http://www.nypost.com/gossip/21591.htm February 1, 2005 -- THE Rock has been anointed as Hollywood's next big action hero — and he's not impressed with some other would-be Tinseltown tough guys. "Men find an action hero believable if they say, 'Wow, I believe this guy can really kick some [bleeping] ass, mine included,' " the former pro wrestler tells Playboy. "I loved 'Spider-Man,' but I'm not too sure Tobey Maguire could kick a lot of people's asses." His Rockness also chides Detroit Piston Ron Artest for fighting with fans, saying, "You cannot go into the stands after fans. It is non-negotiable. I was so hated that when I went into the ring I was bombarded with batteries, cans, you name it. Once, fighting my way through the crowd, I got cut with a knife or an X-Acto blade. I've got a four-inch scar on my arm. I also got sliced on my back. I've got a cut on the back of my head." However, the Samoan strongman says it was a different story when fans climbed over barricades to grab him: "At that point it's open season. I have handed out a lot of ass-whippings in those situations."
Unfortunately I think as a professional wrestler, there has to be a reasonable expectation that some over zealous fans MIGHT take the scriped storyline too seriously and react on it. Even though we all know the action is scripted, sometimes to denser people the lines are blurred a bit. I dont think you can compare wrestlers and fan interaction with basketball players. I mean wrestlers PLAY to the crowd. They incite them. Basketball players dont really do that. I think the Rock's comparison to both professions and situations is apples to oranges.
I have first hand experience, that you are correct. I follow wrestling, but I don't watch it religously or even weekly. A friend took me to my first live event about a year ago. We were sitting in the 2nd or 3rd row from the floor, and the people sitting next to us were way into it. They were going completely nuts everytime someone did something or said something "heelish". At one point, this lady jumps up and starts hollering "Kick his ****ing ***" about someone in the ring. then some guy in the section next to us lights up a cig. The people in the row in front of him tell him to put it out (the arena was no smoking) and he refused. So a few bigger guys in the front row tell him they'll make him, then his sons stand up and there is almost a brawl in the stands. No doubt that some of the fans are definitely "rabid" enough to do some of the stuff he says they did.
You are talking about the author of the story right? Not trying to defend ol' Dwayne but he didn't get it wrong, the reporter did... notice where the quotation marks start: His Rockness also chides Detroit Piston Ron Artest for fighting with fans, saying, "You cannot go...
