Bret Hart's Apology

Hart Photo Credit: WWE.com

I'm a bit late on the game on this, but I feel it needs to be addressed. Too often, I feel like I'm ready to pounce on a guy for fucking up and acting either aloof at best or unrepentant at worst about it. Guys like Bret Hart need to be addressed too. Last Monday, Hart made a crack about being a bit antsy when Pat Patterson was on his knees on the post-RAW appreciation thing they held in the former's honor. The worst-kept secret in wrestling is that Patterson is homosexual (if it's even a secret at all), and from the sounds of things, at least everyone in the ring had a good laugh at it. However, Hart experienced some blowback from the LGBT community about the comments, so he took to Twitter/Facebook to address them:

I sincerely apologize to anyone that was in any way offended by my in-ring joke to Pat Patterson on Monday, especially to Pat, whom I hold in the highest regard. I was only trying to take some of the edge off an emotionally challenging moment and I failed. The comment does not in any way reflect my feelings toward the gay and lesbian community. B

I hate giving anyone too much praise for an apology, mainly because it would be lovely if people didn't make those comments in the first place, well at least now I do. I was probably part of the whole "NOW THAT'S HOW YOU DO AN APOLOGY, AMIRITE?" like it's impressive to hurt someone's feelings only so you can "make it up to them." It's more impressive not to do it in the first place.

However, Hart at least showed some foresight and sincerity. It means that people are making progress, even if the comment was a benign in-joke in the first place. If it means he provides an example for other wrestlers, then it's a silver lining to wrestling's current ugly dark cloud of homophobia.