Should Hulk Hogan be remembered for his international wrestling, national politics or personal flaws?
Jerry Davich
Will we remember Hogan as the superstar entertainer who revolutionized professional wrestling and became a hero to millions of fans? Or will we remember Terry Bollea as the racist, adulterous and politically charged personality who disgusted or disappointed millions of people?
Hogan’s legacy is complicated, a not-so-uncommon narrative for celebrities who reached superstardom status in our hero-worship world before tumbling off their pedestal for whatever reasons.
Several sports heroes have disappointed me through the years as their professional accomplishments became tainted by their personal flaws, sins, demons or mistakes. These athletes first come to mind: Lance Armstrong, Kobe Bryant, Walter Payton, Michael Jordan and of course O.J. Simpson, whom I once idolized. (I still have his football cards in my basement.)
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I've tried to separate their remarkable achievements in sports and entertainment from their despicable habits, poor decisions or lack of integrity. I felt similarly conflicted after the death of Pete Rose, whom I lionized as a kid. As I wrote in a column, “It’s like separating a baseball from its seams. â€
I’m not as conflicted after the recent death of Hogan at 71. He wasn’t a hero of mine. Nor was he a villain. He was just a household name with a drama-filled reputation. I’ve never written about Hogan, according to my column archives dating back nearly 30 years. I have no idea how his legacy will look in the history books.
But I am intrigued how others now view him after his death.
The burly, bald-headed hotel security guard felt obligated to ask me the same question he has likely asked hundreds of guests.
“Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart,†President Donald Trump wrote on social media the day Hogan died.
Hogan was a vocal, shirt-ripping supporter of Trump, so no surprise about Trump’s post.
My post that day also was no surprise, asking social media readers their feelings about Hogan. It prompted more than 150 responses, the majority of them negative about his lasting legacy.
“The moment he opened his mouth and spewed racism, he was no longer relevant to our community,†one reader commented.
“Not having any real connection to wrestling, his horrible actions are what I think of,†another reader noted. “He was a racist, a homophobe, and used his public standing to promote these ideas.â€
“Wrestling, not politics, will be his legacy,†a reader concluded.
Yes, but only if we paint his legacy portrait in black and white, not in shades of gray that define most of us, including celebrities whose lives are on display for all to see.
“Terry Bollea ain’t no friend of mine, but Hulk Hogan is forever, Brother!†one person commented.
This is how I felt about Pete Rose versus his on-field alter ego, Charlie Hustle.Ìý
“Is Hulk Hogan worth remembering? That is the real question,†a reader wrote to me soon after Hogan’s death.
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Yes, of course, I say. If we chose to not remember notable figures in our history books who were notoriously flawed or created personal scandals, it would erase much of our collective history as a country, and as a species.
For many people, Hogan will forever be recalled fondly for his larger-than-life persona and reality TV star, slamming down memorable catchphrases such as, “Train, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins.†You can’t sound more wholesome than that. He connected with fans beyond the wrestling ring and entertainment world.
Nonetheless, how we connect ourselves with him after his death can feel like walking through a landmine. Should we be honest? Critical? Respectful? How would Hulk Hogan have handled it for someone else in a similar situation?
Comments made by WWE star Chelsea Green generated instant public backlash, prompting her to apologize and take a break from social media. She was criticized for downplaying Hogan’s controversial past and for not opposing his racist rant, among other things. Was she at fault for initially gushing about her hero? No, but her status comes with more context and perspective.
In many ways, Hulkamania embodied America. After his public downfall due to self-inflicted scandals, the ever-beaming Hogan still embodied much of our country and its dark sins he reflected. A racist rant. A sex tape leak. Illegal steroid use. Bitter divorce. Accusations of adultery. Estranged child. And now a complicated legacy that will tarnish his memory.
Our remembrance, one way or the other, says more about us than about Hulk Hogan or Terry Bollea.
