 |
|
|
Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan appeared on "Larry King Live" Tuesday
to discuss about his imprisoned teenage son Nick and a series of tape
recordings of the phone calls between the two.
As 17-year-old
Nick Bollea is serving his eight-month jail sentence for being involved
in a car crash that left his friend in a vegetative state, Hogan felt
it was necessary to address the issues triggered by the release to the
media of the conversations in which Hogan suggested John Graziano's
condition was God’s plan to make him a better person.
Even
though Hogan hinted that the tapes shouldn't have been made public in
the first place, he was aware the conversations were being recorded.
"I
have no idea why we’re hearing these tapes. It’s never been done before
ever that I know of ever in the United States. Between O.J. and Charles
Manson and Paris Hilton and Ted Bundy, I’ve never heard any private
recordings that were only supposed to be used only for jail purposes or
security," Hogan explained, trying to point out that his comments were
taken out of context, "I never meant to hurt the Graziano family,"
Hogan added.
Further on, the wrestler defended his comments
telling the CNN host that he made them because his son’s mental state
was in jeopardy due to spending several weeks in solitary confinement.
"It
was like the whole world [was] crashing down on my son. Solitary
confinement — most hardened criminals unravel after two or three days.
Nick survived in there 28-29 days," Hulk, whose real name is Terry
Bollea, said. "During that period of time as I’m sitting there, 28 or
29 days, hardly any sleep, I did everything I could to laugh, to cry
with my son.
"I was trying to help [to] give Nick some type of
relief because he [was] consumed with the unknown," he continued. "I
was just trying to explain to him that it’s ‘God’s hands’ or it’s
‘God’s will.’ That’s what people have said for thousands of years and
did I say things wrong? Yes. I am I sorry."
Even though Hogan
admitted his son has "made a mistake," he insisted that Nick, who
pleaded guilty to felony reckless driving involving serious bodily
injury, was not charged with DUI, and he "stood up like a man."
Breaking down in tears by the end of the broadcast, Hogan said that he believed the public understood his family’s plight.
After
the jailhouse tapes were released last week, Graziano's mother released
a statement calling the Bolleas the biggest "two-faced individuals"
she's ever seen. Graziano's father also released a statement responding
to Hogan's interview accusing him of lying and performing damage
control.
© 2007 - 2008 - eFluxMedia