Monday, January 5th, 2009
One of the stranger passages in Vince McMahon’s interview by Congressional investigators is where he’s asked about Frank Deford’s piece praising a study of early deaths in wrestling by Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer. (In a National Public Radio commentary, Deford called Meltzer “the most accomplished reporter in sports journalism.”)
McMahon says, “Look, I borrowed one of Frank Deford’s shoes one night. He doesn’t like me.”
The staffer on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee follows up: “Are you familiar with [Deford’s commentary]?” and the transcript proceeds:
A No. Other than Frank Deford wrote something derogatory. But, you know, he has no sense of humor and he doesn’t like me. We were bowling one night and I borrowed one of his shoes and he never found it. And so he had to walk home in a bowling shoe and one of his others, and he was upset about that I understand. Mr. Leviss. I’m going to have to note that would be upsetting too. Mr. O’Neil. Now we know the rest of the story. Mr. McDevitt. [Jerry McDevitt, McMahon’s lawyer] You’re hearing something for the first time, too. I never heard that one. Mr. McMahon. Well, actually I also borrowed one of his wife’s shoes, too. Mr. McDevitt. That’s a whole different story. Mr. McMahon. I left that part out.
Mr. Leviss. I take it she was not your size.
In an email, Deford confirms the story:
“I’m rather amazed that McMahon would bring this up, but it’s a pretty accurate account of him acting like a horse’s ass. We were at a birthday party for John Filipelli, who was running Mc’s TV at the time. We were at a bowling alley at a country club and McMahon and his buddy, Pat Patterson [former wrestler and long-time right-hand man], thought it was hilarious to steal — yes, steal, since we never got them back — one of my shoes and one of my wife’s shoes. Really weird.”
Irv Muchnick