Bret "Hitman" Hart — The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be
Bret "Hitman" Hart — The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be is an illustrated autobiography[10] by Canadian professional wrestler Bret Hart and Perry Lefko.[11] It became a national bestseller in Canada.[12][13] The preface was written by Roddy Piper.[14][15]
![]() Cover to the book, featuring Bret Hart.[1] | |
Author | Bret Sergeant Hart, Perry Lefko[2][3][4] |
---|---|
Language | English |
Subject | Wrestling |
Genre | Autobiography |
Published | 2000[5][6] |
Publisher | Stoddart Publishing[7], Orion Publishing Group[8] |
Publication place | Canada |
Media type | Hardcover and paperback |
Pages | 128[9] |
ISBN | 978-0773760950 |
Followed by | Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling |
Background
editLefko first approached Hart's management about the book in 1998. It went through numerous incarnations until becoming what was published.[16] Hart said he wrote it to remind people of many of his matches, images of which were owned and underplayed by WWE due to a soured relationship at the time.[17]
Content
editThe book's narrative is told mostly through photographs from Hart's career with text captions and wrestling stories.[18] Due to his strained relationship with WWF at the time, no pictures owned by it are included.[19][20] It reprints several family photos and some from a private collection, never before printed.[21] Hart wrote a tribute to his brother Owen, who fell to his death at Over the Edge (1999).[22][23][24]
The book contains quotes and comments from Ric Flair, Curt Hennig, Sting, Hulk Hogan and Bill Goldberg.[25]
Release and reception
editThe book had an initial printing of 150,000 copies which beat publisher Stoddart's previous record of 20,000 copies. Its president, Nelson Doucet, said: "At the sales conference, the salespeople recognized that we had a winner, and we were too conservative with our 35,000 initial printing, It became very obvious, very quickly, that we had a very successful title on our hands. The initial reaction from the market has confirmed that. The initial 150,000 print run is just the beginning. The book appeals not only to traditional market but also to specialty markets." He added that Hart is a very popular figure and that his career was filled with a lot of controversy.[26] After the release, Hart took a book signing tour.[27][28][29]
Follow-up
editHart and Lefko wrote their second bestseller, Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, in 2007.[30]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Book index". Rockin' Robin's Wrestling Books. The Canadian Connection. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ "Perry Lefko". Toro. Archived from the original on 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ "The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky on June 16, 2000 · Page 41".
- ^ "Book index". Rockin' Robin's Wrestling Books. The Canadian Connection. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ "The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be". Dokumentation. CageMatch.net. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ "Mediendatenbank: DVDs, CDs, Bücher, Spiele & Co". Genickbruch.com. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ "PW: BEA 2000: Working the Floor". Publishers Weekly. May 19, 2000. Retrieved 2017-02-15.>
- ^ "The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be". Dokumentation. CageMatch.net. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ "The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be". Dokumentation. CageMatch.net. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ Heath McCoy (2007). Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. ECW Press. p. 300. ISBN 978-1-55022-787-1.
- ^ Oliver, Greg. "Hart bio due in March". Slam! Wrestling. Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "A YEAR OF BESTSELLERS". The Globe and Mail. December 30, 2000. Archived from the original on 2017-09-01. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ Lefko, Perry (2005). Pinball: The Making of a Canadian Hero. 978-0470836903. p. 322.
- ^ McEvoy, Dermot (March 20, 2000). "Hitting to All Fields: Sports publishing brings its game to new categories and new markets". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ Quested, Kirsty (February 1, 2005). "WRESTLING BOOKS: Bret "Hitman" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and the Best There Ever Will Be, Review". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (February 11, 2000). "Bret Hart bio gets March release date". Slam! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Russo, Ric (August 11, 2000). "Hart Aches for One More Shot". The Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
- ^ "Bret "Hitman" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be". Books. Genickbruch.com. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ Quested, Kirsty (February 1, 2005). "WRESTLING BOOKS: Bret "Hitman" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and the Best There Ever Will Be, Review". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ Huer, Otto (April 21, 2015). "Wrestling Book Reviews: Bret 'Hitman' Hart: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be". Hack-Man.com. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (February 11, 2000). "Bret Hart bio gets March release date". Slam! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ White, William (2000). Buyer's Guide. Bowker. p. 149.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ Quested, Kirsty (February 1, 2005). "WRESTLING BOOKS: Bret "Hitman" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and the Best There Ever Will Be, Review". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (February 11, 2000). "Bret Hart bio gets March release date". Slam! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ "Bret Hitman Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be". Rockin' Robin's Wrestling Books. The Canadian Connection. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
- ^ McEvoy, Dermot (March 20, 2000). "Hitting to All Fields: Sports publishing brings its game to new categories and new markets". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
- ^ Shark, Marko (March 18, 2000). "COPS GOTTA HAVE HART". Toronto Sun, via Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Hart is promoting his new book, co-written by The Sun's Perry Lefko". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. March 18, 2016. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved 2016-05-05.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Bret Hart contemplates retirement during a book signing tour - IGN".
- ^ Lefko, Perry (2005). Pinball: The Making of a Canadian Hero. 978-0470836903. p. 322.
Sources
edit- Heath McCoy (2007). Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-787-1.
- Lefko, Perry (2005). Pinball: The Making of a Canadian Hero. Wiley. ISBN 978-0470836903.
- White, William (2000). Buyer's Guide. Bowker.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help)