by Mick Foley
I really felt like I was in the zone while I was waiting in the Green Room. I mentally prepared myself for whatever tough questions might come my way. Sure, Katie might be tough, but I was tougher. I was fine. At least until I got on to the set; the moment I looked at her I fell apart quicker than an Al Snow pay-per-view offering.
She was so beautiful sitting there, and just so . . . so ...so Katie. I momentarily feared falling victim to the Cindy Brady syndrome once that red light turned on. Like a good portion of America, I had watched Katie many mornings over the years, but I never considered myself to be a Katie-aholic. At least not until I sat next to her on the set of The Today Show.
The next thing I knew, we were on the air. Katie hit me with, of all things, a tough question about the World Wrestling Federation show's controversial content. What the heck? What's with the tough stuff, Katie? Why didn't anyone warn me? Oh, that's right, Jenn had, hadn't she? Well, anyway, I handled the question. It really wasn't all that bad. I'd like to think that I managed it with a certain amount of grace and knowledge. And then, as if by magic, Katie actually laughed at one of my stupid jokes! Rumor has it that at one point she even touched my knee (I think I may have started that rumor).
As the interview drew to a close Katie mentioned that I had also written a children's book and I said, "Yeah, as a matter of fact, I think both our books were on the list at the same time."
Katie smiled, as only she can, and said, "May I say that I was in very good company?"
I officially blushed and said something along the lines of "Ooahuhhh." I think it was truly the goofiest that I have ever looked on television. While I'm at it, I might as well mention that I looked pretty handsome that day. At least by my standards.
When the interview ended, I thanked Katie and she hugged me so tight that it nearly took my breath away. Okay, so maybe I made up that part. She did thank me for being there and told me that she had really enjoyed my cage matches with Abdullah the Butcher in '92. All right, I made that up, too. But as I opened the door to leave the studio, Katie gave me the biggest compliment of my life. I don't think it was meant for me to hear. I think it was meant for the crew, or Matt or Al. But I heard it. It really meant a great deal to me when she said ...when she said . . . when she said . . .
Nope, sorry, I'm not going to tell you.
Look, I talk an awful lot about my private life in this book. I've got to keep a little something for myself. Katie's compliment is one of those things. So, sorry, none of Katie's kind words for your $7.99.
A week later, I received another call from Jennifer. "Guess who wants you?" she asked. Her voice was all bubbly, like she had some kind of special secret she was just dying to share.
"Who?"
"The Today Show."
"The Today Show?"
"The Today Show."
"But Jenn, I was just on The Today Show."
"I know, but as soon as they found out you had a Halloween book coming out, they booked you for October 31."
Suddenly, I found myself being hurled through the portals of time—sailing back, back, back, all the way to eighth-grade gym class. I said, "Does that mean Katie likes me?"
"Well, Mick, someone must like you," Jennifer laughed, "because they just booked you five months in advance."
I looked forward to that interview for five months. After September 11, I really expected it to be canceled. I would have understood completely if it had been, but as Halloween approached, I was still on the schedule.
A few days before the show Jenn asked me if I would like to read to some kids during my segment. "Definitely," I said. "Oh, and Jenn, could you ...?"
"No Mick, I can't request Katie for your interview."
"Damn, how did you know I was going to ask that?"
"Because it's the same question you always ask."
"Damn."
I brought the family with me to New York City in preparation for my big reading. When I spoke with the woman who would be producing my segment, I tried to sound as casual as possible as I popped the big question.
"So, um, do you, uh, know who will be interviewing me?"
"I'm not sure," she said, "but I would assume it will be Katie."
In a flash, I was back in that eighth-grade gymnasium saying, "Really? Do you think so? Really? Why?"
"Well, I heard you two really hit it off last time and—"
The eighth-grader in me interrupted her. "Where'd you hear that? Did Katie say that? Did Katie say it?"
Man, sometimes I wonder how the real world hasn't chewed me up and spit me out yet, because I really am kind of pathetic.
Well, Katie did do the interview and it went very well. But when I think about that day and I think about Katie, it's not the interview that sticks out in my mind.
As I departed the studio I kept my ears open just in case Katie had another compliment ready. But unfortunately she didn't. But on the way out I ran into Weekend Today anchor Soledad O'Brien, who asked me if I'd just moved to Northport.
"Yeah, I did, about a year ago," I said.
"My parents are your next-door neighbors," she told me.
Soledad and I chatted amiably about the odd coincidence for a few minutes. I went into the hallway to check on Colette and the kids but was surprised to see my baby absent from his stroller.
"Where's Mickey?" I asked.
"He's with Katie," my wife said, a big smile lighting up her face.
"With Katie?How?"
"She introduced herself during the break and asked if she could hold Mickey."
"Really?" I gushed.
"Yeah, she's going to hold him at the end of the show."
So with my arm around my wife and my eyes glued to the monitor, I beamed as Katie held my baby boy. I watched his little pumpkin cap push down his tiny ear, while America's sweetheart flashed the smile that makes every day seem worthwhile. There it was, the greatest moment of my career: Katie Couric with her arms around my child.
I can almost hear the wrestling fans revolting, saying, "Greatest moment? What about the 'Hell in the Cell'? What about the 'King of the Death-match'?"
Well, for starters, I really need to be conscious to consider a moment great. That alone rules out the "Cell" match. And it's kind of tough to enjoy any match that results in forty-two stitches and second-degree burns—so there goes the "Deathmatch" as well.
So my personal highlight goes to Katie and little Mick.
Watching the tape later, I had another revelation. I kept rewinding and replaying it, rewinding and replaying it. Maybe I was mistaken. But time and again, the visual evidence seemed to support my conclusion. I had to admit that at age thirty-six, with 325 stitches in my body, two missing teeth and one missing ear, I was, nonetheless, pretty damn handsome.
Hey, I'm not kidding. I know I'm the same guy who used to bill himself as "The World's Ugliest Wrestler," but it just wasn't true anymore. No, after all these years, I have come to accept that my name is Mick Foley, and Foley is Good . . . looking.
Thanks a lot everybody for sixteen years of blood, sweat and tears. It's been a wonderful ride!
Table of Contents
17: Chapter Seventeen