[neftali]

from http://www.prowrestling.net

Quote:

WWE Smackdown writer Michael Hayes is currently serving a 60-day suspension for using a racial slur during WrestleMania 24 weekend. Hayes was at a public gathering and used a derogatory term while speaking with Mark Henry, who took offense and reported the issue to either Vince McMahon or Stephanie McMahon. Hayes and MVP had been using the word while joking around together earlier in the night. It was a party setting and Hayes had been drinking when he approached Henry. A pair of sources confirmed that Hayes told Henry, "I'm more of a n----- that you are." One of the sources claims that it was a play on something MVP jokingly said about Hayes earlier in the night because of the white suit that he wore to the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. Hayes then headbutted Henry in what one source described as a playful manner. Henry and Hayes exchanged words, and the former reported the issue to WWE officials. Hayes, who normally goes on vacation the week after WrestleMania, was eventually informed of his suspension. Sources are unaware whether the suspension kicked in before or after his vacation was scheduled to begin. Either way, he has not appeared at any WWE functions since WrestleMania weekend. Although a well-placed source told Dot Net that he believes Hayes was joking, multiple sources say he has a history of using the word and has been warned by Stephanie McMahon in the past. "On the surface they did the right thing, but this has been going on a long time," one colleague told Dot Net. However, the same source said that while Hayes has flippantly used the slur during creative sessions, he has never known him to use his power to bury a minority wrestler. One source explained to me that Hayes feels comfortable using the word around African Americans because he doesn't mean any harm. Of course, even if the word is accepted in some of his social circles, Hayes has to realize that he's working in the corporate world for a publicly traded company, not to mention how offensive that word is to many people. He's also in a position of power and I've heard from multiple sources that there are some wrestlers who laugh off these outbursts in front of Hayes, yet privately complain to others about his use of the word. There are some people within the company who feel like Henry overreacted by reporting the incident and did so mostly because he was concerned about how it came off in front of others who witnessed the exchange. Again, though, I've heard from more people who felt like WWE officials should have addressed the problem with Hayes years ago. Furthermore, some sources are concerned that Henry will eventually pay a price politically, particularly if he remains on the Smackdown brand with Hayes. "Michael holds grudges," one source noted. "I'm talking for decades. You're his enemy for life."

[Ron Simmons]

DAMN

[FlairFanatic]

Well... maybe henry should of spoken to hayes when he sobered up man to man? With the wwe, im sure some will hold a grudge to this and job him out sometime down the line.

[Captain Howdy]

I hope so, I'm sick and tired of having Mark Henry jammed down our throats in the upper card. Isn't his contract up soon anyway?

[Volture]

I think I read last year that he signed a new 4 year deal

[neftali]

FlairFanatic wrote:

Well... maybe henry should of spoken to hayes when he sobered up man to man? With the wwe, im sure some will hold a grudge to this and job him out sometime down the line.

So aparently you think that its ok for Hayes to use a racial slur? In any other company he would have been booted out the door, he should be happy it was only a 60 day suspension. Also considering Hayes was warned in the past, I dont think Henry was wrong at all in what he did. If anything they will be real careful not to job him out at this point or even down the line. It would open WWE up to a lawsuit if that were to happen.

[FlairFanatic]

No i dont think its ok, but, if they are 2 professional mature adults, they should of atleast talked. Esp with atleast one under the influence, maybe it should of been taken care of quietly, away from the media?

[GrayGhost]

That word to me is extremely derogatory. The only time people don't care is if its two African Americans saying it to each other. Maybe Mark didn't take it in the spirit intended, maybe not. We don't REALLY Know what Hayes meant, drinking or not.

FF, Im surprised, you are pretty insensitive to people a lot of times. Good to see you seeing this clearly, at least by your "talk out" suggestion, even if the word is inherently cruel to start.

[enforcer]

Captain Howdy wrote:

I hope so, I'm sick and tired of having Mark Henry jammed down our throats in the upper card.

Oh no you didn't......

[Randy Orton]

GrayGhost wrote:

That word to me is extremely derogatory. The only time people don't care is if its two African Americans saying it to each other. Maybe Mark didn't take it in the spirit intended, maybe not. We don't REALLY Know what Hayes meant, drinking or not. FF, Im surprised, you are pretty insensitive to people a lot of times. Good to see you seeing this clearly, at least by your "talk out" suggestion, even if the word is inherently cruel to start.

You're such a cunt.

[chrisfromct]

I dont think Hayes was lying to Henry. Didnt anyone see the way Hayes was dressed at the Hall of Fame? straight from the Godfathers closet

[Brian]

Maybe he could rip out a rap song for BackLash

Music seems to be an OK forum for this language.

[MAV]

1) In any other corporation, using the word n****r in any regard around black employees would get you fired immediately. One would think a former wrestler who's most famous photo is a group shot of him and his buddies with the rebel flag painted on their faces would want to avoid ANY racial controversy, especially since he has apparently been warned several times in the past.

2) You can think anything you want about Mark Henry, worker. Pulling that shit on Mark Henry, former Olympic power lifter and black man is another matter altogether. You got to be pretty fucking drunk to walk up to a guy who weights 400 lbs, a high percentage of it being muscle, and drop the N-bomb. A lot of people in a similar situation would have turned the former Freebird into finely ground paste...and Hayes would have deserved it. Henry in my opinion displayed an ENORMOUS amount of self control by not tearing him limb from limb. Hayes is lucky he hasn't been fired by the WWE and/or hospitalized or killed by Mr. Henry.

[enforcer]

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=22894

Quote:

Dave, I’ve read your comprehensive coverage of Michael Hayes’ suspension with interest and curiosity – interest because this is no doubt a major pro-wrestling story, curiosity because I find the righteous indignation expressed by many within and outside of the industry (e.g., fans), well, curious. This is not to imply that Hayes’ behavior does not warrant indignation (though a discussion of the work of African-American Harvard Law Professor Randall Kennedy on the origins and contextualization of the ‘N-word’ may challenge this assertion), but I must question the sincerity of those now claiming the moral high ground. Dave, you know far better than I do that pro-wrestling’s history is steeped in racial and ethnic bigotry. Slurs like the word use by Michael Hayes have been a shockingly significant part of modern televised pro-wrestling. For example, Don Muraco calls Tito Santana a ‘wetback’ on Buddy Rogers’ Corner (WWF television) to ignite his feud over the IC title; Ric Flair explains to Bob Caudle that “where [I] come from, we don’t wrestle guys like that, we employ them,” in reference to an African American jobber (Leroy Daugin) on Mid-Atlantic Wrestling television; Roddy Piper calls Jimmy Snuka a “monkey” who “climbs trees” on Piper’s Pit prior to cracking him over the head with a coconut in an angle that is -- quite ironically given the Hayes’ controversy -- remembered fondly by most fans who grew up with mid-80s WWF wrestling; Don Muraco refers to Asian Americans as “nips” on television during his feud with Don Ho while working for Roy Shire; Roddy Piper declares on television that he didn’t come to San Francisco to “swish around” while working for Roy Shire; Roddy Piper uses some of the heaviest-handed racial putdowns imaginable on a mid-80s edition of Piper’s Pit with Tony Atlas, so much so that the WWF does ‘damage control’ the next week by bringing two elderly African American women out to dance around with Piper – I suppose to show that he’s not really a racist after all. Let me be clear. I don’t know if Roddy Piper, Don Muraco, Ric Flair, or countless other ‘legends’ who have made similar remarks are bigots or not. That is not my point. My point is that Michael Hayes’ comment took place behind-the-scenes, yet it inspired both public outrage and a suspension from his place of employment. The incidents I’ve cited above used similarly derogatory, racially-charged, prejudiced language and every one of them aired on prime-time television – yet they didn’t warrant nary a peep from the wrestling front-office types (who chose not to edit said remarks out of a taped broadcast) or wrestling fans. Frankly, given the fairly consistent portrayal of ethnic bigotry aired on pro-wrestling television over the years, I find it hard to understand why many of the folks ‘outraged’ at Michael Hayes’ backroom comment would still be watching such a bigoted product in the first place. Name withheld by request

[Funk III]

What a thought out and stupid unsigned response.

[Million Dollar Fan]

I am more honkey than all of you. Can I be suspended from this thread for 60 days?

[hatorade]

personally, i think if you're gonna drop the N-word to any black guy on the WWE roster, mark henry is the LAST person to drop it at

[enforcer]

Funk III wrote:

What a thought out and stupid unsigned response.

What's so stupid about it? He's right.

hatorade wrote:

personally, i think if you're gonna drop the N-word to any black guy on the WWE roster, mark henry is the LAST person to drop it at

Yeah, because Mark Henry has never been involved in any angles or gimmicks that had some type of racial overtones.

[hatorade]

i'm not saying that. i'm saying if you're gonna call someone a ng to their face, it better not be a 400 lb power lifter

[lateralus4885]

they should send michael hayes to rehab

[hatorade]

but he'd say no no no

[lateralus4885]

hatorade wrote:

but he'd say no no no

LOLOLOL

[enforcer]

Quote:

From prowrestling.net, via wrestlingobserver newsletter: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Suspended WWE creative team member made controversial statements regarding Barack Obama May 19, 2008 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Hayes, the suspended Smackdown lead writer, made derogatory statements regarding Barack Obama that WWE officials feared would come out before the U.S. Presidential candidate appeared on the show. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Hayes asked, "How can we have a President that can't read the constitution?" He also reportedly stated, "If that boy gets elected, I'm moving to Canada." Powell's POV: It's amazing that the mainstream media hasn't picked up on the story. What's more amazing is that despite all the things Hayes has said over the years, he is still expected to return as the Smackdown lead booker after his suspension concludes. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[EricNero]

lateralus4885 wrote:

hatorade wrote: but he'd say no no no LOLOLOL