Hulk Hogan says he's sorry for comments

An occasionally tearful Hulk Hogan defended statements he made during conversations with his jailed son during the Larry King Live show Tuesday.

Hogan was heard on tapes released by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office suggesting John Graziano, who was seriously injured in Nick Bollea's Aug. 26 car wreck, must have done something to bring it on himself.

On the CNN show, Hogan said the recordings were taken out of context. He also said his goal was to help his son, Bollea, who was having a difficult time coping in solitary confinement.

Nick Bollea, 17, was sentenced to eight months in jail last month after he pleaded no contest to reckless driving with serious bodily injury.

Hogan said his son wants to take responsibility for his actions and move forward.

David Houston, one of Bollea's attorneys, said he couldn't think of another case where recorded jail conversations were made public. The conversations with his family were the only thing sustaining Bollea, Hogan said.

"To have that taken away, he had no recourse and I was more worried than ever about his mental state," Hogan said.

At the time, Bollea was being held alone in a jail cell but has since moved to a cell with other juvenile offenders.

Hogan, 54, also told King that he does not believe his son was racing before the accident.

During the hourlong interview, Hogan briefly discussed his divorce proceedings with his wife, Linda Bollea, and confirmed he's dating a 34-year-old woman. However, Hogan denied the rumor that his new girlfriend is a friend of his 20-year-old daughter, Brooke.

Comments on this article

by Reality Check	Jun 17, 2008 1:13 PM
Nick IS in adult jail only housed with others his age. Both of these young men made a choice that day; Nick is taking ALL the blame. Yes, he's a bit of a whiner and needs to man up. It's so easy to point fingers when you aren't in their shoes people.

by MoralDK	Jun 16, 2008 8:52 PM
This family proves the old saying you can" make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. For those younger folks this mwans The ahogan family was is and will always be white TRASH no matter how much money they have.

by doug	Jun 16, 2008 4:36 PM
my family and i agree with terry and would like to say jusy how sorry we are for the saddest that it has brought to you family Mr. Bollea and to say we are so sorry that this has happened to your family and johns family

by mom	Jun 16, 2008 11:26 AM
wake up Bollea family , Nick got off easy . John and his family are paying a price you would never want your son to pay. I think Nick didn't get more time. I'm surprized the Bollea family doesn't see the state has to do the job hey did'nt do.

by gary	Jun 16, 2008 11:23 AM
nick should have got more time he will never learn as long as dad come to his rescue

by TT	Jun 14, 2008 10:43 PM
Nick got off way to easy, another spoiled rich kid who get off. Hulk stop crying like a baby, your son will walk away and live life, but what life will John have, All you care about is your spoiled rotten boy who needs to grow up (but never will)

by Freeway	Jun 14, 2008 10:43 PM
Thanks to the Pinellas Sheriff's Dep. and the media this got totally out of hands. Two young kids driving too fast, and one forgot his seat belt. That's it. So sad.

by Darryl	Jun 14, 2008 10:43 PM
the last time I knew nick was 17 still a kid.and a lot of people are telling him to grow up?when a 17yr old is a victim of something its you poor child,but if they commit a crime its grow-up,and crucifying time,and is treated like a 28yr old adult.

by frank	Jun 14, 2008 10:43 PM
Who's at fault? Nick. He should man up, quit crying and do the time, which in my opinion should have the judge disbarred. And this talk about a nick show? the family ruined the show for hulk to begin with.God, what a bunch of spoiled, whiney brats!

by Duke	Jun 14, 2008 10:43 PM
1) John's parents were not speaking before the accident. 2) The Hogan Family were at the hospital every day until John's family kicked them out. 3) Hulk was giving John's mom money to help with her bills. 4) John drank & passed the booze to Nick.

by Kate & Family!	Jun 14, 2008 10:42 PM
WE FULLY AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS MADE: by Vic Jun 11, 2008 12:22 PM I can't possibly be the only person who sees that Graziano was an ADULT. He was former military, a MAN and he CHOSE to be in that car. Nick may be an idiot, but Graziano is just as at fault as Nick Bollea. Grow up people.

by wanda	Jun 14, 2008 10:35 PM
I think no matter who you are rich or poor,that when you do something to harm another person you should get the same punishment.I think he should have got more than 8 months,look at the person in the hospital,what if the shoe was on the other foot,wb

by Local	Jun 14, 2008 10:34 PM
It is a terrible tradgedy for both families. Linda is expressing her grief with her sons's 29 year she has taken on as her grief toy, giving him all of Nick's clothes to wear. Quite the happy couple.

by Freddy	Jun 13, 2008 11:48 AM
Whose the adult here? Why didn't John stop Nick? Seat belt please? Did anyone see the movie "In the Valley of Elah" ? There are always two sides to a story. Wake up folks!

by Sharon	Jun 13, 2008 9:35 AM
If the Hogans had address this and made thier son responsible for his previous out-of-control driving this may not have happened. giving the kid a lecture and paying his tickets where not enogh to make him realize the seriousness of this.

by terry	Jun 13, 2008 9:34 AM
my son is a good boy. leave him alone. he's a perfect child

by Sandra	Jun 12, 2008 8:42 PM
What becomes of someone such as Nick, when their over the top, indulgent mom and dad are no longer around to continue a history of passing out all those pre-folded bills in order to cover for him? Nick's documented history,ontinues to speak volumes.

by Kathryn	Jun 12, 2008 4:06 PM
My son is an Iraq war veteran, on his way back over. To show such disrespect for the Marine who made it through war only to be taken out by Nicks actions, and then to be called "negative" is a sign that they haven't "awakened". Pray!And keep reading.

by Chloe	Jun 12, 2008 3:42 PM
Too bad Nick couldn't be in his friends John's shoes.....and then we wouldn't have to hear his and his family whine. I am so sick of listening to this family complain when they should just be thankful they can still talk to their son.

by Garry	Jun 12, 2008 1:15 PM
Lets set the record straight, Dany Heatley was not drunk at the time of his friends death, just a foolish attiude of most young people without a care or concern of the consequence. Unfortunately this will never change, they stere death in the eyes.

by jason	Jun 12, 2008 1:13 PM
Geez, Hulk, when are you going to "man up" and lose those silly, emasculating head wraps? Take a cue from Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames and others: shave your head and wear it with pride.

by Susie	Jun 12, 2008 12:54 PM
Mr.Hogan(Bollea) is making his son look like a cold, heartless cad regarding trying to 'celebratize' having ruined a young man and his family's lives. Why cause further harm to yet another young man's life via his reputation?

by James	Jun 12, 2008 11:57 AM
Please tell me why Hulk is allowed to wear a head wrap in court?? No one else can get away with that!!

by lou	Jun 12, 2008 11:57 AM
A year ago I viewed a Hogan episode on "E" were Hulk was honered as Fla. Father of the year. Early on in the episode, Hulk and his wife and daughter were sitting on a patio and the mother asked Hulk where Nick was.He replied "racing around Miami.

by duh	Jun 12, 2008 11:56 AM
w/o attaching names..read a story..a responsible adult doesnt put on his seat belt. they get in an accident 1 person w/ a seat belt walks away and 1 w/o doesnt.sorry but every car insurance wipes its hands once you fail to put your seatbelt on.

by mike	Jun 12, 2008 11:56 AM
Terrible tragedy. But there has never been a mention of seat belts or if they would have prevented, or at least lessened, the tragedy.

by Mark	Jun 12, 2008 11:56 AM
Not racing? News flash for you ....trees are immovable objects, they don't go speeding down the road. Hulkster, here's your sign.

by Piobair	Jun 12, 2008 11:56 AM
I wonder if he regrets giving a juvenile boy a souped-up race car, then shrugging off all of his speeding tickets and street-racing braggadocio with an equally juvenile "boys will be boys" attitude?

by Steve	Jun 12, 2008 11:56 AM
Nick is a spoiled cry baby, he will never be a man. The Hulk needs to stop crying too, he's had it good all his life.

by Steve	Jun 12, 2008 11:56 AM
Nick needs to stop being the big spoiled cry baby that he is and take it like the man he is not. He should be sent to prison for 8 years not 8 months.

by Erica	Jun 12, 2008 11:55 AM
2 race cars, owned by one man. 1 car driven by his son who is a "drift" race car driver and his three friends who form his pit crew. Drive in excess of 65 mpg on wet suburban roads and crash. And he still wants us to believe they were not racing?

by Darryl	Jun 11, 2008 4:05 PM
I Agree vic.the ones to blame in this is everyone who was in the car!LETS SEE every parent involved in this that includes johns!john,and nick were best freinds.there was carelessness,but im sure nick didnt for see this happening.

by Annabelle	Jun 11, 2008 1:36 PM
I have no sympathy for Nick at all. He was being an ignorant, irresponsible punk and now seeks sympathy? Poor, pitiful Nick?? Heck no! I don't think so. Be a man and stop acting like a 1st grader... if that's at all possible for you or your family.

by Holly	Jun 11, 2008 1:17 PM
I'm sorry too that I even hear or think about Hulk Hogan and his useless, overindulged, arrogant son.Spin it Hulkster - love the way those words were taken out of context! Welcome to REALality - I think we can figure out what you meant on the calls!

by Bob	Jun 11, 2008 12:22 PM
I have little sympathy for Hulk Hogan or his family: However, the fact that the PCS Office is releasing Nick's mail and telephone conversations to the public is just ridiculous. Florida is truly a "Tabloid" state.