Post by Evan Andrews on Aug 13, 2010 11:39:56 GMT -6
August 12th, 2010:
On August 12th, 1980, Evan Alexander Andrews entered the world and took his first breath without any knowledge of who he was, or of what he might he might become in the future.
In that moment, it was conceivable that the newly born Evan could have grown up and become a criminal or crooked politician- and just as likely that he could have developed into a care giver or counselor who spent all his waking hours helping others in their time of need.
In the seconds that followed, Evan opened his mouth and began to cry; and in doing so he announced his arrival into the world that now surrounded him. In doing so, he let it be known that he had the potential to become anything that he damned well pleased.
That happened thirty years ago to this day, and Evan's spent much of this birthday thinking about that moment, and about how things could have turned out for him under other circumstances. And, as he sits quietly on the front lawn of the Kane mansion and watches his infant son crawl around on the grass nearby, he can't help but wonder if B.J. will be considering the same thing thirty years from now...
About type of person that he'll become...
And the type of person that he needs to be in the future.
Evan: It's a good question, isn't it, son...?
Evan continues to address his thoughts, and his child as he watches B.J. bat a foam tennis ball across the lawn , and then giggle and squeal as he crawls after it.
Evan: I guess it's only natural to wonder how you'll react when you'll find yourself in the same position that I'm in, and watching your child enter the world and grow up before your eyes.
Will you wonder if they'll have any understanding of the person that you'll become, B.J.? Will you worry that your child will be unable to appreciate the type of person that you'll be, and maybe even hate you for the rest of their life?
How much will it concern you if that happens? How much stress is it going to cause you if the choice that you make and the person that you become might cause your children to distance themselves from you to the extent where communicating with them in any meaningful fashion is no longer a possibility?
Andrews lets out a sigh as watches his child crawl around without a care in the world.
Evan: I don't know if you're ever going to ask yourself these questions, B.J...But something tells me that if you're anything like your father, you probably will.
'Cause right now, I'm asking myself those very same questions...And, the thing that scares the hell out of me is that, right now, there's no possible way for any of them to be answered.
Really, the only thing that I can do is to wait and see what happens...and hope that when you come of age, you'll understand the reasons why I've become the person...The people...that I am.
Evan rises to his feet and reaches down so that he can scoop his son into his arms, smiling slightly as he listens to his son squeal with delight when he lifts him into the air.
Evan: You see, B.J., the person that you're looking at right now is Evan Andrews. This man is someone that fathered you, and who loves the hell out of you, and would do anything that's needed to ensure that you're provided with all the happiness that you could possibly want in your life.
B.J., as he reaches up to tentatively stroke the whiskers on his father's chin: Da...Dada! Dada!
Evan, smiling slightly: That's right. I am your Dad...
The smile on Evan's face slowly begins to fade as he continues to speak.
Evan: But I'm more than a loving father who wants the best for his son...
Yeah...There's a lot more to me than just that.
You see, B.J. there's a part of your father that's very different from the person who is cradling you in his arms.
There's a side of Evan Andrews that wants nothing more than to express the sense of disgust that he feels when he considers how certain individuals are inclined to act in his place of employment...And to do so in a manner that will leave them with no choice but to understand exactly what it is that he's trying to say.
This Sunday, I have another chance to express those emotions, at the expense of two men who, on the surface, seem to be very different from one another. Indeed, the real similarity between the two opponents that I'll meet in tag team action is that they're both considered to be among the elite in this profession, and that they both possess the given name of Xavier.
Yet, when I consider what motivates these two, and how they've approached the task of achieving their goals, I can't help but feel the same sense of disappointment.
In the case of Xavier Williams, I can't help but feel short-changed by the fact that I'll likely meet someone who bears little resemblance to the legendary crap-kicker who cut a swath of destruction through the ranks of New Championship Wrestling two years earlier.
It would have pleased me to test my ability against that competitor, B.J. I would have been thrilled to stand in ring center with him and unload our respective arsenals upon one another in an effort to lay one another low.
But, if the form that "The Black Jesus" has displayed is any indication, I won't be facing that person. I have feeling that I'll be facing the person who was dismissed by Brad last week without so much as a second thought. I'll be facing the man who seems content to do just enough to maintain some small amount of presence within the public spotlight, while paying mere lip service to the mantra of "rebuild, refocus, and regain".
That version of Xavier Williams doesn't stand a chance of withstanding my assault, and needs to be punished for having the gall to masquerade as the competitor who cut a swath of destruction through NCW a couple of years ago...
By now, a harder and colder edge has crept into the tone of Evan's voice as he puts his son back down on the grass and hands the ball to him, all the while continuing to voice the thoughts that are circulating through his mind.
Evan: Of course, he's not the only Xavier in this match that needs to be punished.
No...Xavier Cross also needs to be punished for his recent actions, too.
He needs to be held accountable the role that he played in the gangland style assaults committed against Brad Kane a few months back. He needs to be held responsible for aligning himself with the likes of Steve Awesome and Leonard Fox, even as he continues to question the validity of their actions.
Now, I'm certain that Cross would respond by claiming that his recent choices have paid dividends, and in fairness, there may be some merit to this argument. He is, after all, the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, and his recent profile has been raised as a result of joining the Front Office.
Yet, I can't help but wonder what might happen once his associates become envious of his current position. Once they've decided that he's no longer of any use, they'll be inclined to dispense with his services, and find someone else who may not be quite as inclined to second-guess their behavior during the course of his promotional addresses.
I think that, in time, Xavier Cross will find that the short term gain that he's experienced as of late will do little to alleviate the long-term pain that he'll feel from being targeted by those who are less than thrilled that he chose to sacrifice his principles in the name of "smart business" and "marketability".
Cross is about to get a small sampling of just how unpleasant will be when he steps inside the ring against me this week, and faces someone who is as athletic and technically proficient as he could ever hope to be in his career.
And, I guarantee that he won't enjoy this experience...
Not one little bit.
Evan Andrews looks up at the sky, which is starting to turn a darker shade of blue as dusk approaches, and then at his son as B.J. rises to his feet for a few seconds and smiles in his direction.
Evan: But I think the part of me that's The New Age Punisher will enjoy this experience. I think that he'll have a very good time at Ascension, because that will provide him with an opportunity to celebrate his existence.
And I think that's important to do that...I think it's important to stay true to yourself, and make others aware of who you are.
Because I would like to think that thirty years from now, B.J. ,when you're talking to your son about his grandfather, and telling him what kind of person he was, your words will sound something like this...
"You know something, son...Your grand dad may not have been perfect, and there was a part of him that a lot of people considered unpleasant...But all things considered, he was still honest about this and about who he was. And, at the end of the day, that's all you can really ask for, right?"
"...Right."
Evan whirls around and regards the sight of his wife standing there. with slight, resigned smile flickering across her lips.
Natalie: I just came out to tell you that there's still some birthday cake left over, Evan. You want any?
Evan: Sure...I think B.J. might to eat as well.
And, indeed, B.J.'s features have lit up at the sound of the "e-word", causing Evan to grin as he scoops him up into his arms. Evan and his wife begin to walk back inside, until Natalie stops and places a hand on his shoulder while addressing himself in a serious tone of voice.
Natalie: My love...I understand why you feel the need to acknowledge the part of you that's "The New Age Punisher"...And who knows? Maybe one day B.J. will, too..
But for now, I just think we should spend the rest of the day celebrating the fact that Evan exists Think you can do that for me..and for yourself as well?
Evan, nodding: Yeah...I can do that.
Natalie gives him a grateful smile as they resume their walk toward the mansion, and Evan's lips also turn upward as he stares down at the child in his arms..
Yeah...today he can celebrate the fact that he's become a husband and father. That shouldn't be much of a problem at all....
After all, he'll have plenty of chances to celebrate the fact that he's become the The New Punisher once more this Sunday...
And to do so in a manner that the two Xaviers will remember for quite some time to come.
On August 12th, 1980, Evan Alexander Andrews entered the world and took his first breath without any knowledge of who he was, or of what he might he might become in the future.
In that moment, it was conceivable that the newly born Evan could have grown up and become a criminal or crooked politician- and just as likely that he could have developed into a care giver or counselor who spent all his waking hours helping others in their time of need.
In the seconds that followed, Evan opened his mouth and began to cry; and in doing so he announced his arrival into the world that now surrounded him. In doing so, he let it be known that he had the potential to become anything that he damned well pleased.
That happened thirty years ago to this day, and Evan's spent much of this birthday thinking about that moment, and about how things could have turned out for him under other circumstances. And, as he sits quietly on the front lawn of the Kane mansion and watches his infant son crawl around on the grass nearby, he can't help but wonder if B.J. will be considering the same thing thirty years from now...
About type of person that he'll become...
And the type of person that he needs to be in the future.
Evan: It's a good question, isn't it, son...?
Evan continues to address his thoughts, and his child as he watches B.J. bat a foam tennis ball across the lawn , and then giggle and squeal as he crawls after it.
Evan: I guess it's only natural to wonder how you'll react when you'll find yourself in the same position that I'm in, and watching your child enter the world and grow up before your eyes.
Will you wonder if they'll have any understanding of the person that you'll become, B.J.? Will you worry that your child will be unable to appreciate the type of person that you'll be, and maybe even hate you for the rest of their life?
How much will it concern you if that happens? How much stress is it going to cause you if the choice that you make and the person that you become might cause your children to distance themselves from you to the extent where communicating with them in any meaningful fashion is no longer a possibility?
Andrews lets out a sigh as watches his child crawl around without a care in the world.
Evan: I don't know if you're ever going to ask yourself these questions, B.J...But something tells me that if you're anything like your father, you probably will.
'Cause right now, I'm asking myself those very same questions...And, the thing that scares the hell out of me is that, right now, there's no possible way for any of them to be answered.
Really, the only thing that I can do is to wait and see what happens...and hope that when you come of age, you'll understand the reasons why I've become the person...The people...that I am.
Evan rises to his feet and reaches down so that he can scoop his son into his arms, smiling slightly as he listens to his son squeal with delight when he lifts him into the air.
Evan: You see, B.J., the person that you're looking at right now is Evan Andrews. This man is someone that fathered you, and who loves the hell out of you, and would do anything that's needed to ensure that you're provided with all the happiness that you could possibly want in your life.
B.J., as he reaches up to tentatively stroke the whiskers on his father's chin: Da...Dada! Dada!
Evan, smiling slightly: That's right. I am your Dad...
The smile on Evan's face slowly begins to fade as he continues to speak.
Evan: But I'm more than a loving father who wants the best for his son...
Yeah...There's a lot more to me than just that.
You see, B.J. there's a part of your father that's very different from the person who is cradling you in his arms.
There's a side of Evan Andrews that wants nothing more than to express the sense of disgust that he feels when he considers how certain individuals are inclined to act in his place of employment...And to do so in a manner that will leave them with no choice but to understand exactly what it is that he's trying to say.
This Sunday, I have another chance to express those emotions, at the expense of two men who, on the surface, seem to be very different from one another. Indeed, the real similarity between the two opponents that I'll meet in tag team action is that they're both considered to be among the elite in this profession, and that they both possess the given name of Xavier.
Yet, when I consider what motivates these two, and how they've approached the task of achieving their goals, I can't help but feel the same sense of disappointment.
In the case of Xavier Williams, I can't help but feel short-changed by the fact that I'll likely meet someone who bears little resemblance to the legendary crap-kicker who cut a swath of destruction through the ranks of New Championship Wrestling two years earlier.
It would have pleased me to test my ability against that competitor, B.J. I would have been thrilled to stand in ring center with him and unload our respective arsenals upon one another in an effort to lay one another low.
But, if the form that "The Black Jesus" has displayed is any indication, I won't be facing that person. I have feeling that I'll be facing the person who was dismissed by Brad last week without so much as a second thought. I'll be facing the man who seems content to do just enough to maintain some small amount of presence within the public spotlight, while paying mere lip service to the mantra of "rebuild, refocus, and regain".
That version of Xavier Williams doesn't stand a chance of withstanding my assault, and needs to be punished for having the gall to masquerade as the competitor who cut a swath of destruction through NCW a couple of years ago...
By now, a harder and colder edge has crept into the tone of Evan's voice as he puts his son back down on the grass and hands the ball to him, all the while continuing to voice the thoughts that are circulating through his mind.
Evan: Of course, he's not the only Xavier in this match that needs to be punished.
No...Xavier Cross also needs to be punished for his recent actions, too.
He needs to be held accountable the role that he played in the gangland style assaults committed against Brad Kane a few months back. He needs to be held responsible for aligning himself with the likes of Steve Awesome and Leonard Fox, even as he continues to question the validity of their actions.
Now, I'm certain that Cross would respond by claiming that his recent choices have paid dividends, and in fairness, there may be some merit to this argument. He is, after all, the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, and his recent profile has been raised as a result of joining the Front Office.
Yet, I can't help but wonder what might happen once his associates become envious of his current position. Once they've decided that he's no longer of any use, they'll be inclined to dispense with his services, and find someone else who may not be quite as inclined to second-guess their behavior during the course of his promotional addresses.
I think that, in time, Xavier Cross will find that the short term gain that he's experienced as of late will do little to alleviate the long-term pain that he'll feel from being targeted by those who are less than thrilled that he chose to sacrifice his principles in the name of "smart business" and "marketability".
Cross is about to get a small sampling of just how unpleasant will be when he steps inside the ring against me this week, and faces someone who is as athletic and technically proficient as he could ever hope to be in his career.
And, I guarantee that he won't enjoy this experience...
Not one little bit.
Evan Andrews looks up at the sky, which is starting to turn a darker shade of blue as dusk approaches, and then at his son as B.J. rises to his feet for a few seconds and smiles in his direction.
Evan: But I think the part of me that's The New Age Punisher will enjoy this experience. I think that he'll have a very good time at Ascension, because that will provide him with an opportunity to celebrate his existence.
And I think that's important to do that...I think it's important to stay true to yourself, and make others aware of who you are.
Because I would like to think that thirty years from now, B.J. ,when you're talking to your son about his grandfather, and telling him what kind of person he was, your words will sound something like this...
"You know something, son...Your grand dad may not have been perfect, and there was a part of him that a lot of people considered unpleasant...But all things considered, he was still honest about this and about who he was. And, at the end of the day, that's all you can really ask for, right?"
"...Right."
Evan whirls around and regards the sight of his wife standing there. with slight, resigned smile flickering across her lips.
Natalie: I just came out to tell you that there's still some birthday cake left over, Evan. You want any?
Evan: Sure...I think B.J. might to eat as well.
And, indeed, B.J.'s features have lit up at the sound of the "e-word", causing Evan to grin as he scoops him up into his arms. Evan and his wife begin to walk back inside, until Natalie stops and places a hand on his shoulder while addressing himself in a serious tone of voice.
Natalie: My love...I understand why you feel the need to acknowledge the part of you that's "The New Age Punisher"...And who knows? Maybe one day B.J. will, too..
But for now, I just think we should spend the rest of the day celebrating the fact that Evan exists Think you can do that for me..and for yourself as well?
Evan, nodding: Yeah...I can do that.
Natalie gives him a grateful smile as they resume their walk toward the mansion, and Evan's lips also turn upward as he stares down at the child in his arms..
Yeah...today he can celebrate the fact that he's become a husband and father. That shouldn't be much of a problem at all....
After all, he'll have plenty of chances to celebrate the fact that he's become the The New Punisher once more this Sunday...
And to do so in a manner that the two Xaviers will remember for quite some time to come.