Post by papapancho on Jun 3, 2013 10:49:55 GMT -4
The medic flashes the lights in front of my eyes. His voice sounds muted a little as if someone had turned the volume down. It takes awhile for his words to register.
“Can you hear me?” the medic asks. I nod my head in affirmation that I can hear him although it really isn’t that well. He informs me to follow his finger while he flashes the light in my eyes. “I need you to remember these words for me in this order. Apple, dog, win. Can you do that Yanzel?” Again I nod my head. The light hurts my head and the ringing in my ears hasn’t stopped. “Can you tell me where you are?”
“I’m in Portland Oregon.” He rattles off a few more questions asking me who the president is and what happened during the match. Those punks took the easy way out is what happened. But I can’t tell him that. Not if I want to pass this damn concussion test. “Now can you tell me what those words I asked you were?” I reply, “Apple. Dog. Uhhhhh ….” Shit. Maybe I’m worse for wear than I thought. I look away but word comes back to me just in time. “Win! That’s what it was. All I do is win win win no matter what … you know the song right?” My attempt at humor doesn’t diffuse the situation with him. “I’m concerned you might have a concussion. You might want to take it easy over the next couple of days. Keep that compressed it will keep the swelling down. He didn’t break the skin but you’re going to have a nasty bruise.”
“Is this going to keep me from competing?” My concern wasn’t with my own body. Money was always the underlying factor. It was important that I still be able to wrestle to make sure my family got the money. “The smart thing to do would be to take a week or two off and make sure you heal right.” Yanzel gets up wincing in pain as his head continues to throb. “Man I don’t have weeks. I don’t wrestle my kids don’t eat. Don’t do this to me man.” The medic turns away. His professional opinion clearly in opposition with Yanzel is asking him to do. “I’ll do it this ONE time. Your headaches continue or get worse and you need to do yourself a favor and bow out of whatever match they have planned for you. Otherwise your kids will miss much more than a meal.”
Yanzel shakes the medic’s hand. “You’re doing me a solid. I won’t forget it.”
*********
“Dad are you okay?”
It was Tuesday the day after Meltdown and Yanzel’s head hadn’t gotten any better. He had kept the shades drawn in his hotel room to keep the sun light out. His children’s shrieking voices were a mixed bag of emotions. Their high pitched squeals only made him suffer more but their laughter helped him push past the pain.
“Course your old man is okay. Nobody can hurt your dad.” I lied to them. No need for young children to see how fragile life really is. “That man hit you hard.” I laughed. Had to keep up appearances. “ Nana is always saying I’m hard headed. That man just proved your old man is a tough nut to crack. Now you boys are behaving right?” Now it was there turn to lie to me. “Of course Daddy! We always listen to nana.”
“Good that’s what I like to hear.” Cameron’s voiced jumped in. “Daddy are you coming home this week? We miss you!!” I wish I could boys. I wish I could come home after every show. “No you’re old man has to travel and train for his next match. But you best believe I’ll be missing you twice as much as you miss me.” It pained him to be away from his boys. He knew what it was like growing up without a father and he wanted to be there for them more than anything. Luckily Nana and Gramps had his back and were able to provide the parental guidance while Yanzel worked his butt off for. The children said their goodbyes. He had already talked to Nana before she had passed the phone and there was only one man left to talk to.
“Hello Sir.” His grandfather announced his presence on the phone with a firm breath escaping his nostrils. “Tell me what’s really going on son. I’ve stepped into the other room away from the boys and her. How’s that head?”
“Hurts like a son of a bitch, sir.” I replied to him. “Yeah I bet it does. But I’m not here to talk about your headache. Have you given any thought to what I talked about.” The last time the two men were in a room Grandpa had done all the talking and Yanzel had done all the listening. He had challenged Yanzel to stop being afraid in the ring. It was something Yanzel was very aware of and almost a conscious choice. Being afraid to Yanzel while costing him matches would ensure his career was prolonged. Grandpa saw it differently. Grandpa believed that if Yanzel allowed himself to be ruled by fear that it would do much more harm in the long run and ultimately end his career before it even began. The quiet on the line let Gramps know that Yanzel was still struggling with the question.
“Perfect example is what happened to you on Monday Night Yanzel. The Yanzel I know was an LAPD trained to apprehend weapons from attacking suspects. When that white boy came at you with that weapon the afraid Yanzel Holmes tried to cover his face and protect himself. But the Yanzel I know SHOULD have taken the damn thing from him. He would have disarmed him and gained a true victory. Instead you let yourself get clocked in the head. I told you that being scared was going to get you hurt son. Maybe that’s starting to sink in.” Yanzel wanted to speak up but couldn’t find the words. He knew his grandfather was right. He just didn’t know how to admit it to him.
“Now those bastards been sticking it to you since they got here for that same damn reason. They see that fear in you and they see easy pickings. Hell if I was them I would do the same damn thing myself. So you got to tell yourself Yanzel. You going to keep letting these Irish pricks walk all over you or are you going to do something about it?” Grandpa had a little extra pep in his voice today as he talked to Yanzel. Finally, Yanzel spoke back. “You remember how Stella got her groove back?” A cough was overheard on the other line as he responded, “Son if you’re going to convince me that your Angela Basset you’ve just now ruined one of my favorite fantasies.” Yanzel chuckled, “That’s not where I was going but I’m not sure Nana would appreciate herself being replaced by Angela Bassett. Sometimes in order to realize something, to realize it’s true worth, you’ve got to hold it in your hands and have it taken from you. Hitting me over the head and getting themselves disqualified was the worst thing those boys could have done. I had a small taste of victory and while it was more bitter than sweet; it was sweet enough to fire up an appetite. I’m not just coming for payback. I’m coming for victory.”
The two men shared a few more words before they hung up the phone. Grandpa Holmes for the first time felt the fire burning in his grandson. Maybe this career choice wasn’t going to be as hopeless as he had thought.
*********
*****The following was posted on www. YanzelHolmes.com *****
Before the days of Itunes and YouTube the best way to hear a song was to get yourself a slamming stereo system and the album CD. You’d play that thing with the volume turned up all the way to 11. But sometimes you play a CD long enough and the damn thing sticks. You’d be jamming to your favorite song and you know that hook is about come in like it has 1,000 time before but then your CD starts to skip. It drives you bonkers! It’s worked so many times before and now of all times it fails! Worst of all it teases you by playing that first line over and over.
Welcome to Sang Reál’s world. They jumped on the APW scene with a hot new track and got everyone to start talking about them. They had catchphrases, matching attire, and the skills to back it up. And who was the one man they made look like a fool in the process? Me. They attacked my family. They attacked my career. They labeled me a quitter and an insult to this company and this business. Man that track was hot!! It couldn’t stay on the shelves!! People were playing it loud as they could turned up to 11 and everything. But last week that track started to skip. That hook never came in. And what do you do to a CD that starts to skip in your stereo system? You smack it. Connor Murphy took a big piece of metal and smacked me over the head and let me admit this up front. The boy can swing pipe. It’s almost been a week and my head has been throwing a non-stop party. But hurt or not don’t let yourself be fooled. I will be at Meltdown to take on his “brother” Gabriel. It’s time for a new song because yours is overplayed. You guys are the definition of a broken record.
Do you have anything new to say? Does your brain allow you to retain new information? For the third time I will wrestle with a member of Sang Real and each time I get closer and closer to victory. You boys don’t want to admit but you guys are making me a better wrestler. Krown you’ve got the technical skills to run circles around me and in our first match you pretty much did. But I’ve learned since then. I’ve trained since then. I do what I always did as a boxer and a police officer. I learn, I adapt, I overcome.
Just because you say it the loudest and say it the most often doesn’t make it true. If I’m the quitter why was it you taking the easy way out and quitting in our tag team match last week? Did you not want the embarrassment of being pinned by me or Shadow? Nobody has time for any of your lies anymore. Last week in Portland you showed your true colors. The fear that I’ve been wrestling with I shared some with you and the truth is that you were frustrated and you wanted out of that tag team match. I’m done explaining my career to the both of you or why I made the choices that led me here. Neither of you two want to listen to my words so I’ll make you listen to my actions. You claim to love irony. I hope to share some irony with you when Gabriel Krown a man who wanted to paint me as a quitter reaches high in the air with his arm and taps me on the shoulder. Quitting in front of everyone in Oakland and on live television. After all, actions ALWAYS speak louder than words.
“Can you hear me?” the medic asks. I nod my head in affirmation that I can hear him although it really isn’t that well. He informs me to follow his finger while he flashes the light in my eyes. “I need you to remember these words for me in this order. Apple, dog, win. Can you do that Yanzel?” Again I nod my head. The light hurts my head and the ringing in my ears hasn’t stopped. “Can you tell me where you are?”
“I’m in Portland Oregon.” He rattles off a few more questions asking me who the president is and what happened during the match. Those punks took the easy way out is what happened. But I can’t tell him that. Not if I want to pass this damn concussion test. “Now can you tell me what those words I asked you were?” I reply, “Apple. Dog. Uhhhhh ….” Shit. Maybe I’m worse for wear than I thought. I look away but word comes back to me just in time. “Win! That’s what it was. All I do is win win win no matter what … you know the song right?” My attempt at humor doesn’t diffuse the situation with him. “I’m concerned you might have a concussion. You might want to take it easy over the next couple of days. Keep that compressed it will keep the swelling down. He didn’t break the skin but you’re going to have a nasty bruise.”
“Is this going to keep me from competing?” My concern wasn’t with my own body. Money was always the underlying factor. It was important that I still be able to wrestle to make sure my family got the money. “The smart thing to do would be to take a week or two off and make sure you heal right.” Yanzel gets up wincing in pain as his head continues to throb. “Man I don’t have weeks. I don’t wrestle my kids don’t eat. Don’t do this to me man.” The medic turns away. His professional opinion clearly in opposition with Yanzel is asking him to do. “I’ll do it this ONE time. Your headaches continue or get worse and you need to do yourself a favor and bow out of whatever match they have planned for you. Otherwise your kids will miss much more than a meal.”
Yanzel shakes the medic’s hand. “You’re doing me a solid. I won’t forget it.”
*********
“Dad are you okay?”
It was Tuesday the day after Meltdown and Yanzel’s head hadn’t gotten any better. He had kept the shades drawn in his hotel room to keep the sun light out. His children’s shrieking voices were a mixed bag of emotions. Their high pitched squeals only made him suffer more but their laughter helped him push past the pain.
“Course your old man is okay. Nobody can hurt your dad.” I lied to them. No need for young children to see how fragile life really is. “That man hit you hard.” I laughed. Had to keep up appearances. “ Nana is always saying I’m hard headed. That man just proved your old man is a tough nut to crack. Now you boys are behaving right?” Now it was there turn to lie to me. “Of course Daddy! We always listen to nana.”
“Good that’s what I like to hear.” Cameron’s voiced jumped in. “Daddy are you coming home this week? We miss you!!” I wish I could boys. I wish I could come home after every show. “No you’re old man has to travel and train for his next match. But you best believe I’ll be missing you twice as much as you miss me.” It pained him to be away from his boys. He knew what it was like growing up without a father and he wanted to be there for them more than anything. Luckily Nana and Gramps had his back and were able to provide the parental guidance while Yanzel worked his butt off for. The children said their goodbyes. He had already talked to Nana before she had passed the phone and there was only one man left to talk to.
“Hello Sir.” His grandfather announced his presence on the phone with a firm breath escaping his nostrils. “Tell me what’s really going on son. I’ve stepped into the other room away from the boys and her. How’s that head?”
“Hurts like a son of a bitch, sir.” I replied to him. “Yeah I bet it does. But I’m not here to talk about your headache. Have you given any thought to what I talked about.” The last time the two men were in a room Grandpa had done all the talking and Yanzel had done all the listening. He had challenged Yanzel to stop being afraid in the ring. It was something Yanzel was very aware of and almost a conscious choice. Being afraid to Yanzel while costing him matches would ensure his career was prolonged. Grandpa saw it differently. Grandpa believed that if Yanzel allowed himself to be ruled by fear that it would do much more harm in the long run and ultimately end his career before it even began. The quiet on the line let Gramps know that Yanzel was still struggling with the question.
“Perfect example is what happened to you on Monday Night Yanzel. The Yanzel I know was an LAPD trained to apprehend weapons from attacking suspects. When that white boy came at you with that weapon the afraid Yanzel Holmes tried to cover his face and protect himself. But the Yanzel I know SHOULD have taken the damn thing from him. He would have disarmed him and gained a true victory. Instead you let yourself get clocked in the head. I told you that being scared was going to get you hurt son. Maybe that’s starting to sink in.” Yanzel wanted to speak up but couldn’t find the words. He knew his grandfather was right. He just didn’t know how to admit it to him.
“Now those bastards been sticking it to you since they got here for that same damn reason. They see that fear in you and they see easy pickings. Hell if I was them I would do the same damn thing myself. So you got to tell yourself Yanzel. You going to keep letting these Irish pricks walk all over you or are you going to do something about it?” Grandpa had a little extra pep in his voice today as he talked to Yanzel. Finally, Yanzel spoke back. “You remember how Stella got her groove back?” A cough was overheard on the other line as he responded, “Son if you’re going to convince me that your Angela Basset you’ve just now ruined one of my favorite fantasies.” Yanzel chuckled, “That’s not where I was going but I’m not sure Nana would appreciate herself being replaced by Angela Bassett. Sometimes in order to realize something, to realize it’s true worth, you’ve got to hold it in your hands and have it taken from you. Hitting me over the head and getting themselves disqualified was the worst thing those boys could have done. I had a small taste of victory and while it was more bitter than sweet; it was sweet enough to fire up an appetite. I’m not just coming for payback. I’m coming for victory.”
The two men shared a few more words before they hung up the phone. Grandpa Holmes for the first time felt the fire burning in his grandson. Maybe this career choice wasn’t going to be as hopeless as he had thought.
*********
*****The following was posted on www. YanzelHolmes.com *****
Before the days of Itunes and YouTube the best way to hear a song was to get yourself a slamming stereo system and the album CD. You’d play that thing with the volume turned up all the way to 11. But sometimes you play a CD long enough and the damn thing sticks. You’d be jamming to your favorite song and you know that hook is about come in like it has 1,000 time before but then your CD starts to skip. It drives you bonkers! It’s worked so many times before and now of all times it fails! Worst of all it teases you by playing that first line over and over.
Welcome to Sang Reál’s world. They jumped on the APW scene with a hot new track and got everyone to start talking about them. They had catchphrases, matching attire, and the skills to back it up. And who was the one man they made look like a fool in the process? Me. They attacked my family. They attacked my career. They labeled me a quitter and an insult to this company and this business. Man that track was hot!! It couldn’t stay on the shelves!! People were playing it loud as they could turned up to 11 and everything. But last week that track started to skip. That hook never came in. And what do you do to a CD that starts to skip in your stereo system? You smack it. Connor Murphy took a big piece of metal and smacked me over the head and let me admit this up front. The boy can swing pipe. It’s almost been a week and my head has been throwing a non-stop party. But hurt or not don’t let yourself be fooled. I will be at Meltdown to take on his “brother” Gabriel. It’s time for a new song because yours is overplayed. You guys are the definition of a broken record.
Do you have anything new to say? Does your brain allow you to retain new information? For the third time I will wrestle with a member of Sang Real and each time I get closer and closer to victory. You boys don’t want to admit but you guys are making me a better wrestler. Krown you’ve got the technical skills to run circles around me and in our first match you pretty much did. But I’ve learned since then. I’ve trained since then. I do what I always did as a boxer and a police officer. I learn, I adapt, I overcome.
Just because you say it the loudest and say it the most often doesn’t make it true. If I’m the quitter why was it you taking the easy way out and quitting in our tag team match last week? Did you not want the embarrassment of being pinned by me or Shadow? Nobody has time for any of your lies anymore. Last week in Portland you showed your true colors. The fear that I’ve been wrestling with I shared some with you and the truth is that you were frustrated and you wanted out of that tag team match. I’m done explaining my career to the both of you or why I made the choices that led me here. Neither of you two want to listen to my words so I’ll make you listen to my actions. You claim to love irony. I hope to share some irony with you when Gabriel Krown a man who wanted to paint me as a quitter reaches high in the air with his arm and taps me on the shoulder. Quitting in front of everyone in Oakland and on live television. After all, actions ALWAYS speak louder than words.
