Post by papapancho on Apr 7, 2013 4:38:50 GMT -4
In the Holmes household you never needed an alarm clock to wake yourself up. Nana’s cooking always did it for you. Like clockwork everyday at 7:00 am the smell of bacon, grits, eggs, and pancakes would fill the air depending on the day of the week. Yanzel Holmes eyes broke open on the couch bed he was sleeping in. It had been a year since he had lost the house due to growing debt and medical bills. His shoulder flared with pain as it did every morning. Shrapnel from the bullet was still lodged into his bone. The sudden stomping of feet down the stairs let everyone in the house know that the boys were awake.
“Daddy!”
Michael and Cameron jumped on their father who hadn’t even made it out of the bed yet. It didn’t matter how sore or how tired he was Yanzel always made sure to play with the boys. They jumped and giggled waiting for their father to throw them around like nothing. They loved knowing their father was big and strong and he loved showing off to them.
“Children! It is too early for this foolishness. Now go wash up and get ready for breakfast!”
She might be closer to seventy but when Nana Holmes gives you an order you followed it to the letter. Yanzel kissed his boys and told them to go upstairs and get ready. Lou Holmes, Yanzel’s grandfather, was already in the kitchen still reading his morning paper with his favorite batch of coffee. Yanzel strolled into the kitchen table after making and putting away his bed as Nana put a fresh cup of coffee down for him.
“So I hear you finally got word from APW?”
Lou Holmes spoke in a soft tone but being a retired Army veteran you knew from his demeanor that he was a man of respect. Yanzel drank his black coffee before replying to his grandfather.
“Yes sir. My agent let me know yesterday that the voucher for the airline ticket cleared and I’ll be heading off to Argentina.”
Nana let out a big sigh as she showed her displeasure with the idea that her grandson was going to enter the world of professional wrestling. The former Army man let out a grunt and that was enough to stop the coming rant.
“Yanzel we’ve always been proud of you. We’ll always continue to be. You do what needs to be done. A man always provides for his family. That’s what defines a man you know. It ain’t how strong he is or how fast his car goes. Does he put food on the table, clothes on the back, and a roof over the heads of the ones he loves? If he does then he’s a man.”
“I hear you grandpa. It’s not easy on me leaving the boys …”
“Then why leave them?”
“Woman hush up now.”
“Don’t you be telling me to hush up you old codger! You sitting there talking stoically about what a man is. A man is also there for his family. Flying halfway across the world to make a buck when he can get a good job here in the city.”
It wasn’t just about leaving his boys that bothered Nana Holmes. It was Yanzel putting himself in physical competition. Nana had a brother who was a boxer and while he enjoyed some success the damage the sport did to his body and mind left her with a bad taste about anything related to physical combat. Yanzel stood up from the kitchen and hugged his Nana.
“I know how you feel about this. But it’s not just about making enough money for the boys. The bills are still piling high. I don’t answer the phone anymore knowing it’s just debt collectors looking for money I don’t have. Then there’s the student loans, the hospital bills, and that’s not even bringing up what the boys cost. Wrestling … especially with a company as renowned as APW is a step in the fast lane in getting us out of that mountain of debt. We can’t live in your house forever. The boys are growing and that couch bed is killing my back with those springs. I need this Nana. We need this.”
She hugged Yanzel back. Ever since telling his family his decision it had been a constant battle between him and Nana. They were both right. Yanzel needed the money … but he also needed to be healthy enough to play with his kids.
“Just … promise me you won’t get hurt ….”
“I promise Nana.”
************************
In the garage Yanzel unwrapped his hands after working a heavy bag in the corner. His phone had gone off while he was training and it was a message from his agent.
Flight’s booked. You leave out of LAX in 2 days. First match you’re booked against Evan McDonald.
He put the phone back down and squeezed water into his mouth from his bottle. He took his headphones off and turned off his iPod as he turned on the TV and DVD set up in the garage. He had gotten into a habit of recording episodes of Meltdown knowing he would sign with the company soon. As a rookie he figured he would start out on that brand. A knock came at the door as Yanzel looked up to see his grandfather with a beer in each hand. He waved him in and took one of the beers twisting the cap open and taking a sip of a nice cold fresh one.
“What you looking at this time?”
“Just got the word from the agent. First guy I wrestle goes by the name of Evan McDonald. Figured I’d do some research know what the hell I’m exactly going against.”
“That him?”
“Yeah that’s him”
Yanzel has the March 11th episode of Meltdown playing as Evan McDonald is facing Jake Titan. Just as the two men are watching the match Evan pull’s on the ref’s shirt and delivers the mule kick low blow.
“See that ain’t right. Ain’t no reason to kick a man in the balls lest he done threatened yours.”
“Let’s me know what kind of man he is. He’s always looking to take the shortcut. Mean’s he’s not willing to work hard to get what he wants. Also lets me know to where a damn cup to the ring.”
They continue to watch the match noting styles, physiques, and weak points when the finish of the match approaches. Jake Titan reaches down into his tights pulling out a set of brass knucks to clobber McDonald and get the victory. Grandpa Holmes just shakes his head.
“Never understood the logic of that. Back in the day it used be these two right here. That was all a man needed. You won some and you lost some. But you lived. You lived to fight another day. Now everybody so desperate they pulling out weapons just for a cheap victory. That don’t earn you no respect. It’s cowardly. Don’t ever become a desperate man Yanzel. I know you’re in a bad spot right now. I know you got to fight out there to make that living. Don’t get me wrong. Stay hungry. Keep that fire going. But don’t ever become desperate.”
“ I know grandpa. I have to be a role model for the boys. I know Nana will try and stop them but the boys are going to watch my matches. I can’t afford to teach them to take shortcuts or go for cheap victories. I have to teach them about doing things the right way no matter how hard it gets.”
The two men clink their glasses bottles together and continue to watch the DVD’s together as Yanzel takes down notes.
*********************
The goodbyes were hard on the boys. They of course wanted to go with their father but this was a journey he had to take without them. He promised them after the 14 hour flight that he would call them as soon as he was checked in the hotel room. Lou and Nana were better but he could see that it killed them that he was leaving so far away. Such was the times that they lived in now. 4 hours into the flight Yanzel pulled out the laptop that his agent had loaned him from his office. In an effort to better market himself he had established a webpage for Yanzel to better promote himself. There was a section on the website that allowed him to express his thought about what was going on and/or his upcoming matches and opponents. With still more than eight hours to go in the flight Yanzel took away to typing away ….
*The following was posted Saturday April 6, 2013 on
Hello fans of Action Packed Wrestling! This is the freshest face on Monday Night Meltdown Yanzel Holmes trying to become your favorite Megastar. We live in a day men and women have to work two jobs just to make ends meets. Someone famous once coined the phrase “Hard Times” and man these are “Hard Times” indeed.
But that’s not something my opponent can relate to. You’d think “Hard Times” would be haunting Evan McDonald since he wasn’t won on Meltdown since February 18th. But if you hear him tell it he’s the most unstoppable force in the company. And do you know why Evan McDonald feels like that? Money. Money makes the world go round and in Evan’s case it makes him a king among men. He’s better than us. Why? Money. He’s more talented than us. Why? Money. You heard it from the horses’ mouth himself “Oh come on, did you really think someone with my wealth would be arrested?”
And you know he’s right. Rich people like him don’t get arrested unless they screw over bigger and richer people. I worked for the LAPD for three years and while there some good days … there were a lot of bad ones. Special treatment for special people. It’s all true. And it never stopped pissing me off. Evan McDonald you are absolutely right. In the real world you have nothing to worry about as long as you have that cold hard cash the world is your oyster. But not on Monday Night. Not against me it’s not. You’re money isn’t buying you out of wrestling me. You’re money isn’t going to buy you a set of balls to face me like a man. You’re money isn’t going to buy you the desire you need to match my intensity.
You’re too busy “sleeping with all the women” in a town in order to train properly. Of course not that you think you need training. I can’t tell what’s bigger your loss record or you’re ego. But I do know come Monday which is going to get bigger. The main difference between Evan McDonald and myself is Evan wrestles to pad his own resume and to self high five himself in the shower later. He doesn’t need this at all. More importantly he doesn’t want it. If he loses it’s no big deal, someone else’s fault, and goes home to sleep on a large pile of money to forget it all. My life is much different than that. I’m a blunt and honest man APW World so I’m laying the truth down right now in all its rawness. I get paid 1,000 dollars a week just to wrestle and if I was starting from scratch with a fresh start that would be enough to keep myself fed and clean. But I’m not just wrestling for me I’m wrestling for three. I’ve two wonderful twin boys named Michael and Cameron and they are counting on me to win. With every win comes a winner’s bonus. With every win comes school clothes for my boys, food for my boys, the lights to stay on for my boys. You ever had your lights turned off before Evan? Just sitting there in the dark knowing it’s your fault and there’s no one else to blame. Not to mention you can’t just sit there in the dark and cry because if you don’t get your ass up from that couch they’re never going to get turned back on. That’s what “Hard Times” are Evan. That’s what motivates a man like me. That’s what pushes a man like me in that ring. Does your ego allow you to comprehend this?
I doubt it. It’s a lesson I didn’t learn till everything was taken away from me. Now that I’m here on the bottom there’s only one way to go up. Win by win. Match by match. I’m climbing this company ladder. You Evan you’re my first rung. My family is counting on it. My kids count on it. So since you’re my first I’ll let you make the choice. I can knock you out, I can flatten you out or, my personal favorite, I can tap you out. You just let me know which.
Cause like Kanye and Jay-z said, “What’s a God to a non believer who don’t believe in anything?”
“Daddy!”
Michael and Cameron jumped on their father who hadn’t even made it out of the bed yet. It didn’t matter how sore or how tired he was Yanzel always made sure to play with the boys. They jumped and giggled waiting for their father to throw them around like nothing. They loved knowing their father was big and strong and he loved showing off to them.
“Children! It is too early for this foolishness. Now go wash up and get ready for breakfast!”
She might be closer to seventy but when Nana Holmes gives you an order you followed it to the letter. Yanzel kissed his boys and told them to go upstairs and get ready. Lou Holmes, Yanzel’s grandfather, was already in the kitchen still reading his morning paper with his favorite batch of coffee. Yanzel strolled into the kitchen table after making and putting away his bed as Nana put a fresh cup of coffee down for him.
“So I hear you finally got word from APW?”
Lou Holmes spoke in a soft tone but being a retired Army veteran you knew from his demeanor that he was a man of respect. Yanzel drank his black coffee before replying to his grandfather.
“Yes sir. My agent let me know yesterday that the voucher for the airline ticket cleared and I’ll be heading off to Argentina.”
Nana let out a big sigh as she showed her displeasure with the idea that her grandson was going to enter the world of professional wrestling. The former Army man let out a grunt and that was enough to stop the coming rant.
“Yanzel we’ve always been proud of you. We’ll always continue to be. You do what needs to be done. A man always provides for his family. That’s what defines a man you know. It ain’t how strong he is or how fast his car goes. Does he put food on the table, clothes on the back, and a roof over the heads of the ones he loves? If he does then he’s a man.”
“I hear you grandpa. It’s not easy on me leaving the boys …”
“Then why leave them?”
“Woman hush up now.”
“Don’t you be telling me to hush up you old codger! You sitting there talking stoically about what a man is. A man is also there for his family. Flying halfway across the world to make a buck when he can get a good job here in the city.”
It wasn’t just about leaving his boys that bothered Nana Holmes. It was Yanzel putting himself in physical competition. Nana had a brother who was a boxer and while he enjoyed some success the damage the sport did to his body and mind left her with a bad taste about anything related to physical combat. Yanzel stood up from the kitchen and hugged his Nana.
“I know how you feel about this. But it’s not just about making enough money for the boys. The bills are still piling high. I don’t answer the phone anymore knowing it’s just debt collectors looking for money I don’t have. Then there’s the student loans, the hospital bills, and that’s not even bringing up what the boys cost. Wrestling … especially with a company as renowned as APW is a step in the fast lane in getting us out of that mountain of debt. We can’t live in your house forever. The boys are growing and that couch bed is killing my back with those springs. I need this Nana. We need this.”
She hugged Yanzel back. Ever since telling his family his decision it had been a constant battle between him and Nana. They were both right. Yanzel needed the money … but he also needed to be healthy enough to play with his kids.
“Just … promise me you won’t get hurt ….”
“I promise Nana.”
************************
In the garage Yanzel unwrapped his hands after working a heavy bag in the corner. His phone had gone off while he was training and it was a message from his agent.
Flight’s booked. You leave out of LAX in 2 days. First match you’re booked against Evan McDonald.
He put the phone back down and squeezed water into his mouth from his bottle. He took his headphones off and turned off his iPod as he turned on the TV and DVD set up in the garage. He had gotten into a habit of recording episodes of Meltdown knowing he would sign with the company soon. As a rookie he figured he would start out on that brand. A knock came at the door as Yanzel looked up to see his grandfather with a beer in each hand. He waved him in and took one of the beers twisting the cap open and taking a sip of a nice cold fresh one.
“What you looking at this time?”
“Just got the word from the agent. First guy I wrestle goes by the name of Evan McDonald. Figured I’d do some research know what the hell I’m exactly going against.”
“That him?”
“Yeah that’s him”
Yanzel has the March 11th episode of Meltdown playing as Evan McDonald is facing Jake Titan. Just as the two men are watching the match Evan pull’s on the ref’s shirt and delivers the mule kick low blow.
“See that ain’t right. Ain’t no reason to kick a man in the balls lest he done threatened yours.”
“Let’s me know what kind of man he is. He’s always looking to take the shortcut. Mean’s he’s not willing to work hard to get what he wants. Also lets me know to where a damn cup to the ring.”
They continue to watch the match noting styles, physiques, and weak points when the finish of the match approaches. Jake Titan reaches down into his tights pulling out a set of brass knucks to clobber McDonald and get the victory. Grandpa Holmes just shakes his head.
“Never understood the logic of that. Back in the day it used be these two right here. That was all a man needed. You won some and you lost some. But you lived. You lived to fight another day. Now everybody so desperate they pulling out weapons just for a cheap victory. That don’t earn you no respect. It’s cowardly. Don’t ever become a desperate man Yanzel. I know you’re in a bad spot right now. I know you got to fight out there to make that living. Don’t get me wrong. Stay hungry. Keep that fire going. But don’t ever become desperate.”
“ I know grandpa. I have to be a role model for the boys. I know Nana will try and stop them but the boys are going to watch my matches. I can’t afford to teach them to take shortcuts or go for cheap victories. I have to teach them about doing things the right way no matter how hard it gets.”
The two men clink their glasses bottles together and continue to watch the DVD’s together as Yanzel takes down notes.
*********************
The goodbyes were hard on the boys. They of course wanted to go with their father but this was a journey he had to take without them. He promised them after the 14 hour flight that he would call them as soon as he was checked in the hotel room. Lou and Nana were better but he could see that it killed them that he was leaving so far away. Such was the times that they lived in now. 4 hours into the flight Yanzel pulled out the laptop that his agent had loaned him from his office. In an effort to better market himself he had established a webpage for Yanzel to better promote himself. There was a section on the website that allowed him to express his thought about what was going on and/or his upcoming matches and opponents. With still more than eight hours to go in the flight Yanzel took away to typing away ….
*The following was posted Saturday April 6, 2013 on
Hello fans of Action Packed Wrestling! This is the freshest face on Monday Night Meltdown Yanzel Holmes trying to become your favorite Megastar. We live in a day men and women have to work two jobs just to make ends meets. Someone famous once coined the phrase “Hard Times” and man these are “Hard Times” indeed.
But that’s not something my opponent can relate to. You’d think “Hard Times” would be haunting Evan McDonald since he wasn’t won on Meltdown since February 18th. But if you hear him tell it he’s the most unstoppable force in the company. And do you know why Evan McDonald feels like that? Money. Money makes the world go round and in Evan’s case it makes him a king among men. He’s better than us. Why? Money. He’s more talented than us. Why? Money. You heard it from the horses’ mouth himself “Oh come on, did you really think someone with my wealth would be arrested?”
And you know he’s right. Rich people like him don’t get arrested unless they screw over bigger and richer people. I worked for the LAPD for three years and while there some good days … there were a lot of bad ones. Special treatment for special people. It’s all true. And it never stopped pissing me off. Evan McDonald you are absolutely right. In the real world you have nothing to worry about as long as you have that cold hard cash the world is your oyster. But not on Monday Night. Not against me it’s not. You’re money isn’t buying you out of wrestling me. You’re money isn’t going to buy you a set of balls to face me like a man. You’re money isn’t going to buy you the desire you need to match my intensity.
You’re too busy “sleeping with all the women” in a town in order to train properly. Of course not that you think you need training. I can’t tell what’s bigger your loss record or you’re ego. But I do know come Monday which is going to get bigger. The main difference between Evan McDonald and myself is Evan wrestles to pad his own resume and to self high five himself in the shower later. He doesn’t need this at all. More importantly he doesn’t want it. If he loses it’s no big deal, someone else’s fault, and goes home to sleep on a large pile of money to forget it all. My life is much different than that. I’m a blunt and honest man APW World so I’m laying the truth down right now in all its rawness. I get paid 1,000 dollars a week just to wrestle and if I was starting from scratch with a fresh start that would be enough to keep myself fed and clean. But I’m not just wrestling for me I’m wrestling for three. I’ve two wonderful twin boys named Michael and Cameron and they are counting on me to win. With every win comes a winner’s bonus. With every win comes school clothes for my boys, food for my boys, the lights to stay on for my boys. You ever had your lights turned off before Evan? Just sitting there in the dark knowing it’s your fault and there’s no one else to blame. Not to mention you can’t just sit there in the dark and cry because if you don’t get your ass up from that couch they’re never going to get turned back on. That’s what “Hard Times” are Evan. That’s what motivates a man like me. That’s what pushes a man like me in that ring. Does your ego allow you to comprehend this?
I doubt it. It’s a lesson I didn’t learn till everything was taken away from me. Now that I’m here on the bottom there’s only one way to go up. Win by win. Match by match. I’m climbing this company ladder. You Evan you’re my first rung. My family is counting on it. My kids count on it. So since you’re my first I’ll let you make the choice. I can knock you out, I can flatten you out or, my personal favorite, I can tap you out. You just let me know which.
Cause like Kanye and Jay-z said, “What’s a God to a non believer who don’t believe in anything?”
