But considering yesterday was Veteran’s Day, I have to send a special message to our troops serving across the globe, and especially those serving in Iraq. While in D.C. I also had the honor of visiting Walter Reed Hospital with my friend Milinda of the USO, and I had a great experience visiting with the young men who were unfortunately injured serving our great nation.
If you pay attention to the news, you noticed that President Bush visited the same hospital the day before. For the record, I would just like to say that I assumed they scheduled me second so that the President wouldn’t be a let down. Saving the best for last, eh?
Whatever the logic, I was amused when Sergeant Blackwell told me that his 5 year-old daughter - who was visiting that week – refused to take a picture with the President, but she did take one with me. Either that’s a sign of respect… or… maybe I don’t look intimidating enough. Have I lost it? That’s not a good sign for a man in my line of work.
In my travels I am honored that so many folks bring up that they thought my performance in the first WWE Tough Enough was memorable, and in their estimation, I was truly Tough Enough. However, I was humbled when I sat with real heroes at Walter Reed, whose favorite question seemed to be, “So, was Tough Enough really as hard as it looked?”
The first time I was taken aback, and an awkward silence followed as the gears slowly started turning in my head. “Am I really going to sit here and put over how hard a television reality show is to a man who just got back from serving his country and putting his life on the line every day in some of the harshest and most hostile conditions imaginable?”
Luckily, for the sake of my eternal soul, the answer was no. Of course I enjoyed talking with the soldiers about Tough Enough, but for one day I was really able to put it in perspective. And as I went through the day visiting the troops and heard similar questions, I had an answer for them about who was Tough Enough, and it’s the answer I want to give all you guys.
We very much appreciate the respect and love the members of America’s armed forces give the WWE Superstars, and that love comes right back at you. All of the WWE Superstars and Divas believe in our hearts that you guys are the real Tough Enough Champions. The sacrifices we’ve made to be a part of the wrestling business are nothing compared to the sacrifices you’ve made to keep us and our families safe, and for that we all thank you.
Even a Tough Enough runner-up knows that.
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