tragedy
I wanted to take a moment to talk about some people who died during this last weeks time, some people I respected and admired considerably. My condolences and best wishes go to the families of all people mentioned.
Danish reggae singer Natasja Saad, Little T, died in a carcrash sunday evening in Jamaica while on tour. She had recently won a Jamaican contest, as the first non-Jamaican ever, signifying how far she had come in a career that she started at age 13. She only recently got the recognition her talent warranted, spearheading the emergence of a new roster of Danish reggae artists with her innovative way of making music and her dedication to what she loved.
Dedication was very much what categorized Canadian WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, who died in his home over the weekend, along with his wife Nancy 'Woman' Sullivan Benoit and their son Daniel. Throughout a long and much celebrated career that took him from Canada through the UK, US, Mexico and Japan, Chris Benoit earned the respect of his peers and fans of the sport as well, through his hard work and his selfless attitude. Taking his cue from the hard-hitting, matbased approach of legendary UK wrestler The Dynamite Kid and fellow Canadian wrestler Bret 'Hitman' Hart, Chris Benoit sat out to make a name for himself as a reliable and credible wrestler. Throughout his career he held titles in NJPW, WWE, WCW, ECW and Stampede Pro Wrestling, and wrestled everyone who was anyone in the business from the mid-eighties through to his tragic death last weekend. A focussed, self-less and tremendously respected man, Benoit won prestigious inbusiness awards and titles, including 'wrestler of the year' in several publications. His death tragically appears to be a murder-suicide, according to preliminary investigations. Whatever the case, Chris Benoit, like his friend and peer Eddie Guerrerro who died recently, has built a lasting legacy and will be remembered by fans all over the world as one of the all-time greats of the business. Respect.
Two of wrestlings best-known female competitors and managers also died recently. Nancy Sullivan Benoit, known to fans as Woman during her managing years in WCW, specialised in the sultry vamp look as manager for people like Kevin Sulllivan (her then husband) and Ric Flair. She later married Chris Benoit and the couple had a son together. She was tragically found dead alongside her husband and their son, Daniel.
Sherri Martel passed away recently, in her mother's house. Recognized as one of the most versatile and charismatic female managers and wrestlers of all time, Sherri's career also took her to several of the biggest leagues where she featured in big programmes and feuds with the legendary likes of Ric Flair, Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan and the likes. Last year she was inducted into the WWE Hall of fame for her efforts and accomplishments in a business which is still very male-dominated. She blazed a trail for other women in the business, and was every bit as tough as she was beautiful and charismatic.
She led, others followed.
All of these people are a great loss to their respective businesses, but I take comfort in knowing they will be remembered as pioneers and dedicated workers in their fields.
R.I.P.
Danish reggae singer Natasja Saad, Little T, died in a carcrash sunday evening in Jamaica while on tour. She had recently won a Jamaican contest, as the first non-Jamaican ever, signifying how far she had come in a career that she started at age 13. She only recently got the recognition her talent warranted, spearheading the emergence of a new roster of Danish reggae artists with her innovative way of making music and her dedication to what she loved.
Dedication was very much what categorized Canadian WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, who died in his home over the weekend, along with his wife Nancy 'Woman' Sullivan Benoit and their son Daniel. Throughout a long and much celebrated career that took him from Canada through the UK, US, Mexico and Japan, Chris Benoit earned the respect of his peers and fans of the sport as well, through his hard work and his selfless attitude. Taking his cue from the hard-hitting, matbased approach of legendary UK wrestler The Dynamite Kid and fellow Canadian wrestler Bret 'Hitman' Hart, Chris Benoit sat out to make a name for himself as a reliable and credible wrestler. Throughout his career he held titles in NJPW, WWE, WCW, ECW and Stampede Pro Wrestling, and wrestled everyone who was anyone in the business from the mid-eighties through to his tragic death last weekend. A focussed, self-less and tremendously respected man, Benoit won prestigious inbusiness awards and titles, including 'wrestler of the year' in several publications. His death tragically appears to be a murder-suicide, according to preliminary investigations. Whatever the case, Chris Benoit, like his friend and peer Eddie Guerrerro who died recently, has built a lasting legacy and will be remembered by fans all over the world as one of the all-time greats of the business. Respect.
Two of wrestlings best-known female competitors and managers also died recently. Nancy Sullivan Benoit, known to fans as Woman during her managing years in WCW, specialised in the sultry vamp look as manager for people like Kevin Sulllivan (her then husband) and Ric Flair. She later married Chris Benoit and the couple had a son together. She was tragically found dead alongside her husband and their son, Daniel.
Sherri Martel passed away recently, in her mother's house. Recognized as one of the most versatile and charismatic female managers and wrestlers of all time, Sherri's career also took her to several of the biggest leagues where she featured in big programmes and feuds with the legendary likes of Ric Flair, Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan and the likes. Last year she was inducted into the WWE Hall of fame for her efforts and accomplishments in a business which is still very male-dominated. She blazed a trail for other women in the business, and was every bit as tough as she was beautiful and charismatic.
She led, others followed.
All of these people are a great loss to their respective businesses, but I take comfort in knowing they will be remembered as pioneers and dedicated workers in their fields.
R.I.P.