Pearls in the Mud

Last week, Heath Ledger died of an apparent accidental overdose of prescription drugs (perhaps mixed with over-the-counter drugs). Ledger was a very accomplished actor that, at 28, still had huge potential in front of him. He didn't seem to be obsessed with being in the spotlight. He lived in a "non-swanky" section of New York. Whenever he was spotted in the neighborhood, he was usually walking or playing with his young daughter.

In thinking about Ledger's death, I recalled a time several years ago when Richard Rood passed away. For fans of professional wrestling, he was better known as "Ravishing" Rick Rude. He was the ultimate villian. He had a very well-chiseled physique and the ability to portray the perfect narcissist. I remember seeing him on television and at live wrestling events many times. I even noticed that he always seemed to have a broken finger that was wrapped in tape.

Like Ledger, Rood died of an overdose at a young age. Rood was one of the first of many professional wrestlers to die at a young age due to an overdose of drugs (and often connected to years of using steroids). When Rood died, several other wrestlers were interviewed about him. One of the wrestlers provided clarification on Rood's ever-present broken finger. The wrestler said that it was well-known that Rood abused drugs. It was also well-known that Rood was devoted to his wife. In fact, he refused to remove his wedding ring when he wrestled. Since several wrestlers complained about being nicked by Rood's ring and the presence of the ring did not fit in with the persona Rood's bosses wanted to portray for "Ravishing" Rick Rood, Rood suggested that he tape over the ring. When the bosses balked at that suggestion, Rood said he would give up wrestling rather than wearing the ring. Since he was making a significant amount of money for the promoters, he was allowed to wear the tape-covered ring.

The moral of the story: Whenever reading a report that emphasizes the personal demons of a recently deceased famous person, know that that person also had many redeeming qualities.