Here’s what I posted in the comments section of Richie Whitt’s OUTSTANDING Dallas Observer cover story on the tragic end of Greg “The Hammer” Williams’ tenure at The Ticket:
To me, this is the money quote:
“It’s not like I was some strung-out junkie screwing everybody over,” Williams says. “The person I was hurting was myself.”
It’s hard to imagine after all this time he still does not realize the adverse effect this had on those around him. I’m rooting as hard as anyone for Greggo’s full recovery, but a quote like that seems to indicate it’s going to be quite some time yet. He was always really great to me, and I will always be appreciative for all his support back during the hardliners.com days.
I’ll never forget the Friday he called me up out of the blue, about two hours before the show, and asked me to head out to The Colonial to fill in as yuck monkey on the day Gordo was off getting married. I had never done anything similar before that, aside from faxes and the occasional call, so it was equal parts exhilarating and terrifying.
I didn’t see much of Greggo over the past few years, other than at the occasional remote. I remember being completely shocked when I was at The Mothership for “Big Dick’s P-1 Wild-Ass Circus” and got my first look at how thin he had gotten. But I assumed it was him focusing his well-documented OCD on some sort of radically effective diet.
I completely empathize with Rhynes, and don’t blame him for feeling the way he does, but I hope one day the feelings of anger and betrayal on all sides will subside. I’ll continue to enjoy and support The HardLine, but will forever miss THE HardLine.
It’s good to see both NASCAR Dennis and T-Bar sticking by Greggo. I’m not chastising any of Greggo’s former co-workers at The Ticket for not doing so, because everything they went through with Greggo really jeopardized their livelihoods. So, I can certainly understand why they feel the way they do. But at the same time, I’m grateful that Greggo has NASCAR Dennis and T-Bar to lean on during such difficult times…especially given the recent passing of his father.
Hang in there, Greggo!
Well like I wrote over on my own blog, I can understand Rhynes’ stance. Among anyone who has worked at the Ticket, it seems the Old Gray Wolf invested the most time and energy in Sweet Greggo and saw all that pissed away in the end, even after supporting his friend through getting over his addiction to painkillers.
The others, notsomuch.
While I’ll agree with you that Greggo still doesn’t understand the degree to which he screwed his former show mates, he at least acknowledges he screwed up and is on the path to recovery.
Hopefully reconciliation with his former friend is on that path, too.
I support Greggo he became a dope head, any that has had a friend or family member go through that crap can understand they aren’t them selves.
Greggo at a time of need reaching out for help was turned on by his friends check that family. The Old Gray Wolf should get off of his high horse stop thinking he can treat Greggo like Rocko Pendola and think of him as an equal that made the Hardline the great show it WAS. I love Cobra but he isn’t Greggo and the show is missing the spark I loved to hear.