Honoring Rowdy Roddy Piper

I remember when I was but a teenager watching wrestling in its golden age. What would be probably thought of as the 'Hulk Hogan era' was so much more. For the ring was full of colorful characters, charismatic heroes, outlandish villains and some of the best talkers in all of wrestling...ever!

But even with all of the noise, flash and bravado, when the bagpipes played and the drums rolled on, everyone stopped in their tracks. For this anthem announced the arrival of one man so unique on the scene; so different from all the others. A man's man entering the stage slowly; not to be careful or cautious, but to take it all in. And, unlike so many others who came out and looked straight for their opponent, this man took no notice of his supposed enemy. No, this MAN looked to the fans with a knowing smile and a calm demeanor. I'd like to say nothing ever riled him up. But that would be a lie. Because, when he spoke, he expressed himself with a determined fervor that left you with no question of where he stood and what he was about to do.

No, in the circus that was wrestling in the 70s and 80s, Rowdy Roddy Piper was a one of a kind.

He was a heel. He was a face. He was a MAN! And, most of the time, that last one was all that mattered.

I came late to the game and missed his early years where he stood up to Hulk Hogan and made history at Wrestlemania. But, nonetheless, I came to know and respect him. I had a few discussions on twitter with him and found him to be a family man who loved his daughters and son. He was such an oddity in the business as he kept his first marriage his last and loved the same woman till 'death do they part'!

He will be missed and there will be none like him EVER!!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a few old Wrestlemania dvds and a few old WWE video games. For, NOW, the bagpipes are playin' AMAZING GRACE' slowly and solemnly.