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How Dr. Death Became Dr. Life
By Steve Williams with Tom Caiazzo.
Foreword by Jim Ross. Special Foreword by Barry Switzer.
Available at http://www.sportspublishingllc.com
Review by Brett Schwan
"I thought I was dead. Around four a.m., I woke up in a pool of blood. I ran into the bathroom and saw in the mirror that something was dreadfully wrong; my entire upper body and neck were covered in blood."
… and with those first three sentences, I was hooked.
How Dr. Death Became Dr. Life is the inspiring story of Dr. Death
Steve Williams' life, including his 2004 diagnosis and subsequent battle
with T-4 throat cancer.
In this book, Steve Williams gives an extremely detailed account of his
diagnosis, battle, and consequent victory over cancer. After learning
the news of his cancer, and the treatment options he had, Williams writes:
"Terrified and confused, I hugged my brother and headed back to
Shreveport. Ironically, the song playing on the radio was Tim McGraw's
'Live Like You Were Dying'. I started weeping like a baby. It hit me:
at 42 years old, I might really be dying."
Dr. Death Steve Williams was one of the most feared wrestlers ever to
set foot in the wrestling ring. To read these words, and know they came
from him, is something most wrestling fans would never imagine and are
ones this wrestling fan will never forget.
Williams goes on to talk about his cancer battle, the effects it had on his family (he has two children), and how his religious beliefs helped him through even his most difficult times.
I understand that, at first, many people may shy away from this book
due to it’s religious message and tone. While Williams' religious
beliefs are a strong part of his life and this book, I never felt that
it was overbearing or “preachy”. Instead, his message is delivered
throughout the book without necessarily taking over the entire book.
Williams goes into great detail about his childhood, including the impact
his father’s death had on him and his family. We follow Steve through
his adolescent years and to his amazing amateur college wrestling and
football career at the University of Oklahoma.
Williams discusses how he got his start in wrestling, working for Bill
Watts. He talks about how began working for All-Japan and New Japan Wrestling.
We follow Williams through his wrestling career including the NWA, WCW,
UWF, WWF(E), and the numerous other promotions he worked for.
Steve does not hold back when giving his opinions on people such as Vince
McMahon, Bill Watts, Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki, Hawk, Terry Gordy, Herb
Abrams, Dusty Rhodes, JJ Dillon, Johnny Ace, Jim Ross, Steve Austin, Kevin
Sullivan, Mike Rotunda, and many others. He also pulls no punches when
he talks about his steroid and drug use and the subsequent arrests that
they led to.
The book concludes with a "Word Association" section where Williams comments on everyone from Vince McMahon and Regis Philbin to Terry Funk and Buzz Sawyer. This is followed by a collection of letters written to Steve from numerous people including fans and friends (including Superstar Billy Graham and Bill DeMott.)
These days, Dr. Death has transformed himself into Dr. Life as he tries to bring God’s message to the masses.
"It seems that God has recently opened some doors. Ever since
I turned 46 on May 14, 2006, my phone hasn't stopped ringing. I have already
been in the ring 11 times, though it isn't steady work. Including a steel-cage
match at the old ECW Arena..." It is so good to see, after all
he has been through, Steve Williams is back, better than ever.
How Dr. Death Became Dr. Life is one of the best wrestling autobiographies
I have read and was the only one I could not put down once I started.
-------
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Steve Williams, better known to wrestling fans as “Dr. Death,”
faced his greatest opponent in 2004 – advanced throat cancer. After
multiple surgeries and months of radiation treatments, he is now cancer-free.
In How Dr. Death Became Dr. Life, Williams tells his inspiring story,
from his childhood and adolescent years, to his amateur college wrestling
and football career at the University of Oklahoma, to his stint with All-Japan
and New Japan Wrestling, the NWA, WCW, and WWF, to his recent battle with
throat cancer. It’s an inspirational and powerful story that no football,
amateur wrestling, or professional wrestling fan can afford not to read.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
“Dr. Death” Steve Williams wrestled in various federations in
the United States, including WCW and the WWF/WWE. He also attained stardom
while wrestling in Japan with Terry Gordy in the early 1990’s. In
2004, he had surgery for throat cancer and was declared cancer free in
2005. He returned to the ring for a WWE Smackdown house show in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, in March 2006. Steve Williams resides in Shreveport, LA.
Dr. Tom Caiazzo is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at East
Georgia College in Statesboro, Georgia. A professor for 16 years, this
is his first book. Tom Caiazzo lives in Statesboro, GA.
