Those gross "pro westlers" crossing themselves

[Annn]

Mixed martial arts (the combination of martial arts used in the UFC) are COMPLETELY different from pro wrestling. UFC-style fighting is an athletic challenge which requires years of dedication to multiple martial arts styles in order to master the skills necessary. UFC fighters are some of the greatest, most well-conditioned athletes in the world. To call what they do “disgusting” based on knowing little about the art really is not fair. How do I know this? Well, I’ve been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, one of the arts most common in UFC fighting, for several years, and I have many friends who are mixed martial arts fighters. They are university students, chemists, doctors, lawyers, police officers, married, single, men, women, etc. A very diverse group of people! If done safely, it’s a sport that can really benefit the participants.

 

[punisherthunder]

And this would go for anyone who’s famous–comedians, pro athletes, etc. . .

But I just can’t stand to see them make the Sign of the Cross before they do whatever. Some years ago, when Eddie Murphy was at the pinnacle of his career, he made a big production of making The Sign of the Cross backstage just before his profanity- and sexually-laden comedy routine.

Just last night, I saw a commercial for that disgusting UFC (Ultimate Fighter ****) and one of the “wrestlers” made a big production of the Sign of the Cross, complete with kissing his hand, before going in to beat and kick the living daylights out of his “opponent”.

This is just absurd. What are these kooks trying to prove? That they’re “religious” somehow, despite their icky lifestyles?

Just bugs the royal tar outta me.

Wow. Someone making the Sign of the Cross is gross huh? I can’t believe you try and couple people’s faults with their religion?

Truly ignorant if you ask me.

 

[Contarini]

And this would go for anyone who’s famous–comedians, pro athletes, etc. . .

But I just can’t stand to see them make the Sign of the Cross before they do whatever. Some years ago, when Eddie Murphy was at the pinnacle of his career, he made a big production of making The Sign of the Cross backstage just before his profanity- and sexually-laden comedy routine.

Just last night, I saw a commercial for that disgusting UFC (Ultimate Fighter ****) and one of the “wrestlers” made a big production of the Sign of the Cross, complete with kissing his hand, before going in to beat and kick the living daylights out of his “opponent”.

This is just absurd. What are these kooks trying to prove? That they’re “religious” somehow, despite their icky lifestyles?

Just bugs the royal tar outta me.

There have always been Catholics who lived icky lifestyles. These “gross” people have a much better grasp of traditional, historic Catholicism than you do. You have recreated Catholicism as an analog to evangelical Protestantism–an intense, doctrinally focused religion in which all lay members are held to certain fairly high standards. (This isn’t just a modern thing, I admit–some of it goes back to the Catholic Reformation of the 16th century.)

Read some medieval literature and you will see that these pro wrestlers are right smack in line with the way most lay Catholics have behaved historically.

Some of those evil liberal Catholics you hate–and occasionally even a fairly orthodox one–will refer to Catholicism as “here comes everybody.” I know that this is the kind of Catholicism folks on this board are trying to get away from (even as you try to appropriate its advantages), but that’s a pity. You really want to be Catholic in the sense of “universal”–you really want to undo the effects of the Reformation–then you need to buckle your seatbelts and get ready for a whole lot more “icky” people making the sign of the Cross.

But if you want to be an evangelical sect with fancier rituals, that’s your funeral. You could get together with some of these newfangled conservative Anglican groups–they’re trying to do the same thing.

Edwin

 

[Cat]

It’s interesting what different people consider “gross.”

I personally find the female marathon runners a little “gross,” at least physically. They are so very gaunt and have no boobs. Their eye sockets hang down (gravity?). Their knees are knobby. And from what I’ve read, some of them don’t have any monthly cycles, as they have reduced their body fat to a point where the cycles can’t happen. They don’t look like women to me.

But that’s my perception. Others find these strong, physically-fit women very attractive.

OTOH, some people (the OP?) find big, muscular men “gross,” and I find them very attractive, even the ones with the long curly hair and the tattoos!

Funny.

 

[4Squarebaby]

It’s interesting what different people consider “gross.”

I personally find the female marathon runners a little “gross,” at least physically. They are so very gaunt and have no boobs. Their eye sockets hang down (gravity?). Their knees are knobby. And from what I’ve read, some of them don’t have any monthly cycles, as they have reduced their body fat to a point where the cycles can’t happen. They don’t look like women to me.

But that’s my perception. Others find these strong, physically-fit women very attractive.

OTOH, some people (the OP?) find big, muscular men “gross,” and I find them very attractive, even the ones with the long curly hair and the tattoos!

Funny.

Funny my impression that it was the violence for our entertainment either real in MMA or faked as in the WWF which the OP saw as icky. Boxing probably would have been included if it was on free TV today as it was decades ago.

 

[Gigglin4God]

As a fan of WWE, and one who follows some of the wrestlers’ real lives, to many of the pro-wrestlers, their faith is important to them, and what they do on tv is just that, a job and they try to bring their faith with them sometimes. For example, Shawn Michaels (was raised Catholic, I believe and fell away due to some things that happened in his career) is now a “born-again” Christian and he is very passionate about his faith. Yes he does bring it into the ring sometimes, such as using crosses on his shirts, etc. but he doesn’t do it to be sacreligious. In fact, he is sometimes partnered with Triple H, who has said many times that they tamed down their act due to Shawn being so passionate about his faith and that that was respected in the company (WWE). Also, you have wrestlers such as Rey Mysterio who is Mexican (and Catholic) who has religious tattoos (seems to be popular among Hispanic Catholics) that he had done to remind him of his faith and that it is God that helps him be successful in his career. There are also many wrestlers who have retired from WWE but now tour as part of a Christian wrestling team.

I agree with you AngelRose… And plus many of them make the sign of the cross as a remembrance of a former wrestler like Eddie Guerrero, The Von Erichs, Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, Owen Hart ,etc. I have been a fan of wrestling since 1984 and have seen many wrestlers die at a young age. It is one of them situations that you just gotta be a fan to understand. I also know alot of people hated what happened in the Chris Beniot situation but if you have never walked a mile in their shoes you can not make a judgement. They may do the sign of the cross for other reasons such as a promise to their family. Please just try to keep an open mind about this. AngelRose, I have even written a poem about the Chris Beniot, IF you would like to read it, just PM me and say that you would like to and I would be more than happy to share it with you and other true wrestling fans. Thank you for your time.