Shane Ryan of Grantland.com wrote a depressing piece on legendary wrestler Ric Flair that detailed his long list of legal and financial woes.
While Flair (born Richard Fliehr) can’t argue a majority of the story because it’s based on court documents, his camp took exception to one line that Ryan wrote:
That’s what he’s called on the paychecks from Total Nonstop Action, a second-tier outfit where he’s still compelled to perform despite suffering from alcoholic cardiomyopathy, and where almost everything he earns goes toward old debts: lawyers, ex-wives, the IRS, former business partners, and anyone who made the mistake of lending him money.
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Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a disease that can lead to heart failure from excessive drinking. A representative from Flair’s camp released the following statement to TMZ.com:
“While the information gleaned from courthouse records may be credible, Mr. Fliehr is currently evaluating his legal options with respect to falsehoods in the story, specifically the untrue statement that he suffers from alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Our client understands that these allegations are part of the territory when you are not only famous, but a living legend.”