On Monday, we reported that Jets linebacker Bart Scott’s upcoming stint with TNA wrestling includes some actual wrestling, including “wrestling moves and simulated violence” with Kurt Angle and the wrestler currently (and perhaps formerly) known as Kazarian.
The Jets declined comment as to whether the activities violated Scott’s contract. Scott’s agent has now denied that the activities included any actual wrestling.
Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com reports that Harold Lewis insists Scott did nothing physical.
“He was not wrestling!” Lewis told Cimini via e-mail. “He was only the bodyguard for some small, helpless guy named Hulk Hogan. It was nothing more than an appearance.”
Meanwhile, Cimini reveals (with all due respect . . . i.e., here comes the insult) his ignorance of pro wrestling by suggesting that "[t]here’s probably a better chance of sustaining an injury in flag football than inside a professional wrestling ring.” Even though it’s scripted, pro wrestling involves plenty of physical activity and risk of injury. To get to the predetermined outcome, there’s real contact and jumping and rolling around and slamming and stuff that could get a guy hurt.
Indeed, why else would the Titans have sued Pacman Jones to stop him from wrestling in 2007, when Pacman was serving a one-year suspension for violating the personal conduct policy?
And why would Lewis feel compelled to exclaim that Scott wasn’t wrestling if wrestling doesn’t potentially violate paragraph 3 of the Standard Player Contract?