Behind the Glitz, Glamour and Showbiz Beats a Heart

Friday afternoon an assembly was scheduled.  The note in the faculty room said "Assembly: A Career in Professional Wrestling."  At first, I read it fast and thought it said "professional writing."  Sure enough, we were going to have a visit from a professional wrestler; his niece attends my school.  My kids kept asking who was the wrestler.  I was as much in the dark as they were.
So, at 2 PM our vice principal announced, in her loud and booming voice, "Ladies and gentleman; boys and girls!  Presenting the Tonga Kid!"  Well, he walked in- a massive bulk of a man- dignified, proud and not looking as rough and tough as his television persona.  It was an actual human being.

He proceeded to talk; I thought it was going to be about the sport and entertainment of wrestling.  It was wonderful inspirational talk about life, school, mothers and his career.  He emphasized staying in school and doing homework.  He admitted to the kids that he did not know how to read and write.  He has traveled internationally, but was illiterate in certain things- the basic things.  Then he talked about mothers.  He choked up a few times.  Made me choke-up.  Here is a man who has wrestled with Rowdy Roddy Piper and Hulk Hogan, shedding tears about his late mother.  Now that is a man with feeling and humanity- a role model for those kids who think crying is for sissies.  He also made it a good point to emphasize he did not live the life of luxury we think pro wrestlers live...he lives in an apartment with his family and drives a van!
He also told the kids never to attempt the moves seen on TV- those are practiced, rehearsed and they know how to break a fall.
I have enjoyed wrestling as an entertainment- shades of the gladiatorial arena of ancient Rome, but I have a new respect for the men, because they can put aside their "Hollywood image" and talk like the rest of us and reach out and tell the youth of today how it is.  Bravo for Sam Fatu...AKA the Tonga Kid!!