Becoming a Kid Again

“When you grow up, you can be whatever you want.” Does that sound familiar? You probably heard this from your parents during your elementary school years.  However, as you grow up, you realize that the same people who told you that Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and the tooth fairy were real told you that you can be whatever you want.  As you enter middle school or high school you realize that it’s going to be a lot harder to be Batman than you thought it was in the third grade.  The truth is you can still be whatever you want within reason.  

I’d like to introduce to you a friend of mine.  He’s been around for quite some time and you’ve probably met or at least heard of him.  Some people say that he’s died and no longer exists but I still think he’s out there waiting for someone to find him and believe that he is real again.  His name is the American Dream.  Yes, I still believe that the American Dream is still alive and well in our country.  Many people think that this idea has died and gone away when in actuality they’ve given up hope or have just stopped trying.

The American Dream is not the same for everyone.  For some you could have a job that has caused you to move around quite a bit but on the side you pursue you dream that your parents shot down long ago.  For others, it could be the standard life with a spouse, kids, a pet and a house.  Personally, it’s to become something no one thinks I can be.  My American Dream is to prove everyone wrong.  I want to be a professional wrestler.  I want to make a name for myself and be remembered.

The trick to life isn’t to live by the phrase “the kid with the most toys wins” but to be whatever you want; to live your American Dream. So go out into the world, find something that you feel passionate about and want to chase even after you’ve grabbed a hold of it.  Go out there and become a kid again; be whatever you want.  Go and live your American Dream.

The Effect of Nike Pro Combat Uniforms

Recently, many college football teams who use Nike as their supplier for athletic apparel have been wearing what is known as a "Nike Pro Combat" uniform.  These uniforms are meant for a once a season, one time usage for a major game on the team's schedule.  An example this season of teams who have already worn a Nike Pro Combat uniform would be Boise State, Georgia, and Oregon.  Stanford, LSU, Ohio State, Michigan State, Navy and Army will also wear one later this football season.

Ever since the introduction of the Nike Pro Combat uniforms, a discussion is stirred up every year about the necessity of these uniforms.  One argument states that the uniforms are unnecessary because most of theses special uniforms made by Nike aren't very appealing.  However, this argument is made by the seasoned businessman who still believes Notre Dame uniforms are relevant.  Unfortunately for you, Mr. Businessman, these uniforms aren't meant to catch your eye.  They're meant to catch the eye of your seventeen year old son who is deciding on where he should go to play football next fall.

Picture yourself as a high school football player in his senior year.  You've received a scholarship from so many schools you've lost count.  The start of the college football season opens up with Boise State vs. Georgia in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia.  You watch both teams take the field in their brand new one time use only Nike Pro Combat uniforms which are both eye catching.  You begin to think to yourself "If these teams were deemed good enough by Nike to get special uniforms, they might get them again so I should play for one of those teams."

The truth is that there is a very good point for Nike Pro Combat uniforms. The point being that these schools choose to wear them in order to get high school football recruits interested in their football program enough to hopefully commit to their school for football.

Thoughts About Jeff Hardy

For those of you who don't know, I am a professional wrestling fan.  I love the business and can't get enough of it.  Becoming a part of the business on the wrestling side is a living dream of mine.  I eat, breath, sleep pro wrestling. As of recently, one of my favorite pro wrestlers and an inspiration of mine has returned after a long and unnecessarily drawn out court battle.  His name is Jeff Hardy.

In a nutshell, Jeff debuted with what is now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the late 1990s.  After being exposed to the life on the road at the young age of 16, Jeff fell into drugs and had gotten in trouble with WWE brass frequently causing his release.  Jeff then wrestled for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) which is now Impact Wrestling.  After about 3 years, Jeff returned for another run with WWE in which he won the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship.  Jeff declined to resign his contract with WWE and went to wrestle for TNA for a second time.  Jeff quickly rose through the ranks and became the TNA World Champion in the middle of a "heel" or bad guy turn.  After a few months as the champ, Jeff arrived at a TNA Pay-Per-View in no condition to compete.  TNA then sent Jeff Hardy home until his drug court case-which had been going on since his return to TNA-was over with.  As of today, Jeff Hardy has plead guilty and will serve 10 days in jail, 30 months of probation and pay a $100,000 fine.  Also, Jeff Hardy returned to TNA or Impact Wrestling tonight and apologized to the fans for what he had put them through.

As I said, I'm a huge Jeff Hardy fan.  I love how he wrestles and he is one of many inspirations of mine to become a pro wrestler.  On the other hand, watching Jeff's rise to fame, fall from grace, rise again, fall again and hopefully another rise has really made me think of the kind of person I want to be when I become a pro wrestler.  I understand that there are many temptations to become friends with a bottle of alcohol or pills but seeing all the repercussions it is brought not only Jeff but many other wrestlers has made me really think of how I will combat these temptations.  In no way has Jeff's career in or out of the ring made me rethink my dream but it has made me think ahead.  I want to remember my time in front of the camera, not just pretend to.  I plan on being a family man.  To me, my future family comes before my career.  I will do any and everything possible to provide the best life I can for them and I know that booze and pills can't do that.

Jeff's one of the lucky ones.  By that, I mean despite everything he does out of the ring he's still alive.  There probably hasn't been such a heavily followed drug case involving a pro wrestler since the Chris Benoit incident in 2007.  Chris's steroid problem caused him to kill his wife, son and them himself.  It also nearly killed the WWE.  My plea to those who read this is truly inspect your heroes lives.  Just because you want to do what you see them do doesn't mean you should do what they do when the cameras are off.