Brock Lesnar: An Ugly American?

While my memory is not at its best, I do think the term "the Ugly American" came about in the sixties as a result of American travellers making unattractive comments about tourist attractions in foreign countries and comparing them negatively to their homeland.

Such American tourists became very unpopular and the foreign countries vocally complained that they might as well "just stay home" and read travelogues rather than visit their countries only to complain long and loud about the inadequacies they perceived.

Well, I would add Brock Lesnar to that list and label him as an "ugly American" after his visit to Canada and his complaints about their health care system.

No, if you are going to ask, I have never received health care outside of the US of A, and I could certainly bore my readers with a long list of complaints that I have with the health care found in our own country from my many experiences.

It so happens that Brock Lesnar and I have more in common than I would prefer, being that we both have diverticulosis and have suffered from attacks of diverticulitis.

Brock, during his interviews (post medical intestinal crisis), has thrown around various medical and non medical terms, which I have found to be very misleading.

Diverticuli are outpouches or pockets in the large intestine, which can become inflamed and infected causing the "itis" crisis that Brock apparently survived without having to have a colostomy, or removal of part or all of the large intestine.

When he talks about his "stomach", I am assuming he is not referring to the organ itself and actually means "his abdominal region", which houses the intestines.

His infection apparently leaked out of his intestine, but walled itself off before he could become septic, which, without surgical intervention, could have been fatal.

I am at a loss when he comes to the part of his story where he states that "he healed himself" to the point that the doctors can no longer find evidence of any problem.

Huh? Spontaneous retraction of the little (or large) outpouchings of diverticuli? Is that a medical possibility? Oh, really, Brock?

Well, all the money that went into my nursing education has been wasted. I have never heard, read, or been told by my admittedly non-Canadian specialists that such a thing is possible, in Canada or any other nation.

Wow, that Brock is really something!

I would give anything to be able to peek at the medical history he filled out in Canada.

My medical records all include the fact that I have been on steroids more than once, as a result of having Multiple Sclerosis. This knowledge is essential to medical providers, not because they are nosy, but because any use of steroids has many medical implications, one being that they can mask infections.

Yes, I know that celebrities as well as others within our society would like to keep the use of certain drugs, recreational or otherwise, a secret. As a Labor and Delivery nurse, I have helped deliver many babies who were born with addictions secondary to their mothers' bad habits.

Knowing about drug use is important for anesthetists, nurses, and doctors who need to be prepared for any possible emergency situations and do not appreciate surprises which can lead to problems, as with babies going through withdrawal upon delivery.

Although I was not there, I would suspect that because Canadian doctors are not as familiar with Mr. Lesnar as are American doctors (who often suspect huge muscular men famous for their athletic ability of possible steroid abuse and do not see that many Canadian lumberjacks with large physiques who do not do illegal muscle enhancing substances), who might have subconciously thought "steroids" whether Brock admitted to it or not.

The medical care that Brock received was most likely very adequate, considering his disclosure of the facts and level of cooperation. Canadian doctors most likely do not like losing a patient any more than American doctors. Even doctors must account for their wins and losses.

Perhaps God has a higher opinion of Mr. Lesnar than I do.

Heaven knows that Dana White (the other "DW") has a much loftier opinion of the big man than I do, so I guess it is possible.

Unlike Matt Hughes, I am not a "good Christian"; rather, the common variety Christian who is prone to many sins and comes very short of the glory of God, so I am afraid that I do toss a few stones at times. It is just in my nature.

Brock's not liking Socialism was interesting to me. He certainly is benefiting from capitalism and being a celebrity in America.

If everyone was in Brock's position, there would be less worry about being able to afford health care, so I guess he is entitled to throw stones at Obama's healthcare plans while Grandma is busily casting stones at him.

At any rate, I have many doubts about Lesnar's account of his illness.

Since I have doubts about his interpretation of what happened, I also have doubts about his opinions concerning Canada's medical system.

As much as I love miracles, I guess I am more believing of them when I have witnessed them myself.

Many MMA fans are celebrating Brock's return to the octagon.

Because I am not a Brock fan, I would advise his opponents to "keep hitting him in the breadbasket" to see how long the miracle will last.

He may have the guts to get back in the ring, but can the guts he has take it?

It could be incredibly ugly if they can't.