Post by Drew Stevenson on Jun 19, 2017 17:40:33 GMT -6
Silence fills the air as Stevenson sits in the back, all by himself, with his head positioned up against the wall. Having just suffered another defeat, his second in two weeks since returning to the wrestling world, he is in deep thought as he can't put a finger on why he can't seem to end matches. Running his hand through his wet hair, he reaches over grabbing a white towel out of his gym bag and begins to wipe himself down when out of nowhere, his phone begins to ring. Reaching into his bag, he pulls his iPhone out and answers the call, an exhausted and disappointed tone easily heard in his voice.
“Hey Mark, what's going on?”
Putting the phone on speaker, he sets it down on the bench and begins to tear the tape away from his hands.
“The more important question is, how are you doing? I just caught Prime and tough loss man.”
Taking in a deep breath, trying to swallow that bitter pill, he continues tearing the tape off of his hands while responding.
“Yeah… It really was. The last couple of weeks have been tough losses. Definitely not the way I envisioned my return going, especially after being so dominant elsewhere right before I left for a month. You know Mark, this is the first time in my eleven year career where I have gone zero and two upon a return.”
Tearing a large chunk of tape off of his right hand, he tosses it into the trash and simply listens.
“Yeah, I know that but answer me this, what are you going to do about it? Everyone and I do mean EVERYONE has a funk in the business eventually, even you, but it's how you plan to go about it that will define you; you know?”
Not wasting any time, he responds to his best friend.
“I do know, yes! I’m not going to make any excuses as to why I lost because there's none to make. What worries me the most Mark is, what if I’m trying to clutch onto a legacy that I should have let rest, you know? It's like… I have lost my edge and I’m concerned that I’ll hang on too long and tarnish the legacy that I busted my ass to build.
You know how this industry is man, two losses after returning and all of the critics, as well as your peers are the first to judge you. I just don't know man…”
After removing all of the tape from off of his right hand, he places them down on the top of his legs and grows quiet. Taking in several more deep breaths while looking down at the cold, tiled floor, he listens as Mark speaks again.
“... Well here's the thing man, screw what the critics think, okay? You have BUSTED YOUR ASS for this industry and have sacrificed more than most, hell, if not anyone else here. Two losses won’t tarnish an eleven year legacy, especially when that person has so much love and passion for the sport that he STILL takes losses this hard after so many years.
I admire you Drew, I really do and don't let those losses affect you. You have a match coming up in Michigan, stay hungry, focused and go rip that victory away from her, you hear me?”
Nodding his head, a very serious demeanor is seen expressed on his face.
“I do, yes and hey, thank you man; I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime man and if you need ANYTHING at all, you know where to find me.”
“I do and thank you again.”
“It's my pleasure!”
With that, both men hang up. Picking up his iPhone from off of the wooden bench, he tosses it back into his bag and then rises to his feet, hitting the showers with a clear mind and conscious.
“Hey Mark, what's going on?”
Putting the phone on speaker, he sets it down on the bench and begins to tear the tape away from his hands.
“The more important question is, how are you doing? I just caught Prime and tough loss man.”
Taking in a deep breath, trying to swallow that bitter pill, he continues tearing the tape off of his hands while responding.
“Yeah… It really was. The last couple of weeks have been tough losses. Definitely not the way I envisioned my return going, especially after being so dominant elsewhere right before I left for a month. You know Mark, this is the first time in my eleven year career where I have gone zero and two upon a return.”
Tearing a large chunk of tape off of his right hand, he tosses it into the trash and simply listens.
“Yeah, I know that but answer me this, what are you going to do about it? Everyone and I do mean EVERYONE has a funk in the business eventually, even you, but it's how you plan to go about it that will define you; you know?”
Not wasting any time, he responds to his best friend.
“I do know, yes! I’m not going to make any excuses as to why I lost because there's none to make. What worries me the most Mark is, what if I’m trying to clutch onto a legacy that I should have let rest, you know? It's like… I have lost my edge and I’m concerned that I’ll hang on too long and tarnish the legacy that I busted my ass to build.
You know how this industry is man, two losses after returning and all of the critics, as well as your peers are the first to judge you. I just don't know man…”
After removing all of the tape from off of his right hand, he places them down on the top of his legs and grows quiet. Taking in several more deep breaths while looking down at the cold, tiled floor, he listens as Mark speaks again.
“... Well here's the thing man, screw what the critics think, okay? You have BUSTED YOUR ASS for this industry and have sacrificed more than most, hell, if not anyone else here. Two losses won’t tarnish an eleven year legacy, especially when that person has so much love and passion for the sport that he STILL takes losses this hard after so many years.
I admire you Drew, I really do and don't let those losses affect you. You have a match coming up in Michigan, stay hungry, focused and go rip that victory away from her, you hear me?”
Nodding his head, a very serious demeanor is seen expressed on his face.
“I do, yes and hey, thank you man; I really appreciate it.”
“Anytime man and if you need ANYTHING at all, you know where to find me.”
“I do and thank you again.”
“It's my pleasure!”
With that, both men hang up. Picking up his iPhone from off of the wooden bench, he tosses it back into his bag and then rises to his feet, hitting the showers with a clear mind and conscious.
