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Author
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Topic: Buzz Aldrin hosting WWE Monday Night RAW
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Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 05-15-2010 03:12 PM
   
quote:
Originally posted by mjanovec:
Buzz's participation in over-the-top mindless entertainment that is choreographed (faked)...
Sure, it's choreographed, but so is synchronized swimming-an olympic sport! Fact is that it's entertainment, folding chairs are REAL, and these guys are beefy, muscular acrobatic athletes, who sustain injuries and pain. It draws HUGE crowds, more than NASCAR.This is no big change for Buzz. Wally once said "He'd go to the opening of an envelope" only now the venues are much larger. The Bart Sibel 'Punch' video is still heavily watched, and that was not planned, staged, and doesn't make Buzz a dime. I predict that, given a few more years of this, that Buzz will surpass even Neil in name recognition to the Hoi Polloi and it will be only geeks like us who know who Armstrong is. ...and that was a man-TARD not a mankini. |
Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 05-15-2010 03:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Rick:
How many of us on this board would gladly pay $1,000 for a personalized autographed photo of the first man to walk on the lunar surface?
You'd be paying a lot more than $1000, guaran-damn-teed. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-15-2010 04:03 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Spacefest:
...and that was a man-TARD not a mankini.
You have a supplier?  |
Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 05-16-2010 12:30 AM
Victor's secret. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-16-2010 06:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Given how some here seem to enjoy beating up on Buzz and his chosen activities, I would think they'd enjoy seeing him being slammed by a folding chair...
I don't see this as beating up on him. It's people who respect him thinking it's beneath him. The true judge is what the other astronauts think. I'm not going to share it but I've an idea from some of them. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-16-2010 06:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by albatron:
I don't see this as beating up on him. It's people who respect him thinking it's beneath him.
I wasn't just referring to this thread. There are some who feign respect when pressed, but their consistent tone demonstrates otherwise. Of course, that doesn't apply to everybody, or even the majority -- just some. quote:
The true judge is what the other astronauts think.
I can't help but think of Richard Feynman's second collection of memoirs, "What Do You Care What Other People Think?" The true judge is Aldrin himself. If he's happy and he's not hurting others (outside the ring and the occasional conspiracy crank) then that's all that matters... |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 05-17-2010 07:43 AM
At Buzz's age, the saying "Live each day as if it were your last!" takes on added significance. And at an age where lots of people need a day's worth of energy just to pass gas, he is quite remarkable. I presume he isn't the kind of guy content to spend his twilight years growing tomatoes and counting down the hours to the Blue Plate Special at Denny's. As such, I tend to cut him a little slack. Simply Buzz being Buzz. One day we will wake up to discover and lament his passing.Now if it were Neil Armstrong hosting wrestling or announced as one of the new Celebrity Apprentice contestants, my world would be shattered and I'd have to start drinking heavily (or heavier)!  |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 05-17-2010 08:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
I can't help but think of Richard Feynman's second collection of memoirs, "What Do You Care What Other People Think?" The true judge is Aldrin himself. If he's happy and he's not hurting others (outside the ring and the occasional conspiracy crank) then that's all that matters...
I learned long ago that if you expect other folks to live up to your expectations, disappointment is inevitable. Anyone who remembers as far back as the 1970s (or who used to watch the Game Show Network, back when it showed a lot of vintage programming) remembers Buzz as part of the celebrity panel on the early '70s version of "Break the Bank." He's been doing semi-cheesy pop-culture appearances for so long that, to me, appearing on WWE is not out of character for him. I keep coming back to the fact that, even though he's done amazing things in the public eye and as part of NASA and part of history, Buzz has the same right as any of us to do whatever he wants with his life. His choices would not necessarily have been mine, but it's not my call. He's overcome his struggles and found a life that works for him. It's his life, and more power to him, I say. (And his appearance on "30 Rock" was a scream. Pardon the expression.) |
music_space
Member Posts: 1179
From: Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 05-17-2010 09:06 AM
quote:
Originally posted by ea757grrl:
He's overcome his struggles and found a life that works for him.
This is a very important part of what Aldrin, through my involvement in astronautical history, has brought into my life in terms of inspiration. In fact, each time I meet him, I make a point of thanking him for the early public disclosure of his psychological struggles.I'm sure that successfully maintaining a balanced way of life has involved deliberate, assiduous work into his spiritual life, ever since 1969, and I wish he'd share more of this inspiration through his public message. So I wish that he'd seek exposure in human-interest programs, something like Oprah's show, where he could inspire the public through his humanism as well as through his vision of present and future spaceflight and his historical testimony. (And I deplore that his involvement into a WWE event might detract from such a message.) |
bobzz
Member Posts: 100
From: Batavia, Illinois
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 05-17-2010 10:21 AM
Let Buzz be Buzz... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-17-2010 10:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by music_space:
And I deplore that his involvement into a WWE event...
You know, as I wrote earlier, I do not watch nor am I a fan of WWE, but as a kid, one of my fondest memories was going with my dad to see Hulk Hogan at a WWF (now WWE) WrestleMania event. I knew even then that the wrestling was choreographed but Hulk Hogan was every bit the all-American hero to me as were the astronauts like Aldrin. Back then, had Hogan and Aldrin -- or any astronaut -- stood side by side, I would have found the pairing to be appropriate and quite natural. So I have to imagine that there are still kids who, like me back then, would only cheer at an appearance of an astronaut at a WWE event. Further, there are kids who may not immediately identify astronauts as their heroes but by association, seeing an astronaut interact with the wrestlers they admire, gain that appreciation. |
dfox
Member Posts: 208
From: Scarsdale, NY, United States
Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 05-17-2010 11:34 AM
I have mixed feelings about such an iconic figure of the past becoming a figure in popular culture (read undignified). Nevertheless, it did provide me with an opportunity to relate Aldrin's role in the history of spaceflight with my young daughters. They are much more likely to relate to "Dancing with the Stars" than a NOVA special or the History Channel. |
MarylandSpace
Member Posts: 1336
From:
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 05-17-2010 12:15 PM
Buzz has maintained visibility over the years being on a variety of TV shows. That is his choice and he does promote both Buzz and space which is fine with me.I was stressed on a regular basis in my 37 years of teaching (six classes per day; others have stressful jobs, too) and used rasslin' as a mindless stress reliever. I won tickets on a local radio station last month to see one of the WWE "events" in Baltimore. True to form it was mindless but quite relaxing for me. If I remember, I may turn on WWE tonight. WWE: It's just entertainment. However, tonight's "show" may inspire one or more students to pursue an aerospace career. |
Spacefest
Member Posts: 1168
From: Tucson, AZ
Registered: Jan 2009
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posted 05-17-2010 01:56 PM
Buzz does plenty of serious astronaut stuff, too. But that's stuff that isn't as well-attended... |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-17-2010 04:57 PM
Aldrin seems to be aware of what others have been saying. From his Twitter feed: Rapping, dancing, yelling at the moon, and WWE. What else is needed? |
Fra Mauro
Member Posts: 1586
From: Bethpage, N.Y.
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 05-18-2010 12:37 AM
Guess it's a sign that the shuttle program is winding down -- we are spending way too much time on this topic. |
jimsz
Member Posts: 616
From:
Registered: Aug 2006
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posted 05-18-2010 06:29 AM
quote:
Originally posted by MarylandSpace:
WWE: It's just entertainment. However, tonight's "show" may inspire one or more students to pursue an aerospace career.
If it takes an old man at a wrestling performance to inspire a student to do anything than parents and schools are failing in their responsibilities. |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-18-2010 06:53 AM
I've never found his demeanour at autograph shows to be in any way "inspiring" to myself or my son, so if anyone can identify any educational/inspirational consequences from him appearing at WWE I'll be amazed.It's great that a man of his years gets to do all of these things but I can't get all misty-eyed, theorising about how these appearances (either actively or passively) will inspire future generations, or even raise any interest in space exploration. |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 05-18-2010 08:48 AM
Admittedly I have had similar feelings at times at some of the autograph shows. But I've also had several experiences where Buzz was very personal, warm, and willing to talk to me one on one to help educate me. When the Saturday night dinner was over at the November 2009 ASF show Lois had to literally pull him away from our conversation. |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-19-2010 01:39 PM
Just for the sake of interest, I recorded Monday Night Raw this week to see what Buzz actually did on the show (recording it meant I could fast forward through the rampant baby oil fueled homo eroticism on display!)Buzz did two bits on the night, the first was with Lois and seemed to be more of a plug for his website and some of his merchandise and was filmed backstage. Later he came down to the ring, he talked for a little while about his support for the space programe and his support for policies taken forward by President Obama. He also mentioned the role Canada played in building the Eagle's landing gear (the show was in Canada so he seemed to be playing to the home crowd). Then some fruity looking wrestler came out, they had a minor verbal confrontation, the clip of Buzz punching Bart Sibrel was played on the big screen. Buzz then announced a match between the wrestler who's name escapes me and another fresh faced lad. The good guys won, and Buzz celebrated in the ring with them. Overall he got a good reception from the crowd, though it wasn't exactly a standing ovation. The commentators really talked him up as well. Physically he looked in good shape, though I'm not sure a leather jacket is always a good idea for a man of that age! He fluffed a few lines and seemed a bit lost what to say a couple of times but on live TV in front of a large audience and being what I suspect is well out of his comfort zone he did OK. Overall I would say it was by no means the disaster it could have been, but I'm not sure he made that much of a positive impact either. |
collocation
Member Posts: 383
From: McLean, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 05-22-2010 09:49 AM
I realize there are always two sides of an issue. And I may get blasted on this forum. But, I saw a replay of Buzz's performance and it was quite embarrassing. In order for him to avoid or take on these circus types of appearances he really needs to acquire a legitimate agent and go to a "charm" school to improve his presentation and speaking skills. I do not mean any disrespect to Mr. Aldrin, but if any logically person really thought this appearance in some way advanced the interest of space travel and added a positive spin to his legacy and character then I guess time has passed by. |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 1634
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 05-22-2010 07:13 PM
Is it possible that Buzz did make an impact on space exploration to a group of people who think very differently than you and I? I would argue that if they were approached in a manner that you and I would expect, it would turn them off. Perhaps one of those individuals who may have never given a nod to the ISS, shuttle, or moon landing, walked out thinking these astronauts may be pretty neat guys after all, and may watch a future launch, or tell his/her child about the event and thus stimulate an interest in that young child's mind. |
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