Post by Anthony Bailey on Dec 22, 2011 16:35:09 GMT -4
"You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime." The potent words of Hip Hop legend Marshall Mathers still resonate with me to this very day. They didn't make sense to a little twelve year old kid with virtually no life experience, but to a twenty-one year old young man who is on the narrow path to achieve particular aspirations that have plagued his imagination day and night for what seems like an eternity, it means everything. If Mr. Mathers was right and I only do receive one shot, I better make it count then right?
{{The scene opens to the beautiful and historic city of St. Augustine, Florida. Though a popular year round tourist attraction, the streets and sidewalks aren't as congested as normal. A remarkable but brief shot of the alluring Bridge of Lions is captured. The camera begins to slowly tilt downward and suddenly, Anthony "The Promise" Bailey appears on the screen facing the camera. He’s standing on a vacant sidewalk in front of a small, local business with his hands in the pockets of his gray and white Jordan hoodie. He is also clad in black jeans and gray and white Jordan sneakers. As he leans his back against the wall of the building, he begins to speak.}}
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: Well well well, what’s going on everybody? It’s kind of crazy how just one mere week ago; news of my signing with APW was made available to the public. A young man’s dream of becoming a professional wrestler had finally come true. I could have tried to keep it under wraps until my official in ring debut, but the news was just too good and too difficult to conceal like North Korea had attempted to do with the passing of Kim Jong Il. Countless friends and family shared in my rejoicing and called and text messaged to congratulate me on the new contract. But in the midst of celebration, reality set in….what the hell was I thinking? I mean was this what I truly wanted to make of my life? As soon as the doubt started to creep in, I snapped out of my delusional state and realized of course! Of course this is what I want to make of my life. Nobody has ever been a hindrance on me and my dreams, though they’ve attempted. So I sure did not come all this way to be my own impediment. How foolish would that be of me?
My experience here thus far has been all that I have expected it to be. Everybody backstage and behind the scenes have been treating me kindly and with respect. I expect things to remain that way, but would that be a false assumption? Am I just the optimistic new kid on the block? Only time will tell, but that’s just my nature. I’ve always been the type of guy to see the bright side to everything, even tragic situations. And really, how tragic could something really end up for me if I’m pursuing something that I’m so passionate about? I might be optimistic but I’m also a realist. I know for a fact that many hard times, ups and downs, and triumphs and defeats await me. But if that derailed me from my calling, then how bad did I really want to obtain the dream that I’ve labored so hard for?
That sort of reminds me of a few of my peers growing up in Tampa. A few of them went on to do something with their lives, but the rest? The rest had great goals and aspirations but no plans on how to execute them. The potential was great but unfortunately, it was never acted upon. Thank God that my plans were executed and that I’m standing here before you today. But don’t think that the “kid from the burbs” had it easy. It wasn’t a stroll through a flower field to get here. You think it was easy for me to look my mother in the face and tell her that I turned down a high salary job offer with a Fortune 500 company to pursue a career in professional wrestling? Especially after she had spent all that money on my education? That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do…and one of the riskiest too.
She’s cool with it now because it’s finally going somewhere, but with me having a college degree but no job and spending nearly five days a week volunteering for free with a local not for profit wrestling organization trying to “make it,” she was definitely not trying to hear that. But look where it all comes to a head at…on the first day of the brand new year in the city of New Orleans, I will be making my debut against the Overdrive Champion, Johnny Rebel. I’m honored because his match against Kurt Noble at Christmas Chaos had to be one of my favorite parts of the entire night. Do you now see why the lyrics to “Lose Yourself” were repeating over and over again in my head? This is a big deal for me. Even with this being a non-title match, the young guy with only amateur experience in this sport is taking on a veteran champion…can you feel the pressure coming at me from every side?
{{Bailey smiles and slightly chuckles.}}
I can’t lie though, I am thankful that I was placed in this match. Either this company has high hopes for me or they want to see me get squashed and made an example of. I’m feeling a mixture of emotions right about now, but remember the vow that I made last week? That gives me stability. I vowed to give my blood, sweat, and tears to this company and to this sport. No longer am I just a fan on the outside looking in and fantasizing about being where my favorite superstars are, but I am here. Johnny, I don’t know one thing about you but one thing that I do know and that I’m pretty sure of is my expectations of how you probably perceive me. You will underestimate me because to you, I’m just a rookie who has absolutely no hopes of winning and who still has tons of dues to pay. Call this speculation if you want, but I whole heartedly feel that that’s the angle you will come at me with. So I’m just doing you a minor favor and beating you to it.
I definitely have much respect for my elders, especially for the ones that trail blazed for dudes like me, but Johnny, expect an upset at Asylum. I have a whole lot more to lose going into this than you do, so I will do whatever it takes to come out victorious. That’s going to mean a few extra hours at the gym. That’s going to mean staying up late nights watching and studying some of your old matches. But this is what I signed up for so I am more than ready. I don’t want to get ahead of myself but I know that this match will be a challenge for me. I don’t want to rant about how Johnny Rebel might attempt to underestimate me and I unknowingly underestimate him in return. That would be such a cliché “rookie” mistake on my part. But a moment and an opportunity like this comes once in a lifetime and I’ll be damned if I don’t give it my all in that ring and make a great first impression. Bring you’re A game Johnny because I’ll be ready, more ready than you think I’ll be..…
{{Bailey pulls a black iPhone 4S out from one of his hoodie pockets and slightly squinting, glances at the front of it. He looks up and back into the camera.}}
Well it’s about that time ladies and gentlemen. I have to head out and meet up with a few friends in a little while to play some ball. I’m just trying to keep this cardio up and not become a sloth during the holidays, haha. But that does it for me, take care everybody…
{{Bailey flashes a smile and begins to walk in the opposite direction as the scene fades to black.}}
{{The scene opens to the beautiful and historic city of St. Augustine, Florida. Though a popular year round tourist attraction, the streets and sidewalks aren't as congested as normal. A remarkable but brief shot of the alluring Bridge of Lions is captured. The camera begins to slowly tilt downward and suddenly, Anthony "The Promise" Bailey appears on the screen facing the camera. He’s standing on a vacant sidewalk in front of a small, local business with his hands in the pockets of his gray and white Jordan hoodie. He is also clad in black jeans and gray and white Jordan sneakers. As he leans his back against the wall of the building, he begins to speak.}}
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: Well well well, what’s going on everybody? It’s kind of crazy how just one mere week ago; news of my signing with APW was made available to the public. A young man’s dream of becoming a professional wrestler had finally come true. I could have tried to keep it under wraps until my official in ring debut, but the news was just too good and too difficult to conceal like North Korea had attempted to do with the passing of Kim Jong Il. Countless friends and family shared in my rejoicing and called and text messaged to congratulate me on the new contract. But in the midst of celebration, reality set in….what the hell was I thinking? I mean was this what I truly wanted to make of my life? As soon as the doubt started to creep in, I snapped out of my delusional state and realized of course! Of course this is what I want to make of my life. Nobody has ever been a hindrance on me and my dreams, though they’ve attempted. So I sure did not come all this way to be my own impediment. How foolish would that be of me?
My experience here thus far has been all that I have expected it to be. Everybody backstage and behind the scenes have been treating me kindly and with respect. I expect things to remain that way, but would that be a false assumption? Am I just the optimistic new kid on the block? Only time will tell, but that’s just my nature. I’ve always been the type of guy to see the bright side to everything, even tragic situations. And really, how tragic could something really end up for me if I’m pursuing something that I’m so passionate about? I might be optimistic but I’m also a realist. I know for a fact that many hard times, ups and downs, and triumphs and defeats await me. But if that derailed me from my calling, then how bad did I really want to obtain the dream that I’ve labored so hard for?
That sort of reminds me of a few of my peers growing up in Tampa. A few of them went on to do something with their lives, but the rest? The rest had great goals and aspirations but no plans on how to execute them. The potential was great but unfortunately, it was never acted upon. Thank God that my plans were executed and that I’m standing here before you today. But don’t think that the “kid from the burbs” had it easy. It wasn’t a stroll through a flower field to get here. You think it was easy for me to look my mother in the face and tell her that I turned down a high salary job offer with a Fortune 500 company to pursue a career in professional wrestling? Especially after she had spent all that money on my education? That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do…and one of the riskiest too.
She’s cool with it now because it’s finally going somewhere, but with me having a college degree but no job and spending nearly five days a week volunteering for free with a local not for profit wrestling organization trying to “make it,” she was definitely not trying to hear that. But look where it all comes to a head at…on the first day of the brand new year in the city of New Orleans, I will be making my debut against the Overdrive Champion, Johnny Rebel. I’m honored because his match against Kurt Noble at Christmas Chaos had to be one of my favorite parts of the entire night. Do you now see why the lyrics to “Lose Yourself” were repeating over and over again in my head? This is a big deal for me. Even with this being a non-title match, the young guy with only amateur experience in this sport is taking on a veteran champion…can you feel the pressure coming at me from every side?
{{Bailey smiles and slightly chuckles.}}
I can’t lie though, I am thankful that I was placed in this match. Either this company has high hopes for me or they want to see me get squashed and made an example of. I’m feeling a mixture of emotions right about now, but remember the vow that I made last week? That gives me stability. I vowed to give my blood, sweat, and tears to this company and to this sport. No longer am I just a fan on the outside looking in and fantasizing about being where my favorite superstars are, but I am here. Johnny, I don’t know one thing about you but one thing that I do know and that I’m pretty sure of is my expectations of how you probably perceive me. You will underestimate me because to you, I’m just a rookie who has absolutely no hopes of winning and who still has tons of dues to pay. Call this speculation if you want, but I whole heartedly feel that that’s the angle you will come at me with. So I’m just doing you a minor favor and beating you to it.
I definitely have much respect for my elders, especially for the ones that trail blazed for dudes like me, but Johnny, expect an upset at Asylum. I have a whole lot more to lose going into this than you do, so I will do whatever it takes to come out victorious. That’s going to mean a few extra hours at the gym. That’s going to mean staying up late nights watching and studying some of your old matches. But this is what I signed up for so I am more than ready. I don’t want to get ahead of myself but I know that this match will be a challenge for me. I don’t want to rant about how Johnny Rebel might attempt to underestimate me and I unknowingly underestimate him in return. That would be such a cliché “rookie” mistake on my part. But a moment and an opportunity like this comes once in a lifetime and I’ll be damned if I don’t give it my all in that ring and make a great first impression. Bring you’re A game Johnny because I’ll be ready, more ready than you think I’ll be..…
{{Bailey pulls a black iPhone 4S out from one of his hoodie pockets and slightly squinting, glances at the front of it. He looks up and back into the camera.}}
Well it’s about that time ladies and gentlemen. I have to head out and meet up with a few friends in a little while to play some ball. I’m just trying to keep this cardio up and not become a sloth during the holidays, haha. But that does it for me, take care everybody…
{{Bailey flashes a smile and begins to walk in the opposite direction as the scene fades to black.}}
