Post by Ricky Johnson on Mar 13, 2011 6:14:26 GMT -6
It's always the same.
Those few. They never leave.
For four long years, they keep coming back.
As I've scratched and clawed my way through the ranks here in nCw, they have always been there.
You know what I'm talking about.
The doubters.
The guys who will never let you rest a moment without doubting you and your abilities.
I've always listened to them. As a matter of fact, I've made it a point to remember them, and thrown in back in their faces when I come out on top like I always seem to do.
But four years is a long time.
Every man has his breaking point.
Now, as I hear those cat calls and heckles I now begin to wonder...
Are they right?
Am I doomed to be the bridesmaid forever?
Am I going to become the Rodney Dangerfield of nCw?
The question has now really become for me: how much do I have to do?
I've already made history in nCw by becoming the first man to hold 3 then 4 different championships.
Isn't the enough?
No? How about ending two careers?
Still not good enough?
There is no pleasing you, is there?
For everything, I've done, there's 50 guys who just doubt over and over.
I just reminds me of a story.
The same thing happened to Muhammad Ali.
In 1964, nobody gave Ali a chance against the champion, Sonny Liston.
And then, Ali beat him.
He conquered the big bully.
But there were still doubters.
They were still around in 1974, when Ali faced George Foreman.
Another huge, unstoppable monster.
And Ali beat him too.
But do I compare myself to the greatest fighter to ever live?
No. But there are similarities.
But I don't have a bully to defeat in the ring.
Not this Sunday.
There no monster waiting for me.
You know what there is?
Me.
I fully understand what holds me back.
Me.
I do it to myself.
Sure, there's another guy in the ring with me, but I know my own capabilities.
Take my opponent, Tempstead.
Should there even be a question of me beating him this Sunday? Honestly?
No.
But for some reason, there is.
It's me. I've been keeping guys like him in front of me for no reason.
I'm better than this.
I know it.
You know it.
He knows it.
I shouldn't even be sweating this match.
I should be able to just go in the ring, and wipe the floor with this clown.
There will always be detractors, but there shouldn't be as many as there are now.
And I'm not slighting Tempstead in any way, he is a great athlete.
But let's face facts, someone like me, who can show flashes of brilliance, this should be like a warm-up.
I should be challenging Charlie Velez for the world title right now, not fighting on Wired against Tempstead.
But It's my fault.
I'm sunk to this low.
So low in fact, that people are calling this something I've never had in my entire career.
A MUST WIN.
Must win?
Meaning, if I can't beat Tempstead this Sunday, everything has been for nothing.
Accomplishments, accolades, all of it.
No one is going to care.
Have the doubters won?
Has it come to the point where if Ricky Johnson can't win, he may never win again?
...
Why in the hell am I questioning this?
Why am I doubting myself.
I am Ricky Johnson, for crying out loud.
I may not be making headlines every week, but this, this is a great place to start.
Tempstead, you can shoot your mouth off all you like. Whatever makes you feel confident, or helps you cope with reality.
Because the reality is, once the lights are on, the bell rings, and you look across at me, you will know that this...this is my domain.
This is my house. This is what I do. Better than everyone else. This is where I am free of all doubters, hecklers, and critics. I hear nothing in the ring. They cannot touch me. And Tempstead, neither can you.
The only person who can stop me, has been me.
It's always been me.
But, unfortunately for you, I am no longer restraining myself.
This is no make or break match, for either one of us, but those plans you have of challenging for championships, and other future goals, those are going up in smoke.
Do you doubt that, Tempstead?
Do you doubt me?
Am I just plain ol' Ricky Johnson to you?
That's good.
You won't be the first, nor the last to do so.
This time, it will only cost you a victory.
But in the end, you will still gain something.
You will learn a valuable lesson:
DO.
NOT.
DOUBT.
ME.
It can hazardous to your career.
Those few. They never leave.
For four long years, they keep coming back.
As I've scratched and clawed my way through the ranks here in nCw, they have always been there.
You know what I'm talking about.
The doubters.
The guys who will never let you rest a moment without doubting you and your abilities.
I've always listened to them. As a matter of fact, I've made it a point to remember them, and thrown in back in their faces when I come out on top like I always seem to do.
But four years is a long time.
Every man has his breaking point.
Now, as I hear those cat calls and heckles I now begin to wonder...
Are they right?
Am I doomed to be the bridesmaid forever?
Am I going to become the Rodney Dangerfield of nCw?
The question has now really become for me: how much do I have to do?
I've already made history in nCw by becoming the first man to hold 3 then 4 different championships.
Isn't the enough?
No? How about ending two careers?
Still not good enough?
There is no pleasing you, is there?
For everything, I've done, there's 50 guys who just doubt over and over.
I just reminds me of a story.
The same thing happened to Muhammad Ali.
In 1964, nobody gave Ali a chance against the champion, Sonny Liston.
And then, Ali beat him.
He conquered the big bully.
But there were still doubters.
They were still around in 1974, when Ali faced George Foreman.
Another huge, unstoppable monster.
And Ali beat him too.
But do I compare myself to the greatest fighter to ever live?
No. But there are similarities.
But I don't have a bully to defeat in the ring.
Not this Sunday.
There no monster waiting for me.
You know what there is?
Me.
I fully understand what holds me back.
Me.
I do it to myself.
Sure, there's another guy in the ring with me, but I know my own capabilities.
Take my opponent, Tempstead.
Should there even be a question of me beating him this Sunday? Honestly?
No.
But for some reason, there is.
It's me. I've been keeping guys like him in front of me for no reason.
I'm better than this.
I know it.
You know it.
He knows it.
I shouldn't even be sweating this match.
I should be able to just go in the ring, and wipe the floor with this clown.
There will always be detractors, but there shouldn't be as many as there are now.
And I'm not slighting Tempstead in any way, he is a great athlete.
But let's face facts, someone like me, who can show flashes of brilliance, this should be like a warm-up.
I should be challenging Charlie Velez for the world title right now, not fighting on Wired against Tempstead.
But It's my fault.
I'm sunk to this low.
So low in fact, that people are calling this something I've never had in my entire career.
A MUST WIN.
Must win?
Meaning, if I can't beat Tempstead this Sunday, everything has been for nothing.
Accomplishments, accolades, all of it.
No one is going to care.
Have the doubters won?
Has it come to the point where if Ricky Johnson can't win, he may never win again?
...
Why in the hell am I questioning this?
Why am I doubting myself.
I am Ricky Johnson, for crying out loud.
I may not be making headlines every week, but this, this is a great place to start.
Tempstead, you can shoot your mouth off all you like. Whatever makes you feel confident, or helps you cope with reality.
Because the reality is, once the lights are on, the bell rings, and you look across at me, you will know that this...this is my domain.
This is my house. This is what I do. Better than everyone else. This is where I am free of all doubters, hecklers, and critics. I hear nothing in the ring. They cannot touch me. And Tempstead, neither can you.
The only person who can stop me, has been me.
It's always been me.
But, unfortunately for you, I am no longer restraining myself.
This is no make or break match, for either one of us, but those plans you have of challenging for championships, and other future goals, those are going up in smoke.
Do you doubt that, Tempstead?
Do you doubt me?
Am I just plain ol' Ricky Johnson to you?
That's good.
You won't be the first, nor the last to do so.
This time, it will only cost you a victory.
But in the end, you will still gain something.
You will learn a valuable lesson:
DO.
NOT.
DOUBT.
ME.
It can hazardous to your career.