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Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan made me doubt whether I was 'a real American.' Sabu showed me I was.
Professional wrestling can seem like a childish artform. All the bejeweled cowboy hats, tasseled boots and hyper-muscular men screaming violent intentions into microphones. The outlandish ring maneuvers, melodramatic storylines and occasional dance breaks. But if you grow up consuming it, you may just never cut the cord. At 42, I'm one of those who never outgrew wrestling, and that's why I'm hurting over the recent death of a wrestler who played a strangely important role in my ability to embrace my Arab American heritage. Terry Brunk, a Lansing native known in the wrestling world as Sabu, died May 11 at 60, a ripe old age in pro wrestling, where drug use, concussions and other life-shortening injuries and habits are routine. He performed in his final match just last month, in a ring with barbed wire ropes, and bleeding all over the canvas one last time to entertain his fans. The illusions of winning and losing in professional wrestling typically fade for most kids around the same time Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are exposed. But if you keep watching, more fascinating aspects of this deceptively simple storytelling medium start to shine: the secrets of the trade, the backstage drama, the intricacies of the performances, all the improvisation, innovation and pageantry involved, and perhaps most of all, the reactions of the crowd ― and the lengths performers go to elicit them. Sometimes, the crowds are more fun to watch than the actual matches. And sometimes, the most rousing, fever-pitch crowd eruptions ― and the wrestlers who evoke them ― can stick with you for a lifetime. I noticed the disinterested dad in the crowd early in the show. He'd brought a group of very excited kids to Joe Louis Arena for a 2006 WWE event, bought them some merch and patiently watched them cheer the good guys, boo the bad guys, and at one point, tear to shreds a homemade sign paying tribute to a hero who had just turned villain. I relished watching the family take in the show from the row right in front of me. Nosebleed seats or not, I had a front row view of these frenzied little fans and their hilariously bored, mustachioed dad, who kept glancing at his watch. I also happened to hear the father say a few words in Arabic, which made me very curious how this family would react when a certain wrestler made his appearance toward the end of the show. Like many 1980s kids, I learned to say my prayers and take my vitamins from Hulk Hogan, who earned our adulation by thwarting all the dastardly, anti-American villains who dared challenge him ― chief among them, the Iron Sheik. The Iron Sheik was played by Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, a Persian American performer who pretended to be an Arab, an evil one. He wore an Arab headdress into the ring, antagonized fans and cheated every chance he got. His character was inspired by The Sheik, played by Ed Farhat, a Michigan wrestler and World War II veteran of Lebanese decent who used every ethnic stereotype in the book to develop a persona that enraged fans and drove his opponents to stardom. The Sheik was known for pulling foreign objects like pencils and forks from his tights, and using them to bloody his opponents' faces behind the referees back. He would snarl and bite and shout gibberish ― infused with a touch of Arabic ― to seem as monstrous as possible. And he would stall, infuriating opponents and fans, sometimes praying in the ring to delay a fight, prostrating like a Muslim even though he was a Lebanese Christian. The Sheik made a lot of wrestlers heroes. He made a lot of people rich. And he was the driving force behind Detroit's long-running Big Time Wrestling promotion company. Then, in his later years, he trained his nephew, Brunk, who would become a wrestling legend in his own right as Sabu. I remember, as a child, seeing a family photograph of a dignified-looking man in an Arab headdress. I asked my mother who he was. She told me it was her father, my grandfather. At that point, the only men I'd ever seen wearing the garment were raving maniacs prone to cheating their way to victory in wrestling rings. 'Are we the bad guys?' I thought. It was terribly disorienting. I no longer felt comfortable singing along to Hulk Hogan's theme song, 'I am a real American.' It was the first time I had to contend with the idea that maybe, despite being born here, not everyone would believe I was a real American. I still sang the song sometimes, but quietly, and I felt like an imposter. It would be another 20 years before I could fully reconcile that awful feeling. At the Joe in 2006, when Sabu's vaguely Arabic-sounding music hit, those kids in front of me flipped out with joy, along with the rest of the arena. And their father, his interest finally piqued by the fever-pitch crowd reaction, unfolded his arms and craned his neck to see a larger-than-life, musclebound man in an Arab headdress making his way to the ring to resounding applause. The father's eyes widened, he started to smile and slowly began to applaud. I had to stifle tears of joy. I loved Sabu. But I did not realize he'd become a mainstream fan favorite. I never imagined I'd ever see a man proudly wearing his Arab heritage cheered by a WWE crowd. Sabu had brought me full circle, embraced by fans who loved him as much as they'd hated the Iron Sheik. Like his uncle, Sabu used negative stereotypes to his advantage. The Sheik gave him the ring name Sabu as a tribute to the Indian American actor Sabu Dastagir, who starred in films in the 1930s and 40s as an exotic, vaguely ethnic type. Sabu the wrestler played an absurdly vicious character who often flew through the air to kick steel chairs into his opponents' faces. But his persona was silent and more dignified than the cartoonish Sheik. To entertain his fans, Sabu sacrificed his body in ways no one had ever dreamed of. In one famous match, after legitimately breaking his jaw, he directed his manager to wrap duct tape around his head to hold the shattered bone in place, and he finished the show. The fans adored him, and I couldn't believe it. There's always a contingent of wrestling fans who prefer going against the grain, rooting for the villains ― 'heels,' in wrestling lingo ― to take down the heroes. There's something exhilarating about rejecting the narrative you're expected to embrace, abandoning the 'babyfaces' — the good guys — and siding, for the moment, with fictional evil. During the 1990s, in the waning days of Hulkamania, those fans took over. Babyface characters were booed. Heels were cheered. And show promoters were forced to scramble for new formulas. That dynamic gave rise to an outlaw wrestling promotion based in Philadelphia known as Extreme Championship Wrestling, ECW, where standard moves like headlocks and toe holds were frowned upon, and death-defying feats of athleticism and brutality were obligatory. Two Michigan wrestlers trained by The Sheik played central roles there: Sabu, and Battle Creek native Rob Van Dam. They used chairs, tables, barbed wire, thumb tacks and other objects, often handed to them by fans, to do all manner of damage to each other. (At the time, 'concussion protocol' was not a well-known phrase.) The promotion struggled to get TV exposure, but video tapes of those wild shows made their way across the country fast, and soon enough, extreme wrestling became mainstream wrestling, with Sabu, Van Dam and others making appearances in WWE. And by then, crowds no longer cared what their heroes looked like, or whether they were playing by the rules. It only mattered that they were badasses. I'm still in awe when current WWE superstar Sami Zayn makes his ring entrances, sending crowds into a frenzy of song and dance. His character is not overtly based on his Syrian Canadian heritage. But it's there, in subtle ways. An inconspicuous bit of Arabic script spelling out his name on his tights. Merch that features a Rocky Balboa-style image of him in a championship moment that reads 'Yo Khadija, I did it!' ― an homage to the fictional boxer's famous "Yo Adrian!" Zayn runs a charity that provides mobile health clinics to communities in need in Syria. And during tours of the Middle East, the red-headed Montreal native wins over unsuspecting crowds by grabbing the microphone and addressing them directly in Arabic. He has no need to leverage stereotypes. No need for a one-dimensional gimmick. And no need for over-the-top, bloody, concussion-inducing violence to earn his place in the spotlight. Zayn can just be a charismatic wrestler who happens have Arab heritage, thanks to Sabu, The Sheik, the Iron Sheik and others who came before him, clearing the way for dignified stardom ― and for a 42-year-old wrestling fan to enjoy his guilty pleasure, with a little less guilt. Khalil AlHajal is deputy editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact: kalhajal@ Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online and in print. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pro wrestler Sabu died in May, and I'm mourning the loss | Opinion
Tatler Asia
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
7 Heart-warming animated movies to watch this Holy Week
Coco (2017) Above For families, try watching 'Coco' (2017) this Holy Week While not a religious film, Coco explores themes of family legacy, remembrance, and the afterlife—beautiful ideas to contemplate during Holy Week. Rise of the Guardians (2012) Above 'Rise of the Guardians' (2012) is a good animated movie for Holy Week This DreamWorks film brings together mythical figures like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and more, to protect the innocence and wonder of children. At its heart, it's a story about believing in things unseen: faith, hope, and the light we carry inside us. Related : Karmic ties, soulmates, and more: How do you know if you've found 'The One'? Stephanie Zubiri answers The Prince of Egypt (1998) Above Don't know what to watch this Holy Week? Try 'The Prince of Egypt' (1998) This animated movie tells the biblical story of Moses—a journey from exile to deliverance. Hans Zimmer's powerful score, paired with dramatic visuals, makes this one of the most unforgettable biblical adaptations ever made. Up (2009) Above The opening of 'Up', an animated movie recommendation this Holy Week More than a fun adventure, Up teaches us a thing or two about grief, moving on, and finding new purpose at any age. Deeply touching and unexpectedly spiritual, this movie is both a relaxing and soul-stirring watch for Holy Week. See also : Holy Week 2025: Here are 5 churches and sanctuaries that tell a story The Little Prince (2015) Above 'The Little Prince' (2015) is among our animated movie recommendations for Holy Week This beautifully animated adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's classic explores themes of innocence, wonder, and seeing with the heart. Spirited Away (2001) Above 'Spirited Away' is also among our movie recommendations for Holy Week Spirited Away (2001) is one of Studio Ghibli's most beloved films and is an excellent choice for Holy Week viewing due to its deep spiritual and emotional themes. While not explicitly religious, its exploration of self-discovery, redemption, and the journey of finding one's true purpose makes it incredibly fitting for this reflective season. NOW READ 6 must-watch Studio Ghibli movies: 'Spirited Away', 'My Neighbor Totoro' and more What Studio Ghibli's founder thinks of all your AI-generated cartoon photos Fibre artist Aze Ong's 'Kaloob' explores spirituality in art that binds a community
Buzz Feed
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
50 People Who Spent A Toooooon Of Money On Something And Pretty Much Immediately Regretted It
The person with the tiniest rug around: The person who is evidently in love with this specific corner of their house: The person whose burger is the size of a golf ball: The person whose cake came out juuuust a bit off: The person who learned a lesson as old as time: The person who got the pleasure of looking at this dude's big ol' noggin the entire show: The person whose mask is just a biiiiiit off: The person whose sandwich totally and completely deceived them: The person whose pizza is a spit in the face of all things cheesy and good: The person whose chicken wrap contained but a morsel of chicken: The person whose sweater is a breeding ground: The person who will enjoy exactly 13 fries: The person who now has an expensive piece of plastic: The person who gave the ground a wonderful Christmas gift: The person whose kids know the world is their canvas: The person who got a beautiful dress for a rotisserie chicken: The person whose sandwich is, quite simply, an affront to all that's holy: The person whose TV FINALLY has some good texture: The person whose pizza has SEEN some things... terrible, terrible things: The person whose large is more like...a smarge: The person whose laptop got a sweet paint job: The person whose dinner is looking absolutely scrumptious: The person who gave a garbage man the most magical Christmas: The person whose airpod was frozen in time: The person who learned a valuable lesson about wood chipping today: The person whose instructions got taken very, very literally: The person with the absolute worst seat in the house: The person who straight up turned their AirPods to GOOP: The person who will only buy the creamed ice of the proletariat from now on: The person whose ice cream went missing: The person whose seafood boil got seafood spoiled: The pizza giant: The person whose peas were clearly tampered with by the Easter Bunny: The person who got this sandwich for ANTS: The person whose sandwich is, quite simply, an affront to God: The person who must often get mistaken for a rabbit: The person who, I hope, learned a very important milkshake lesson: The person who will handle cumin like radioactive material from now on: The person who'd better savor every last bite of that there meatball: The person whose burrito might just be the saddest burrito my eyes have ever seen: The person whose iced tea is an absolute farce: The person whose upgraded lake view includes a view of some of nature's most beautiful metal objects: The person whose expensive haircut came out just a bit uneven: The person who experienced true nugget tragedy: The person whose cobbler shall cobble no more: The person whose pizza laughs in the face of extra bacon: The person who asked for extra fries and got extra lies: The person whose retainer shall retain no more: The person who might not be able to buff that out of their ring: And the person whose rear end we must offer our prayers to: Bless.
The Star
10-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Starchild: How Malaysian children celebrate Easter with egg hunts
Clayra Bungan Yeoh Hui Qing, 8 Easter, which is celebrated on Sunday (April 20), is a special day for many Christians around the world. It is a time to remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lisa Ong, 8 In Malaysia, Easter is not a public holiday, but most churches hold special services on Easter Sunday. Families may attend church together and enjoy a meal at home after that. Some children take part in fun activities like Easter egg hunts, where they look for colourful eggs hidden in the house or garden. Easter eggs are a popular symbol of the holiday. They represent new life and new beginnings. In many places around the world, people decorate eggs with bright colours and give them as gifts. Sometimes, the eggs are made of chocolate. Yummy! Children especially enjoy getting chocolate eggs and bunnies as Easter treats. Another symbol of Easter is the Easter bunny. This cheerful character is said to bring eggs and hide them for children to find. While it is more common in Western countries, some children in Malaysia enjoy stories and cartoons about the Easter bunny too. Easter is also a time to think about hope, love and kindness. It reminds us to be thankful for our family and friends, and to help others whenever we can. Even if your family doesn't celebrate Easter, learning about different festivals and traditions helps us understand and respect each other. That is what makes Malaysia special - a place where many cultures and celebrations come together. Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, Easter. Clayra Bungan Yeoh Hui Qing, eight, says: 'I love Easter because of all the colourful eggs! At my home in Kuching, my siblings and I painted eggs using watercolours and glitter. My mother also told us the story of Easter and why people celebrate it. I think it's a nice time to remember love and kindness.' Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 12 Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 12, writes, 'Easter reminds us to embrace new beginnings with hope, joy and trust in God. My family and I celebrate by attending Easter mass at St Francis Xavier Church in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. We will also spend time with family and friends by inviting them for dinner. For fun, we will have a friendly competition where we decorate eggs using edible pens to show our creativity. To everyone celebrating Easter, I wish you a day filled with new hope, happiness and blessings through God's grace.' Michelle Tan Mei Kuan, 9 Nine-year-old Michelle Tan Mei Kuan plans to celebrate Easter at her cousin's house. 'We will enjoy a special dinner, share meaningful moments and appreciate the joy of being together. In addition, on Easter Sunday, I plan to give chocolate shaped like eggs or rabbits to some of my friends as a small gesture of kindness and to share this festive spirit.' 'Even though we don't really celebrate Easter at home, I read about it in a book. I think the Easter Bunny sounds really cool! I like the idea of hiding chocolate eggs and finding them. If I were the Easter Bunny, I would hide eggs in tricky places like inside shoes or behind books,' says Lisa Ong, eight. 'Happy Easter Day to all Starchild readers!' says Ong Keat Ming, six. ITEM: Mother's Day is celebrated on May 11. It is a time to show how much we love and appreciate our mothers. Do you help your mother with chores, give her hugs, or make her laugh with your jokes? Maybe you'd like to draw a picture of you and your mother spending time together, or write her a special letter to say 'thank you' for all that she does. Tell us why your mother is the best in the world! Email your contributions to lifestyle@ by May 2. Please put 'STARCHILD: Mothers Day' in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.
Buzz Feed
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
54 Cringe-Worthy Fails That Are Hilariously Bad
The Easter Bunny looks a little different than usual! It's even worse if this was for a psychology course. Turn my WHAT? Either this daughter didn't *quite* get it yet, or this dad had a very fun way to reveal he's a murderer. Looks like there was a *bit* of a misunderstanding here. ...Oops! A mistake anyone could make, really. Someone may wanna take a second look at this pamphlet placement. Uh...I don't think they meant "Aspergers." Or "pornographic." I'm sorry, but I had to laugh at this terrible luck. Oh no. 😂 I feel like they could've come up with a better way of depicting a drowning person. think that's how you spell "marshmallow." That's an interesting is it??? Here's another rather unfortunate least, I hope so. This subway *may* need to reconsider their move. This was not the ideal fashion choice, it seems. Yes, we are all buttful. <3 This just reminds me of that one episode of SpongeBob. I guess this makes the movie a little more interesting! decide if this is intentional or not. I think this store was trying to make a point about adults asking for Happy Meal toys, but I feel like they could have phrased this better... I have to include this comment... They also could've phrased this better. Or more PG, at least. Oh look, it's Chewbacca's weird, deformed cousin, Chewballa. they should've put that security tag elsewhere. What do we think "grandma" means as a topping??? It could be worse! You could've eaten something brown! Come on, now. Did they do this on purpose? Honestly, I think this just elevates the Geico ad. This is such peak laziness that I have no choice but to respect it. Hilarious misunderstanding or valid question? You decide. This placement is also not ideal — or maybe it's accurate. Hey, dads are gonna dad. This test ad for Reddit that was accidentally published is sending me rn. This ad is I guess we'll say. Now, I don't think that's right... Give who meth??? "Say racism! No to respect!" I'm not laughing at people drowning. That's terrible. But I did chuckle a bit at the mystery of the 237th person. What a helpful calculator! If you look on the bright side, bro just unlocked a new, creative way of spelling his name! "Ok." Oh, the irony... This could've used a comma! Unfortunately, I think there's a good chance this person is now blocked. I'm cracking up. Why did they do this? Gee, thanks, AI! Eh, should be fine! :( Proofreading — it's a lost art. Either this is a glitch, or there's a porno on at 15:35. Just what I ordered! Stickers that say "gothic font" in gothic font! I feel bad for laughing at this, but here we are. And finally, I feel so, so bad for this I still cracked up.
