The gentle giant has a soft spot for kids

On TV, when he’s throwing his opponents this way and that, wrestler Mick Foley looks very scary. He could kill you with his dagger looks, believe me (and the million of kids who idolize him). But in the flesh, he’s a gentle giant, almost as meek as a lamb, absolutely harmless and ready with a smile and a pat on the shoulder of any kiddie fan who approaches him for a souvenir photo op and/or his autograph.

I saw it for myself yesterday at the Gloriamaris Restaurant (Timog Ave., Quezon City) where I did an exclusive interview with him barely six hours after he arrived from Vancouver. Foley is here for a three-day promo for his show with other WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) stars on Feb. 24 and 25 at the Araneta Coliseum (tickets are almost sold out). Still trying to shake off jet lag, Mick took a quick shower at his room at the Holiday Inn/Manila Galleria and Crowne Plaza Hotel, and kicked off his mall tour, dropping by Gloriamaris for a hasty lunch before rushing to guest on ABS-CBN’s Wowowee where he donated some amount to host Willie Revillame.

Kiddie fans who got wind of his Gloriamaris stopover had a field day posing for souvenir photos with Foley and asking for his autograph. The gentle giant willingly obliged.

Not many Filipinos know that Foley has written several books, three of them for kids, namely Christmas Chaos, Halloween Hi-Jinx and Tales from Wrescal Lane, proceeds from which he earmarked for the construction of a school building in the Philippines and the scholarship of a girl from Cotabato (whom he wants to show around during his visit).

Over Chinese lunch, Foley gladly answered questions.

Is the action you do in the ring for real?

"You know what, it’s very intense...We try to put up a great show so that people will have fun. But during the course of entertaining people there’s a lot of injuries. I advise kids to just enjoy the show and not to try to do the things that we do. What we do is a lot of fun but it’s also very dangerous."

Tell us about the school you built in the Philippines.

"It’s an early-childhood education center about 100 miles south of Manila. Seventy-five communities, roughly 3,000 people, get to use it."

Why did you choose the Philippines?

"I’d been looking for a place to donate proceeds from the sale of my books. I’ve been sponsoring kids in this country since 1992. I have a soft spot for this country. So when I found out that the amount of money I’d be making from my books was exactly the amount needed for the school building, I decided to donate it."

How did you find these kid beneficiaries?

"You know what, in the United States there are several groups that help kids. So I answered an ad from the Christian Children’s Fund and I started by making small monthly donations. Luckily, wrestling has been good to me since the ’90s, so I’m able to donate more. I’m also donating whatever I make during this three-day promo to building another school."

Why do you have such soft spot for kids?

"Well, I have kids of my own, four of them, three boys and one girl ages ranging from two to 14."

You use three titles in the ring – Cactus Jack (a maniacal, bloodthirsty Western outlaw), Mankind (a tortured soul) and Dude Love (a ladies’ man). How come?

"Well, I’ve always wanted to be a ladies’ man but it turned out that I’m not a ladies’ man. I can almost guarantee that you won’t see Dude Love in Manila but you will see Cactus Jack and Mankind."

With your size, aren’t women intimidated with you?

"No, not really. They see me on TV and they think that I’m really a nice guy."

I wonder, what sort of diet do you follow?

"I let myself go and eat anything, like six eggs for breakfast. I take protein bars. But since I’m going in the ring in Manila I have to shape up a bit. I weigh 320 pounds, but when you see me in a month, it will be a magical transformation. I will be like 318 pounds."

What sort of workout do you do?

"I chase my kids around the house. I live with my family in Long Island, New York."

How much sleep do you get?

"Not as much as I need or I want. But on the flight to Manila, I was mostly sleeping."

Have you always wanted to be a wrestler?

"Oh, yes, yes."

Aren’t you doing movies like The Rock?

"The Rock has comedic skills. I don’t have acting talent. I’d rather sit down and write books."

Out of the ring, what do you do? How do you relax and enjoy yourself?

"I’m a big baseball fan. My family and I go to the movies every now and then. While here, I’m hoping to bring this child (his scholar from Cotabato) to the movies because she has never been to the movies and to the malls."

At what age does a wrestler have to retire?

"Oh, he doesn’t have to retire. As long as he is fit, he can be up there, he can go on and on."