Deacon
Member
(Deacon is sitting in a locker room getting ready for some match. He’s lacing up his boots.)
“It seem Trip has decided t’at my time is up. T’ank you for letting me know that my time has passed and your time has began. It time for Triple X to overtake t’e mighty Deacon, and time for Deacon to take his place in life.
(He switches to the other boot.)
“You REALLY t’ink so?
(He looks up to the camera while his hands still work the strings.)
“So… my matches since return have been uninspiring? Sorry to hear t’at you not entertained. Maybe I should just go and watch old tape of my wrestling to learn how it done. Am *I* t’e guy you remember… t’e guy from t’e tapes you undoubtedly watched. No, I not. I not as strong. I not as quick. But a friend backstage said somet’ing that I never forget.
(Deacon stands up, moves his legs to test how tight his strings on his boots are, making sure the support is there for his match.)
“You always said t’at Fait’ is t’e Evidence… and now, more t’an ever, you’ll be able to prove t’at.
(Deacon opens a locker and tosses his bag into it. On the top shelf, a Bible rests.)
“And I would say t’at I have because I have survived my matches. And speaking of fait’, you go ahead and give me advice on what fait’ is… and how God affect us. I’m getting advice from a guy calling himself… TRIPLE X. Does anyone else find t’at odd?
(He grabs his robes and pulls them out of the locker.)
“So let talk faith. You said t’at God doesn’t pick one person over anot’er… true enough, God DOESN’T pick one over another. It not only in HIM picking t’em, it also about US agreeing wit’ HIM. And fait’ is what happens when we do t’at. God reaches out to ALL of us, but not all grasp onto His hand. He’s done His part, He did t’at on t’e Cross, but now he reaches and we eit’er accept what He says or decide to do it our way.
“And THAT separates us.
“I DO care what t’e fans t’ink, and you KNOW I’ve been more t’an booed on at least ONE occasion. But I cared what t’ey t’ought. I wanted to reach out to t’em, to show t’em the same love I show to those who cheer me. I care t’at I not drop t’e word “mentally retarded” as someone unable to understand even OUR simple match’s excitement. I care t’at I represent somet’ing MORE than me EVERY time I walk in t’at ring… or on t’e street.
(Deacon puts the robes on as he continues talking.)
“And t’at caring DRIVES me in t’e ring. Everyone have reason t’ey go t’rough all t’at we do in t’is business. Some do it to fill an adolescent fantasy… some to prove t’ey t’e best… some for t’e competitive fire t’at lives in t’eir soul… some for t’e love of what t’ey do. Everyone has a reason, and I know you fall in t’eir somewhere. My point is t’is – when you reach down to lift t’at shoulder up one … more … time, you’ll reach down deep inside you and you’ll find what drives you.
“When I reach down one… more … time, I will find what drives me, just as I did when I was t’e DOMINANT FIGURE you remember. I will reach down, and I will find not only a love for t’e sport, my competitive spirit, or anyt’ing else, but I will find a God t’at SAYS I can do ALL t’ings t’rough Christ who strengt’ens me.
“And T’AT will separate us.
“Bring your knowledge, your tape watching, your butt busting all over t’e world, and I will bring my fait’. You bring your impressive skill, your speed, your expertise, and I … bring my fait’.
“And what ALL t’ose matches that you remember about t’e DOMINANT figure I WAS will show you… is t’at now t’at I not as strong, or fast, or agile… Now, t’at I weak- -
(With the robe fully on, he turns to the camera to continue his speech.)
“HE will be made strong. You want my proof? I don’t need any… I got fait’… and you know what t’ey say about fait’- -
(Deacon pulls the hood up, it’s shadows hiding his face from view.)
“- -right?”
(Deacon walks away as the Gregorian Chant begins and the crowd goes insane. It’s time for the show, and he’s ready to put it out there one… more… time.)
“It seem Trip has decided t’at my time is up. T’ank you for letting me know that my time has passed and your time has began. It time for Triple X to overtake t’e mighty Deacon, and time for Deacon to take his place in life.
(He switches to the other boot.)
“You REALLY t’ink so?
(He looks up to the camera while his hands still work the strings.)
“So… my matches since return have been uninspiring? Sorry to hear t’at you not entertained. Maybe I should just go and watch old tape of my wrestling to learn how it done. Am *I* t’e guy you remember… t’e guy from t’e tapes you undoubtedly watched. No, I not. I not as strong. I not as quick. But a friend backstage said somet’ing that I never forget.
(Deacon stands up, moves his legs to test how tight his strings on his boots are, making sure the support is there for his match.)
“You always said t’at Fait’ is t’e Evidence… and now, more t’an ever, you’ll be able to prove t’at.
(Deacon opens a locker and tosses his bag into it. On the top shelf, a Bible rests.)
“And I would say t’at I have because I have survived my matches. And speaking of fait’, you go ahead and give me advice on what fait’ is… and how God affect us. I’m getting advice from a guy calling himself… TRIPLE X. Does anyone else find t’at odd?
(He grabs his robes and pulls them out of the locker.)
“So let talk faith. You said t’at God doesn’t pick one person over anot’er… true enough, God DOESN’T pick one over another. It not only in HIM picking t’em, it also about US agreeing wit’ HIM. And fait’ is what happens when we do t’at. God reaches out to ALL of us, but not all grasp onto His hand. He’s done His part, He did t’at on t’e Cross, but now he reaches and we eit’er accept what He says or decide to do it our way.
“And THAT separates us.
“I DO care what t’e fans t’ink, and you KNOW I’ve been more t’an booed on at least ONE occasion. But I cared what t’ey t’ought. I wanted to reach out to t’em, to show t’em the same love I show to those who cheer me. I care t’at I not drop t’e word “mentally retarded” as someone unable to understand even OUR simple match’s excitement. I care t’at I represent somet’ing MORE than me EVERY time I walk in t’at ring… or on t’e street.
(Deacon puts the robes on as he continues talking.)
“And t’at caring DRIVES me in t’e ring. Everyone have reason t’ey go t’rough all t’at we do in t’is business. Some do it to fill an adolescent fantasy… some to prove t’ey t’e best… some for t’e competitive fire t’at lives in t’eir soul… some for t’e love of what t’ey do. Everyone has a reason, and I know you fall in t’eir somewhere. My point is t’is – when you reach down to lift t’at shoulder up one … more … time, you’ll reach down deep inside you and you’ll find what drives you.
“When I reach down one… more … time, I will find what drives me, just as I did when I was t’e DOMINANT FIGURE you remember. I will reach down, and I will find not only a love for t’e sport, my competitive spirit, or anyt’ing else, but I will find a God t’at SAYS I can do ALL t’ings t’rough Christ who strengt’ens me.
“And T’AT will separate us.
“Bring your knowledge, your tape watching, your butt busting all over t’e world, and I will bring my fait’. You bring your impressive skill, your speed, your expertise, and I … bring my fait’.
“And what ALL t’ose matches that you remember about t’e DOMINANT figure I WAS will show you… is t’at now t’at I not as strong, or fast, or agile… Now, t’at I weak- -
(With the robe fully on, he turns to the camera to continue his speech.)
“HE will be made strong. You want my proof? I don’t need any… I got fait’… and you know what t’ey say about fait’- -
(Deacon pulls the hood up, it’s shadows hiding his face from view.)
“- -right?”
(Deacon walks away as the Gregorian Chant begins and the crowd goes insane. It’s time for the show, and he’s ready to put it out there one… more… time.)