Hulk Hogan says he'll call Tampa Bay home while he releases book, returns to ring

BELLEAIR - Two years after a car crash tossed his family into tabloid turmoil, Hulk Hogan has just moved back into the country French-style mansion that once served as the backdrop for the reality show Hogan Knows Best.

But now it's like a whole new program for Hogan. He no longer shares the home with son Nick, daughter Brooke, or ex-wife Linda - none of whom calls Tampa Bay home anymore.

The house and another he owns on Clearwater Beach are for sale.

But Hogan, in a rare sit-down interview with the St. Petersburg Times, said on Tuesday that he has no plans to leave the Tampa Bay area. And he doesn't plan to sink into obscurity either, as he will release a book next month and then plans a return to the wrestling ring that made him famous.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, said he "never dreamed at 56 years old, with a knee replacement, a hip replacement and a couple back surgeries" that he would wrestle again.

Over the last two years, Bollea has weathered the jailing of his son for reckless driving and endured the end of his marriage. He has been served with a lawsuit on behalf of the man who was injured in his son's car crash. Bollea also recently said that he was fleeced out of more than $1 million by some of his attorneys.

Still, Bollea says he is looking at life with a positive and religious attitude.

"I'm grateful for everything that happened. I wouldn't change anything," he said. "Life is good. From this point on, everything is going to be perfect."

Bollea agreed to an interview Tuesday at his Belleair house with his attorney Wil Florin, who is handling his lawsuit against the firm of Zuckerman Spaeder.

Bollea lives in the seven-bedroom, 17,000-square-foot house with his girlfriend and four chihuahuas. He said he's just at the house temporarily. Bollea said that the homes are for sale because of his divorce from Linda and that he intends to find another place to live in Tampa Bay.

Bollea is sporting a brand new tattoo on his forearm that says "I am that, I am" - the words God said to Moses when he saw the burning bush.

His book, My Life Outside the Ring, is about things he hopes to accomplish over the rest of his life. According to promotional materials, the book recounts "how his new found clarity steadied him during the most difficult match of his life - and how he emerged from the battle feeling stronger than ever before."

The Bolleas' troubles began in August 2007 when Nick lost control of his car in a street race in downtown Clearwater, injuring family friend John Graziano.

Graziano suffered severe brain injuries and was hospitalized for two years before his release earlier this month.

Nick Bollea ultimately pleaded no contest to reckless driving and spent more than five months in jail. He and his parents also were sued for negligence because of the accident. That case is continuing.

In addition to coordinating the criminal work, Zuckerman Spaeder began handling the Bolleas' defense in the civil case.

He agreed to a $300,000 retainer, but was surprised when not long after, the law firm billed him for another $150,000. Bollea said he had no idea that his insurance company, Progressive, would have paid for his lawyer.

"I didn't have a clue," he said. "I've never had anything like this happen."

He said that he wanted to find different attorneys but that Zuckerman Spaeder's people told him they were the best to handle the case because they knew about both the criminal and civil sides of the matter.

"I know it sounds really dumb for me to say I was stupid . . . but I believed everything these guys told me," he said.

Eventually, he said, an attorney and friend looked over the matter and discovered the firm had billed more than $1.5 million. He said it got to the point where "I was just tired of being taken advantage of."

Zuckerman Spaeder denied the claims in a statement released through its press agent: "We are proud of the work our lawyers performed for Terry Bollea and for his son, Nick Bollea. The charges being made by Terry Bollea are simply baseless." An attorney for the firm also said that its work on the criminal case, resulting in a no contest plea, meant it would "not have any negative effect on the civil case."

Bollea said he was delighted to see that John Graziano got out of the hospital and is being cared for by his mother. Bollea said he was close to Graziano and wishes he could see him again.

Now, he said, ex-wife Linda lives in the Los Angeles area. So does his son, who he said feels remorse about the accident. Bollea's daughter, Brooke, is pursuing her music career in Miami.

Although he recently had laser surgery on his back, Bollea is preparing for wrestling matches in Australia in November.

Bollea has no plans for another reality show, but said he has no regrets about agreeing to do Hogan Knows Best. He said he thought the show "would kind of bring me and my ex-wife back together" after some previous discord.

That did not happen, but he said the series was good for the family and advanced the career of Brooke, who went on to the series Brooke Knows Best.

"I think it helped my kids."