and Helen Hart’s children was funny, witty, an excellent wrestler, wasn’t a cry baby and never whined. Owen Hart was truly one of the really good guys I have ever met in any walk of life. Owen had character and integrity to go along with his outstanding wrestling talent. I never saw Owen drunk (I honestly can’t remember him even having a beer, although he well could have) and never, ever heard of him using drugs. Owen was also a man who honored his wedding vows. The practical jokes one hears Owen played on people were probably true and many of the much needed and funniest moments on long, gruelling tours usually came from Owen who would rather make people laugh than get drunk, get high or lay with a female that wasn’t his wife. Announcing to the world that Owen had died on a pay per view broadcast having about 30 seconds to collect my thoughts before going live to the world was one of the hardest things I have ever been instructed to do. Since then, when we have moments on Raw where the announcers have to lower our tone to embellish a particular moment and when fans or pundits refer to it as "the same tones the announcers used when Owen died" it pisses me off. No one in Internet land or sitting at home can ever put themselves in our shoes the night that tragedy occurred. My mindset and where my heart was on that night in Kansas City is far away from any place I have been since in the wrestling business. I saw a fellow the other day at an event that used to pick Owen up at the airport in a particular town, drive Owen around for free and allow the game’s greatest ribber to stay at the guy’s home just to be around Owen because Owen made every one he was around smile. Of course, Owen was saving money on rental cars and hotels so, as usual, Owen got the last laugh. Owen Hart deserves to go into the WWE Hall of Fame but unfortunately I feel that his widow Martha would never cooperate with such a thing which is unfortunate especially for Owen’s children who would see so many people demonstrate their love of their dad.

Happy Birthday Owen. I miss you.

[bad guy™]

43 already? Woah.

And I would think his wife and children would be happy if he went into the HoF. I would think people honoring a good man would be a compliment. I never understood them.

[Reddevilbigevil]

with what JR said about Martha and the HOF, I doubt we`ll ever see another Owen Hart figure ever! Which really sucks big time!

[Cammi Oh]

I was at that PPV and it still bothers me to think about that night.

[layzie]

he wouldve been 43? damn...young guy

[The Highwayman]

thats so sad, i remember watching that pay per view... damn, i miss owen hart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OWEN


and, on a sidenote, i thought bret hart told someone a while ago, that martha wanted her children to know what an impact their father had on the world, so she wanted him to be acknowledged.?

[hbk4champ]

i recorded that ppv of the tv. over the edge 1999 right.

[LCHime]

it's sad that he is gone and he looked so young too

[Quanthor]

May 9, 2008 11:36:51 GMT -5 Reddevilbigevil said:

with what JR said about Martha and the HOF, I doubt we`ll ever see another Owen Hart figure ever! Which really sucks big time!

No doubt, she still blames the WWE for the death of Owen, therefore she will never sign over any likeness or name rights if means that the WWE will make profit off of his name.

It's a shame really, she should just let it go and see it how it actually happened - a mere freak accident.

[Deleted]

It's too bad Bret wasn't as faithful to his wife as Owen seemed to have been. If you read Bret's book, he shamelessly discusses the affairs he had on the road.

[Get A Rhythm™]

i remember watching the ppv, too. i really wish he would be inducted into the hof, but sadly, don't see it happening. it really sucks.

[pillman9mm]

It definitely was an accident. But the truth is, it was an accident that could have easily been prevented had WWE not decided to cut corners with such a dangerous stunt. They hired a hack from Orlando because he was willing to use the flimsy "quick-release" shackle WWE wanted in order to avoid any complications detaching from the rigging device. The guy who normally overlooked Owen's descents was willing to do the job for $5,000. WWE officials told him that it "wasnt in the budget". This of course makes all the sense in the world when you realize that the company was at its financial zenith around this time.

Martha Hart has every right to be anti-WWE. Their company, which keep in mind is owned by a legit billionaire, was unable to provide adequate protection for Owen that night. It's cost-cutting at the expense of another persons life. It was definitely regrettable on WWE's part to be so negligent.

However, I do hope Martha can find it within herself to allow Owen to be recognized in the HoF. Owen made a serious impact on this sport and his contributions should not go unheard. She doesn't even have to be in attendance, although it would be a spectacular thing on her part to be there with her two children. There are a TON of guys worthy of inducting Owen, notably Bret and Jericho. Say what you want about other wrestling deaths, Owen's was THE saddest because he wasn't the cause of his demise. No past steroid abuse or overdosing on pain prescriptions, he died the most TRAGIC death in sports history.

[The Funniest Guy in Pants]

.... Has it been 10 years already? Wow....


RIP

[stingerfan]

May 9, 2008 16:45:19 GMT -5 @pillman9mm said:

It definitely was an accident. But the truth is, it was an accident that could have easily been prevented had WWE not decided to cut corners with such a dangerous stunt. They hired a hack from Orlando because he was willing to use the flimsy "quick-release" shackle WWE wanted in order to avoid any complications detaching from the rigging device. The guy who normally overlooked Owen's descents was willing to do the job for $5,000. WWE officials told him that it "wasnt in the budget". This of course makes all the sense in the world when you realize that the company was at its financial zenith around this time.

Martha Hart has every right to be anti-WWE. Their company, which keep in mind is owned by a legit billionaire, was unable to provide adequate protection for Owen that night. It's cost-cutting at the expense of another persons life. It was definitely regrettable on WWE's part to be so negligent.

However, I do hope Martha can find it within herself to allow Owen to be recognized in the HoF. Owen made a serious impact on this sport and his contributions should not go unheard. She doesn't even have to be in attendance, although it would be a spectacular thing on her part to be there with her two children. There are a TON of guys worthy of inducting Owen, notably Bret and Jericho. Say what you want about other wrestling deaths, Owen's was THE saddest because he wasn't the cause of his demise. No past steroid abuse or overdosing on pain prescriptions, he died the most TRAGIC death in sports history.

QFT

R.I.P Owen

[Sandy]

It sucks that he died. I really enjoyed every single gimmick he had. But I think he was far more at home as being a heel.


Owen IMO was perhaps in the top 10 heels of all time. His work in the Hart Foundation, the "danger" gimmick, and when he was teaming with Bob Backlund is just phenomenal work.

Really stupid idea on the WWE's part to have him come from a damn wire down to the ring. Why not just do a regular entrance?

But it was indeed a freak accident so I don't think the WWE should take complete blame for it...just very poor judgment on their part.

[Ultimate Figure Collector]

It might just be me but it sounds like JR is taking some shots at Bret Hart in that article.

[The Highwayman]

May 9, 2008 16:45:19 GMT -5 @pillman9mm said:

It definitely was an accident. But the truth is, it was an accident that could have easily been prevented had WWE not decided to cut corners with such a dangerous stunt. They hired a hack from Orlando because he was willing to use the flimsy "quick-release" shackle WWE wanted in order to avoid any complications detaching from the rigging device. The guy who normally overlooked Owen's descents was willing to do the job for $5,000. WWE officials told him that it "wasnt in the budget". This of course makes all the sense in the world when you realize that the company was at its financial zenith around this time.

Martha Hart has every right to be anti-WWE. Their company, which keep in mind is owned by a legit billionaire, was unable to provide adequate protection for Owen that night. It's cost-cutting at the expense of another persons life. It was definitely regrettable on WWE's part to be so negligent.

However, I do hope Martha can find it within herself to allow Owen to be recognized in the HoF. Owen made a serious impact on this sport and his contributions should not go unheard. She doesn't even have to be in attendance, although it would be a spectacular thing on her part to be there with her two children. There are a TON of guys worthy of inducting Owen, notably Bret and Jericho. Say what you want about other wrestling deaths, Owen's was THE saddest because he wasn't the cause of his demise. No past steroid abuse or overdosing on pain prescriptions, he died the most TRAGIC death in sports history.

Wasnt it a 60$ sailing hook, or something along those lines? i read part of Martha's book and thats what i thought it said.

something protecting one's life should cost more than 60...