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Scott Rees

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REES' PIECE OF MIND
Mick Foley - do and die?

The PC thing to do right now on the wrestling sites is to use your PC to tell Mick Foley not to do anything stupid. The Pro Wrestling Torch and 1wrestling have both gone on record telling Mick to be cool, take it easy, don't hurt yourself for us ravenous fans.

I'm not PC on my PC. I don't share the same opinion. I think Mick should do whatever the hell he wants tonight. Mick Foley is a grown adult. He can think for himselves (had to do it, sorry). If Mick Foley wants to jump off of the cage tonight, he should do it.

The arguments I've heard include the following. Mick is his own worst enemy. Mick is a glory mark. Mick has a wife and two kids to think of. Mick doesn't need this to cement his legend.

Is Mick his own worst enemy? He's turned himself into a millionaire. I wish I was that kind of enemy to myself.

A glory mark? Of course he is. He's a performer. Name one that isn't.

His wife and kids to think of? Valid point. So do police officers, soldiers, fireman, other wrestlers, other athletes. They all take life-threatening risks in their occupations. They call it a job hazard. Simple, routine actions can end lives in these professions. His wife knows this. She made the choice to marry him, she made the choice to have kids with him, and she makes the choice to stay with him.

As for his kids? There are a lot kids who only dream of getting the amount of attention from their father that Mick gives. And Mick's set them up for life. His kids will always know he loved them. Give your parenting speech to those guys that have seven kids with five women, and never see any of them.

Cementing Mick's legend? Mick's legend is cemented, in his book and in video. He will be remembered, fondly. He does not need to do anything spectacular tonight, agreed.

But from every indication, this is Mick's final big match tonight. He's not going to be a main-eventer much longer, by his choosing. Maybe he'll be at WrestleMania, maybe not. But this is his last hurrah at his specialty, the big bump match. This is his last chance at what made him a famous, what made him the "Hardcore Legend".

Michael Jordan left his sport as the recognized king of his profession. John Elway left his as a two-time defending Super Bowl champ. Mick wants to leave his sport as the "King of Hardcore"? Let him. He has a unique opportunity tonight. He gets to pick his spot. He knows his body is wearing down. He knows he's not what he used to be. He knows there's not much left in the tank. But he's got one last chance to make us all go "Holy Shit!" one more time.

He's got one big performance in him left.

And let him make the decision on how it ends.

Scott Rees
freelance

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