FanPost

Thanks Larry

Hana Csonka's Twitter

Yesterday (May 18), 411mania.com shared the tragic news that Larry Csonka - the main voice of their wrestling section - had died unexpectedly.

If you've spent much time on the wrestling web, chances are you've read some of Larry's work. The man reviewed every wrestling show he could get his eyes on, and that was in addition to creating features, podcasting, and being a husband and a father. He was critical without being negative. And even when he panned something, you could always tell that he did so as fan who wanted something better not only for his fellow fans, but also for the wrestlers involved.

As is often the case when the world suddenly loses someone, I didn't realize what an influence Csonka was on me until I read that he was gone. I never had a byline at 411, but I was known to write a lengthy comment or two there in my pre-professional blogger days. When those were under one of Larry's posts, he was a pleasure to interact with. Once I worked my way into this gig, I referred a few writers his way, and their experiences with him were always positive. We shared brief exchanges over the years, mostly around those referrals and our mutual love of sports teams that wear black-and-gold. We were friendly internet acquaintances, but that was it.

Nevertheless, Larry inspired me. I wanted to cover as much wrestling as I possibly could here at Cageside, even though I knew I'd never come close to the output he produced for 411. More than that, I wanted my writing to encourage people to love wrestling the way his did - even when I was talking about something I didn't like.

I wish I'd made the connection before he was gone. But even if I had, I doubt I would have let him know. I likely would have let my own self-consciousness stop me - thinking "he'll think I'm weird" or something like that.

But if this incredibly bollocks year, and a particularly tragic day yesterday for the wrestling community, has taught us anything, it's that life's too short, too fragile, for those kinds of regrets.

Maybe I'll remember that and tell someone else what their work means to me the next time I think of it. Probably not, but maybe.

With Larry Csonka, I missed my chance. But I still wanted to say thanks.

411 has a nice tribute from the many writers who worked with Larry up on their site here.

Larry's mother-in-law has an online fundraiser set-up for the wife and two daughters he left behind here.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Cageside Seats readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cageside Seats editors or staff.