Full Disclosure #25 3/30/14 There are no heroes in the Zackery Seabolt story. There are any number of people clearing their consciences, a number of people who are quick to exonerate, and a number of people who have circled the wagon around OSWA. I spoke with the father of the victim. I know this to be true, because of other information that was given to me by others. Strange thing about the Full Disclosure column – every one elicits a response, largely positive, sometimes negative, but always with people offering their own stories and tidbits. OSWA put out a statement, I’ll put it here in its entirety (Full Disclosure: and take credit for them releasing a statement at all). The following is a public statement from the owner of Old School Wrestling Alliance: Approximately two weeks ago, we learned one of our workers was displaying behavior unbecoming of the standards set forth by SEMMA LLC, the Old School Wrestling Alliances parent company, and was immediately removed from any and all things related to the OSWA. We pride ourselves on providing the best and safest entertainment in Habersham county, as well as Northeast Georgia, and will continue to do so going forward. We are truly saddened by what happened and hope that all parties will be able to get through this and move forward with their future endeavors. Thank you for your support. -Bobby Popham Owner, OSWA Entertainment S.E.M.M.A. LLC It’s striking to me that even in a statement released in order to explain that they were using someone that got arrested for “enticing a child for indecent purpose” they made sure to cut a promo putting themselves over as “…the best and safest entertainment in Habersham county, as well as Northeast Georgia….” That made an impression on me. Is what it is, though, huh? An impression was also made, obviously, talking to the father of the person that Zachery violated. Let me assure you, it was the father. I had gotten information earlier that the father confirmed without being prompted by me. And he told his story. He was incredibly restricted by the gag order by the court, and told me that I could say who he is. I am choosing not to do that to spare him and his family embarrassment. By the way, people who seem overly concerned about the embarrassment about a grown man who AT BEST made horrible choices and AT WORST manipulated a minor…I simply don’t know how to respond to that. I really don’t. For those that would assume that if I would want being arrested for what Zachery Seabolt was arrested for hidden, you would be correct. But I wouldn’t DESERVE to have it hidden, would I? And he doesn’t either. Why I am having to explain that is truly beyond me. Here’s the timeline – OSWA had a show on April 15th. Communications between Seabolt and the under-sixteen-years-old person commenced that were highly inappropriate. People at OSWA came to be aware of this. They informed the father. The father talked to law enforcement (I apologize for being vague…the father made it clear that anything he told me was fair game, but I am going to do my level best to protect his identity and his child’s identity) on the following Monday, and they arrested Zachery on Tuesday. I asked the father why Zackery continued to promote OSWA. He had ideas about that, but wasn’t really sure. We talked of a number of other things. In the midst of all this, I received a number of texts, phone calls, and messages on Facebook from any number of people. Some offered stories galore about Zackery’s history of this kind of behavior. Some offered stories and such about other people that worked for OSWA. Full Disclosure #24 was posted early by Georgia Wrestling History, then taken down and replaced with an apology by Rich Tate to, of all people, “Zackary Blane.” Any number of people have spoken about it all, including actual family members (supposedly) of Zachery and his new bride. Frankly, my head hurts from all of it. In the end, I see nothing wrong with exposing Zackery Seabolt/Zackary Blane: 1. He got arrested for what he got arrested for. I had nothing to do with that. 2. His arrest was a matter of public record, and was put in the paper in question. I had nothing to do with that. 3. His attitude in the past has been one of incredible arrogance, hubris, and riddled with bad behavior and dishonorable acts. Especially telling was in the midst of all of the texts, messages, and calls nobody…not one person defended the character of one Zachery Seabolt. Not one. 4. There’s the saying, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” With this whole situation, there’s smoke. And light. And heat. And a fire. Yes, there’s a fire. I hope that all of the people saying, “Wait and see” and “you don’t know the story” and “innocent until proven guilty” (none of which has anything to do with reporting of events that are factual, incidentally) are equally adamant when that pond scum cops a plea or gets convicted. Let me assure you, the father is determined and has a mountain of evidence. I’ve been told that Zachery’s mother is the warden of a prison, and people are speculating that he may yet slip out of this. One thing is for sure – people now know. At the eye of this storm is the father. I have a few skills in this world. Reading people accurately more often than not is one of them. The father is a good person in a horrible situation. And it is out of respect for him that I now write the following – for what it’s worth, I absolve Clint Eller and Bobby Popham of wrongdoing in the whole situation. The father and others truly want that, so for them I say it. One person who works for OSWA urged me to “be the bigger person”. Not sure that’s what is happening here. This is about me keeping my word to the father to make things easier for him. I’m sure OSWA will go on. Man, I gotta tell you something else about the father. He said “As far as Zachery goes, say whatever you want about him.” We had a good laugh over that one. I have to say also that the father is showing incredible restraint in the whole matter, putting his family above everything. I respect that also. It’s said that forgiving is not about the person you are forgiving, but putting the burden down for yourself. In simpler terms, you forgive for your own benefit. There was a person who implied that my father dying was some kind of kind of karmic retribution, presumably for something I said about their wrestling group. There was someone else who said if they could kill anyone and get away with it, they’d kill me for what I’ve said about their wrestling group. Same wrestling group. I know, I know, but they’re “good people, really.” In the end, I will continue to write Full Disclosure. I’ll continue to run PCW the best way I know how. I’ll make tough choices, mistakes, corrections and the lives of people I am involved with much better (hopefully) for me having been a part of their lives, as they make my life better. What I won’t do is allow the false idols, the manipulated, and the ignorant change the course of my life or how I talk about wrestling. There’s a lot of people who know very little who speak very loudly. I am obligated to provide an intelligent and passionate counter to those people. I respect that father who is bravely having to deal with the upheaval that Zachery Seabolt caused in his life. I respect the fact that he continues to worry about others. In the end, it’s safe to say that Zachery Seabolt won’t have an influence on pro wrestling in the future, unless it’s as a cautionary tale. I tell the wrestlers that I’ve trained and worked with all the time, “Wrestling is a social activity.” Usually I say it in order to encourage them to interact with one another, take an active interest in what they are presenting to others, and pretty much shut up and listen. Lately I’ve taken to telling them something else – “Interact with the people whose life you want, or who have something great about them that you want to encompass yourself.” I plan on continuing to do that. And tomorrow morning, I’ll be able to look in the mirror, unflinching. I pray that you can do the same. Or get yourself to the point where you can. The next Full Disclosure will hopefully be one that presents a story of true redemption.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 00:25:02 +0000
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