Hulk Hogan On Jail Calls: Nick's 'Mental State Was Unravelling'

By Access HollywoodJune 10, 2008, 8:14 pm PDT

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- An emotional Hulk Hogan hit "Larry King Live" on Tuesday night to tackle a host of topics, including the release of phone calls to his incarcerated son, Nick Hogan, by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, 17-year-old Nick (known legally as Nick Bollea) was sentenced to eight months in jail after pleading guilty to felony reckless driving, an incident which left his friend, John Graziano, in a coma.

[ Hogan Family's Money-Making Prison Plan - Play it Now ]

In audio recordings of phone calls between Hulk and Nick, the elder Hogan is heard suggesting John's condition was "God's will."

Hulk addressed his comments on "Larry King Live" and told the CNN host that he made them because his son's mental state was in jeopardy due to spending several weeks in solitary confinement.

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"It was like the whole world [was] crashing down on my son. Solitary confinement - most hardened criminals unravel after two or three days. Nick survived in there 28-29 days," Hulk said. "During that period of time as I'm sitting there, 28 or 29 days, hardly any sleep, I did everything I could to laugh, to cry with my son.

"I was trying to help [to] give Nick some type of relief because he [was] consumed with the unknown," Hulk continued. "I was just trying to explain to him that it's 'God's hands' or it's 'God's will.' That's what people have said for thousands of years and did I say things wrong? Yes. I am I sorry."

[ All Access: Hulk Hogan - Courts - Celebrities ]

Hulk admitted he made some of the comments recorded during phone calls, including discussing a future reality show for Nick, to "protect him physically because his mental state was unraveling."

And while he knew the calls were being recorded, Hulk also expressed his disappointment that the calls were released to the media.

[ Hulk Hogan & Nick Bollea Talk Post-Jail TV Show Idea - Play it Now ]

"This was the only thing Nick had left. This is the privacy everybody had in prison… and to have that taken away?" Hulk sighed. "I was more worried than ever about his mental state."

Hulk broke down at the end of the broadcast, and through choked back tears, said that he believed the public understood his family's plight.

"The people that are outside of this building are with us on this thing, so it's going to be ok. It's going to be ok," he said.

Larry King also asked Hulk about the breakup of his marriage to wife Linda during the broadcast.

"When my wife filed for divorce, the marriage was broken long before that. My wife has her own separate life, I've got mine… It's two separate worlds at this point," he said.

The former pro-wrestler also put to rest rumors he is dating one of daughter Brooke's friends, though he confirmed Linda is dating someone Brooke's age.

"No, it's not one of her friends," Hulk said. "[The woman] that I'm dating is 34 years old and it's not one of Brooke's friends and from the reports I'm hearing, my wife is dating a 19-year-old."

Earlier in the day, Brooke Hogan confirmed her mother was, in fact, dating a teenager.

"Yes, it's true," Brooke told "Yo on E!." "I'm totally freaked out. This is really weird. I personally don't like it at all or condone it."

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comments

comments 1-10 of 49  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest
  • bulldog69
    in response to joe p' s comment you stupid jerk, there is only two halves to anything, so before you make anymore stupid comments or have any children, take your jealous, non kid having, stupid comment making ass and get an education, you dumbassed %@!*#
    report abuseposted July 29, 2008, 2:38 pm PDT
  • gtman00
    Wrecks happen all the time, people race, drift, and drink everyday. Some get lucky, other's not so much. It only takes ONE TIME for something like this to change your life. Learn from it & race on the track where it belongs Dont be so quick to judge & place blame, it's not your JOB. Take Care of U Those who point out a spec in ones eye, need's to
    report abuseposted July 29, 2008, 11:26 am PDT
  • Joe P
    half the people that leave these stupid comments are jerks ,half of them dont have kids and the other half are just plain jealous ,you have to walk in this families shoes to really know the mental pain there going thru,Nick made a big mistake , we all do but jail isnt the answer whether you have money or not ,just think what he will be going thru mentally for the rest of his life .
    report abuseposted July 29, 2008, 10:16 am PDT
  • bulldog69
    i think nick is getting special treatment due to his daddy, and Hulk, is an %@!*#, for trying to take the blame away from the real culprit, his %@!*#ing kid nick, if what happened is God's will, than let God's will happen, if its God's will for nick to get %@!*#ed up the ass while in jail, than so be it, terry and linda hogan , go the %@!*# away, we are tried of ur %@!*#
    report abuseposted July 29, 2008, 9:39 am PDT
  • suck it!
    yo its sucks that Nick is in jail, but dude he is 17 drifting in the streets in MIAMI. Don't know why every one is tripping about that kid in solitary, if they put him in general population, his life is in danger regardless. He is what you would call fresh fish in a crowed pond. Lord knows Nick would be raped, and then posibly killed in general population.
    report abuseposted July 13, 2008, 10:46 am PDT
  • Lee B
    sob, sob, sob. STOP OILING UP YOUR DAUGHTERS ASS DUDE!! Nick, dont drop the soap!!
    report abuseposted July 9, 2008, 9:20 am PDT
  • darkjourney34
    I use to be a huge fan of Hogan but not anymore. never realized how money hungry that family is. I wish people would boycot there shows and not watch them but of course people will. U S loves drama and any expense. Nick cries like a baby cause he has to do jail time and here his friend will never be the same again. I wont ever watch his shows again.
    report abuseposted July 9, 2008, 8:06 am PDT
  • CB LOVER (HALEY)
    that is so sick but he is a airhead
    report abuseposted June 22, 2008, 11:37 am PDT
  • Gia
    I think Hulk wasn't a great husband. He hardly paid attention to his wife on the show. It was all about Brooke. Nick hardly got any attention either and since he showed no intereste in wrestling, even less so. I don't blame them for wanting to sue Hogan because Nick was under age and stupid and driving that car. I feel bad for Nick because he's just so young and everything
    report abuseposted June 21, 2008, 6:17 am PDT
  • asparticus
    His mom is dating a 19 year old boy...I wonder how old Nick´s man in prison is.
    report abuseposted June 20, 2008, 6:51 pm PDT
comments 1-10 of 49  | newest | < newer | older > | oldest

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