Post by Charlie Velez on Nov 27, 2010 21:27:07 GMT -6
They’ve been tied together for longer than they realize.
In high school, Charlie Velez was a world class amateur wrestler. Not just the best in his school, but also the best in the state. There would be scouts showing up to all of his matches, trying to get him to go to their school. If he continued wrestling, he could have been a gold medalist.
But it all came to an end in his senior year of school. In a country wide tournament, Charlie Velez was set to wrestle in the first round facing off against a highly touted high school wrestler who lived in Atlanta, Georgia. Scouts dreamt of this match for ages; two of the best they’ve ever seen finally getting into the ring with each other.
It would all be for naught though, as Charlie Velez would pull a hamstring while also playing baseball, unable to compete in the tournament.
His first round opponent would win the tournament.
His name was Victor Jones, now known to the nCw world as Venom.
For years, scouts and fans would wonder what it would be like if the two finally faced each other. It took years later, but they finally got their answer…in a different type of wrestling environment.
It all started behind the scenes; Charlie and Venom both signed contracts with the XHF around the same time, the two highly touted prospects ready to take the wrestling world by storm. They started at the bottom together, opening the card and always getting high praise from their peers. Mongo knew he had two future stars in his company.
But the rivalry would not start in the wrestling ring. During that time, Venom had come into contact with Tracy Brooks, the sister of Charlie Velez’s girlfriend, Annette Brooks. They would go on a few dates, and their relationship would blossom from there. Charlie was always rubbed the wrong way by Venom, and picturing him in his family drove the man crazy. So the only way they could settle the problem was in the wrestling ring.
They battled for years.
The two of them fought over Tag Team championships, Junior Heavyweight Championships, and more importantly, they fought for pride. The rivalry got so heated that in a Steel Cage match at Overheated, Venom injured Charlie Velez’s neck, a problem he still has to his day. The two had classic matches, a rivalry that will live on for ages.
But all of a sudden, something clicked. At a family reunion, the two crossed paths. Charlie Velez was rehabilitating from injury, in no desire to fight. He wanted to figure out how to make an impact, to return to the company with a bang. When he saw Venom, it was not anger that filled his body…it was ideas in his head. The two sat together, having a civil conversation. They both agreed that they needed to make a name for them, to change the landscape of wrestling.
So they created the Young Guns.
Along with James Mueller, the two took the federation by storm, first winning the Tag Team Championship tournament, before leading to Venom winning the World Championship. The group would go on to win every championship imaginable and make their mark on the wrestling industry. The two became great friends…
Until Venom stabbed Charlie in the back; snapping his neck into two. Charlie would spend months recovering, training to get revenge on Venom. Venom held the XHF with an iron fist, with nobody in sight ready to take him down.
The Charlie Velez returned.
At Night of Champions V, Charlie Velez got his revenge, throwing Venom off the top of the Tower crashing through the announce table. Charlie had won, finally getting his revenge.
But the two, held together by the women they love, would have to settle their differences. Being in the same family would mean they would have to learn to respect each other. It took a while, and it took a lot of bloodshed and tears, but Charlie and Venom finally settled their differences. They are now, brothers.
Which is why Venom is in the gym right now, working with Charlie for Sunday. Venom has been on the top of the mountain, World Champion…he knows what it takes, the obstacles of being Champion.
“I don’t know who it is Charlie, but I’m going to murder them when I find out.”
If you haven’t been following, the past couple of weeks Venom have been getting letters and messages from somebody. The person’s identity is unknown, but the message is clear.
Whoever it is, they’re watching him.
“We’ll find him, don’t worry.”
“Thing is I don’t even know if it’s a him, might be a her. Or an IT. WHAT IF IT’S AN IT CHARLIE?”
Charlie just cracks a smile, not necessarily laughing at the poor joke, but not making Venom feel bad either.
“You’re bringing the kids and Tracy Sunday, right?”
“Yeah, they’re all pretty excited. They rarely get to see their family, living across the country and all. It’ll be nice to see everybody there.”
“Yeah.”
Charlie just sits on the bench, looking out into the distance. There is nobody else in the gym, just Charlie and Venom. Charlie bought out the gym for a couple of hours so he can train for his match, but something stops him from working out.
“So…Sunday, huh?”
“I’m excited.”
“It’s all you man, I believe in you.”
“I believe in myself too. Just that…well, I’ve never been in this spot before, V. We ruled together, but I’ve never been World Champ. I want it more than anything, but can I be honest? I don’t know if they’ll accept me as their Champion.”
“Who, the fans?”
“No. The boys in the back. They still see me as an outsider, and hell, I know they don’t want me to win. They want their boy Dave to win it. V, I don’t care about them, but it would be nice to have respect, you know?”
Venom sighs, sitting down on the bench next to Charlie. He takes a sip of his Gatorade, before spilling the truth onto Charlie.
“Do you remember when I was champ?”
“You bring it up every day, but yes.”
“Did anybody like me? Hell, did anybody like the Young Guns?”
“No…they hated our guts.”
“Exactly, they hated us. Wanted to see us fall. But you know what? That was the fuel I needed. I wanted to see every hater in the back be disappointed that I still held that championship. Do you remember when I beat Harry? Everybody blew a gasket…they were sure it was his time, but I still walked out. Charlie, it’s not about being the most liked…”
He pats Charlie on the back.
“It’s about being the best.”
Charlie nods his head, taking in the bit of advice. He stares out the window, looking outside.
“I can do it.”
“I know you can man…but you know what I also need you to do? Call Zelda. If you haven’t been paying attention…she quit.”
Charlie doesn’t turn towards Venom, he just nods his head. He intends on calling…
…but he has a World Championship he has to train for.
“When I first started in this business, people wondered if I was the real deal.
I would walk into the ring, excited to just be given the opportunity. Me and my brother, we would put our bodies on the line doing stupid stunts just so we can get noticed. We screamed, we yelled at the top of our lungs so we can finally get our shot, until we finally got to the top. Unfortunately for Ryan, he couldn’t wait for the chance and walked away.
But they finally came calling, and they named me The Future.
As the future of this wrestling industry, I put on five star matches when ever given the chance. I would do anything for the company, from being thrown into matches against the lower card guys to put them over, or being fed to the main eventers. I was like Velcro, you could put me anywhere and I would still look awesome doing it. I worked harder than anybody in the back, and people took notice. They saw Charlie Velez, and they knew there was a superstar in the making.
I was a Prodigy.
Highly touted, I decided to take things into my own hands. My destiny was in my hands and my hands alone. I didn’t wait to be called, didn’t want to wait on line to get my chances. I grabbed it and I took it for myself. I climbed my way to the top, every rung on that ladder being pulled off because of how strong I’ve become. What I didn’t know was that my journey was only starting.
My Odyssey was only in the prologue.
I went through the bumps and bruises that every wrestler got put through; I got hurt, I got screwed, and I let some people down that I should have pleased. But then I added more stresses, the fear of not being perfect always does that to you. Even with that though, I discovered more about myself then I ever thought I could. You see, most of the time when people get thrown down the ladder, they stop and move on. Me though? Nah, you see I just kept climbing. I knew that I was destined for the better things, that I am the champion I think I am.
And that’s why I’m here today.
Why I’m still standing in front of all of you, finally getting ready to get my championship shot. You see, I understand now why I never got my championship shot. I know now why I was being ‘held back’, why I was being disrespected and never given the opportunity. I know why my head kept slamming into that glass ceiling, and why it wouldn’t break.
Because I wasn’t ready for it.
You see, I’ve spent months talking about how I should be World Champion, how this company can’t go on with failures like Phillip Burns and DDK as their World Champions. I spoke about how I needed to be champion, because I am the best wrestler this company has to offer. While it is true that I am the best, because let’s be honest, who’s better than me…I was missing something. I can’t explain what it is that I was missing; it’s that something that makes you know that you’re ready. Trust me; Dave Holland probably felt it a month ago. Adam Knite knows it, Falcon knows it…all of the champions know it. But I’ve finally found it.
My journey for being World Champion is almost at an end.
I can take that next step now; I can go to the next level. I am ready to become the champion that this federation needs, and this Sunday at Breaking Away I plan on ending this journey and finally becoming the champion of the World. Dave Holland gave us a little history lesson the other day, comparing the World Championship to the city of Jerusalem; the holy land, a paradise for some. He noted that we all wanted to stake claim to the championship, just like the wars that try to claim that land. We’re at a war Dave, only one can win…
Or we can have it last forever.
Dave Holland, we can get into symbolism all we want; can try to be cute and draw connections from real life situations to the one’s we’re dealing with now. We can walk off the trail, finding cute comparisons and using them to explain our history. But it doesn’t matter in the end. Our symbols, the words we say, the connections we try to make…they’re all for naught. In the end they’re just symbols, words, and connections. What matters are our actions; the ones we will take inside of that wrestling ring this Sunday. Dave Holland, the nCw World Champion, you didn’t make your way to the top by symbols…you did it because you got into the ring and you beat your opponents. You defeated even me to get to that championship.
I can call it luck all I want, but we all know what really happened.
I got beat.
Period.
I wasn’t ready for my role, I wasn’t ready to be World Champion because I didn’t understand, I couldn’t digest the meaning of being World Heavyweight Champion. It was all simple; it was all easy for me to remember. Maybe Angel was right, maybe I did just see this as another notch in my belt. But I’ve learned now. The determination in my stomach is fueling me to the top, it’s fueling me to finally go out and grab it and take it for myself. Dave, you’re a fantastic wrestler. Maybe one of the best in the world, and you has the championship belt to prove it. You’re as determined as I am; you want it as much as I do. Do you want to know the difference though?
I will die to be in your spot.
You walk around, proud as can be as World Champion. You take pride in being the champion, because you’ve been there since the beginning, you’re a legend. You can take a dump in the middle of a hallway and people will applaud your actions. You love representing the company. You know that no matter what happens this Sunday, whether it’s win or lose, you’ll be loved. I’m not in that same boat. I’m not liked like you are Dave, I’m not respected. People look at me and you know what they see? They see the cocky, arrogant asshole who loves talking about how great he is. They take me seriously, but do they want me as their champion? Can they live with Charlie Velez as their World Champion…and if I lose, will they even respect me?
The answer is simply, no.
They’ll talk about me, they’ll tell stick their noses up and boast about how they were right, that Charlie Velez really is a nobody. I won't let that happen, Dave. You can take the hit of being a loser, because they’ll love everything you do.
I need this more than you Dave.
I need it more than you ever will.
When we fight this Sunday, it’s not just a battle of the World title. They hell I put you through for a month is nothing in compared to what you did to me. When you beat me Dave, I couldn’t sleep. I stayed up for days, trying to figure out what I did wrong. It was only until recently I figured out everything, but boy…for that month you put me through, the pain I inflict on you will be pure bliss.
Because I am my father’s son. My father wanted perfection; he wanted me to become the best man the world can ever see. He knew that I had the potential to change the world for the better. Every night I think about the lessons he taught me, how he always told me that I had to go above and beyond my abilities to get everything I wanted. He told me I could throw money at it, but I wouldn’t learn anything. I would just…be buying it. He told me hard work and determination is the only way I can get what I wanted, and there’s nothing more I want then this championship.
I’ve gone through hell, Dave. They say you don’t really appreciate being on top of the mountain until you’ve been all the way at the bottom, and trust me I’ve been there. In my wrestling career I’ve had many lows; there was a time where I wasn’t sure I wasn’t going to continue to wrestle. With a neck brace thanks to my best friend, I was just going to quit and walk out…but I knew that I had a purpose. That my career couldn’t end at the note, so I scratched and clawed and learned more about myself than I could ever learn. I came back and it was a new me, a Charlie Velez that you see today. The man determined to be World Champion.
My life has been building up to this moment. Ever since I was born and the doctor picked me up, he knew that he had just watched the birth of greatness. Every teacher I ever had knew about my potential. Every promotion I walked into knew they had a future World Champion on their roster. Every fan knows that when I walk into the ring, they will experience greatness.
It’s not being cocky.
It’s not being arrogant.
It’s being truthful. It’s all I try to be Dave. Even if it’s not what you want to hear, even if it’s what gets me booed…I try to tell it like it is.
Because it’s not about being the most liked.
It’s about being the best.
It’s a life lesson that took me twenty six years to learn.
I’m going to teach it to you this Sunday.
Don’t go crazy about it; don’t pay me back, just
Thank Me Later.”
He called her, told her to come back.
If you’ve been paying attention, she did.
But to Charlie, it’s not on his mind now.
He sees his family, every available member of the Velez family, boarding a private jet to Canada.
He sees his brother in law, the man he’s gone to war with.
He sees his brother, his best friend.
He sees his sons, and thinks about how he wants them to grow up like he did.
He sees his beautiful wife, the woman he loves the most.
He sees his mother, the woman who never left his side and kept him close when he needed it the most.
He sees an empty seat, where his father would sit. The only thing running through his mind is how proud he would be right now to watch his son.
When he closes his eyes he sees…
He sees destiny.
He sees the people who helped brought him to his point. The father who pushed him, the mother who helped him, the wife who loved him, the brother who stayed by his side, the brother in law that kept the fire alive and the children that motivates him every day.
He sees them all.
He knows that he’s not just fighting for himself on Sunday.
He’s fighting for them.
Without them there is no Odyssey.
His Odyssey.
In high school, Charlie Velez was a world class amateur wrestler. Not just the best in his school, but also the best in the state. There would be scouts showing up to all of his matches, trying to get him to go to their school. If he continued wrestling, he could have been a gold medalist.
But it all came to an end in his senior year of school. In a country wide tournament, Charlie Velez was set to wrestle in the first round facing off against a highly touted high school wrestler who lived in Atlanta, Georgia. Scouts dreamt of this match for ages; two of the best they’ve ever seen finally getting into the ring with each other.
It would all be for naught though, as Charlie Velez would pull a hamstring while also playing baseball, unable to compete in the tournament.
His first round opponent would win the tournament.
His name was Victor Jones, now known to the nCw world as Venom.
For years, scouts and fans would wonder what it would be like if the two finally faced each other. It took years later, but they finally got their answer…in a different type of wrestling environment.
It all started behind the scenes; Charlie and Venom both signed contracts with the XHF around the same time, the two highly touted prospects ready to take the wrestling world by storm. They started at the bottom together, opening the card and always getting high praise from their peers. Mongo knew he had two future stars in his company.
But the rivalry would not start in the wrestling ring. During that time, Venom had come into contact with Tracy Brooks, the sister of Charlie Velez’s girlfriend, Annette Brooks. They would go on a few dates, and their relationship would blossom from there. Charlie was always rubbed the wrong way by Venom, and picturing him in his family drove the man crazy. So the only way they could settle the problem was in the wrestling ring.
They battled for years.
The two of them fought over Tag Team championships, Junior Heavyweight Championships, and more importantly, they fought for pride. The rivalry got so heated that in a Steel Cage match at Overheated, Venom injured Charlie Velez’s neck, a problem he still has to his day. The two had classic matches, a rivalry that will live on for ages.
But all of a sudden, something clicked. At a family reunion, the two crossed paths. Charlie Velez was rehabilitating from injury, in no desire to fight. He wanted to figure out how to make an impact, to return to the company with a bang. When he saw Venom, it was not anger that filled his body…it was ideas in his head. The two sat together, having a civil conversation. They both agreed that they needed to make a name for them, to change the landscape of wrestling.
So they created the Young Guns.
Along with James Mueller, the two took the federation by storm, first winning the Tag Team Championship tournament, before leading to Venom winning the World Championship. The group would go on to win every championship imaginable and make their mark on the wrestling industry. The two became great friends…
Until Venom stabbed Charlie in the back; snapping his neck into two. Charlie would spend months recovering, training to get revenge on Venom. Venom held the XHF with an iron fist, with nobody in sight ready to take him down.
The Charlie Velez returned.
At Night of Champions V, Charlie Velez got his revenge, throwing Venom off the top of the Tower crashing through the announce table. Charlie had won, finally getting his revenge.
But the two, held together by the women they love, would have to settle their differences. Being in the same family would mean they would have to learn to respect each other. It took a while, and it took a lot of bloodshed and tears, but Charlie and Venom finally settled their differences. They are now, brothers.
Which is why Venom is in the gym right now, working with Charlie for Sunday. Venom has been on the top of the mountain, World Champion…he knows what it takes, the obstacles of being Champion.
“I don’t know who it is Charlie, but I’m going to murder them when I find out.”
If you haven’t been following, the past couple of weeks Venom have been getting letters and messages from somebody. The person’s identity is unknown, but the message is clear.
Whoever it is, they’re watching him.
“We’ll find him, don’t worry.”
“Thing is I don’t even know if it’s a him, might be a her. Or an IT. WHAT IF IT’S AN IT CHARLIE?”
Charlie just cracks a smile, not necessarily laughing at the poor joke, but not making Venom feel bad either.
“You’re bringing the kids and Tracy Sunday, right?”
“Yeah, they’re all pretty excited. They rarely get to see their family, living across the country and all. It’ll be nice to see everybody there.”
“Yeah.”
Charlie just sits on the bench, looking out into the distance. There is nobody else in the gym, just Charlie and Venom. Charlie bought out the gym for a couple of hours so he can train for his match, but something stops him from working out.
“So…Sunday, huh?”
“I’m excited.”
“It’s all you man, I believe in you.”
“I believe in myself too. Just that…well, I’ve never been in this spot before, V. We ruled together, but I’ve never been World Champ. I want it more than anything, but can I be honest? I don’t know if they’ll accept me as their Champion.”
“Who, the fans?”
“No. The boys in the back. They still see me as an outsider, and hell, I know they don’t want me to win. They want their boy Dave to win it. V, I don’t care about them, but it would be nice to have respect, you know?”
Venom sighs, sitting down on the bench next to Charlie. He takes a sip of his Gatorade, before spilling the truth onto Charlie.
“Do you remember when I was champ?”
“You bring it up every day, but yes.”
“Did anybody like me? Hell, did anybody like the Young Guns?”
“No…they hated our guts.”
“Exactly, they hated us. Wanted to see us fall. But you know what? That was the fuel I needed. I wanted to see every hater in the back be disappointed that I still held that championship. Do you remember when I beat Harry? Everybody blew a gasket…they were sure it was his time, but I still walked out. Charlie, it’s not about being the most liked…”
He pats Charlie on the back.
“It’s about being the best.”
Charlie nods his head, taking in the bit of advice. He stares out the window, looking outside.
“I can do it.”
“I know you can man…but you know what I also need you to do? Call Zelda. If you haven’t been paying attention…she quit.”
Charlie doesn’t turn towards Venom, he just nods his head. He intends on calling…
…but he has a World Championship he has to train for.
“When I first started in this business, people wondered if I was the real deal.
I would walk into the ring, excited to just be given the opportunity. Me and my brother, we would put our bodies on the line doing stupid stunts just so we can get noticed. We screamed, we yelled at the top of our lungs so we can finally get our shot, until we finally got to the top. Unfortunately for Ryan, he couldn’t wait for the chance and walked away.
But they finally came calling, and they named me The Future.
As the future of this wrestling industry, I put on five star matches when ever given the chance. I would do anything for the company, from being thrown into matches against the lower card guys to put them over, or being fed to the main eventers. I was like Velcro, you could put me anywhere and I would still look awesome doing it. I worked harder than anybody in the back, and people took notice. They saw Charlie Velez, and they knew there was a superstar in the making.
I was a Prodigy.
Highly touted, I decided to take things into my own hands. My destiny was in my hands and my hands alone. I didn’t wait to be called, didn’t want to wait on line to get my chances. I grabbed it and I took it for myself. I climbed my way to the top, every rung on that ladder being pulled off because of how strong I’ve become. What I didn’t know was that my journey was only starting.
My Odyssey was only in the prologue.
I went through the bumps and bruises that every wrestler got put through; I got hurt, I got screwed, and I let some people down that I should have pleased. But then I added more stresses, the fear of not being perfect always does that to you. Even with that though, I discovered more about myself then I ever thought I could. You see, most of the time when people get thrown down the ladder, they stop and move on. Me though? Nah, you see I just kept climbing. I knew that I was destined for the better things, that I am the champion I think I am.
And that’s why I’m here today.
Why I’m still standing in front of all of you, finally getting ready to get my championship shot. You see, I understand now why I never got my championship shot. I know now why I was being ‘held back’, why I was being disrespected and never given the opportunity. I know why my head kept slamming into that glass ceiling, and why it wouldn’t break.
Because I wasn’t ready for it.
You see, I’ve spent months talking about how I should be World Champion, how this company can’t go on with failures like Phillip Burns and DDK as their World Champions. I spoke about how I needed to be champion, because I am the best wrestler this company has to offer. While it is true that I am the best, because let’s be honest, who’s better than me…I was missing something. I can’t explain what it is that I was missing; it’s that something that makes you know that you’re ready. Trust me; Dave Holland probably felt it a month ago. Adam Knite knows it, Falcon knows it…all of the champions know it. But I’ve finally found it.
My journey for being World Champion is almost at an end.
I can take that next step now; I can go to the next level. I am ready to become the champion that this federation needs, and this Sunday at Breaking Away I plan on ending this journey and finally becoming the champion of the World. Dave Holland gave us a little history lesson the other day, comparing the World Championship to the city of Jerusalem; the holy land, a paradise for some. He noted that we all wanted to stake claim to the championship, just like the wars that try to claim that land. We’re at a war Dave, only one can win…
Or we can have it last forever.
Dave Holland, we can get into symbolism all we want; can try to be cute and draw connections from real life situations to the one’s we’re dealing with now. We can walk off the trail, finding cute comparisons and using them to explain our history. But it doesn’t matter in the end. Our symbols, the words we say, the connections we try to make…they’re all for naught. In the end they’re just symbols, words, and connections. What matters are our actions; the ones we will take inside of that wrestling ring this Sunday. Dave Holland, the nCw World Champion, you didn’t make your way to the top by symbols…you did it because you got into the ring and you beat your opponents. You defeated even me to get to that championship.
I can call it luck all I want, but we all know what really happened.
I got beat.
Period.
I wasn’t ready for my role, I wasn’t ready to be World Champion because I didn’t understand, I couldn’t digest the meaning of being World Heavyweight Champion. It was all simple; it was all easy for me to remember. Maybe Angel was right, maybe I did just see this as another notch in my belt. But I’ve learned now. The determination in my stomach is fueling me to the top, it’s fueling me to finally go out and grab it and take it for myself. Dave, you’re a fantastic wrestler. Maybe one of the best in the world, and you has the championship belt to prove it. You’re as determined as I am; you want it as much as I do. Do you want to know the difference though?
I will die to be in your spot.
You walk around, proud as can be as World Champion. You take pride in being the champion, because you’ve been there since the beginning, you’re a legend. You can take a dump in the middle of a hallway and people will applaud your actions. You love representing the company. You know that no matter what happens this Sunday, whether it’s win or lose, you’ll be loved. I’m not in that same boat. I’m not liked like you are Dave, I’m not respected. People look at me and you know what they see? They see the cocky, arrogant asshole who loves talking about how great he is. They take me seriously, but do they want me as their champion? Can they live with Charlie Velez as their World Champion…and if I lose, will they even respect me?
The answer is simply, no.
They’ll talk about me, they’ll tell stick their noses up and boast about how they were right, that Charlie Velez really is a nobody. I won't let that happen, Dave. You can take the hit of being a loser, because they’ll love everything you do.
I need this more than you Dave.
I need it more than you ever will.
When we fight this Sunday, it’s not just a battle of the World title. They hell I put you through for a month is nothing in compared to what you did to me. When you beat me Dave, I couldn’t sleep. I stayed up for days, trying to figure out what I did wrong. It was only until recently I figured out everything, but boy…for that month you put me through, the pain I inflict on you will be pure bliss.
Because I am my father’s son. My father wanted perfection; he wanted me to become the best man the world can ever see. He knew that I had the potential to change the world for the better. Every night I think about the lessons he taught me, how he always told me that I had to go above and beyond my abilities to get everything I wanted. He told me I could throw money at it, but I wouldn’t learn anything. I would just…be buying it. He told me hard work and determination is the only way I can get what I wanted, and there’s nothing more I want then this championship.
I’ve gone through hell, Dave. They say you don’t really appreciate being on top of the mountain until you’ve been all the way at the bottom, and trust me I’ve been there. In my wrestling career I’ve had many lows; there was a time where I wasn’t sure I wasn’t going to continue to wrestle. With a neck brace thanks to my best friend, I was just going to quit and walk out…but I knew that I had a purpose. That my career couldn’t end at the note, so I scratched and clawed and learned more about myself than I could ever learn. I came back and it was a new me, a Charlie Velez that you see today. The man determined to be World Champion.
My life has been building up to this moment. Ever since I was born and the doctor picked me up, he knew that he had just watched the birth of greatness. Every teacher I ever had knew about my potential. Every promotion I walked into knew they had a future World Champion on their roster. Every fan knows that when I walk into the ring, they will experience greatness.
It’s not being cocky.
It’s not being arrogant.
It’s being truthful. It’s all I try to be Dave. Even if it’s not what you want to hear, even if it’s what gets me booed…I try to tell it like it is.
Because it’s not about being the most liked.
It’s about being the best.
It’s a life lesson that took me twenty six years to learn.
I’m going to teach it to you this Sunday.
Don’t go crazy about it; don’t pay me back, just
Thank Me Later.”
He called her, told her to come back.
If you’ve been paying attention, she did.
But to Charlie, it’s not on his mind now.
He sees his family, every available member of the Velez family, boarding a private jet to Canada.
He sees his brother in law, the man he’s gone to war with.
He sees his brother, his best friend.
He sees his sons, and thinks about how he wants them to grow up like he did.
He sees his beautiful wife, the woman he loves the most.
He sees his mother, the woman who never left his side and kept him close when he needed it the most.
He sees an empty seat, where his father would sit. The only thing running through his mind is how proud he would be right now to watch his son.
When he closes his eyes he sees…
He sees destiny.
He sees the people who helped brought him to his point. The father who pushed him, the mother who helped him, the wife who loved him, the brother who stayed by his side, the brother in law that kept the fire alive and the children that motivates him every day.
He sees them all.
He knows that he’s not just fighting for himself on Sunday.
He’s fighting for them.
Without them there is no Odyssey.
His Odyssey.