For decades, pro wrestlers have been unjustly and unfairly stereotyped as chiseled buffoons, men with million dollar bodies and ten cent brains. They are oftentimes labeled illiterate and looked at as bottom-of-the-barrell entertainers. Thankfully, that all changed when Mick Foley scribed his autobiography Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks in 1999. The long haired, scarred, battered and bruised veteran of many a ring war captivated audiences with a sense of humor and vivid storytelling that earned him rave reviews. Those reviews fueled a book that debuted at No. 3 on the New York Times Bestseller list all the way to the top spot less-than two months after its release. Finally, wrestling fans could thump their chest in pride, one of the men they idolized for years proving that there is more to the artform than brutish violence and scripted drama. He proved that wrestlers can be both smart and funny, that they can have a charm to them and can be skilled storytellers, both inside the squared circle as well as on the page. The book, as well as its success, only added to the impressive resume and Hall of Fame career of Mick Foley, who had already developed into one of the most beloved stars in pro wrestling history.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
