(FADEIN to ”Electric” Eddie Patton jumping rope in front of the mirror. He seems absolutely focused on the activity at hand and seems to be counting quietly to himself. After a few moments, he stops. He’s almost completely drenched in sweat and wears an Indiana Hoosiers t-shirt and shorts.)
PATTON: “You know… I ain’t gonna say I told ya so, cause ain’t nobody wants to hear that. And I ain’t gonna sit here and brag, cause my pop always told me that bravado’s for fools.
“But I think, for maybe the first time in my very, very brief career, I maybe earned a little bit of a rest. Maybe, just maybe, I earned a glass of champagne.
“Yet the truth is… I ain’t got time to rest. No time to sit back and enjoy a cocky, dangerous man get his comeuppance. Nosirree. Out of the fryin’ pan, into the fire, as they say.
“Now, I can’t pretend to really understand why Canyeta, Angel, and Maeda are so hoppin’ mad about. I s’pose I can understand their situation even if I don’t agree with how they been handlin’ it. But I understand.
“I ain’t gonna inject myself in that debate, though, boys, cause I leave the politics for the politicians. Me, I’m just a man, and I’m just tryin’ to make it like everybody else. I ain’t gonna deny you the chance to earn a livin’ no how.
“But come this very special edition of Friday Night Vulgar… we’re gonna find ourselves on the opposite sides of the fence, pun not intended. And I while I ain’t got no problem with where y’all come from, my momma didn’t raise someone who gives up, either.
“Every night, I get a chance to write my destiny out in that ring. And I don’t wanna let you, or anybody else, write it for me.
“Maybe I’m naïve, but boys… some of us are just thankful to be here in the Show. Maybe that ain’t enough for you. To go out there and perform for the thousands in attendance and at home.
“But for me, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. A living dream. A chance to be what I’ve always wanted.
“And if that ain’t enough to charge you up, well… I don’t know what is.”
(FADEOUT.)