Post by Mac Bane on Dec 2, 2012 14:16:56 GMT -4
Lessons
Not long ago I would have trashed a locker room after a loss like that, but things have changed and so have I. My neck and back still hurt after the pounding it took at the hands of Envikado, but what hurts me most I think is my pride. I have been in this business for a very long time and I have never turned my back on an opponent in my career. Envikado should savor this victory, because when we meet again you will find out exactly why other people call me The One-Man Wrecking Crew and why I tell people I didn’t give myself that name, I earned it from my enemies and yes you made the list good for you. But since you couldn’t manage to advance in the tag team tournament I think we should talk about a team that is relevant…The Dying Breed.
As Buck already said, yes I called Bailey a fraud. Hey I just call ‘em like I see ‘em. I myself have thrown some huge holiday parties but I don’t think the guest list was ever five thousand people and I know the cameras were never rolling so I could brag about it, and then say I wish the cameras weren’t rolling to try and make myself look humble. These are things his partner should worry about, trying to present yourself as something other than what you are is the first step in a downward spiral. If I were Jair I would be watching my back. If you choose to ignore my advice which is what I anticipate, that is on you but I hope you decide to listen because this was intended as just that friendly advice.
As for Mr. Bailey….you sir are nothing more than a pretender. Trying to suck all these fans into your little game of yours. I’m not buying whatever it is your trying to sell. You sir should come clean to these fans and your friends and just admit it. I know its difficult, for years I walked around in an Armani suit trying to be someone elses idea, someone elses vision of what Mac Bane should look like and talk like and they were nothing close to who I really am. Once I shed all of the b.s. and started being who I truly am, the fans came around and so did my peers. Being a former world champion you certainly have my respect but be prepared when you enter that ring against me. If you won’t come clean with the fans and your peers then The Sons of the South will expose you as the fraud you are in the ring. Doing it the other way is a lot less painful.
The bottom line here Dying Breed is that The Sons of the South are one win away from facing Deruty and Speed in the finals of this bracket so we can represent our brand and show the world why OverDrive drafted us so quickly. We have a lot of pride in our brand and why shouldn’t we? Some of the truly elite in this business are on OverDrive and the fact that we were selected by that brand so early in our career with APW swells our chest with pride but not our heads, we know we still have a lot to prove to many people here and in time we will show them all that The Sons of the South are the real deal. We respect your message Bailey but if you want people to believe in it things have to change. If you’re not a part of the solution, your part of the problem, choose wisely.
----
{Arkansas – Gooch Farm}
As I sit at the Gooch family table I see a lot of things left undone since Annabelle has been in the hospital. The sun shines through the broken window causing the shards of broken glass to glisten on the floor beckoning to me to do something about it so I do. I leave the coffee cup on the table and find the broom and dustpan and begin cleaning up the mess left behind by the attack on the Gooch home. As I dump the broken glass into the trash can I hear…
“Now that is a problem…”
I look up and see Buck’s son J-Mac frowning at me as if I had done something wrong. So I shoot him a grin and reply.
“The problem is not really a problem at all, its your attitude about the problem that is the problem, understand?”
J-Mac – did you really just quote Captain Jack Sparrow?
I grin at the teenager who was in part named after me and nod my head indicating that I had in fact done so.
Mac – Yessir I did, but the real problem is that you were supposed to have taken care of this yesterday, along with replacing the window as I recall.
I watch as the boy blushes a little and hangs his head staring at his shoes.
Mac – well?
A heavy sigh escapes J-Mac as he searches for the words to explain how he failed to take care of these simple things that his father had asked him to do. I know he is not a lazy boy, this kid works his tail off on this farm and in his school work. He’s a straight “A” student, Annabelle made sure of that. He finally raises his head and looks me in the eye.
J-Mac – I’ll go and get the tools and get the window replaced Uncle Mac, I’m sorry, I dropped the ball on this…
I lay a hand on his shoulder and smile at him.
Mac – Son, I’m not mad at you, we all make mistakes sometimes but your dad would be a little disappointed if he sees this hasn’t happened yet. He doesn’t ask much of any of us so I think we should go the extra mile for him don’t you?
The boy’s bottom lip firms up as he tries to keep it from trembling and nods his head and goes to the storage shed just off the house to get the tools to get it done. In a flash he is back and we begin working on getting the broken window repaired. After the window has been replaced J-Mac begins carrying the tools out to the shed again, and I reach into my pocket and pull out a wad of cash. I look at it for a moment and then over at the coffee can that the Gooch family keeps their savings in. I stuff the money back in my pocket as a thought occurs to me.
J-Mac – what are you thinking about so hard Uncle Mac?
I smile at the boy and respond.
Mac – I’m thinking that its nine a.m. and we haven’t had breakfast yet, that’s what I’m thinking.
The boy frowns as he ponders how to correct this problem and I just smile as the timer on the oven goes off startling him out of his deep thought.
Mac – Oh lookie there problem solved.
J-Mac smiles a huge grin and asks.
J-Mac – Cowboy casserole?
Mac – The one and only.
“Yeah, it’s the one and only dish he knows how to make.”
I look up as Buck walks in the front door with a huge smile on his face and we all laugh.
Mac – that’s not fair or true sir, I know how to make a great many things but you sir do not own a smoker.
Buck smiles as he face palms shaking his head laughing.
Buck – Oh right I forgot…Texas…smoked meat…I’m surprised your smoker isn’t on the way yet.
I flash him a smile, it’s good to see my cousin smiling and able to laugh. He hasn’t done very much of the that since Annabelle has been in the hospital. Buck looks at the window and down at the floor. He lays a hand on J-Mac’s shoulder and smiles warmly at the boy.
Buck – Thank you for sweeping up that mess and repairing the window son.
Before I can cover for the boy with his father, he smiles back at his dad and says…
J-Mac – I’m sorry Dad I dropped the ball and Uncle Mac helped me get everything done….
Bucks brow furrows in agitation but only briefly.
Buck – Son, its okay…we have all been distracted with your mom in the hospital. I’m proud of you for not letting your Uncle cover for you, because I know he would.
I wink at J-Mac before responding to Buck.
Mac – I don’t know what you are talking about sir. Me cover for a boy that was named in part after me? Why would I possibly do such a thing?
Buck laughs, he doesn’t want to but he cannot help himself, he has known his entire life that I am an ass but he likes me anyway…go figure. I go to the oven and pull out the cowboy casserole and set it on the stove. I pull out plates from the cabinet while Buck retrieves the forks from the drawer. We sit down to eat I look at them.
Mac – I don’t do dishes boys, so figure it out.
They laugh at the statement as if I’m kidding until I cross my arms across my chest and glare at them.
J-Mac – I’ll take care of it Uncle Mac.
I nod my head and hand him my plate as he clears the table.
Buck – that boy gives me a reason to be proud every day Mac, why is it that you never had any kids of your own. I know Annabelle was really disappointed when you and H….
I hold up my hand stopping the conversation.
Mac – Buck, I love you like a brother but please don’t say that name around me. I cannot talk about her just yet….but to answer your question bud, not many women who are not in this business can handle the lifestyle. We are on the road non-stop and it doesn’t leave a lot of time for family as you are starting to see. If it is meant to happen it will my friend, I’m not too worried about it, I mean after all I am still in my prime.
He grins at me knowing that I’m full of it, but he is respectful enough to know the scars from my last relationship have not healed and doesn’t want to press.
Mac – you packed up and ready to go? We should have enough time to swing by the hospital before our flight so you can check on Annabelle.
Buck – Yes, I just need to go grab my bags and we can leave.
Buck stands up from the table and says something softly to his son out of my hearing and then heads towards the back of the house to gather his bag. I stand up from the table and deposit my coffee cup in the sink.
Mac – take care of the place while your dad is gone, if anything happens you have my cell and Michael’s cell as well. If we cannot get here quickly Michael can, he is in Little Rock this weekend so you can call him if you need to. Do not allow yourself to get into a confrontation with the Joffrions while we are gone, we don’t have definite proof yet.
I pat the boy on the shoulder as Buck has reappeared and we grab our bags and head for the door…
Scene fades…
Not long ago I would have trashed a locker room after a loss like that, but things have changed and so have I. My neck and back still hurt after the pounding it took at the hands of Envikado, but what hurts me most I think is my pride. I have been in this business for a very long time and I have never turned my back on an opponent in my career. Envikado should savor this victory, because when we meet again you will find out exactly why other people call me The One-Man Wrecking Crew and why I tell people I didn’t give myself that name, I earned it from my enemies and yes you made the list good for you. But since you couldn’t manage to advance in the tag team tournament I think we should talk about a team that is relevant…The Dying Breed.
As Buck already said, yes I called Bailey a fraud. Hey I just call ‘em like I see ‘em. I myself have thrown some huge holiday parties but I don’t think the guest list was ever five thousand people and I know the cameras were never rolling so I could brag about it, and then say I wish the cameras weren’t rolling to try and make myself look humble. These are things his partner should worry about, trying to present yourself as something other than what you are is the first step in a downward spiral. If I were Jair I would be watching my back. If you choose to ignore my advice which is what I anticipate, that is on you but I hope you decide to listen because this was intended as just that friendly advice.
As for Mr. Bailey….you sir are nothing more than a pretender. Trying to suck all these fans into your little game of yours. I’m not buying whatever it is your trying to sell. You sir should come clean to these fans and your friends and just admit it. I know its difficult, for years I walked around in an Armani suit trying to be someone elses idea, someone elses vision of what Mac Bane should look like and talk like and they were nothing close to who I really am. Once I shed all of the b.s. and started being who I truly am, the fans came around and so did my peers. Being a former world champion you certainly have my respect but be prepared when you enter that ring against me. If you won’t come clean with the fans and your peers then The Sons of the South will expose you as the fraud you are in the ring. Doing it the other way is a lot less painful.
The bottom line here Dying Breed is that The Sons of the South are one win away from facing Deruty and Speed in the finals of this bracket so we can represent our brand and show the world why OverDrive drafted us so quickly. We have a lot of pride in our brand and why shouldn’t we? Some of the truly elite in this business are on OverDrive and the fact that we were selected by that brand so early in our career with APW swells our chest with pride but not our heads, we know we still have a lot to prove to many people here and in time we will show them all that The Sons of the South are the real deal. We respect your message Bailey but if you want people to believe in it things have to change. If you’re not a part of the solution, your part of the problem, choose wisely.
----
{Arkansas – Gooch Farm}
As I sit at the Gooch family table I see a lot of things left undone since Annabelle has been in the hospital. The sun shines through the broken window causing the shards of broken glass to glisten on the floor beckoning to me to do something about it so I do. I leave the coffee cup on the table and find the broom and dustpan and begin cleaning up the mess left behind by the attack on the Gooch home. As I dump the broken glass into the trash can I hear…
“Now that is a problem…”
I look up and see Buck’s son J-Mac frowning at me as if I had done something wrong. So I shoot him a grin and reply.
“The problem is not really a problem at all, its your attitude about the problem that is the problem, understand?”
J-Mac – did you really just quote Captain Jack Sparrow?
I grin at the teenager who was in part named after me and nod my head indicating that I had in fact done so.
Mac – Yessir I did, but the real problem is that you were supposed to have taken care of this yesterday, along with replacing the window as I recall.
I watch as the boy blushes a little and hangs his head staring at his shoes.
Mac – well?
A heavy sigh escapes J-Mac as he searches for the words to explain how he failed to take care of these simple things that his father had asked him to do. I know he is not a lazy boy, this kid works his tail off on this farm and in his school work. He’s a straight “A” student, Annabelle made sure of that. He finally raises his head and looks me in the eye.
J-Mac – I’ll go and get the tools and get the window replaced Uncle Mac, I’m sorry, I dropped the ball on this…
I lay a hand on his shoulder and smile at him.
Mac – Son, I’m not mad at you, we all make mistakes sometimes but your dad would be a little disappointed if he sees this hasn’t happened yet. He doesn’t ask much of any of us so I think we should go the extra mile for him don’t you?
The boy’s bottom lip firms up as he tries to keep it from trembling and nods his head and goes to the storage shed just off the house to get the tools to get it done. In a flash he is back and we begin working on getting the broken window repaired. After the window has been replaced J-Mac begins carrying the tools out to the shed again, and I reach into my pocket and pull out a wad of cash. I look at it for a moment and then over at the coffee can that the Gooch family keeps their savings in. I stuff the money back in my pocket as a thought occurs to me.
J-Mac – what are you thinking about so hard Uncle Mac?
I smile at the boy and respond.
Mac – I’m thinking that its nine a.m. and we haven’t had breakfast yet, that’s what I’m thinking.
The boy frowns as he ponders how to correct this problem and I just smile as the timer on the oven goes off startling him out of his deep thought.
Mac – Oh lookie there problem solved.
J-Mac smiles a huge grin and asks.
J-Mac – Cowboy casserole?
Mac – The one and only.
“Yeah, it’s the one and only dish he knows how to make.”
I look up as Buck walks in the front door with a huge smile on his face and we all laugh.
Mac – that’s not fair or true sir, I know how to make a great many things but you sir do not own a smoker.
Buck smiles as he face palms shaking his head laughing.
Buck – Oh right I forgot…Texas…smoked meat…I’m surprised your smoker isn’t on the way yet.
I flash him a smile, it’s good to see my cousin smiling and able to laugh. He hasn’t done very much of the that since Annabelle has been in the hospital. Buck looks at the window and down at the floor. He lays a hand on J-Mac’s shoulder and smiles warmly at the boy.
Buck – Thank you for sweeping up that mess and repairing the window son.
Before I can cover for the boy with his father, he smiles back at his dad and says…
J-Mac – I’m sorry Dad I dropped the ball and Uncle Mac helped me get everything done….
Bucks brow furrows in agitation but only briefly.
Buck – Son, its okay…we have all been distracted with your mom in the hospital. I’m proud of you for not letting your Uncle cover for you, because I know he would.
I wink at J-Mac before responding to Buck.
Mac – I don’t know what you are talking about sir. Me cover for a boy that was named in part after me? Why would I possibly do such a thing?
Buck laughs, he doesn’t want to but he cannot help himself, he has known his entire life that I am an ass but he likes me anyway…go figure. I go to the oven and pull out the cowboy casserole and set it on the stove. I pull out plates from the cabinet while Buck retrieves the forks from the drawer. We sit down to eat I look at them.
Mac – I don’t do dishes boys, so figure it out.
They laugh at the statement as if I’m kidding until I cross my arms across my chest and glare at them.
J-Mac – I’ll take care of it Uncle Mac.
I nod my head and hand him my plate as he clears the table.
Buck – that boy gives me a reason to be proud every day Mac, why is it that you never had any kids of your own. I know Annabelle was really disappointed when you and H….
I hold up my hand stopping the conversation.
Mac – Buck, I love you like a brother but please don’t say that name around me. I cannot talk about her just yet….but to answer your question bud, not many women who are not in this business can handle the lifestyle. We are on the road non-stop and it doesn’t leave a lot of time for family as you are starting to see. If it is meant to happen it will my friend, I’m not too worried about it, I mean after all I am still in my prime.
He grins at me knowing that I’m full of it, but he is respectful enough to know the scars from my last relationship have not healed and doesn’t want to press.
Mac – you packed up and ready to go? We should have enough time to swing by the hospital before our flight so you can check on Annabelle.
Buck – Yes, I just need to go grab my bags and we can leave.
Buck stands up from the table and says something softly to his son out of my hearing and then heads towards the back of the house to gather his bag. I stand up from the table and deposit my coffee cup in the sink.
Mac – take care of the place while your dad is gone, if anything happens you have my cell and Michael’s cell as well. If we cannot get here quickly Michael can, he is in Little Rock this weekend so you can call him if you need to. Do not allow yourself to get into a confrontation with the Joffrions while we are gone, we don’t have definite proof yet.
I pat the boy on the shoulder as Buck has reappeared and we grab our bags and head for the door…
Scene fades…
