Post by PANTHRO on Feb 7, 2013 17:16:16 GMT -6
Prologue: When The Odds Are Stacked Against You...
Y’know somethin’ I’ve heard how this story goes, and there’s always an alternate ending at the end. That’s how it is in sports. I remember back then we had a game against USC and they were really carving up everyone in their conference and they decided to take a stop at Blacksburg to say hi to us. Their running back was a beast, and their quarterback was known for making the secondary of teams look like high school players. I remember...telling the defense before the game, “The only way they scored was if we were dead or weren’t trying hard enough.”
And so that game, we went at them, and we beat them down. They didn’t score that entire game and they were ranked #1 in the world. A lot of people believe that when you’re up against this force there ain’t no way you can beat that force back. But if there’s one thing I pride myself in, it’s the idea that if you want to beat me you better make sure I’m not moving or breathing...because I stop at nothing to finish what I’ve started. Exodus put me in the ring with three other guys who are big and powerful and skilled like me.
It’s my job to show that, these guys who are BIG and POWERFUL and SKILLED like me...will never be like The Big L. Because where my mind goes in these matches, I isolate myself from what the critics think. I’ve had a habit of doin’ that since I was still in college, and so far it’s worked out. I look at my opponents, and I can see through them. They are an obstacle, they are a path I gotta go through or else what does that say about myself...? The Big L, doesn’t back down from confrontation, and he won’t back down on Sunday night. You could be a monster, a psychopath, even a ganja smokin’ caucasian made up of nothin’ but water weight and a diet plan of Doritos and Mountain Dew; You ain’t stoppin’ The Big L.
Period.
Y’know somethin’ I’ve heard how this story goes, and there’s always an alternate ending at the end. That’s how it is in sports. I remember back then we had a game against USC and they were really carving up everyone in their conference and they decided to take a stop at Blacksburg to say hi to us. Their running back was a beast, and their quarterback was known for making the secondary of teams look like high school players. I remember...telling the defense before the game, “The only way they scored was if we were dead or weren’t trying hard enough.”
And so that game, we went at them, and we beat them down. They didn’t score that entire game and they were ranked #1 in the world. A lot of people believe that when you’re up against this force there ain’t no way you can beat that force back. But if there’s one thing I pride myself in, it’s the idea that if you want to beat me you better make sure I’m not moving or breathing...because I stop at nothing to finish what I’ve started. Exodus put me in the ring with three other guys who are big and powerful and skilled like me.
It’s my job to show that, these guys who are BIG and POWERFUL and SKILLED like me...will never be like The Big L. Because where my mind goes in these matches, I isolate myself from what the critics think. I’ve had a habit of doin’ that since I was still in college, and so far it’s worked out. I look at my opponents, and I can see through them. They are an obstacle, they are a path I gotta go through or else what does that say about myself...? The Big L, doesn’t back down from confrontation, and he won’t back down on Sunday night. You could be a monster, a psychopath, even a ganja smokin’ caucasian made up of nothin’ but water weight and a diet plan of Doritos and Mountain Dew; You ain’t stoppin’ The Big L.
Period.
Commentator: Welcome back, we’re here in BEAUTIFUL Miami Garden, Florida where The #2 Virginia Tech Hokies face off again #1 The Sooners of Oklahoma! It’s The Sooners leaded by 6 points in a 26-20 game!
I Was In Another World...
I remember it being hot, so hot I think the sweat was starting to fog up my visor. The fans were chanting, both sides were rooting for their favorite team. I was glaring daggers at the quarterback on the other side of that ball. The Oklahoma Sooners were getting the best of us, and we were down by six points. I remember moving around a bit, trying to decipher what they were going to do. I place my right arm up and point at the wideout.
Steve Lenton: EIGHTY-TWO!!!! EIGHTY-TWO!!!!!!
The secondary shouted something, they acknowledged it. The snap of the ball and they dropped back. The offensive line had holes in it trying to keep their QB from getting hurt. That’s when I took my chance, I blasted through the middle and looked straight at him. He felt hurried, panicked, I could feel it when he tossed the ball in the air and I cracked him hard. The whistle blew as I stood up and glared down the field. He threw it out of bounds? Good. Coach decided to take a timeout, I don’t know why when we were in such good field position to make this stop. He met the team halfway onto the side of the field.
Coach: Alright guys we’ve got to think! They’ve been running that streak to #82 all game, but we can’t seem to see it!!! We can’t let Steve make the play for us, so you’ve gotta work!! C’mon!!!
Steve Lenton: Coach, it was my fault they didn’t get it.
Coach: Well get it this time Stephen!!! We stop them on 3rd down do I make myself clear?!
Team: Yes Coach!!!
Coach: Now go out there and get this ball!!!!!
We went to get ready, Coach stopped me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
Coach: We gotta get this one, okay...?!
I nodded my head, reassuring him that there was no way he’d get let down. That was one thing I couldn’t allow. The team...it was my second family you know? I was like the big brother of the team with it being my senior year...this was my final year of seeing everyone. This game? This game was the most important thing to me--no--to them. The Orange Bowl was the only thing that had escaped me and the team. This was our year, four years of hard work weren’t going to be going down the drain. I went back into the huddle and glared at them all.
Steve Lenton: We gotta get to the ball, they can’t convert here!!! We’re runnin’ the 3-4 VT Stunt Blitz, ready.
Team: BREAK.
We lined up, it was one of those tense moments. With two minutes left in this game, and a trophy on the line we had to make this stop or it was over. Two minutes....two minutes...I kept repeating that in my head. I was doing this for the team...I was going to WIN this game for the team, for my family, for Virginia Tech...I owed them this much. The quarterback still had those eyes of a guy who didn’t look like he could take another hit. He licked his fingers and took in a deep breath. I wondered if he was having the same aniexty as I was? He was the guy people were going to be talking about when this was all over. If he won his stock in the draft would sky rocket, the fame, the commercials, everything. But if he failed...the backlash, the people have distrust for someone like him. In a way I felt sorry for him, because he wasn’t going to be winning this game. I had things riding on this one moment too, I had the same labor as him. But one thing that separated me and him...?
Sooner QB: HIKE...!!!!
I wasn’t going to get the shit knocked out of me. The music in the stadium was booming, and all I could hear was this demonic tone....saying....
ONE OF THESE DAYS I’M GOING TO CUT YOU INTO LITTLE PIECES!!!
He snapped the ball. We ran the stunt and they opened up a path for me. He saw me, and started to run for it, trying to get one of his wideouts open, or dump it off to the halfback. He was in panic mode.
Commentator: HE’S ON THE RUN! LENTON’S CHASING HIM DOWN...!!!
I kept my focus, No one was going to touch me. Nothing was going to keep me from you... That’s what went through my skull. As he went to load up for a pass downfield, I brought my right arm up behind him and clubbed the ball out of his grasp. There was a silence in the stadium. Then it blasted in cheers.
Commentator: THERE’S A FUMBLE!!!!
Their QB looked like he crapped out a brick when he saw the ball on the ground. He got blasted down by a herd of people. But I grabbed it up and started to take off. I was fumbling it around in my hands trying to keep this son of a bitch in my grasp. I tucked it under my left armpit and ran.
Commentator: LENTON HAS IT!!!!! HE’S OFF AT THE FIFTY!!!!
I zoned out again...drowning out the noise. Nothing but my heartbeat, and my breathing. My coach and the others were jumping up and down as I past them by. Coach moved his hand, telling me to keep going. The people behind me were like rabid dogs, chasing me like I was nothing but a giant piece of meat. Someone was catching up to me, it was #82, the irony of it all. I kept running, trying my best to beat him in this foot race, but there was a reason why he was the number one wide receiver in the nation. I was so close...
Commentator: HE'S AT THE THIRTY....THE TWENTY....THE FIFTEEN...THE TEN!!!!!
He glared at me and it seemed like he was going to catch me. I was five yards away from getting us back. I didn't see an alternative to what I was going to do next...
Commentator: LENTON DIVES!!!
I clutched the ball like it was my baby. He came barreling into me, crackling me hard. I spin in the air, everything seemed to be going slow. As I landed, I looked up at the faces. People glaring...with smiles. The referee beside me rose his hands up.
Commentator: TOUCHDOWN HOKIES!!!!!
My team shouted at me and picked me up, grabbing at me and smacking my helmet. I stood up and wanted to smile, but this wasn't it, not by a longshot. I spiked the ball hard and ran back to the other side. The coaches hugged me, I nod my head and high five the others. Coach took me to the side.
Coach: Guess we're goin' out with a bang tonight.
I nod my head with a grin.
Steve Lenton: Damn right...
I took a knee on the sideline and glared at our offense. I had faith that they would do great. This was it...we had to make this count. As they set up for that two point conversion with only thirty seconds left on that clock I knew...I felt it...we had done it. We went back on the field, they tried to throw deep, but they knew that the writing was on the wall. The final whistle sounded and the field was engulfed in Hokie fans! I stood in the middle of it all with a smile as i rose my helmet in victory and let out a loud howl. This was the best night of my life. Everyone was behind me, everyone was happy, I....I made them happy. Coach grabbed me in a hug and pats my back.
Coach: We'll miss you...
I embrace him lightly, suddenly we were splashed in cold water and the team laughed and cheered. I ran around and let out a loud laugh as I jumped on them playfully. The trophy was presented and we stood tall as Tech Triumph played by our band. We sung along holding up the trophy together...as a family...as a single unit...as a team.
Ten Days Later.
I got a call from the coach telling me he and the dean wanted to speak with me. I thought the dean wanted to say his goodbyes to me. I remember walking onto campus, remembering what I was leaving behind. This is where I met wonderful people, friends, the team. All of it was going to go away once I had entered the draft. I choked up a bit, once I made it to the dean's office, I saw them both sitting down. I had a smile on my face, only for it to turn into confusion as the dean gave me a look. He looked beside himself as he looked at the coach who looked dishearten.
Dean: ...Stephen, we have to talk.
Steve Lenton: ...What's going on?
Coach: You might want to close the door son...and sit down for this one.
Steve Lenton: ....
I closed the door slowly, what I didn't know was that...my dreams we're starting to come to an early end....
The city of D.C. was still a little cold. People were dressed in their winter coats. The Big L was dressed in a black hoodie, a pair of jeans, black boots, and a black stocking cap. He wore the glasses because well, The Big L is a good lookin’ bastard am I right?! I stand on a small bridge that gave an shot of the city of D.C. If you needed glasses, you could tell I was focused, as always, but I knew I was in the ring with some badasses. See, I didn’t take people lightly, but you know and I know, The Big L ain’t no bitch. I slowly raise my hand raises his hand, signalling the tongue tirade was ready to begin.
Steve Lenton: Ladies and gentlemen.....the last time you saw me, I was on T.V. in front of the five thousand that were in attendances at the RIMAC Arena in San Diego, the stompin’ grounds of Exodus Pro. The Big L stepped into the ring, finding a new place I could call “home”, and I went up against two bad ass females in the Icy Rebels with the help of Michael Alexander. I ain’t afraid to say it, I was surprised. The pussy cats had their claws sharpened and hurt me pretty good. So to the Icy Rebels, I only have ONE thing to say, after a successful debut; I got ONE thing to say to your attempts to put that big ass loss on my new resume: Thank you. You two deserve the credit and you got it, so you have my respect.
Now...gonna move to a different topic. This Sunday, is March of War, and this Sunday, they put me in the ring with not one, not two, but THREE wrestlers under the brand. Now, me?! I’m ALL about kickin’ some ass, the more the merrier. I don’t back down from guys whether they come from the Tall Grass like Gouken, from Amsterdam like Zortalk, or are well known for being the fat guy who sat down too fast like Kevin Brody...it doesn’t matter. See from what The Big L
The Big L’s always been the type of guy who loves competition. It’s what The Big L was born to do, compete, even if the cards were stacked against’em, even through adversity, The Big L pushed pass those son of a bitches and always reached his goals. The Big L started wrestling, all he had was enough money to get to around to his school in North Carolina, and then whatever was left to get back home. I strived...to get back what was taken from me long ago...
I take a big deep breath and exhale hot air as it floated in front of my face, glaring at the camera with raw focus. I blink a few times and raise my head with a bit of pride, not breaking my composure over the crazy shit that happened back in the day.
Steve Lenton: But that’s for another time. What The One wants to do is talk to a space hippy who goes by the name of Zortalk. yeah the Big L knows who you are with your space B.S. and your lil' Shaggy beard and your nasty ass lookin' hair. All y'need now is a box of doggy treats you can eat when you got the munchies and a dog you think who can talk! Let me explain somethin' to you, and lemme be clear because I know that you're probably mouth deep on some of that space opium...you don't KNOW...about The Big L...you ain't never been to one of his birthdays, I didn't see you when the doctor smacked me on the ass, and I sure as Hell didn't see you at one of my games. So lemme be REALLY clear to you: One, don't you ever insult The Big L's intelligence. And two, don't you ever believe that you've already won this match...
I hold my right palm out towards the camera and point at it.
Steve Lenton: See you ain't got the goods to stop me. I didn't sign a contract, I ain't put my John Hancock on that piece of paper so I could get beat by Chris Pontius. The Big L ain't got time for that. See you got some charisma, you got that certain energy that makes you what you are Space Pharaoh, so the Big L can't hate on that. However he ain't gonna let what you said about him slide. All about how I can reach those goals...all of that...is false. You don't have a clue as to what I can do, but somewhere in your baked haze you believe that I'm not gonna be a threat...
I pause for a moment and look at the lens with a determined expression. I blink a few times and relax and think for a moment. I point my right hand at the lens for a moment.
Steve Lenton: I hear you like to talk about the stars and space. Well The Big L got a B+ in astronomy so lemme speak in your talk, because I know my words ain't gonna get through. Imagine my fourteen inch boot is an asteroid, you're Jupiter and you have a strong gravitational pull. So my asteroid begins to move in and pretty soon Jupiter which is your pasty white ass, will have another ASTEROID...which is my FOURTEEN INCH BOOT STUCK inside of your asteroid belt!!! So in closing, I've got a foot packing over 1 million megaton ready to explode inside of the interior of your ass!! MOVING ON...we got another bad ass, a monster that joined Legion recently, Gouken.
I pause for a moment, he was a mystery and he was a big son of a bitch. However that ain't mean jack shit to me, or atleast I didn't think so at the moment. I lick my lips a bit and take in a breath.
Steve Lenton: You're big. You've got this aura around ya. You're a big bad ass masked monster representin' your new team with Daisuke Iwakuma. But I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. If I managed to capture Mewtwo without a damn Masterball, I think I can handle YOU. See, I ain't got a good knowledge of who you are, what you and your sister have been through. However you are in this ring for a reason, you've been put on the spot for ONE REASON...to unleash Hell. That's what your job is, to unleash Hell, that's why you're in Legion because they wanna unleash Hell upon Exodus Pro Wrestling! The Big L can't allow that, so it's his personal goal to spend you back to your team with your mask stuffed down your throat. This is a statement, meaning that if you think that your team of flunkies are gonna destroy this company, The Big L's new home...? You better be ready for a fight. One thing I learned back in the day is that you don't let the away team wipe shit on your home field.
Then...we got Kevin Brody. The first Beach Whale to get stuck on land in Mississippi!! See there's a theme to this match, we got crazy people against one sane person. Kevin Brody, a big...big...stiff bastard. Doesn't give a fuck about anything, always ready to snap and beat the every lovin' shit out of someone. He's got that personality of a psycho, and he don't care. What can I say that's gonna change that? The Big L sees what you're about and all he can say is....
I look at the camera and adjust my position.
Steve Lenton: Bring it. You're a huge tough son of a bitch, you're going to be trying to tear me, and the other two people in this match up apart. So why should I back down?! I ain't never been afraid of no one in my life. I never once blinked when I was faced with confrontation. The Big L backs down...from no one. So you can be Billy Badass all you want Brody, you can try and knock my head off, but I'm gonna get up again, I'm gonna look you in your eye...and The Big L is going to ask for seconds. There's a difference...a MAJOR difference between being dormant to pain...and just having a drive.
I point at my heart and tap at it with a knowing glare.
Steve Lenton: ...And I think my drive is going to win. So Brody, Gouken, Zortalk...all of you in this match. I'm going let it be known, I don't care...what you are...where you come from...I'm not going to lose. The odds can be stacked against me, the critics may think I got a one in a million chance of winning my second match in San Diego, California; But I know....and you know.....things can chance.
I snap my fingers with a intense stare.
Steve Lenton: Just...like....that.
I nod my head and smirk a bit but then frown again, before walking away. The camera pans in towards D.C. the sound of horns and the blowing of the air began to mix together. The scene began to fade away slowly, signalling it's end.
Fade. To. Black.