Foley of wrestling draws fans

Wrestling, a man’s game so loved by children, takes center stage next month when some of the sport’s leading international figures strut their stuff before an expected full-house crowd in the "WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Raw Live Tour" at the Araneta Coliseum.

No less than WWE Raw superstar Mick Foley has endorsed the highly-anticipated event slated Feb. 24-25 as he made the rounds of various TV and radio stations and shopping malls over the weekend to kick off the promotional tour. He highlighted his visit with a press presentation at the Gateway Mall.

"Meeting fans here in the Philippines is a feat for any wrestler," said Foley, overwhelmed by the warm, tremendous reception of the local fans, mostly kids, during the jam-packed press conference at Gateway’s Cinema 4. "At long last, I can now see for myself the kind of devotion and support Filipinos have shown me throughout my wrestling career."

The response has been great, not only for Foley, but for the other wrestlers as well, as tickets, including those in the P5,000 and P10,000 levels, have been sold out five weeks before the actual staging of the event which will also feature the likes of John Cena, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, Edge, Chris Masters, Big Show and women’s champ Trish Stratus.

The WWE Raw Live Tour is a sure-fire hit since Filipinos have loved to watch these foreign wrestlers do their act in and outside the ring, be it real or unreal. In fact, it has become part of the Filipino children’s TV fare, no thanks to cable TV, with most parents at a loss on how to put a stop on this folly.

But Foley said parents should be on top of everything and should know when to step in.

"It’s okay for children to watch wrestling because it’s enjoyable. However, kids should not do what the wrestlers do in the ring," said Foley. "But parents should still be the ones to guide their children."

At any rate, Foley promised his fans and supporters, in particular, and wrestling fans, in general, great action, fun and excitement during the two-day event with his fellow wrestlers.

As a pro, Foley is noted for his gimmicks that have captured the interest of millions of wrestling fanatics. He made an incredible stint out of his profession with his various aliases: Cactus Jack, a maniacal and bloodthirsty Western outlaw; Mankind, a tortured soul who hid behind a leather mask and inflicted pain on others to slay the ghost of his dark past; and Dude Love, a swinging "hip cat" and Weenie.

He was actually the man behind the "Rock n’ Sock Connection," one of the most popular tag teams in WWE history with the equally popular The Rock. They went on to win the World Tag Team Championship three times. Foley also captured the WWE individual championship thrice in 1998 and twice in 1999. His drive to perform well in each match endeared him to millions of fans worldwide.

But not too many people know that the tough, bearded wrestler, whose front tooth was knocked off by Undertaker during one of their matches, has a soft heart as Foley has been involved with the Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), a non-sectarian charitable organization dedicated to serving the needs of unfortunate children worldwide.

In fact, Foley currently sponsors four children, including one from Cotabato City. He has also made a contribution to help build an Early Childhood Development Center in the Philippines for the Southern Luzon Bright Future Program.

In addition, Foley is also a successful author. His 1999 autobiography "Have a Nice Day" reached No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list. His "Tales from Wrescal Lane" was another hit, the profits of which went to building a school here.

A good deed indeed for one of the good guys on the WWE Tour. — Dante Navarro