Bigger, Stronger, Faster's "Mad Dog" Found Dead
Anyone who's seen Bigger, Stronger, Faster knows that pro wrestler Mike "Mad Dog" Bell, the documentary's co-star and brother of the film's director, Chris Bell, was a man obsessed with his sport--and with some of the less wholesome elements associated with it. Mad Dog pumped steroids into his body to become bigger, stronger, faster--and also became dependent on pain killers and alcohol to dull the physical agonies he suffered on the mat. He'd recently checked himself into a rehab facility--again. He was found dead in his room the other day. Mike Bell was 37 years old. The cause of his death hasn't yet been announced, but the assumption is that it's substance abuse-related.Mad Dog wasn't as famous a wrestler as Hulk Hogan, say, or Triple H. But, as Eric Cohen, About.com's Guide to Professional Wrestling, points out, he did have his memorable moments in the ring.
The Mike Mad Dog Bell we met in Bigger, Stronger, Faster was a likeable guy, someone who was, in his determination to be the best he could be, quite sympathetic. It's sad to think that his 'determination' brought about his ultimate demise. And it's hard to believe that someone you've gotten to know through a documentary is suddenly dead--probably because of what you've seen him doing in the film.
Bigger, Stronger, Faster stands as a cautionary tale against the use of steroids and other drugs, and Mike Bell's death certainly substantiates the film's message.
Think, too, of comparing Chris Bell's verite Bigger, Stronger, Faster with Darren Aronofsky's narrative feature, The Wrestler, now in theaters and considered a likely Oscar contender. In The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke plays an aging mat man who's trying to make ends meet, cope with his decreasing abilities and survive the constant agony he suffers from years of physical abuse. He's using any drugs he can get his hand on to get through the match and make it through the night. Rourke, who in real life has had his problems with addiction, nails the rough and tumble character and the wrestler's touch and go lifestyle. The two films would make a fascinating double bill, and it's interesting to note that the two films were released within months of each other. Is there something in the air?
(PHOTO: Mike "Mad Dog" Bell on the left. Courtesy Magnolia Pictures)
Comments
Jennifer, I hate to say it but you seem to have missed the intent of bigger stronger faster. It was intended more as a balanced look at steroids and steroid use in America, trying to get past the usual “after school special” message on steroid use which is more commonly distributed by the popular media and for which there is, oddly enough, almost no scientific evidence. I wouldn’t call it a cautionary film on steroids, more a cautionary film on the dangers of the American dream
As kevin mentioned, you totally missed the boat when it comes to the movie, the movie wasn’t a cautionary movie regarding steroids, it was a more HONEST look at steroids, and dispelling stupid myths that have no scientific backing, which people like you keep perpetuating.
As already mentioned, you missed the point.It was about how steroids have gotten a blatently bad wrap over the years by the media, and tried to prove that steroids are not as bad they are portrayed.They are in fact good for you with proper use/cycling, and if you are about 25 and above and are in an Advanced fitness level.There have been 3 cases of death from steroids reported in the U.S.That one football player who did multiple drugs over his career decided he would blame steroids instead of himself.So in other words, that case is false.That baseball playing kid who was on antidepressants which increase suicidal thoughts, his father deicided oh no it couldn’t have been those, it was the steroids(which he consistently uses as a means of getting attention).And apparently pro wrestler Chris Benoit being crazy, and having a consistent amount of head trauma from his career, killed his family and himself because of steroids…..this is also false.In other words people, learn the real facts.You can’t believe what the media says about your own backyard, let alone somnething like steroids.
Jennifer, I just found this as I was looking up more about Mad Dog’s death. I was disheartened that the film’s message did NOT reach you. The message was that steroid use is not the demon that the popular media tells us it is.
Yes, they do have side effects, good and bad. This is like ANY other drug. Mad Dog most likely did not die from steriod use, rather, a myriad of substances that he abused all of his life.
Most experts in the field of endocrinology, psychiatry, etc., do not share the feelings of the popular media. The media obtains their information from less-than-credible sources and parrots propaganda that is not supported by scientific data.