I am a “Hogan Knows Best” fan. I have watched the family and loved the show from the beginning. They truly love each other and I can see that the Hulk lives for his kids.
I hate to say it, but it appears that the parents have dropped the ball. I know the Hulk wants to be cool to his kids, but you have to be a parent even when it sucks (and trust me it does with teenagers). With Nick’s driving record he should have lost his license long before now. I would have been grounded for life (if I lived at all) if my parents found out I was busted driving over 100 MPH.
I have a 15 year old and he knows he won’t get his driver’s license this year until I know FOR CERTAIN that he respects the people riding in the cars around him. I point them out all the time and say, “That is someone’s mom, someone’s dad, someone’s baby, someone’s grandmother!”
We all forget that sometimes. There are entire families that love the people driving around you every day. Every person is loved and the people that love them will be devastated if something happens to them.
My son also knows that his grades must remain very high, he has to be kind to his little brother (if he can’t be kind to him how can he respect people on the road that he doesn’t know?) and I need to see that he has a good sense of responsibility. Lives are at stake and parents need to consider this before they let their kids drive off.
John Graziano
John Graziano was the passenger in the car and the reports here in Florida say that his condition has not improved. I think Nick is taking a lot more heat than most because John is a U.S. Marine. The fact that he served in Iraq just adds more fuel to the fire. Americans have deep respect for our soldiers and they should. My husband is a former Marine and I know that John Graziano has done a lot for our country.
I know a lot of people are saying John was 22 and he should have told Nick to stop. I know a lot of people are slamming Nick. The truth is none of us know anything about what really happened. There were observers, but when you are standing watching cars go by you cannot determine how fast a car is going.
Nick Hogan
We do know Nick was driving fast and I know he will live with this major mistake for the rest of his life. I also know that this is a lot for a 17 year old to handle. He has the accident, the guilt and the entire world commenting on his mistake. How much more will drive this kid over the edge? To the news and press, back off a bit, please. This is a child we are talking about.
Even if Nick was driving 90 miles an hour and crashed the car I can’t say this accident is completely his fault.
We have laws in place and the court system should have considered a 16 year old kid getting busted driving over 100 MPH twice! Why didn’t they do more? If you and I had done the same thing we would have been in a lot of trouble.
I hate to say it, but what were his parents thinking? I saw the video of Nick speeding away from the Ivy. His mom was there and saw. You know what my mom would have done? Chased me down, taken my keys and she would have kicked my ass up and down the road!
My Stupid Opinion
My opinion means nothing, it is just mine. But, my opinion is that it is very easy to judge people and none of us really have the right to do so. However, as parents this type of story ticks us off and it should. All I keep thinking about is John’s parents, his family and his fiance. God bless them. My prayers are going out to them.
My Concern
Emotions are involved and that is why so many are discussing this story. My concern is a 17 year old boy dealing with a lot of hell and having the entire world watching. This has to an unbelievable amount of stress. I would hate to see another tragedy occur because this boy cannot handle the stress. I doubt I could handle it…
My prayers are going out to all of them. Both sets of parents are suffering, the family members are suffering, Nick is suffering, but John Graziano is suffering the most. This is a sad situation all the way around.
Melissa Fach- SEO Aware
I think we are so hold our judgments and pray for both of these boys and thier families. Pray for Nick becouse he is a 17 year old kid that made a really stupid choice that ended up in an accident lets remember that it was a accident I think he is going through quite a bit of pain and stress everytime in goes to the hospital and looks at John he knows that he put him in that bed accident or not I tryely hope that John can recover from this stupid accident for his sake the sake of his family for the sake of the Hogan and yes for Nicks sake he will have to carry this with him for the rest of his life hopefully his friend will recover and he doesnt have to carry a more tragic situation with him for life I truely believe it was a poor poor choice on Nicks part but also truely believe it was an accident.
People (including Melissa Fach) continue play the violin of sympathy for Nick Hogan. It’s just because the guy is a celebrity, and it’s sickening. Nick deserves no sympathy whatsoever. If he cracks under the media scrutiny, then so be it. He’s benefitted for years from the same scrutiny. The press shouldn’t back off now. Nick Hogan deserves no consideration. Neither does his family.
Our focus really should be on John Graziano and John’s family. I heard that Edward Graziano (John’s father) just got arrested for a domestic disturbance involving other family members. I feel bad for the stress Mr. Graziano is enduring, and I feel bad for John and the rest of that family.
I do not feel bad for Nick. It’s amazing that Edward Graziano is in jail right now, and the f__n idiot who put Mr. Graziano’s son in this condition is still walking around free. So are the two idiot highway patrol guys who laughingly let Nick off when they got him going over 100mph. It floors the imagination. Melissa is right about one thing: if Nick Hogan had been Joe Schmoe (with that crappy driving record) he would have had his license yanked a long time ago. Justifiably so.
Let’s get the focus off the bottom-feeding “celebs” and focus on the people who are actually paying for this recklessness. Continued thoughts and prayers for JOHN GRAZIANO AND JOHN’S FAMILY.
Fred, I don’t think I said anything about nick that resembles playing a violin for him. What I said is that he is a child and that child is not completely responsible for what happened.
His parents saw him get ticket after ticket and sent him out to drive again. Therefore, in my opinion, they were condoning the behavior. It is sad, but they are partially responsible. Parents of teenagers know they make bad decisions and it is our job to ensure they behave in a manner that will not harm others.
Also, I discussed the media and nick because nick is a child. I would say the same thing if he wasn’t a celebrity. The press/media can be ruthless and they should back off a bit. If he was tempted to hurt himself and did the press would be dancing around thrilled with another story…that part of the media makes me sick.
I feel bad for nick in only one way; he will pay for the rest of his life for this accident and the truth is the courts and his parents could have prevented this. He will pay, John Graziano will sure as hell pay and I am sure his parents will pay…wouldn’t it have just been easier to take away his license????
I agree that it appears and is easily assumed dropped the ball on curbing Nick’s dangerous driving habits.
BUT I also think if one takes a look at John Graziano’s (an admitted racer) driving record just for Pinellas County thats littered with speeding and careless driving tickets — it could also be that Terry and Linda were diligent with Nick’s driving behavior but failed to take into account that the influence of those around him rendered their attempts useless.
Especially as I believe, due to Nick and John’s age difference and length of friendship, it could be properly assumed that it was Nick’s experience riding with older drivers such as John Graziano, prior to gaining his own license, led him to not only believe dangerous driving was acceptable but to get addicted to the adrenaline rush he received from being exposed to it.
Further, I also believe that from John Graziano’s driving record it could also be deduced that at the very least, and knowing full well the dangers, he was a willing participate and possibly even more the primary instigator in their wild driver on the night of crash.
And therefore was most likely an accessory not an innocent passenger. The driver of the second car involved was from there same circle of fast driving friends. To claim only Nick should ‘pay’ or be of guilt is extremely short-sighted and is largely unsupported by the facts and circumstances surrounding the wreck and their friendship.
If the conversation prior went something like this–
John: Come on, if his Viper beats your Supra off the line we’ll never hear the end of it.
Nick: My Dad’ll be pissed if I get another ticket.
John: No cops are ever around here, this sucker will hitt 100 in less than 15 seconds and then it’s over.
Nick: I don’t know, man…
John: Don’t tell me I survived Iraq to come back to Nick Hogan becoming a wuss.
Nick: Fine!
Would you still find Nick Bollea to be the one and only person that should burn at the stake?
Nothing seems to be easier than seeing someone whom you can help but not helping.
I suggest we start giving it a try. Give love to the ones that need it.
God will appreciate it.