Mad Dog (1971 - 2008)

this episode is dedicated to the memory of documentarian chris bell’s older brother mike, known to the world as Mad Dog (1971 - 2008).

now, unlike many of this season's other episodes, chris and the entire bell family are very much public figures. they are what many view as the classic all american family, whose story was first shared with the world in the award winning film bigger stronger faster. and much like their childhood wrestling heros, all three bell brothers mike, chris and mark dedicated their young lives to training, saying their prayers, and taking their vitamins. but unlike the scripted, good guy wins bad guy looses storylines they saw on tv, real life had other plans for maddog, boar and smelly.

over the years struggles with addiction, childhood programming, mental health, and physical trauma all took their toll, culminating with Mad Dog’s death while in sober living. then came the aftermath, the grief, which each family member choose to deal with in a very different way, on very different timelines.

i cannot thank chris enough for sharing Mike’s story with us in such a candid and open way. detailing the parallels he shared with his older brother, his hero, and how Mad Dog’s death has ultimately fulfilled his famous mantra of "i’d rather be dead than average"

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host: d.mccormick
producer: biff butler
composer: andy huckvale