Post by goldeneagle on Jun 11, 2008 14:38:25 GMT -5
How does one manage to understand the concept of the “underdog?” Well, one must first learn to understand its true meaning and historical significance.
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An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports, and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. If the underdog wins, the event is known as an upset. These terms are commonly used in sports betting. In a more broad sense, the term is used in reference to a social or ethnic group which suffers from discrimination, persecution and/or economic disability and which on that base gains the sympathy of public opinion in its own or other countries. Such sympathy had often proved of crucial importance in the struggles of national liberation, civil rights and social justice movements, and such movements spend considerable efforts and sometimes significantly modify their tactics and strategy with the conscious aim of gaining this kind of sympathy.
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In my own lifetime, I’ve always had to take on the role of an underdog. Whether it was on the collegiate gridiron or in the ring, people generally tend to brush me aside for more “favorable” competition. However, something feels very different this week. Ever since last Wednesday’s Authenticity, I’ve received hundreds of requests for interviews with many different TV and radio personalities; I’ve been interviewed by FOX News, MSNBC, and CNN. I’ve been asked to appear in shows such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” This media frenzy has to do with only one thing: at Exodus, I’m scheduled to take on Sage Christensen in a last man standing match for this company’s biggest prize—the AWG World Heavyweight Championship.
On paper, a lot of people might say that Sage will have the upper hand in this one. He’s got a 9-0 singles record, and the list of opponents he has beaten should be turned into a list for the Who’s Who of professional wrestling. Sage and I have never matched up before in the ring, and to my credit, I only have one win in a major pay-per-view event—against some guy who doesn’t have a name for crying out loud! Am I ready to overcome whatever he’s got to throw at me? It all depends on the alignment of the planets and stars; everything has to line up in perfect harmony…
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An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports, and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. If the underdog wins, the event is known as an upset. These terms are commonly used in sports betting. In a more broad sense, the term is used in reference to a social or ethnic group which suffers from discrimination, persecution and/or economic disability and which on that base gains the sympathy of public opinion in its own or other countries. Such sympathy had often proved of crucial importance in the struggles of national liberation, civil rights and social justice movements, and such movements spend considerable efforts and sometimes significantly modify their tactics and strategy with the conscious aim of gaining this kind of sympathy.
***
In my own lifetime, I’ve always had to take on the role of an underdog. Whether it was on the collegiate gridiron or in the ring, people generally tend to brush me aside for more “favorable” competition. However, something feels very different this week. Ever since last Wednesday’s Authenticity, I’ve received hundreds of requests for interviews with many different TV and radio personalities; I’ve been interviewed by FOX News, MSNBC, and CNN. I’ve been asked to appear in shows such as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” This media frenzy has to do with only one thing: at Exodus, I’m scheduled to take on Sage Christensen in a last man standing match for this company’s biggest prize—the AWG World Heavyweight Championship.
On paper, a lot of people might say that Sage will have the upper hand in this one. He’s got a 9-0 singles record, and the list of opponents he has beaten should be turned into a list for the Who’s Who of professional wrestling. Sage and I have never matched up before in the ring, and to my credit, I only have one win in a major pay-per-view event—against some guy who doesn’t have a name for crying out loud! Am I ready to overcome whatever he’s got to throw at me? It all depends on the alignment of the planets and stars; everything has to line up in perfect harmony…
***
*It is a hot and humid Tuesday afternoon in Corpus Christi, TX, but Jack Gaither and Samantha have decided to go to the beach and relax after competing in a match at Whataburger Field the night before.*
Sam, just imagine what it’s like to be from this area. No phones, no computers, no stressing out about your job—just the wind, the waters of the gulf, and the seagulls to guide you.
SAM: Good Mexican food, gleaming white sandy beaches…and tons of beer to boot! Yeah baby, I love it here!
It’s so peaceful down here; in a way, it makes my job much easier to manage.
I know, but I still can’t believe what we’ve been through over the past week!
It’s amazing. One moment, we’re sitting inside our hotel room in Dallas thinking about our future together, and the next thing we see is that my name is stamped on AWG.com for a title match against Sage Christensen for Exodus.
Yeah, we’ve been on a whirlwind tour as of late. We haven’t had much time to sleep thanks to the many media requests that we’ve taken.
Not to mention that our fanbase has grown by leaps and bounds recently; sheesh, maybe I should hire a public relations agent.
Nah, you’ll be alright. Trust me!
*Suddenly, Tom Reilly—Jack’s former football coach at the University of Houston—appears and sits down on a beach chair.*
Coach Reilly?
COACH REILLY: Well, well, well. If it isn’t Jack Gaither—and who do we have here?
Oh, I’m Samantha, but you can call me Sam.
*Sam reaches over and shakes the hand of the 81-year-old legendary football coach.*
It is nice to meet you. Jack, I heard about what happened to your wife last March, and my heart goes out to you. I see that you’ve moved on though, and I’m really proud of what you’ve been able to accomplish.
*Coach Reilly begins to beam with pride.*
I mean, look at me Jack. I’ve been traveling to some wrestling events as of late, and I see some potential in some of those guys—I mean REAL potential. They work their asses off for peanuts, they get their asses kicked and screamed at every day without earning a single dime, but Jack, you got a shot at the World Heavyweight Title!
I’m still amazed about that.
*Coach Reilly sees Jack’s bottle of whiskey.*
Umm, Jack, if I may just give you some words of advice.
Sure.
First, I wouldn’t drink that piss before a big match like this.
I know, but it’s hard for me to quit drinking altogether.
Well, that piss is not good for your liver—you’ll die long before you reach my age. Here’s another piece of advice for you: I’d be very careful and capitalize on this opportunity that you have, because like the Bible says, you ain’t gonna get a second chance. I know a lot of oddsmakers out there have the odds stacked against you, but I say screw the odds and just be who you really are. This guy, what’s-his-name, Sage Christensen supposedly has a 9-0 singles record and the belt, but don’t let his record get to you, because people who think they’re perfect are gonna fall down hard—and they ain’t gonna get up and recover.
Well, Sage Christensen’s kindness for “giving” me this opportunity is going to bite him in the ass so hard—that the next Christensen wannabe is gonna feel it.
That’s right Jack! Since he “gave” you this shot of a lifetime, you must understand how to capitalize on it to the best of your ability—and you CAN and you WILL, because you’re “The Golden Eagle!” At the end of the night this Sunday, you’re going to be the one that’s left standing. It is your destiny…now FULFILL IT—for Katherine, for Samantha, for me, and for all of those people who truly love you and believe in you! Once you’ve got that belt, a lot of people who rooted against you are gonna owe you an engraved, but sincere, apology.
I will Coach…for all of us. Are you going to be there on Sunday?
I've got ringside seats!
I don't know about you guys, but I'm kinda starving right now.
Oh, let's go eat at Crawdaddy's then; it's near the corner of Chaparrel and Starr--near the Greyhound bus station. Coach, do you want to join us?
Sure; let's go!
*Jack, Sam, and Coach Reilly head on over to Crawdaddy's for a well-deserved lunch. The people at the restaurant and bar recognize Jack.*
FAN #1: Hey Jack! Give Sage Christensen hell in Houston on Sunday!
FAN #2: Yeah man! I've put in a bet of $500 on you to win, so don't let me down!
FAN #3: I've got a $1000 bet going on now, so don't let ME down too!
Thanks guys!
*After ordering beer, Jack, Sam, and Coach Reilly raise their beer bottles high as Sam makes a toast.*
Here's to the fall of the so-called "Violent Messaih," the guy who's undefeated in singles competition and who's got the AWG World Title--Sage Christensen! May his singles record never be unblemished anymore!
ALL IN UNISON: Here here!
***
So, the time has come for the planets and stars to position themselves in perfect harmony. This Sunday at Exodus, the time has come for a destiny to be fulfilled—the crowning of a brand-new AWG World Heavyweight Champion in “The Golden Eagle.” Sage, mark my words buddy, your kindness and compassion will kick you squarely in the groinal area so hard, that even your future generations are gonna feel it! This Sunday, you’ll rue the day you gave me this opportunity, because like my coach said, I’m not gonna get a second chance—I have to capitalize on it NOW! In the “Space City” of Houston, Texas, Sage Christensen, when I put your ass down for a ten-count, you will feel MY dose of enlightenment.
At this gigantic pay-per-view, it's going to be my heart going against the spotless record. We're going to throw the conventional rules of wisdom out the window, but in the end, I'm going to be the one that stands tall and proud. The media frenzy is almost over, and the most talked-about battle will soon get underway; in Houston, "The Golden Eagle" is going to go where no one has gone before, and you better be ready to go along for the ride buddy, because if you're not, then you might as well just kiss your precious AWG World Heavyweight Title goodbye. I'm bringing the title back home--it is my destiny!
Your kindness is going to screw you over tenfold, because you have no idea about the deep crap you just got yourself into. Deep down inside, you're trembling at the notion of seeing me at the opposite end of the ring. You know you're scared out of your wits, and you're going to be in for a helluva ride. You're going to feel the fear of wrestling in front of twenty-thousand "Golden Eagle" fanatics; I've got the biggest heart out of ANYONE in this company, and Sage, you better prepare yourself to face me in front of a very hostile crowd. Prepare yourself for a very long night inside the Toyota Center--the home of the Houston Rockets and many great champions in the past. I'm going to take you beyond the reaches of time and space--only to see you come crashing down to the earth at a high rate of speed and descent. This coming Sunday at Exodus in beautiful Houston:
You will be weighed...
You will be measured...
You will be found wanting...
And you won't have your title around your shoulders anymore, because it is...the destiny of an underdog--the one and only "Golden Eagle!"
Oh hell yeah...it is my true destiny!
So, the time has come for the planets and stars to position themselves in perfect harmony. This Sunday at Exodus, the time has come for a destiny to be fulfilled—the crowning of a brand-new AWG World Heavyweight Champion in “The Golden Eagle.” Sage, mark my words buddy, your kindness and compassion will kick you squarely in the groinal area so hard, that even your future generations are gonna feel it! This Sunday, you’ll rue the day you gave me this opportunity, because like my coach said, I’m not gonna get a second chance—I have to capitalize on it NOW! In the “Space City” of Houston, Texas, Sage Christensen, when I put your ass down for a ten-count, you will feel MY dose of enlightenment.
At this gigantic pay-per-view, it's going to be my heart going against the spotless record. We're going to throw the conventional rules of wisdom out the window, but in the end, I'm going to be the one that stands tall and proud. The media frenzy is almost over, and the most talked-about battle will soon get underway; in Houston, "The Golden Eagle" is going to go where no one has gone before, and you better be ready to go along for the ride buddy, because if you're not, then you might as well just kiss your precious AWG World Heavyweight Title goodbye. I'm bringing the title back home--it is my destiny!
Your kindness is going to screw you over tenfold, because you have no idea about the deep crap you just got yourself into. Deep down inside, you're trembling at the notion of seeing me at the opposite end of the ring. You know you're scared out of your wits, and you're going to be in for a helluva ride. You're going to feel the fear of wrestling in front of twenty-thousand "Golden Eagle" fanatics; I've got the biggest heart out of ANYONE in this company, and Sage, you better prepare yourself to face me in front of a very hostile crowd. Prepare yourself for a very long night inside the Toyota Center--the home of the Houston Rockets and many great champions in the past. I'm going to take you beyond the reaches of time and space--only to see you come crashing down to the earth at a high rate of speed and descent. This coming Sunday at Exodus in beautiful Houston:
You will be weighed...
You will be measured...
You will be found wanting...
And you won't have your title around your shoulders anymore, because it is...the destiny of an underdog--the one and only "Golden Eagle!"
Oh hell yeah...it is my true destiny!