Hulk Hogan comes to the Hard Rock
He walked -- well, limped by -- not at all looking like that guy that I remember teamed up with Mr. T in Wrestlemania I about 20 years ago.
This Hulk Hogan, with black bandana and all-black outfit ... well, I think I could take him. He had bodyguards.
The master of the leg drop? Needing bodyguards?
He showed up at the news conference at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Monday, when officials officially unveiled their Class III Vegas style slots (see post below).
With mostly Tribe members in the audience, two or three tribe members addressed the crowd first, addressing everyone first in their native language, then going to English. They spoke about how many years they have waited for real slots -- the biggest knock you could always put on the casino was that you were playing bingo. And Max Osceola reminded the Seminoles of their history, that many years ago they fought to keep land that was theirs.
"We are descendents of those warriors," he said, to applause.
Then Hogan got up, and continued the theme.
"I'm here because I love hanging around winners," he said. "And the part of the story that Max forgot to add... the Seminoles NEVER surrender."
Maybe you had to be there, but his point made sense. Wherever you stand on the compact, people's perceptions on what a "level playing field" is, or even gambling -- and it's all such a sticky wicket -- actually hearing the Seminoles talk about the history gives you a better insight into a point of view many of us may not have considered.
Still, I was hoping Hulk would do a quick pose-down, just for the nostalgia.
