01-25-2020, 05:59 PM
[I have had my Day of Infamy, and believe you me, I am not proud, nor will I ever be proud of it. When I look around at who I will be sharing the ring at this Sunday in the Windy City, everyone has had their Day of Infamy in some way, shape or form. For some of us it is doing things that we now regret, for others of us it was not being able to deal with losses, for others of us it was about losing our way, and for one of us it's about simply not giving a shit.]
[But here's the thing. The Trios Tournament can lead to you getting whatever match you want against whomever you want. I should know as I was a winner of this Tournament years ago. From that one of my partners, Liana Lewis, wanted to take the SCW tag team championships off of two of her enemies at the time, which happened to be two enemies that I had issues with as well. She chose me to team with her and together we got the job done. On top of that I used mine to go after the SCW World Championship at that year's Rise To Greatness, being I had never gotten to main event SCW's showcase pay-per-view before. Was I in the end successful in that endeavor? No, but I didn't fret over it.]
[The point I'm trying to make here is mainly to Clyde. You SHOULD care about this tournament and for once in your career worry about winning instead of snapping bones, breaking necks, and taking your paycheck out of the arena with you. Besides I have dealt with thugs like you in the past. Behold how I was here long after they were gone. I don't need to bring up their names Clyde. Just know that you aren't the first of your kind, and you probably won't be the last.]
[Speaking of thugs though, and also of cliques, I'll say this, it was disheartening to hear from my little girl that some are sadly in her middle school. The fact that she has been a bit of a target has made me almost lose it, as really there is no room for that stuff in school. School is about learning. School is about growing. School is NOT about building your own self up just to put others down. That's crap that I expect here in SCW. But alas, I had to head back home a few days ago and miss Breakdown in order to talk with the school about this, and to also calm my daughter down the best I could. Sigh...]
*******
DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 2020
TIME: 11:05 AM
LOCATION: Central Park Middle School (Schenectady, NY)
[Let's just say I am not amused to be in the Principal's office right now. Obviously myself and Martha have done nothing wrong. We have raised a really good kid. I'm not dealing with this matter alone though, as both my wife and my daughter are in here with me, my poor daughter in tears. We were scheduled to meet with the Principal at 10:45 but apparently he has another matter to attend to as well. And so the three of us wait, to hopefully discuss what has been happening. Martha and I can't help it but to see Sarah's red cheeks. Martha is the one to speak to her first.]
"It will be fine. We will talk with him and get those girls off your back."
"But... but... I just know they aren't going to stop. There's nothing I can do about it!"
[Martha looks over to me, with a worried look in her eyes. I've seen that look thousands of times before, as far back as to when I first began to wrestle in 2003. Even though it is now 16 and a half years later, that look has never changed. That look of worry is one of the many, many reasons for why I married her. I know she cares, and she saw very quickly that I care as well. I'm about to say something to my daughter now in response, but that is when he walks in and sits down in his seat.]
"I am really sorry about being late for this meeting, and holding you up from your classes Sarah. I will get right to it. I am actually late because I was talking to those who have been doing the bullying. They have strictly been advised to stop. We as a staff here are not going to tolerate that type of behavior. Be comforted that we are here for you. Please let us know all of your concerns, so it is all out in the open."
"Well sir, I just... I can't focus with all this going on! I couldn't finish the last test I was taking in science because of it. I... I just can't take it anymore!"
[This is where I jump in, seeing the times are desperate.]
"Her grades have been suffering some as of late, and it's not fair. I know the world can sometimes be cruel but maybe those parents need to know."
"And they will Mr. Gold. We do need to here exclusively from your daughter right now. She is the only one that can tell us everything as she is the one experiencing it."
"Okay. Sarah dear, let us know it all so we aren't in the dark. Everything."
[She is extremely nervous and jittery. I felt that way once, so I cool my eyes and expression to try and help her relax. It does seem to be working, at least to the point where she can get the words out.]
"They have called me all sorts of names, but the worst one is... is... is... I can't even say it."
"Here, write it then if that will help."
[The Principal pushes forward a small notepad and Martha and I can both see what word she writes. Both my eyes and Martha's eyes roll and we're both very ticked off now. Sarah Vixen is no way a slut of any kind. Hell when walking into this school I saw so many girls that could describe that word that are NOT my daughter.]
"I thought so. I just wanted to get it from you Sarah. I'm sorry that some of your fellow students need to act this way, but I'm guessing it cuts deeper than just this?"
"Yes sir. They... they... they've spanked me. Um... please don't make me show!"
"That won't be n-"
"And you're allowing this shit to go on?!?!"
[He looks at me and immediately responds.]
"Alright, now we have a serious problem. Mr. Gold, I am going to ask you to take a seat. I don't blame you for saying what you just said. We'll handle it from here. Sarah, while I do believe you, can you please go into the nurse's office? She'll have you checked out."
"It hasn't happened just once sir. I was just too scared to s-say anything. They threatened they'd do far worse to me if I did. I... I'm too scared to even be here right now."
"Switching schools might have to happen. Sarah dear, you don't deserve this. NO ONE deserves this! Martha, why don't you bring Sarah into the nurse. I'll speak with the Principal in the meantime. Maybe we can formulate some sort of game plan."
"Alright honey, but please remain as calm as you can. Matters are really bad as they are already."
[I promise her by simply nodding, before she and Sarah make their way into the nurses's office. After not even a minute I can hear her...]
[color=pink["Oww! It hurts!"[/color]
[I look at the Principal and just say two words.]
"Now what?"
[That is all I can get out as he immediately gets to thinking. In fact we both do. By the time Martha and Sarah rejoin us in his office we have quite a few notes written down. Martha and Sarah also have notes and a diagnosis from the nurse, which get given immediately over to him. The Principal looks to my daughter and speaks directly to her.]
"Please go back to class. I will have a hall monitor escort you. Also myself and your father were thinking that maybe you can walk from class to class with someone that you know you can trust. I know it's only a band-aid for now, but believe you me, those girls are getting expelled. They are not welcome back, so things should improve. I am so sorry that this has happened under my watch. If anyone else or anything else bothers you Sarah, please don't be afraid to come to my office if you deem it necessary, or at least go to your teachers."
"Okay."
[My daughter begins to head out of the office, but I can see her wincing.]
"Is it okay if my wife and I take her to her next class, just this once?"
"That might be the last thing she needs, her own parents walking her to class like she's a 4-year old. She'll be fine."
I do see the point in that. I turn to Sarah, as does Martha.
"Mom, dad, I'll do the best I can."
"We know you will. See you tonight."
[She now sulks out of the office, where a hall monitor is waiting for her. My wife and I, we both have that nervous look in our eyes as we look towards one another. For now though we just have to hope that it all stops. Something is telling us both though that it never will.]
*******
DATE: Saturday, January 25, 2020
TIME: 4:30 PM
LOCATION: Grant Park
[The wind is whipping around some, but it's not bothering me as I have lived in the cold weather for the majority of my life, probably almost all of it. I'm from the Northeast and all. I'm just hoping these winds mean that the winds of change are blowing. So many need to feel them. So many. My first hope is that my daughter feels them. But my second hope is that A Day Of Infamy's results open everyone's eyes that need to be opened. Basically put, there are ways to succeed without being an asshole. When I look at the 4-person team I am on for the Trios Tournament Buy-In Matches, I see nothing but talent. Heck 3 of us are former World Champions. I might stand corrected, but I believe that those same three of us are also Supreme Champions. Maybe I'm off by a title or two, but in reality that doesn't matter. Perhaps though Tommy Valentine needs to be reminded of such, that he doesn't need to be a Jackass to be a Champion.]
"I'm just going to cut right to the chase for everyone. Tomorrow night is going to be quite the night as the whole world gets to find out who will be the 8 team captains for the actual Trios Tournament. As I look at my teammates in the Buy-In Round, I am confident that all 3 of them will definitely pull their own weight, as they should not be worried about me either. I never once got lazy back when I was wrestling full time, and I sure as heck am not going to start that now!"
"That being said, Tommy, I know you do love currently being the Jackass half of the Jackass and Big Ass Connection with Kandis, but you already know this when I say that you are a very capable athlete. You too have held many, many championships... and guess what? You did that by earning them, not by being a Jackass. Now if you want to be that just in name, that's fine. I mean Kandis is clearly sold at least. I don't care about that part of you though Tommy, as I know personally what you can do. I've seen it with my own eyes, and there is definitely more chances for you to get back to the top. Please don't skip out on this one, just in order to get a sexy piece of ass. Besides, sounds like Kandis is available to you 24/7 anyways."
[I can feel myself wink and almost chuckle like my own daughter does, when she's having a good day anyways.]
"Now to Marie, you are the youngest of the four of us when it comes to SCW, but I have seen what you can do as well. Yes, you haven't been to the top yet, but you yourself can play a MAJOR role for why you end up there. You don't need help, but in this scenario you are going to get it in the form of three champions that are not going to back down, three champions that won't let a teammate down! You already said you would take care of your part of the weight, and it is SO GREAT to hear you say that. Because I know I will, I know Selena will, I know you will, and deep down Tommy will too. We all want the same thing, that chance to get back to the top of the SCW mountain."
[I nod for a few moments, before I suddenly stop, now turning my attention to those who will be across the ring from us at the start of this all.]
"As for those who are set to be across from us, I mostly see respect. Between you Owen, you Aaron, and you Konrad, you have all learned that you don't need to injure and maim others to get to the top. You have all learned from your mistakes and are better men for it. Believe you me, I have always learned from my errors and pressed on to become better. Konrad, I heard you out. Just like my own team, you are all viewing me as a wild-card tomorrow night. However you should all know that I am anything but that. I don't want myself viewed as this "big surprise". I just want it to be known that I'm back for good this time, and ready to help make SCW the best that it can be. Because going into this weekend, it's just not. I know I could get booed for a statement like that and be looked down upon, but it's the honest to God's truth. I mean is it better that James Evans is the champion now instead of someone like Sienna? Absolutely. But I'm not fully 100 percent comfortable with it. James showed what he is capable of doing when he gets desperate, monkeying around with that chamber."
"Just know this though, tomorrow night, I will NOT be monkeying around. As much respect as I have for the Cruze family, and as much as I have respect for Aaron Blackbourne and Konrad Raab for realizing they can get things done on their own without help, business must be taken care of. Along with Selena, Tommy, and Marie, tomorrow night is the first step, and I for one am LONG ready for it!"
"Tomorrow night, should our side win, I will be the first to show respect to you Owen, to you Aaron, and to you Konrad. Heck, I might even think about choosing one of the three of you for my Trios Tournament team. As for your fourth wheel though, Clyde can go slither back to whatever trash heap he crawled out of. It's quite obvious he's really the only one of eight of us that is looking to do physical damage. The rest of us just want our opportunity to make it to the top again, or make it to the top for the very first time. For me I feel it's both. Even though I have been there before, I want the old to become the new. I've been saying it the moment I came back on New Year's Eve. If I make it to the top, it will also feel like the very first time, especially with the long amount of time that has passed us by."
"So... to a Day of Infamy... The Moments I provide will not be a bad deed, not at all. The Moments I provide are meant to not just help me, but to help those like Marie Jones who has seen the light, to those like Tommy Valentine that just need a bit of a reawakening, and to those like Selena Frost who have dealt with SO MUCH! I'm back everyone, and it's time to fight for what we believe in and what we want!"
[I shiver a little bit now thanks to the wind, so I head out of the park and back across the street to the hotel I am staying it. As I go though I think about tomorrow night. It could be the first night of many Golden nights to come.]
[But here's the thing. The Trios Tournament can lead to you getting whatever match you want against whomever you want. I should know as I was a winner of this Tournament years ago. From that one of my partners, Liana Lewis, wanted to take the SCW tag team championships off of two of her enemies at the time, which happened to be two enemies that I had issues with as well. She chose me to team with her and together we got the job done. On top of that I used mine to go after the SCW World Championship at that year's Rise To Greatness, being I had never gotten to main event SCW's showcase pay-per-view before. Was I in the end successful in that endeavor? No, but I didn't fret over it.]
[The point I'm trying to make here is mainly to Clyde. You SHOULD care about this tournament and for once in your career worry about winning instead of snapping bones, breaking necks, and taking your paycheck out of the arena with you. Besides I have dealt with thugs like you in the past. Behold how I was here long after they were gone. I don't need to bring up their names Clyde. Just know that you aren't the first of your kind, and you probably won't be the last.]
[Speaking of thugs though, and also of cliques, I'll say this, it was disheartening to hear from my little girl that some are sadly in her middle school. The fact that she has been a bit of a target has made me almost lose it, as really there is no room for that stuff in school. School is about learning. School is about growing. School is NOT about building your own self up just to put others down. That's crap that I expect here in SCW. But alas, I had to head back home a few days ago and miss Breakdown in order to talk with the school about this, and to also calm my daughter down the best I could. Sigh...]
*******
DATE: Wednesday, January 22, 2020
TIME: 11:05 AM
LOCATION: Central Park Middle School (Schenectady, NY)
[Let's just say I am not amused to be in the Principal's office right now. Obviously myself and Martha have done nothing wrong. We have raised a really good kid. I'm not dealing with this matter alone though, as both my wife and my daughter are in here with me, my poor daughter in tears. We were scheduled to meet with the Principal at 10:45 but apparently he has another matter to attend to as well. And so the three of us wait, to hopefully discuss what has been happening. Martha and I can't help it but to see Sarah's red cheeks. Martha is the one to speak to her first.]
"It will be fine. We will talk with him and get those girls off your back."
"But... but... I just know they aren't going to stop. There's nothing I can do about it!"
[Martha looks over to me, with a worried look in her eyes. I've seen that look thousands of times before, as far back as to when I first began to wrestle in 2003. Even though it is now 16 and a half years later, that look has never changed. That look of worry is one of the many, many reasons for why I married her. I know she cares, and she saw very quickly that I care as well. I'm about to say something to my daughter now in response, but that is when he walks in and sits down in his seat.]
"I am really sorry about being late for this meeting, and holding you up from your classes Sarah. I will get right to it. I am actually late because I was talking to those who have been doing the bullying. They have strictly been advised to stop. We as a staff here are not going to tolerate that type of behavior. Be comforted that we are here for you. Please let us know all of your concerns, so it is all out in the open."
"Well sir, I just... I can't focus with all this going on! I couldn't finish the last test I was taking in science because of it. I... I just can't take it anymore!"
[This is where I jump in, seeing the times are desperate.]
"Her grades have been suffering some as of late, and it's not fair. I know the world can sometimes be cruel but maybe those parents need to know."
"And they will Mr. Gold. We do need to here exclusively from your daughter right now. She is the only one that can tell us everything as she is the one experiencing it."
"Okay. Sarah dear, let us know it all so we aren't in the dark. Everything."
[She is extremely nervous and jittery. I felt that way once, so I cool my eyes and expression to try and help her relax. It does seem to be working, at least to the point where she can get the words out.]
"They have called me all sorts of names, but the worst one is... is... is... I can't even say it."
"Here, write it then if that will help."
[The Principal pushes forward a small notepad and Martha and I can both see what word she writes. Both my eyes and Martha's eyes roll and we're both very ticked off now. Sarah Vixen is no way a slut of any kind. Hell when walking into this school I saw so many girls that could describe that word that are NOT my daughter.]
"I thought so. I just wanted to get it from you Sarah. I'm sorry that some of your fellow students need to act this way, but I'm guessing it cuts deeper than just this?"
"Yes sir. They... they... they've spanked me. Um... please don't make me show!"
"That won't be n-"
"And you're allowing this shit to go on?!?!"
[He looks at me and immediately responds.]
"Alright, now we have a serious problem. Mr. Gold, I am going to ask you to take a seat. I don't blame you for saying what you just said. We'll handle it from here. Sarah, while I do believe you, can you please go into the nurse's office? She'll have you checked out."
"It hasn't happened just once sir. I was just too scared to s-say anything. They threatened they'd do far worse to me if I did. I... I'm too scared to even be here right now."
"Switching schools might have to happen. Sarah dear, you don't deserve this. NO ONE deserves this! Martha, why don't you bring Sarah into the nurse. I'll speak with the Principal in the meantime. Maybe we can formulate some sort of game plan."
"Alright honey, but please remain as calm as you can. Matters are really bad as they are already."
[I promise her by simply nodding, before she and Sarah make their way into the nurses's office. After not even a minute I can hear her...]
[color=pink["Oww! It hurts!"[/color]
[I look at the Principal and just say two words.]
"Now what?"
[That is all I can get out as he immediately gets to thinking. In fact we both do. By the time Martha and Sarah rejoin us in his office we have quite a few notes written down. Martha and Sarah also have notes and a diagnosis from the nurse, which get given immediately over to him. The Principal looks to my daughter and speaks directly to her.]
"Please go back to class. I will have a hall monitor escort you. Also myself and your father were thinking that maybe you can walk from class to class with someone that you know you can trust. I know it's only a band-aid for now, but believe you me, those girls are getting expelled. They are not welcome back, so things should improve. I am so sorry that this has happened under my watch. If anyone else or anything else bothers you Sarah, please don't be afraid to come to my office if you deem it necessary, or at least go to your teachers."
"Okay."
[My daughter begins to head out of the office, but I can see her wincing.]
"Is it okay if my wife and I take her to her next class, just this once?"
"That might be the last thing she needs, her own parents walking her to class like she's a 4-year old. She'll be fine."
I do see the point in that. I turn to Sarah, as does Martha.
"Mom, dad, I'll do the best I can."
"We know you will. See you tonight."
[She now sulks out of the office, where a hall monitor is waiting for her. My wife and I, we both have that nervous look in our eyes as we look towards one another. For now though we just have to hope that it all stops. Something is telling us both though that it never will.]
*******
DATE: Saturday, January 25, 2020
TIME: 4:30 PM
LOCATION: Grant Park
[The wind is whipping around some, but it's not bothering me as I have lived in the cold weather for the majority of my life, probably almost all of it. I'm from the Northeast and all. I'm just hoping these winds mean that the winds of change are blowing. So many need to feel them. So many. My first hope is that my daughter feels them. But my second hope is that A Day Of Infamy's results open everyone's eyes that need to be opened. Basically put, there are ways to succeed without being an asshole. When I look at the 4-person team I am on for the Trios Tournament Buy-In Matches, I see nothing but talent. Heck 3 of us are former World Champions. I might stand corrected, but I believe that those same three of us are also Supreme Champions. Maybe I'm off by a title or two, but in reality that doesn't matter. Perhaps though Tommy Valentine needs to be reminded of such, that he doesn't need to be a Jackass to be a Champion.]
"I'm just going to cut right to the chase for everyone. Tomorrow night is going to be quite the night as the whole world gets to find out who will be the 8 team captains for the actual Trios Tournament. As I look at my teammates in the Buy-In Round, I am confident that all 3 of them will definitely pull their own weight, as they should not be worried about me either. I never once got lazy back when I was wrestling full time, and I sure as heck am not going to start that now!"
"That being said, Tommy, I know you do love currently being the Jackass half of the Jackass and Big Ass Connection with Kandis, but you already know this when I say that you are a very capable athlete. You too have held many, many championships... and guess what? You did that by earning them, not by being a Jackass. Now if you want to be that just in name, that's fine. I mean Kandis is clearly sold at least. I don't care about that part of you though Tommy, as I know personally what you can do. I've seen it with my own eyes, and there is definitely more chances for you to get back to the top. Please don't skip out on this one, just in order to get a sexy piece of ass. Besides, sounds like Kandis is available to you 24/7 anyways."
[I can feel myself wink and almost chuckle like my own daughter does, when she's having a good day anyways.]
"Now to Marie, you are the youngest of the four of us when it comes to SCW, but I have seen what you can do as well. Yes, you haven't been to the top yet, but you yourself can play a MAJOR role for why you end up there. You don't need help, but in this scenario you are going to get it in the form of three champions that are not going to back down, three champions that won't let a teammate down! You already said you would take care of your part of the weight, and it is SO GREAT to hear you say that. Because I know I will, I know Selena will, I know you will, and deep down Tommy will too. We all want the same thing, that chance to get back to the top of the SCW mountain."
[I nod for a few moments, before I suddenly stop, now turning my attention to those who will be across the ring from us at the start of this all.]
"As for those who are set to be across from us, I mostly see respect. Between you Owen, you Aaron, and you Konrad, you have all learned that you don't need to injure and maim others to get to the top. You have all learned from your mistakes and are better men for it. Believe you me, I have always learned from my errors and pressed on to become better. Konrad, I heard you out. Just like my own team, you are all viewing me as a wild-card tomorrow night. However you should all know that I am anything but that. I don't want myself viewed as this "big surprise". I just want it to be known that I'm back for good this time, and ready to help make SCW the best that it can be. Because going into this weekend, it's just not. I know I could get booed for a statement like that and be looked down upon, but it's the honest to God's truth. I mean is it better that James Evans is the champion now instead of someone like Sienna? Absolutely. But I'm not fully 100 percent comfortable with it. James showed what he is capable of doing when he gets desperate, monkeying around with that chamber."
"Just know this though, tomorrow night, I will NOT be monkeying around. As much respect as I have for the Cruze family, and as much as I have respect for Aaron Blackbourne and Konrad Raab for realizing they can get things done on their own without help, business must be taken care of. Along with Selena, Tommy, and Marie, tomorrow night is the first step, and I for one am LONG ready for it!"
"Tomorrow night, should our side win, I will be the first to show respect to you Owen, to you Aaron, and to you Konrad. Heck, I might even think about choosing one of the three of you for my Trios Tournament team. As for your fourth wheel though, Clyde can go slither back to whatever trash heap he crawled out of. It's quite obvious he's really the only one of eight of us that is looking to do physical damage. The rest of us just want our opportunity to make it to the top again, or make it to the top for the very first time. For me I feel it's both. Even though I have been there before, I want the old to become the new. I've been saying it the moment I came back on New Year's Eve. If I make it to the top, it will also feel like the very first time, especially with the long amount of time that has passed us by."
"So... to a Day of Infamy... The Moments I provide will not be a bad deed, not at all. The Moments I provide are meant to not just help me, but to help those like Marie Jones who has seen the light, to those like Tommy Valentine that just need a bit of a reawakening, and to those like Selena Frost who have dealt with SO MUCH! I'm back everyone, and it's time to fight for what we believe in and what we want!"
[I shiver a little bit now thanks to the wind, so I head out of the park and back across the street to the hotel I am staying it. As I go though I think about tomorrow night. It could be the first night of many Golden nights to come.]