Sometimes, when something horrible happens, people cope with the tragedy by trying to find someone—or something—to blame. Which explains why, in the wake of WWE wrestler Chris Benoit’s gruesome double murder-suicide, everyone’s latching onto the popular notion that steroids made him do it.
But just because that’s what everyone’s saying doesn’t mean it’s the truth.
As Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald writes, “That the violence went on for an extended period indicates it was not a ‘roid rage’ sparked by steroid use, according to WWE and others.”
And while we’re on the subject of ‘roid rage, did you know that it kinda, sorta maybe doesn’t even exist?
From Wikipedia: ‘One of the most common misconceptions regarding the side effects of anabolic steroids is known as `roid rage.’ There seems to be little or no evidence such a condition actually exists. Some early studies done have shown a slight correlation between manic symptoms and anabolic steroid use.
‘However more comprehensive and recent studies have brought into question their methodology and conclusions. The majority of recent studies done on angry behavior and anabolic steroid use show no psychological effect, implying that either `roid rage’ does not exist or that anabolic steroids’ effects on aggression are too small to be measured.
On top of that, less than three months back, Benoit passed a random drug test with flying colors, testing negative for use of anabolic steroids, legal or illegal drugs.
So let’s review the evidence:
1) Scientifically, there’s no such thing as ‘roid rage.
2) Even if there is such a thing as ‘roid rage (which, for the record, there isn’t) that has nothing to do with Benoit seeing as he wasn’t taking steroids.
3) Even if Benoit was taking steroids, there’s no way that the ‘roid rage theory would explain the meticulous planning and premeditation that preceded his acts of violence.
And so on, and so forth.
Sometimes, as it happens, it takes a comedic mind to give us perspective on even the most serious of tragedies. And since this certainly isn’t the first time the media has rushed to find meaning in meaningless tragedy (think Virginia Tech, for example) and, unfortunately, it won’t be the last, we bring you the immortal—and unexpectedly poignant—words of Chris Rock:
Everybody wants to know what the kids was listening to. What kind of music was they listening to? Or what kind of movies was they watching?
Who gives a fuck what they was watching? Whatever happened to crazy? What, you can’t be crazy no more? Did we eliminate ”crazy” from the dictionary?
Now do we really want to blame this entire thing on steroids, or do we want to try and find a cause in Chris Benoit’s library, or his CD or DVD collection?
Or, on the other hand, do we want to accept that sometimes mental illness (particularly in athletes, celebrities or public figures) is often overlooked and figure out how to look for the early warning signs next time, instead of trying to piece together what happened after the fact?
The choice is yours.
No. 1
Delilah75 says:
I don’t know to much about steroid abuse. But I did watch WWe Wrestling every Monday and Friday night. I would See Chris Benoit come down to the ring with no expression on his face like something was wrong. I am sure Everyone thought it was an act. But if you would look close you could catch a glimpse of a man that WAS unhappy.
All the money and fame and yet I could see some kind of sadness in his face. I have no more intrest in watching Wrestling, I just can’t support that kind of Entertainment. Wher just Two Weeks before this incident Vince McMan Himself has faked and portrayed his own death on His Show. This has turned into a sick and exploited business. Whata waste for the real athletes and entertainers I would like to watch.
Posted: Jun 28, 2007 at 6:23 pm
No. 2
devgrama says:
I have watched pro wrestling off and on for over 35 years. In recent years I have watched less and less because of the disgusting things that the “athletes” do for money. And Vince McMahan is one of the creepiest people that ever walked the earth. What kind of a man would “fake” his death just to make money. It was such a farce from the beginning. Vinnie, did you have head lice is that why you agreed to have your head shaved on tv…I only saw exerpts after the fact…as I probably haven’t watched more then a couple hours of wrestling in the last couple of years, even though it is on in my house at least 2 nights a week.
The death of Chris Benoit is sooo tragic. And the circumstances surrounding the subsequent murder of his wife and son are absolutely tragic. If it is found that the “steroids” played a factor it this tragedy, then maybe there needs to be some radical changes is not only the testing of these athletes, but educate the public not only the the bad in steroids but the lengths these talented people go to achieve “stardom” and “wealth”. People need to step back and not support such incredibly graphic behavior of supposedly smart individuals.
How many other wrestlers have died because of the abuse of not only steroids but pain killers to make the pain caused by earlier injuries in the ring!!!
Posted: Jun 29, 2007 at 12:12 pm
No. 3
hunterzghirl says:
I was and am very distraught over the losses of the Benoit family, and that includes Chris Benoit, who everyone wants to demonize. What many people seem to have forgotten is that Chris was a human like all of the rest of us, and the pressure of being on the road and working that sort of job is immense. I don’t blame Chris for what happened.
I think that the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the person who has from very early on tried to deny that his company’s attitude towards it’s employess didn’t cause this. The sad fact, which far too many people know, is that in order to get to wrestle main-card events in the WWE, one has to be “big”, meaning muscular. Technical wrestling has taken a backseat to shocking the fans with dangerous stunts. I will never understand why the WWE pays to have hairdressers and make-up artists follow their staff around the country, but they haven’t hired a psychologist to monitor the well-being of the wrestlers. The wrestlers get used until they give out either physically or emotionally, and then they are thrown away like so much garbage despite all of the years that they have given their company.
Even if steroids aren’t the main issue in the huge number of wrestler deaths we’ve seen in the last ten years, there’s no denying that the pressures of the road get to these men and women and they end up turning to drugs in one form or another.
I also find it absolutely disgusting that all photos and mention of Chris Benoit have been removed from the WWE’s site, as if they have erased Chris’ entire life and career. I hate to tell the WWE, but I know who the real “monster” is in all of this, and for that reason, I will not watch wrestling anymore. No matter what Vince McMahon or anyone else says, they DO have a responsibility to the health and welfare (both physical and mental) of their employees. If there’s even a chance that they could have prevented this, then they should suffer repercussions.
It’s easy to lay the blame for all of this at Chris’ feet, but we have to remember that there were people who had known him a long time and noticed that something was wrong, yet waited nearly a day before they alerted anyone to the fact that Chris appeared to be in crisis. Those people might say that they were his friends, but they weren’t. WWE’s statements that it “wasn’t related to steroids” and that “Chris did this on his own” are about as salient as the US Governments claims that they didn’t know about the concentration camps in WWII… they knew, it just didn’t seem to affect them so they didn’t care.
I hope that this affects the WWE greatly and that the fans out there start to realize that depraved indifference and negligence are things that we should no longer tolerate. If the WWE won’t take care of its employees, then it shouldn’t exist, period.
Posted: Jun 30, 2007 at 7:49 am
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