Post by Jair Hopkins on Dec 8, 2013 16:17:12 GMT -5
“...Yeah, I swear shit just started clicking dog
You know it's real when you are who you think you are.”
Drake – “Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2”
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“Damn boy, you don’t look right. You look unhappy as Sugar-Honey-Ice-Tea!”
Yeah, I’m fine, fine as the black ice that I’ve been slipping on for far too long. It’s evident on my face, my body motion.
The dots aren’t connecting as strong as I expected.
I SHOULD be killing it. I SHOULD be killing this game of ‘Hungry Hippos’. I ain’t killing anything but time. Lackluster at best. This is how strong the bond between me and Anthony is. He sees my diminished efforts and for what many saw us losing to Aubrey J. Parker and Ash Scion, he picked up the speed and took over, making it look seamless. Effortless.
“It’s no problem, bro. We’re family. You would pick up the pieces for me if I was feeling down and out. I got you.” -- Anthony Bailey.
I know right? As much as I appreciate your amazing ability to deal with heavy workloads and pick up my ‘slack’, I should be motivated to kill Aubrey and put her six feet below. All the cruel shit, the backtalk, all that I’ve endured from her since my time in, she needs my hands upside her face, giving her a renewed facial.
I’m still getting used to this “new life”. This new adventure, the journey to see where it all goes. It’s lopsided, crooked, completely screwed up -- a ‘messed pants’ rollercoaster for real. But I got plans, plans to change this awful script and return to what worked.
Shit gon’ change for the better this week. It’s me against three others. A familiar foe. As always (and it will never cease), Hopkins versus the Universe.
Don’t worry, I’m returning to my roots. I’m coming back home.
Sitting on the warm, metal bench, the palm of my hands grasping the steady, bouncing basketball. A few minutes of shooting with these new Adidas kicks, a bit of a ‘warm-up’. I needed to get my mind off reality for a bit. The pressure, the stress, it was getting to a point where the “Pause” button was definitely in need.
A game of hoops alone. I always dove into these thoughts when I grabbed along the basketball, gripped tightly as I bounce it. At the age of ten, a lot of dreams were in the building stages. Football, basketball was where I wanted be.
Neither have been accomplished. Elementary, Junior High, a small start then ... bleh, it faded quicker than cigarette smoke. My wants and desires in the world all went to the bottom of the ocean. Life got real when Spaghetti-O’s were the only thing in the pantry. I quickly learned the word hustle. It’s been apart of me ever since. No one knows but they all are learning the “Secret Life of Hopkins” quicker than expected. They’ve watched the hustle, from the bottom to the mid and then to the top. Then from the top, to the mid and back to the bottom. Some left, some stayed.
The money, the fame, the attention grew thicker and I guess they thought while Anthony Bailey is keeping his promise alive, his fellow mate, Hopkins went from “great” to pathetic.
Nah... Nothing like that, but my mind took a quick re-route and here I am, in this ball court, looking to get it back on the right route. I didn’t want to return to that rehab facility, need to keep it all on a straight line and not completely fall off.
“Back to work...”
Quickly dousing myself down with the bottle of warm-piss ‘Dasani water over my head, I was back to work as the swoosh of the ‘weather-scorched’ net sounded with the ball going through it cleanly with the step-back jumper.
“Clean as a whistle. My ‘stepback’ still on point. The only thing that seems on point, lately.” Speaking to myself as I shook my head, picking the ball back up, palming it and bouncing it.
“You too hard on yourself, J’. Step back, take it easy. One step at a time.”
In the midst of my body motion, readying for the next shot, the familiar voice came into the scene, causing me to drop focus and turn my attention behind me to which it was Bailey with that smirk of his.
“Bailey ... What’s up, man? How you know I was here?”
He spun his keyring around his index as he stood in his sweatshirt and sweatpants. Looking around the course of the basketball court, he looked back at me.
“I guess when you are around a person for quite a while, you and that person’s brain sync. You begin to think what they think, see what they see and hear what they hear. I figured you’d be here to get some time to yourself. It’s been quite a rough transition still for you.”
Nodding damn near as soon as he finished, I dropped my head.
“No lie!” i said with a short laugh. “I guess it just take a little more time than average. Most are over it and onto the next. Some just get stuck in the mud.”
Bailey nodded, understanding the issues that I’ve been going through.
“Seattle is new. I know nothing about it. I haven’t even been out to experience it enough. NFL season almost over with. College football season almost over with. The nightlife scene, I don’t even know. It’s Seattle. They made a movie called ‘Sleepless In Seattle’. I’ve been sleeping since I arrived, haha.”
“Don’t sleep on it, so far, so good! You need to just relax, stop worrying and let yourself go on auto-pilot for a bit. Take flight.” Bailey said as he motioned with his hand, a plane taking off.
“Yeah, it’ll come. I just gotta’ shake things off and get back to my roots. Back to that respectable level. You wanna ‘hoop’ with me?”
Asking Bailey that, he turned on that smirk again as he pondered the thought before shaking his head.
“I still remember the last time we took it at each other. Mann, that took a toll. Definitely a good workout but today, I’m all for the rest. Wanna go grab lunch? My treat!”
At first, turning it down sounded like a great option but second thought led to that first thought being a stupid option. I wasn’t hungry, but grieving over the past, feeling pity for what is now past wasn’t going to help me. I needed to do as said, relax, let go of steering wheel and just let things operate on it’s own. Lunch it was with the homie.
The pounding of the basketball against the pavement stopped as it went into my armpits, tightly held as I traveled to Bailey’s ride, ready for the nice meal. I needed to experience Seattle a bit more than usual.
Coldest of mornings, from what was a beautiful day yesterday. Treating Bailey to a warm cup of Starbucks. It was only right for the cool ass ‘brunch’ he treated me to yesterday.
It wasn’t too overly crowded as I expected, which was odd. We sat at the table as the big screen showed the latest of the sports news on the network. It was always good times hanging out with my brother. Many can’t do it, but it never hurts the chemistry, it only strengthens the bond. Our bond was thicker than Molasses, but more never hurts.
“Thanks for the warm-up here!” Bailey said as he just sat there, inhaling the aroma.
“Man, you know it’s not a problem! I needed to give thanks for that ‘brunch’ you treated me to. I was about five seconds away from making a bad decision in not accepting that deal.” I replied, shaking my head at those thoughts of yesterday when we were at the ball court. It would’ve been a silly-ass decision to not grab up on lunch.
“I need this injection of caffeine, my senses are going off and it’s only Wednesday. Guess worrying about Monday’s dilemma. What was a three-way is now a fatal-four way. Shit!” I lowered my head as I felt like a person inside of a pressure cooker.
“Yeah, I saw. You’ll do fine, man. Don’t let it worry you!” Bailey sounding like a Morgan Freeman drone with the calmness that sat in his voice.
“You soundin’ realll calm right now, Ant!” I said with a smirk.
“Take it like this, J’. This is the best time for you. You’re down, most are voting against you. You get to show them that you still have it. They are against you but soon as you get the momentum, they’ll be back.”
He gave a pause.
“The bandwagoners will always fall off after their “current favorite” begins to lose. You still have a strong base behind you. Just focus, do you and the rest will settle in place. It’s stiff competition, having someone like Ash Scion in your face again, but just compose yourself. You know what to do.” Bailey said as I nodded.
“Yeah, I guess I needed a “Get Me Back To Reality” speech. I get the chance to prove the critics wrong. I got a little homesick, ya’ know? The pressure of a new audience, trying to do more than enough and losing out at the same damn time. I just gotta keep it simple. Simple is what got us here. The Dying Breed. Doing things the way they suppose to be done.”
Bailey showed that wide smile as he nodded.
“Right on! One step at a time. We both coming in to this week well-rested with having last week off. Big battles in our face. I got Joe Martinez, you got a fatal four. I consider that healthy ‘wake up call’ for us to get back on the ball whether as one force or in singles.”
“I feel you. Things will return to the norm. It’s still early. Get these kinks out the way and return to prime form. Man, thanks a lot! Definitely what I needed!” I said as I took a nice swig out of the Starbucks cup, taking in both the smell, the taste and the feel of warmth running down my throat.
As we both indulged into the heavy aroma with our eyes closed, the hearing of stampeding feet grew closer and closer as ecstatic cheers caused for our eyes to open wide, seeing two ‘bundled-up’ beuaties standing in front of us with picture-perfect smiles. I looked at Bailey as he looked at me. We were both grinning.
“Yes ladies, what’s up?”
They were on another level in the caffeine department as they were jumping for joy, hearing me speak.
“We are like ... two of your biggest fans and like, I know you both have a huge fanbase, we are two of your biggest. From the beginning to right now... oh my friggin’ GODDD!!!!”
“You have to excuse my friend, she is off the Richter Scale this morning. We’re big fans of yours. We weren’t expecting to run into you but we were wondering if we could get a photo with you two?”
“Not a problem at all. We love our fan base. We wouldn’t be here without them, getting the standing ovations every time we come out. We appreciate that kind of love. Pictures is no problem!”
We both stood up away from our cups as one of the girls got the camera out and asked a random to take the picture. The guy took the camera as the two chicks lined up in between us. Full of smiles, the camera flashed and snapped.
“This is so awesome right now. I feel numb!” The ecstatic girl said as she fell back, nearly falling down. Her friend grabbed her, keeping her upright.
“Thank you so much, we appreciate you doing that for us.” The calmed one of the duo of women said as she gave her friend a stern look to chill out.
“Oh no problem at all! I was just telling Jair here. He’s been a bit down on himself, he needed a pick-me-up and I was telling him don’t worry about if the fans will leave his side. The true fans never leave. When you rise back to the top, the bandwagoners will hop back on.”
“That’s for damn sure! Don’t worry about the real TDB fans. We are behind you two one-hunnid’ percent! Ya’ll both will be riding in victory lane this week. Joe Martinez got nothing on you Bailey. Ash Scion and those other goons have nothing on you either, J-Hop! Keep fighting hard, that’s all!”
I nodded my head, remaining quiet as we had sat back down. I took another sip out of the cup as I swirled the little spoon around that was served on the side, stirring up the mocha.
“Thanks for the words of inspiration. Really needed that. Things will change for the better this week, sure nuff’.” I said, trying to keep from getting too damn confident.
“Thanks again, guys. See you Monday night!” The calmed one said again as she and her ‘hypered’ friend were off to the races surely to get that photo out and printed.
I looked at Bailey as I held my hand out, looking to shake his.
“Thanks fam’. I don’t know why my mind went there, but thank you for getting me back on track.”
“Family watches out for each other. No problem!”
After dapping fists, we grew silent from that point as we look to finish our beverage before the chill would get to it. The scene faded on out.
----------------------------------------
A week off and damn, coming back, you’re in a hard place again. Three sets of eyes that are heavily staring on you. Two who are newcomers to the company, looking to aim high, hit it right to start their careers here on the highest of notes. The other set of eyes who wants to avenge a painful defeat two weeks ago. All eyes on me ala Tupac.
This is an opportunity for me too.
I’ve been cold as hell. Ice cold. I need this, I need to get hot again. PURE hasn’t fully seen the real ‘Jair Hopkins’. This is the time, the moment, the spot to make the name stand out. I want to see Ash Scion go fuckin’ bananas and do some ill-wicked shit. The newcomers, as I share their pain, the feel of being the rook’, trying to fit in and make a name, it’s hard but don’t lower your heads, keep them raised. You’ll feel the glory, the success, the magnificent ‘Skittle’ rainbows. You’ll witness it all one day, but today.
No-No-No, Not Today!!! [Mutumbo Finger-wave]
You’ll get your chance to shine, but this victory is however mines. It sounds stupid to hear me say that out loud now but come Monday night in the Key Arena, things are going to sound so much clearer and you’ll understand why I said that. You’ll witness that statement being the absolute truth.
If there was ever a top twenty-five ranking system, I’d be 27. Off the grid. Out of sight, pretty much out of mind. No one cares about this dude’s struggle to contain momentum and balance. All they want to see is their favorite superstar win like they know he can. This slump isn’t new to them, they’ve seen him go in and out to only in the end, come back to true form. The same can be said for this trip. The surroundings is new but the person isn’t. They know how hard he ball, falling through tables, through ladders, jacked all the fuck up but steady fighting because it was all about doing his best to keep his head afloat and keep the battle going for him and his partner.
It’s “Four, The Hard Way”, I feel that I’m back both mentally and physically, despite the rumors around the web. I’m healthy. Take it like this, I’m overcoming the last of a hangover. What those three have seen thus far out of me, don’t look at it, study it and think you’re on to something. No one can be under-estimated in this contest. Ash Scion, of course is indeed the Tiger here, looking to feed off the unblessed souls of myself, Drexel and Jackpot but she even knows it, that no one can be underestimated.
In the end of it all, this match is in my hands to lose. If I stay the course, keep focus and take over the ring, the battle is won. If I don’t, then I’m just in another desperate fucking hole, eh? Same words, beliefs for next week’s matchup. I plan on changing a few people’s opinions this week one way or the other. Ash so far has been considered by some, one who quickly garnered high expectations only to fall low beyond that high tide line. She’s got something to prove as well. The struggle is no joke, the talent here in PURE is exceptional.
Some people still think of me as a tag-specialist only. Not a very good singles competitor. Got heart, but the skills are below average. I proved them wrong once before. Many think I need my ‘partner in crime’ to succeed with standing in “Winner’s Lane”. Nah, I don’t need it. We both are capable of greatness on our own. He did it plenty of times, people still consider Bailey as a tag-team guy only. I did it at the end of APW’s run as well, yet here the chatter resumes. You know what, no more words. Mouth is shut, fists are up...
The end result, they will all understand.
I want to feel that warmth again, the sun shining bright on my forehead. The sweat dripping down my face. The spotlight shining brightly on me. That’s what I want. That’s what I aiming to achieve, getting that needed tan.
You know it's real when you are who you think you are.”
Drake – “Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2”
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“Damn boy, you don’t look right. You look unhappy as Sugar-Honey-Ice-Tea!”
Yeah, I’m fine, fine as the black ice that I’ve been slipping on for far too long. It’s evident on my face, my body motion.
The dots aren’t connecting as strong as I expected.
I SHOULD be killing it. I SHOULD be killing this game of ‘Hungry Hippos’. I ain’t killing anything but time. Lackluster at best. This is how strong the bond between me and Anthony is. He sees my diminished efforts and for what many saw us losing to Aubrey J. Parker and Ash Scion, he picked up the speed and took over, making it look seamless. Effortless.
“It’s no problem, bro. We’re family. You would pick up the pieces for me if I was feeling down and out. I got you.” -- Anthony Bailey.
I know right? As much as I appreciate your amazing ability to deal with heavy workloads and pick up my ‘slack’, I should be motivated to kill Aubrey and put her six feet below. All the cruel shit, the backtalk, all that I’ve endured from her since my time in, she needs my hands upside her face, giving her a renewed facial.
I’m still getting used to this “new life”. This new adventure, the journey to see where it all goes. It’s lopsided, crooked, completely screwed up -- a ‘messed pants’ rollercoaster for real. But I got plans, plans to change this awful script and return to what worked.
Shit gon’ change for the better this week. It’s me against three others. A familiar foe. As always (and it will never cease), Hopkins versus the Universe.
Don’t worry, I’m returning to my roots. I’m coming back home.
-- SHAKE IT OFF
Wednesday Dec. 4 2013
1:36 PM
Wednesday Dec. 4 2013
1:36 PM
Sitting on the warm, metal bench, the palm of my hands grasping the steady, bouncing basketball. A few minutes of shooting with these new Adidas kicks, a bit of a ‘warm-up’. I needed to get my mind off reality for a bit. The pressure, the stress, it was getting to a point where the “Pause” button was definitely in need.
A game of hoops alone. I always dove into these thoughts when I grabbed along the basketball, gripped tightly as I bounce it. At the age of ten, a lot of dreams were in the building stages. Football, basketball was where I wanted be.
Neither have been accomplished. Elementary, Junior High, a small start then ... bleh, it faded quicker than cigarette smoke. My wants and desires in the world all went to the bottom of the ocean. Life got real when Spaghetti-O’s were the only thing in the pantry. I quickly learned the word hustle. It’s been apart of me ever since. No one knows but they all are learning the “Secret Life of Hopkins” quicker than expected. They’ve watched the hustle, from the bottom to the mid and then to the top. Then from the top, to the mid and back to the bottom. Some left, some stayed.
The money, the fame, the attention grew thicker and I guess they thought while Anthony Bailey is keeping his promise alive, his fellow mate, Hopkins went from “great” to pathetic.
Nah... Nothing like that, but my mind took a quick re-route and here I am, in this ball court, looking to get it back on the right route. I didn’t want to return to that rehab facility, need to keep it all on a straight line and not completely fall off.
“Back to work...”
Quickly dousing myself down with the bottle of warm-piss ‘Dasani water over my head, I was back to work as the swoosh of the ‘weather-scorched’ net sounded with the ball going through it cleanly with the step-back jumper.
“Clean as a whistle. My ‘stepback’ still on point. The only thing that seems on point, lately.” Speaking to myself as I shook my head, picking the ball back up, palming it and bouncing it.
“You too hard on yourself, J’. Step back, take it easy. One step at a time.”
In the midst of my body motion, readying for the next shot, the familiar voice came into the scene, causing me to drop focus and turn my attention behind me to which it was Bailey with that smirk of his.
“Bailey ... What’s up, man? How you know I was here?”
He spun his keyring around his index as he stood in his sweatshirt and sweatpants. Looking around the course of the basketball court, he looked back at me.
“I guess when you are around a person for quite a while, you and that person’s brain sync. You begin to think what they think, see what they see and hear what they hear. I figured you’d be here to get some time to yourself. It’s been quite a rough transition still for you.”
Nodding damn near as soon as he finished, I dropped my head.
“No lie!” i said with a short laugh. “I guess it just take a little more time than average. Most are over it and onto the next. Some just get stuck in the mud.”
Bailey nodded, understanding the issues that I’ve been going through.
“Seattle is new. I know nothing about it. I haven’t even been out to experience it enough. NFL season almost over with. College football season almost over with. The nightlife scene, I don’t even know. It’s Seattle. They made a movie called ‘Sleepless In Seattle’. I’ve been sleeping since I arrived, haha.”
“Don’t sleep on it, so far, so good! You need to just relax, stop worrying and let yourself go on auto-pilot for a bit. Take flight.” Bailey said as he motioned with his hand, a plane taking off.
“Yeah, it’ll come. I just gotta’ shake things off and get back to my roots. Back to that respectable level. You wanna ‘hoop’ with me?”
Asking Bailey that, he turned on that smirk again as he pondered the thought before shaking his head.
“I still remember the last time we took it at each other. Mann, that took a toll. Definitely a good workout but today, I’m all for the rest. Wanna go grab lunch? My treat!”
At first, turning it down sounded like a great option but second thought led to that first thought being a stupid option. I wasn’t hungry, but grieving over the past, feeling pity for what is now past wasn’t going to help me. I needed to do as said, relax, let go of steering wheel and just let things operate on it’s own. Lunch it was with the homie.
The pounding of the basketball against the pavement stopped as it went into my armpits, tightly held as I traveled to Bailey’s ride, ready for the nice meal. I needed to experience Seattle a bit more than usual.
-- STARBUCKS
Wednesday Dec. 5 2013
09:24 AM
Wednesday Dec. 5 2013
09:24 AM
Coldest of mornings, from what was a beautiful day yesterday. Treating Bailey to a warm cup of Starbucks. It was only right for the cool ass ‘brunch’ he treated me to yesterday.
It wasn’t too overly crowded as I expected, which was odd. We sat at the table as the big screen showed the latest of the sports news on the network. It was always good times hanging out with my brother. Many can’t do it, but it never hurts the chemistry, it only strengthens the bond. Our bond was thicker than Molasses, but more never hurts.
“Thanks for the warm-up here!” Bailey said as he just sat there, inhaling the aroma.
“Man, you know it’s not a problem! I needed to give thanks for that ‘brunch’ you treated me to. I was about five seconds away from making a bad decision in not accepting that deal.” I replied, shaking my head at those thoughts of yesterday when we were at the ball court. It would’ve been a silly-ass decision to not grab up on lunch.
“I need this injection of caffeine, my senses are going off and it’s only Wednesday. Guess worrying about Monday’s dilemma. What was a three-way is now a fatal-four way. Shit!” I lowered my head as I felt like a person inside of a pressure cooker.
“Yeah, I saw. You’ll do fine, man. Don’t let it worry you!” Bailey sounding like a Morgan Freeman drone with the calmness that sat in his voice.
“You soundin’ realll calm right now, Ant!” I said with a smirk.
“Take it like this, J’. This is the best time for you. You’re down, most are voting against you. You get to show them that you still have it. They are against you but soon as you get the momentum, they’ll be back.”
He gave a pause.
“The bandwagoners will always fall off after their “current favorite” begins to lose. You still have a strong base behind you. Just focus, do you and the rest will settle in place. It’s stiff competition, having someone like Ash Scion in your face again, but just compose yourself. You know what to do.” Bailey said as I nodded.
“Yeah, I guess I needed a “Get Me Back To Reality” speech. I get the chance to prove the critics wrong. I got a little homesick, ya’ know? The pressure of a new audience, trying to do more than enough and losing out at the same damn time. I just gotta keep it simple. Simple is what got us here. The Dying Breed. Doing things the way they suppose to be done.”
Bailey showed that wide smile as he nodded.
“Right on! One step at a time. We both coming in to this week well-rested with having last week off. Big battles in our face. I got Joe Martinez, you got a fatal four. I consider that healthy ‘wake up call’ for us to get back on the ball whether as one force or in singles.”
“I feel you. Things will return to the norm. It’s still early. Get these kinks out the way and return to prime form. Man, thanks a lot! Definitely what I needed!” I said as I took a nice swig out of the Starbucks cup, taking in both the smell, the taste and the feel of warmth running down my throat.
As we both indulged into the heavy aroma with our eyes closed, the hearing of stampeding feet grew closer and closer as ecstatic cheers caused for our eyes to open wide, seeing two ‘bundled-up’ beuaties standing in front of us with picture-perfect smiles. I looked at Bailey as he looked at me. We were both grinning.
“Yes ladies, what’s up?”
They were on another level in the caffeine department as they were jumping for joy, hearing me speak.
“We are like ... two of your biggest fans and like, I know you both have a huge fanbase, we are two of your biggest. From the beginning to right now... oh my friggin’ GODDD!!!!”
“You have to excuse my friend, she is off the Richter Scale this morning. We’re big fans of yours. We weren’t expecting to run into you but we were wondering if we could get a photo with you two?”
“Not a problem at all. We love our fan base. We wouldn’t be here without them, getting the standing ovations every time we come out. We appreciate that kind of love. Pictures is no problem!”
We both stood up away from our cups as one of the girls got the camera out and asked a random to take the picture. The guy took the camera as the two chicks lined up in between us. Full of smiles, the camera flashed and snapped.
“This is so awesome right now. I feel numb!” The ecstatic girl said as she fell back, nearly falling down. Her friend grabbed her, keeping her upright.
“Thank you so much, we appreciate you doing that for us.” The calmed one of the duo of women said as she gave her friend a stern look to chill out.
“Oh no problem at all! I was just telling Jair here. He’s been a bit down on himself, he needed a pick-me-up and I was telling him don’t worry about if the fans will leave his side. The true fans never leave. When you rise back to the top, the bandwagoners will hop back on.”
“That’s for damn sure! Don’t worry about the real TDB fans. We are behind you two one-hunnid’ percent! Ya’ll both will be riding in victory lane this week. Joe Martinez got nothing on you Bailey. Ash Scion and those other goons have nothing on you either, J-Hop! Keep fighting hard, that’s all!”
I nodded my head, remaining quiet as we had sat back down. I took another sip out of the cup as I swirled the little spoon around that was served on the side, stirring up the mocha.
“Thanks for the words of inspiration. Really needed that. Things will change for the better this week, sure nuff’.” I said, trying to keep from getting too damn confident.
“Thanks again, guys. See you Monday night!” The calmed one said again as she and her ‘hypered’ friend were off to the races surely to get that photo out and printed.
I looked at Bailey as I held my hand out, looking to shake his.
“Thanks fam’. I don’t know why my mind went there, but thank you for getting me back on track.”
“Family watches out for each other. No problem!”
After dapping fists, we grew silent from that point as we look to finish our beverage before the chill would get to it. The scene faded on out.
----------------------------------------
“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” -- Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)
A week off and damn, coming back, you’re in a hard place again. Three sets of eyes that are heavily staring on you. Two who are newcomers to the company, looking to aim high, hit it right to start their careers here on the highest of notes. The other set of eyes who wants to avenge a painful defeat two weeks ago. All eyes on me ala Tupac.
This is an opportunity for me too.
I’ve been cold as hell. Ice cold. I need this, I need to get hot again. PURE hasn’t fully seen the real ‘Jair Hopkins’. This is the time, the moment, the spot to make the name stand out. I want to see Ash Scion go fuckin’ bananas and do some ill-wicked shit. The newcomers, as I share their pain, the feel of being the rook’, trying to fit in and make a name, it’s hard but don’t lower your heads, keep them raised. You’ll feel the glory, the success, the magnificent ‘Skittle’ rainbows. You’ll witness it all one day, but today.
No-No-No, Not Today!!! [Mutumbo Finger-wave]
You’ll get your chance to shine, but this victory is however mines. It sounds stupid to hear me say that out loud now but come Monday night in the Key Arena, things are going to sound so much clearer and you’ll understand why I said that. You’ll witness that statement being the absolute truth.
If there was ever a top twenty-five ranking system, I’d be 27. Off the grid. Out of sight, pretty much out of mind. No one cares about this dude’s struggle to contain momentum and balance. All they want to see is their favorite superstar win like they know he can. This slump isn’t new to them, they’ve seen him go in and out to only in the end, come back to true form. The same can be said for this trip. The surroundings is new but the person isn’t. They know how hard he ball, falling through tables, through ladders, jacked all the fuck up but steady fighting because it was all about doing his best to keep his head afloat and keep the battle going for him and his partner.
It’s “Four, The Hard Way”, I feel that I’m back both mentally and physically, despite the rumors around the web. I’m healthy. Take it like this, I’m overcoming the last of a hangover. What those three have seen thus far out of me, don’t look at it, study it and think you’re on to something. No one can be under-estimated in this contest. Ash Scion, of course is indeed the Tiger here, looking to feed off the unblessed souls of myself, Drexel and Jackpot but she even knows it, that no one can be underestimated.
In the end of it all, this match is in my hands to lose. If I stay the course, keep focus and take over the ring, the battle is won. If I don’t, then I’m just in another desperate fucking hole, eh? Same words, beliefs for next week’s matchup. I plan on changing a few people’s opinions this week one way or the other. Ash so far has been considered by some, one who quickly garnered high expectations only to fall low beyond that high tide line. She’s got something to prove as well. The struggle is no joke, the talent here in PURE is exceptional.
Some people still think of me as a tag-specialist only. Not a very good singles competitor. Got heart, but the skills are below average. I proved them wrong once before. Many think I need my ‘partner in crime’ to succeed with standing in “Winner’s Lane”. Nah, I don’t need it. We both are capable of greatness on our own. He did it plenty of times, people still consider Bailey as a tag-team guy only. I did it at the end of APW’s run as well, yet here the chatter resumes. You know what, no more words. Mouth is shut, fists are up...
The end result, they will all understand.
I want to feel that warmth again, the sun shining bright on my forehead. The sweat dripping down my face. The spotlight shining brightly on me. That’s what I want. That’s what I aiming to achieve, getting that needed tan.
