Pt. 1
My wife and I decided to check out a
movie today that was way beyond what I might refer to as our “genre level.” You
see, it was a wrestling movie. Granted, more than half a century ago, I liked
professional wrestling. Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Randy “Macho Man” Savage, Lex
Lugar, etc., etc. But I’m afraid those days are behind me. In my day and time,
we believed all the impressive athletic antics were real, and we would have
never imagined it “was all made up.”
Now, of course, the World Wrestling
Federation has changed its name to World Wrestling Entertainment, and they
admit having done what they have always done. Does the word “entertainment”
give you a clue? We have a couple of die-hard fans of professional wrestling at
my church, but I don’t blame Kavan and Eric. I have already inferred that I
“ate the stuff up” when I was their age. To be sure, the guys that head drop
each other on the mat, and throw each other through the ropes to an unforgiving
concrete floor are terrific, well-conditioned athletes. No doubt about that.
But it just ain’t me anymore, and I
admit being just a little hesitant to spend $16.06 for two tickets to “Fighting
With My Family.” It is the true story of an English father and mother, son and
daughter who are obsessed with professional wrestling, and each and every family
member has spent a great deal of time in the ring in actual competition.
As the movie progresses, brother and
sister Zak and Saraya (Paige) are afforded the opportunity of a lifetime, and
report to the English tryouts for the WWE training camp.
Pt. 2
After the brother-sister duo walk into
the building, they are immediately taken up with the size of the arena, the
colorful lights, and the “rough and tumble” of numerous wrestlers, as they
“strut their stuff” in several square rings near the front of the building.
Suddenly, a very familiar figure walks
past Zak and Paige, and the second of the three individuals shouts,
“Hey man, aren’t you the Rock?”
To which Dwayne Johnson smiles and
shakes his head in the affirmative.
The brother and sister can hardly
believe their eyes.
Zak introduces himself and his sister,
and “puts himself out there” knowing he may never have another chance like this
one to speak to one of the super heroes of the WWE.
“Mr. Johnson, if you could give me and
my sister just one piece of advice about breaking into the WWE, what would it
be?”
(and)
“I mean, Mr. Rock, I want to be, I
just gotta be the next you!”
However, something about Zak’s words
and approach didn’t go over very well with the famous wrestler and movie star,
and he begins to lamblast the young man.
“You come into my house, and you take
it on yourself to get familiar with me? Boy, you ain’t nothing! You’re talking
to the greatest wrestler alive, man. You bring your namby-pamby personality and
words, and you insult me to my face with just how weak and paltry you really
are! Man, I ain’t got no time for your sorry rear ends!”
Needless to say, Zak and Paige cower
like sheep in the presence of a wolf.
And then it all changes. Their idol
lowers his voice, and a grin spreads across his rugged face.
“Hey guys. What you just saw in action
was my screen persona. The Rock. Now, let me assume the guise of Dwayne
Johnson. Zak and Paige, you want me to give you some advice? You don’t want to
be the next me. You need to be the first you!”
Pt. 3
Ultimately, both siblings complete
their tryouts, and as it falls together only one of them is chosen for the WWE
training camp in the United States. As a matter of fact, only one of the ten or
twelve in their particular group was chosen.
Paige
And as you might imagine, the young
lady goes on to experience “some ups and downs” and comes close to “bombing
out.” However, hope against hope, as the movie reaches its zenith, the young
English girl is afforded the opportunity to fight the reigning diva of the WWE
and…wins!
And though I had been determined to
“give it a whirl,” I almost walked out of the movie during the first few
minutes. I just knew I wasn’t going to like it. At least for me, anything to do
with the fakest ‘sport’ in human history couldn’t teach me anything.
The real Paige wrestled for World
Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. for several years, and defended her diva title
several times. And I think she never forgot the Rock’s admonition.
“You don’t want to be the next me. You
need to be the first you!”
Did I say the fakest sport in the
history of mankind couldn’t teach me anything? Boy, was I wrong!
I can’t tell you why the fifteen words
spoken by a well-muscled superstar of the WWE struck me as hard as they did.
But I can tell you, his words spoke to my very soul!
So much so that when I got home, I
pulled the torn ticket stub out of my pants pocket, and placed it in my desk
drawer. I wanted to remember.
You see, as a counselor and mentor, I am
‘into’ pat phrases which have some import for a life of excellence. And I
think, no, I am sure that the Rock’s suggestion is good and genuine, and
authentic and viable.
Each of us has been afforded a
different personality. We all have our own distinctive talents. Each of us has
been graced with our own unique God-given gifts. We are all individually called
to impact certain lives, and to fulfill a providential destiny. We are as
different as the number of hairs on our heads, and prints on our fingers.
I don’t want to be the next anybody. I
need to be first me.
You don’t want to be the next anyone.
You need to be the first you.
by William McDonald, PhD. Copyright pending
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