by Tom the Actuary

Watching RAW tonight got me thinking about Richard Pryor.

Richard Pryor changed the entire comedy and entertainment business.  He had a reasonably successful career in mainstream movies and television, but it was his standup - particularly as captured on his recordings and concert films – that revolutionized comedy.  His genius could look at racial problems and failed relationships – not normally the funniest subjects – and find laughter.  He spoke in an angry, profane manner, but that was who he was, and you knew it was genuine.

His dominance of the comedy scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s came after more than a decade of well-respected work.  His personal life, which included five marriages, was always a subject for his comedy.  Once he reached the top, his style became the norm for comics everywhere - and still is.

His body was a subject of tremendous abuse, initially from alcohol and drugs, including an infamous cocaine-freebasing incident that resulted in third degree burns over 50% of his body.  He also had two heart attacks before being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. 

The once vibrant, strong, angry man had become a pale shell of his former self.

When he first came down with the illness (1986), nobody knew.  He came back from one of his heart attacks with people lined up to see him, ready for more of his devastating, take-no-prisoners style.  Instead, they got something else, something – almost dead.  No disrespect meant to a living man, but everything that had made him a genius was gone.  He had to go public with his having MS when so many people suspected AIDs.

I remember how long it took people to realize – myself included – that you could watch Richard Pryor for as long as you wanted; he just didn’t have it any more.

Which brings me to Steve Austin.

Steve Austin has changed the entire sports entertainment business.  He had a reasonably successful career in stints in WCW, ECW, and elsewhere, but it was his “Stone Cold” persona and promos - particularly as captured in feuds with Bret Hart and Vince McMahon – that revolutionized wrestling.  His genius took an exhibition of antisocial and sociopathic behavior – not normally the stuff heroes are made of – and made a hero the dimensions of which the industry had never known.  He spoke in an angry and profane manner, but that was who he was, and it felt genuine.

His dominance of the wrestling in the late 90’s came after around a decade of well-respected work.  His personal life, which has included multiple marriages, has been incorporated into some (including his earliest) storylines.  Once he reached the top, his style of promo has become the norm for wrestlers everywhere.

However, his body has also been a subject of tremendous abuse, including a neck injury that should have ended his career.  And that injury might still end his career.

Has this once vibrant, strong, angry man become a pale shell of his former self?  He came back from his injury with people lined up to see him, ready for more of his angry, take-no-prisoners style.  Instead, they’ve gotten something else, something – almost dead.  It’s like the lights are flashing, the gates are down, but the train just isn’t coming.

And maybe, like with Richard Pryor, people just don’t want to admit it.