The Hogan Family Circus

As I mentioned yesterday in the news section and again in my podcast this afternoon, I'm not sure what purpose it serves to release recorded conversations between an underage prisoner and his parents. Nonetheless, Nick Hogan and his mother do not come off well during the audio recordings that were released to the media on Thursday. Nick whines about how horrible jail life is. He bitches about the size of his cell and says he doesn't think he can make it. Linda is totally sympathetic and babies poor "Nicky" throughout the phone call. Oh, and did I mention that this particular phone call took place on his first night in jail?

I realize Nick is a 17 year-old kid, but I know there are other kids the same age who are more mature and wouldn't spend their entire phone conversations whining to their mommies. Yes, 17 year-old Nick refers to his Linda as "Mommy." Linda refers to Nick as "Nicky." Nick refers to Brooke as "Brookey." Brooke refers to Nick as "Nicky." And the Hogans wonder why people view Nick as a pampered punk?

Maybe things have changed, but I must say that Brooke seemed very levelheaded (by Brooke standards) during her conversations with Nick. In other words, I don't buy the gossip that she's on the verge of a mental breakdown.

Hulk Hogan tries to play cool dad during his brief conversation with Nick. He suggests that his son needs to "miz-an up." He continued to use this type of lingo throughout their conversation. The newspapers labeled it as carny and it's certainly a variation, but it sounded to me like Hulk thought he was being hip by talking like Snoop Dogg. Whatever, though. The Hulkster certainly isn't the first father to sound like a dork while trying to act cool with his teenage son.

What really stands out during these conversations is that there is no parental advice suggesting that Nick use this time to reflect and learn from his mistakes. Rather, it's a great big pity party whenever Nick and his mommy are on the phone together. Even Nick's grandmother sounded like she had enough of it all given some of the comments she was making in the background during one call.

Isn't this the same Nick that Hulk claimed was going to step up and take his punishment like a man? Granted, he pleaded no contest and accepted the judge's ruling without filing an appeal, but he was already pissing and moaning about not being able to talk to anyone and he stated that he would have gone to trial had he known what the jail was going to be like. Again, he made these statements on his first night in county jail.

What the hell did he think jail was going to be like? He was placed in a cell away from the other inmates for his own protection, yet he's complaining because he thought he'd be able to hang out with the other inmates and talk. I'm sure that would have gone over well. You know, because inmates typically like rich kids who refer to their mothers as mommy and cry on their first night in jail.

To listen to the audio, check out TBO.com.