Football Tackling
+
WWF confidence
=
Who knew
When you mix the two
You could get a gold medal in 8th Grade Wrestling
The GIF above explains more than my nostalgic perspective.
Because of my ego... it actually took more than the equation above.
I never respected wrestling...
It felt kinda gay, to be honest.
I do not believe there is anything wrong with being gay.
It just is not my cup of tea, when it comes to things I am doing with my life, personally.
(With the above mentioned, I do enjoy the platonic company of the LGBTQ Community. I also stand in solidarity with their societal struggles on every level.)
Maybe the above thought process is why I didn't care to practice or even weigh-in.
I respected the sport, but I was only happy in it if I was winning.
Regressing from digression, not weighing yourself could become a problem when it's time for the tournament.
In consequence to not paying attention to my weight, I showed up to the tournament 5lbs over the weight limit for my weight class.
But never fear
A Pair was here (there)
Just the Link I needed to win
A young wrestling veteran on the team noticed my situation and offered assistance in losing 5lbs in 2 hours before the tournament starts.
2 hours of sprints n shits later, and voila; I am down 7 lbs and inside of the weight limit for the tournament.
Incredibly hungry and thirsty, I open the abyss of my stomach and throw down a few Chicken Sandwiches and Gatorades from the concession stand.
Luckily for me, my metabolism was working overtime, and I was 1st seed in the tournament. My first opponent will be easy work.
When I took to the mat for the first match, my opponent instantly reminded me of Carl Weezer from Jimmy Neutron.
Y'all might as well assume it is just a W already...
The match lasted 10 seconds...
Really should have been like 7, because the ref took a few extra seconds to get around the mat to check the pin. I looked at the clock, while I was pinning him. I knew it would be the quickest of work, but I wanted to know how quick, exactly.
I'll move on from that match because it's just for understanding my perspective of the story. Not here to bully anyone.
Turns out, my second match of the tournament was actually my most difficult.
My opponent was about as strong as I was.
He had fight in him too.
I just don't quit, when I want to accomplish a goal.
I wasn't satisfied with anything other than the gold medal.
The takedown was easy as always.
But after every time I took him down, he did everything within the rules to escape the pin.
Out of respect for his grit and my confidence in my takedown, I knew I had to let him up or it would tire me out to continue the unsuccessful pin attempt.
Weakening my defenses against his attack and attempts to pin me, I would let him get up to continue to get takedowns and beat him in points.
I have the Finals after this.
He won't take this from me.
The buzzer buzzes.
I look for the validation of victory.
13-12, Me.
Feeling like I just battled a Kraken at sea, I beeline for the bleachers to rest before the Finals.
Eye still on the prize, I confidently sit atop the bleachers watching those less fortunate feed off of the validation from their parents after a loss.
That's not what I am hungry for.
I want the G O L D.
The Final Match.
The moment has yet to arrive, but I received word from my teammate.
Turns out, he is friends with my Finals Opponent.
Turns out, my Finals Opponent has been watching me this whole day.
Turns out, my Finals Opponent was scared to wrestle me.
Fear... I wondered what that felt like.
Very momentarily, as my weakness is that mindset.
Wouldn't want to adopt a cancer of the mind.
As I center myself, I notice the time has come.
The second to last Finals Match of the tournament.
After hearing word from my opponent...
After conditioning for 2 hours before the tournament...
After wrestling the toughest opponent I have met so far...
I couldn't even find any fear for the death of me.
So I didn't die.
I thrived.
In a circle, lined with everybody and their family at the tournament, I enter The Thunderdome (Not to be mistaken for Doug Dimmadome's Dimesdale Dimmadome).
The whistle blows.
My Takedowns Start.
My Finals Opponent skillfully escapes my takedowns
My Finals Opponent even reverses a couple of my attempts to pin him.
However, this is the Finals.
I came too far.
I will win.
After being in a compromising position, I rely on my leg strength to rescue me.
In that moment I felt his weakness.
I have been pushing his athletic limits to their bounds.
His strength all of a sudden wasn't as strong.
He couldn't hold me down
He cant pin me
He's fatigued
I'm not.
Just as quick to that realization, was the swiftness of his loss.
He just didn't know
I am on go
at all times
Even if I pass out on this mat.
It will be worth the effort
I can't be the only African-American in this tournament AND lose.
That is not an option.
So as I walk up the tournament pedestals
It felt good to be number 1
It was everything Spongebob promised it would be
but little did I know it's fatality