Post by Nathan Webb on Apr 7, 2012 20:02:17 GMT -6
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.
Vince Lombardi
During the first century A.D. the Roman Coliseum was built. The predominant purpose of this spectacular arena was for gladiatorial games to be held. It is said that in its inauguration, 9,000 wild animals alone were killed. In another period of decadence in 107 A.D. the Emperor at the time, Trajan, celebrated his victory over Dacia, which is now modern day Romania, with a spectacle that lasted 123 days and involved over 10,000 animals and 10,000 gladiators. The Coliseum itself is a place synonymous with bloodshed, built on the backs of gladiators who were mostly sent to their death, as appeasement to a population and an almost decadent society who loved its bloodshed.
The gladiators themselves came from different stations in life, but for the most part came from among the poorest of people. Some were slaves bought to be trained at an owners ludus. Some were soldiers who had defiled the name of Rome by doing such things as surrendering in battle but were given a second chance at glory. Then there were others, who were usually poor men, that wanted to change their station in life that almost became slaves in order to obtain wealth and immortality. Yes these men these men made the Coliseum, and made a society and their almost insatiable appetite for bloodshed.
There are still gladiators today performing for crowds that still love there violence. They compete in cages or rings, but their titles are different. Some are MMA fighters, using techniques modernized from that of ancient Greece, or Japan. Some are wrestlers whose techniques are as varied as the people who carry them out. The modern day gladiators fight for a myriad of reasons but unlike the ancient ones fight under strict rules and their matches never end to the death today.
These gladiators come from all stations in life, rich and poor and compete for many different reasons. Some to fight for the sake of fighting. Some compete to earn that fame wealth and glory. Some to continue a legacy of their family. Either way while the face, the moves, and the attire may have changed the spectacle, and the performance for the fans who want to see two people beat the living hell out of each other has not.
On Sunday, August the 8th, six men with enter the arena to face off in a modern day Coliseum. The match will end not in the death of another but by pin fall of submission. There will not be weapons in this match, but the cage will be a weapon of its own. The winner though will receive glory and live in the history books as the Gladiator for 2012, and also move on for a chance at the belt.
Yes, history has changed certain things, but in the end certain things human nature can never change.[/i][/color]
Friday, April 6th, 2012
San Diego, California
Home Base
Almost all the ideas we have about being a man or being a woman are so burdened with pain, anxiety, fear and self-doubt. For many of us, the confusion around this question is excruciating.
Andrew Cohen
This week was a quiet week around the house. We both woke up, we both trained (Rose as best as she could) and we both went home and took care of our own personal business. Now being quiet was normal for me but for Rose it was the opposite. She was always someone I could count on for keeping the mood lively, where I liked it or not, even though most of the time I needed it.
On this particular morning we sat around the breakfast table. Rose has cooked once again and I was eating it. Rose on the other hand was picking over own food. She just sat there like a kid waiting to be excused from the table. Even for me this was a hard sight to behold.
“Okay, what’s wrong sis?” I said putting down my fork and taking a sip of my coffee.
Rose just sat there looking over her plate of picked over food and shrugged. “Nothing, Mr. Nate.”
“Really? Nothing? I haven’t you heard you murmur anything but a slight peep. Something is obviously bugging you. Like you reached out to me in my time of need, I think it is my turn to return the favor.”
“Really it’s nothing Mr. Nate. Frankly I don’t want to get you out of your groove before your big match this week with me being a buzz kill this time.”
I smirked hearing this. I guess the shoe was definitely on the other foot this time around. “Believe me right now my “groove” is irrelevant. If something is wrong I want to help you out.”
Rose peered up from under her bangs, looking directly in my eyes. Putting down her own fork she finally relented. “I don’t know Mr. Nate. I don’t know if I am allowing things to toy with me, but I guess I feel like I am weighing you down. I am afraid that after what Miss Amy did me, I am just going to drag you down with me.”
I shook my head. “No that is what people like Miss Amy want you to believe.”
“Then why do I feel like this? Why do I feel like everything that was going so good in my life is going wrong Mr. Nate. It just feels like I am becoming a buzz kill to you. First my losses and then my arm. What is going wrong?”
I leaned back in my chair. This seen was oh so familiar to me so often in my life. It was like looking into a mirror except that the reflection looking me in eye, belonged to the body of Rose Acantha.
“You are going through the same thing I went through. You may FEEL that you are doing everything right and believe me in fact you are. You are going out to that ring and putting your heart and soul out there and I know for certain the fans and I appreciate you for it. We appreciate your sincerity your quirks, how you may seem naïve and insane to those who don’t know but in fact you are one of the purest people on the planet. We ALL appreciate you for it.”
“Then why do I feel like it going all wrong? Why Mr. Nate?”
“Because things aren’t going your way. Believe me I know. I was in the same spot you are in now earlier this year. I couldn’t get a win to save my life and not to mention the Ace was hounding me over it. But you know what, just like I did…you need to rise above it all. You need to hold true to who you are and not stoop to lows that Amy Marshall did when things weren’t going her way. You may be going through the same things but you need to be the antithesis of who Amy Marshall is in terms of values.”
Rose sighed and shook her head as a sign that she did know this. “I know Mr. Nate. I knew you would say this, but I don’t know what to do.”
I shook my own head. “I honestly can’t tell you that. I may be your big brother in all of this. I may be protective of you but I also know that this time you will need to figure out what you are going to do yourself.”
It was a hard truth but just as much as I wanted to keep her safe I knew I had to cut the cord. I needed to let her grown and learn and even make her own mistakes. She was a free woman and I needed to let her embrace this sense of freedom. She had faith in me during my struggles and right now I needed to have faith in her…my approach though had to be one that was hands off.
Saturday, April 07th, 2012
Interview with Carly Robbins –
Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain. Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash into his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life. Do not be concerned with escaping safely - lay your life before him.
Bruce Lee[/i]
(The following are excerpts of Carly Robbins’ interview with Nathan Webb, the day before his match in the Coliseum at Sovereign.)
Carly Robbins: Good Afternoon, Mr. Webb how are you doing today?
Nathan Webb: Doing surprisingly well. I guess you can say I am ready for Sunday.
Carly Robbins: Now I know you have what you have said to be the biggest match of your career, but I would like to start in another direction…I would like to ask about Rose. How is she doing?
Nathan Webb: She is doing all right. Despite her injury, doctors have said she will make a full recovery. From what I am hearing she could even be cleared right after the pay per view in May. So that is something I am sure she is looking forward to.
Carly Robbins: Any idea her feelings toward Amy Marshall?
Nathan Webb: Well, I think Rose is more confused than anything. There is her first taste of not only REAL adversity…but also adversity from someone who she called a friend and a mentor in this industry. Something like this doesn’t JUST happen and frankly right now Rose is just trying to reconcile her feeling on what happen to her.
Carly Robbins: Any idea what Rose plans on doing when she comes back?
Nathan Webb: Honestly I don’t. Again she is trying to reconcile everything…either way she will have a response when she gets back. What she will do though remains to be seen.
Carly Robbins: If you don’t mind me asking what are YOUR own feelings toward Amy Marshall right now?
Nathan Webb: Well whether she thinks it or not I know she is feeling the full impact of the fact that Karma is indeed a cruel bitch. She may think she can get more attention for herself simply by doing what she did to Rose. She may have thought she could break a low point of losses for herself…but look what has happened. She has been admonished by ever Starlet in the locker room and she is only on the upper card against Jasmine. What she had been hoping to accomplish since she broke Rose’s arms seems to not been happening. I guarantee she can only blame herself for what she has reaped.
Carly Robbins: Very well. Now let’s shift gears. Now you are in the Coliseum match. Most certainly you are the dark horse. Many said you have only gotten this match because of your favor with Kelly Knite and that you didn’t earn the right to be an entry into this match. What do you make of all this and what do you have to say to your critics and your detractors?
Nathan Webb: Well my detractors are more than happy to say what they want. Freedom of speech is a constitutional right. Again though when I said what I did to Kelly Knite…when I have spoken my mind on behalf of Kelly Knite I did not do it to try and curry favor for better matches. Either way when I did get the invite though I was not going to turn it down. I believe I have a real chance to do something special in this match…I know that not only I have a great chance to show that I can compete with the cream of the crop…and along with that I know I have a great chance at winning this match. I think tomorrow the world is going to witness the emergence of Nathan Webb. People may call it bravado and arrogance, but I believe it is the confidence that I have stringing together wins against folks like Alex Jones, Trent Helms and Steve Awesome.
Carly Robbins: Speaking of which you seem to relish the position you are in. You seem to embrace being the underdog and the dark horse in this match. Is this true and why?
Nathan Webb: It is very much true. I know I haven’t proven anything and being known as an underdog gives me that opportunity. As you may know I am a very competitive person and with that I actually take having to prove myself positively, and being known as the underdog means that people are paying attention and have that desire for me to step up to the plate and the same goes for myself. I want to prove myself and I want to show that I belong. You see being labeled the dark horse and the under dog is only making me one thing…which is hungry. Hungry to prove myself and show everyone that I am finally more than the potential I brought in.
Carly Robbins: So again you actually think you can win?
Nathan Webb: Of course. If I didn’t think I could win I should not be in this business.
Carly Robbins: Fair enough…so do you have a strategy for this match?
Nathan Webb: No for this type of match much like the Riot match there are too many variables to consider, so even if someone had the soundest of strategies they can consider it out the window by the time they enter. So my path to victory comes from not only being able to endure the pain I KNOW I will receive and take advantage of any opportunity I am given. That is going to be the key to victory for not only myself but for my opponents as well.
Carly Robbins: Speaking of your opponents I see that you haven’t been talking on them that much.
Nathan Webb: That is correct.
Carly Robbins: From what I was able to gather you sounded like you had a lot of respect for them. Is this true? Even for some like the Ace…someone who has tormented you?
Nathan Webb: Listen I not only don’t like Jake Conway…I loathe him with every fiber of my being. I think personally he is a terrible son of a bitch but that doesn’t mean I respect what he is capable of doing in the ring. He was the first grand slam champion. He can get stuff done so he does have actual ability. Yes he tried to ruin my life but the man can fight which is the reason I respect him but ONLY for his wrestling ability.
Carly Robbins: So if you don’t mind let me get your thoughts…what immediately comes to you head about your other opponents. First what do you think about Spike Kane?
Nathan Webb: Well, he is a hall of famer and for good reason. He may have had a chaotic background and hell he makes me look tame in terms of mental health, but in that ring he is a force to be reckoned with. He is known for being a master of the extreme and from what I see that is definitely true and this type of match is right up his alley. Again I have the utmost respect for him.
Carly Robbins: How about Falcon?
Nathan Webb: I guess you can say he is another man that is a great wrestler and much deserved of his spot in the hall of fame, but is still a prick in real life and probably one with a real identity crisis at that.
Carly Robbins: Harsh don’t you think?
Nathan Webb: Calling them like I see them…I mean he was the one that put on the mask and became the G-man. Either way like Spike and like the rest he is a definite threat in this match. I guess the added bonus for me facing him is by beating him I can toss a monkey off my back personally speaking…He is a man that has beaten me twice and frankly winning this match would definitely be a nice relief for me.
Carly Robbins: I see…so how about Ricky Johnson?
Nathan Webb: Again another great wrestler and in my books a future hall of famer. Also another wrestler who has beaten me before and one that I definitely need to get into the win column with the break into the top tier. Honestly I don’t have a real beef with him, and honestly don’t have any real words for…just to say that getting in the ring with him is going to be an honor.
Carly Robbins: And last but not least Will Washington?
Nathan Webb: I guess you can say the same. This will be the first time we have fought. Hopefully it won’t be the last. Like RJ I know he will be a hall of famer eventually and like RJ I have nothing bad to say about him…and that getting into the ring with him will be an honor.
Carly Robbins: So again with all these big names…can you honestly say that you are ready for this match?
Nathan Webb: Believe me Carly I am not just ready to fight…I am seriously ready to win.
I don't fear failure. I only fear the slowing up of the engine inside of me which is saying, "Keep going, someone must be on top, why not you?"
George Patton
Vince Lombardi
During the first century A.D. the Roman Coliseum was built. The predominant purpose of this spectacular arena was for gladiatorial games to be held. It is said that in its inauguration, 9,000 wild animals alone were killed. In another period of decadence in 107 A.D. the Emperor at the time, Trajan, celebrated his victory over Dacia, which is now modern day Romania, with a spectacle that lasted 123 days and involved over 10,000 animals and 10,000 gladiators. The Coliseum itself is a place synonymous with bloodshed, built on the backs of gladiators who were mostly sent to their death, as appeasement to a population and an almost decadent society who loved its bloodshed.
The gladiators themselves came from different stations in life, but for the most part came from among the poorest of people. Some were slaves bought to be trained at an owners ludus. Some were soldiers who had defiled the name of Rome by doing such things as surrendering in battle but were given a second chance at glory. Then there were others, who were usually poor men, that wanted to change their station in life that almost became slaves in order to obtain wealth and immortality. Yes these men these men made the Coliseum, and made a society and their almost insatiable appetite for bloodshed.
There are still gladiators today performing for crowds that still love there violence. They compete in cages or rings, but their titles are different. Some are MMA fighters, using techniques modernized from that of ancient Greece, or Japan. Some are wrestlers whose techniques are as varied as the people who carry them out. The modern day gladiators fight for a myriad of reasons but unlike the ancient ones fight under strict rules and their matches never end to the death today.
These gladiators come from all stations in life, rich and poor and compete for many different reasons. Some to fight for the sake of fighting. Some compete to earn that fame wealth and glory. Some to continue a legacy of their family. Either way while the face, the moves, and the attire may have changed the spectacle, and the performance for the fans who want to see two people beat the living hell out of each other has not.
On Sunday, August the 8th, six men with enter the arena to face off in a modern day Coliseum. The match will end not in the death of another but by pin fall of submission. There will not be weapons in this match, but the cage will be a weapon of its own. The winner though will receive glory and live in the history books as the Gladiator for 2012, and also move on for a chance at the belt.
Yes, history has changed certain things, but in the end certain things human nature can never change.[/i][/color]
Friday, April 6th, 2012
San Diego, California
Home Base
Almost all the ideas we have about being a man or being a woman are so burdened with pain, anxiety, fear and self-doubt. For many of us, the confusion around this question is excruciating.
Andrew Cohen
This week was a quiet week around the house. We both woke up, we both trained (Rose as best as she could) and we both went home and took care of our own personal business. Now being quiet was normal for me but for Rose it was the opposite. She was always someone I could count on for keeping the mood lively, where I liked it or not, even though most of the time I needed it.
On this particular morning we sat around the breakfast table. Rose has cooked once again and I was eating it. Rose on the other hand was picking over own food. She just sat there like a kid waiting to be excused from the table. Even for me this was a hard sight to behold.
“Okay, what’s wrong sis?” I said putting down my fork and taking a sip of my coffee.
Rose just sat there looking over her plate of picked over food and shrugged. “Nothing, Mr. Nate.”
“Really? Nothing? I haven’t you heard you murmur anything but a slight peep. Something is obviously bugging you. Like you reached out to me in my time of need, I think it is my turn to return the favor.”
“Really it’s nothing Mr. Nate. Frankly I don’t want to get you out of your groove before your big match this week with me being a buzz kill this time.”
I smirked hearing this. I guess the shoe was definitely on the other foot this time around. “Believe me right now my “groove” is irrelevant. If something is wrong I want to help you out.”
Rose peered up from under her bangs, looking directly in my eyes. Putting down her own fork she finally relented. “I don’t know Mr. Nate. I don’t know if I am allowing things to toy with me, but I guess I feel like I am weighing you down. I am afraid that after what Miss Amy did me, I am just going to drag you down with me.”
I shook my head. “No that is what people like Miss Amy want you to believe.”
“Then why do I feel like this? Why do I feel like everything that was going so good in my life is going wrong Mr. Nate. It just feels like I am becoming a buzz kill to you. First my losses and then my arm. What is going wrong?”
I leaned back in my chair. This seen was oh so familiar to me so often in my life. It was like looking into a mirror except that the reflection looking me in eye, belonged to the body of Rose Acantha.
“You are going through the same thing I went through. You may FEEL that you are doing everything right and believe me in fact you are. You are going out to that ring and putting your heart and soul out there and I know for certain the fans and I appreciate you for it. We appreciate your sincerity your quirks, how you may seem naïve and insane to those who don’t know but in fact you are one of the purest people on the planet. We ALL appreciate you for it.”
“Then why do I feel like it going all wrong? Why Mr. Nate?”
“Because things aren’t going your way. Believe me I know. I was in the same spot you are in now earlier this year. I couldn’t get a win to save my life and not to mention the Ace was hounding me over it. But you know what, just like I did…you need to rise above it all. You need to hold true to who you are and not stoop to lows that Amy Marshall did when things weren’t going her way. You may be going through the same things but you need to be the antithesis of who Amy Marshall is in terms of values.”
Rose sighed and shook her head as a sign that she did know this. “I know Mr. Nate. I knew you would say this, but I don’t know what to do.”
I shook my own head. “I honestly can’t tell you that. I may be your big brother in all of this. I may be protective of you but I also know that this time you will need to figure out what you are going to do yourself.”
It was a hard truth but just as much as I wanted to keep her safe I knew I had to cut the cord. I needed to let her grown and learn and even make her own mistakes. She was a free woman and I needed to let her embrace this sense of freedom. She had faith in me during my struggles and right now I needed to have faith in her…my approach though had to be one that was hands off.
Saturday, April 07th, 2012
Interview with Carly Robbins –
Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain. Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash into his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life. Do not be concerned with escaping safely - lay your life before him.
Bruce Lee[/i]
(The following are excerpts of Carly Robbins’ interview with Nathan Webb, the day before his match in the Coliseum at Sovereign.)
Carly Robbins: Good Afternoon, Mr. Webb how are you doing today?
Nathan Webb: Doing surprisingly well. I guess you can say I am ready for Sunday.
Carly Robbins: Now I know you have what you have said to be the biggest match of your career, but I would like to start in another direction…I would like to ask about Rose. How is she doing?
Nathan Webb: She is doing all right. Despite her injury, doctors have said she will make a full recovery. From what I am hearing she could even be cleared right after the pay per view in May. So that is something I am sure she is looking forward to.
Carly Robbins: Any idea her feelings toward Amy Marshall?
Nathan Webb: Well, I think Rose is more confused than anything. There is her first taste of not only REAL adversity…but also adversity from someone who she called a friend and a mentor in this industry. Something like this doesn’t JUST happen and frankly right now Rose is just trying to reconcile her feeling on what happen to her.
Carly Robbins: Any idea what Rose plans on doing when she comes back?
Nathan Webb: Honestly I don’t. Again she is trying to reconcile everything…either way she will have a response when she gets back. What she will do though remains to be seen.
Carly Robbins: If you don’t mind me asking what are YOUR own feelings toward Amy Marshall right now?
Nathan Webb: Well whether she thinks it or not I know she is feeling the full impact of the fact that Karma is indeed a cruel bitch. She may think she can get more attention for herself simply by doing what she did to Rose. She may have thought she could break a low point of losses for herself…but look what has happened. She has been admonished by ever Starlet in the locker room and she is only on the upper card against Jasmine. What she had been hoping to accomplish since she broke Rose’s arms seems to not been happening. I guarantee she can only blame herself for what she has reaped.
Carly Robbins: Very well. Now let’s shift gears. Now you are in the Coliseum match. Most certainly you are the dark horse. Many said you have only gotten this match because of your favor with Kelly Knite and that you didn’t earn the right to be an entry into this match. What do you make of all this and what do you have to say to your critics and your detractors?
Nathan Webb: Well my detractors are more than happy to say what they want. Freedom of speech is a constitutional right. Again though when I said what I did to Kelly Knite…when I have spoken my mind on behalf of Kelly Knite I did not do it to try and curry favor for better matches. Either way when I did get the invite though I was not going to turn it down. I believe I have a real chance to do something special in this match…I know that not only I have a great chance to show that I can compete with the cream of the crop…and along with that I know I have a great chance at winning this match. I think tomorrow the world is going to witness the emergence of Nathan Webb. People may call it bravado and arrogance, but I believe it is the confidence that I have stringing together wins against folks like Alex Jones, Trent Helms and Steve Awesome.
Carly Robbins: Speaking of which you seem to relish the position you are in. You seem to embrace being the underdog and the dark horse in this match. Is this true and why?
Nathan Webb: It is very much true. I know I haven’t proven anything and being known as an underdog gives me that opportunity. As you may know I am a very competitive person and with that I actually take having to prove myself positively, and being known as the underdog means that people are paying attention and have that desire for me to step up to the plate and the same goes for myself. I want to prove myself and I want to show that I belong. You see being labeled the dark horse and the under dog is only making me one thing…which is hungry. Hungry to prove myself and show everyone that I am finally more than the potential I brought in.
Carly Robbins: So again you actually think you can win?
Nathan Webb: Of course. If I didn’t think I could win I should not be in this business.
Carly Robbins: Fair enough…so do you have a strategy for this match?
Nathan Webb: No for this type of match much like the Riot match there are too many variables to consider, so even if someone had the soundest of strategies they can consider it out the window by the time they enter. So my path to victory comes from not only being able to endure the pain I KNOW I will receive and take advantage of any opportunity I am given. That is going to be the key to victory for not only myself but for my opponents as well.
Carly Robbins: Speaking of your opponents I see that you haven’t been talking on them that much.
Nathan Webb: That is correct.
Carly Robbins: From what I was able to gather you sounded like you had a lot of respect for them. Is this true? Even for some like the Ace…someone who has tormented you?
Nathan Webb: Listen I not only don’t like Jake Conway…I loathe him with every fiber of my being. I think personally he is a terrible son of a bitch but that doesn’t mean I respect what he is capable of doing in the ring. He was the first grand slam champion. He can get stuff done so he does have actual ability. Yes he tried to ruin my life but the man can fight which is the reason I respect him but ONLY for his wrestling ability.
Carly Robbins: So if you don’t mind let me get your thoughts…what immediately comes to you head about your other opponents. First what do you think about Spike Kane?
Nathan Webb: Well, he is a hall of famer and for good reason. He may have had a chaotic background and hell he makes me look tame in terms of mental health, but in that ring he is a force to be reckoned with. He is known for being a master of the extreme and from what I see that is definitely true and this type of match is right up his alley. Again I have the utmost respect for him.
Carly Robbins: How about Falcon?
Nathan Webb: I guess you can say he is another man that is a great wrestler and much deserved of his spot in the hall of fame, but is still a prick in real life and probably one with a real identity crisis at that.
Carly Robbins: Harsh don’t you think?
Nathan Webb: Calling them like I see them…I mean he was the one that put on the mask and became the G-man. Either way like Spike and like the rest he is a definite threat in this match. I guess the added bonus for me facing him is by beating him I can toss a monkey off my back personally speaking…He is a man that has beaten me twice and frankly winning this match would definitely be a nice relief for me.
Carly Robbins: I see…so how about Ricky Johnson?
Nathan Webb: Again another great wrestler and in my books a future hall of famer. Also another wrestler who has beaten me before and one that I definitely need to get into the win column with the break into the top tier. Honestly I don’t have a real beef with him, and honestly don’t have any real words for…just to say that getting in the ring with him is going to be an honor.
Carly Robbins: And last but not least Will Washington?
Nathan Webb: I guess you can say the same. This will be the first time we have fought. Hopefully it won’t be the last. Like RJ I know he will be a hall of famer eventually and like RJ I have nothing bad to say about him…and that getting into the ring with him will be an honor.
Carly Robbins: So again with all these big names…can you honestly say that you are ready for this match?
Nathan Webb: Believe me Carly I am not just ready to fight…I am seriously ready to win.
I don't fear failure. I only fear the slowing up of the engine inside of me which is saying, "Keep going, someone must be on top, why not you?"
George Patton