TBirdSCIL
League Member
Please keep all RP for this match in this folder...
The Cannonball Kidd vs. Larry Tact
- Thread starter TBirdSCIL
- Start date
GARTHIsTheLaw
League Member
What's the name of that stuff...
(Cueup: "Sober" by Butch Walker)
(Things start out with a black screen. After a few seconds, the words "CANNONBALL KIDD" appear, grow seemingly closer to the camera, and then fade out. They are followed by "A MAN" and "WITH A MESSAGE". After the text is a close-up on Cannonball Kidd's eyes, covered as always by his signature flight goggles)
Cannonball Kidd: ...Wow!
(The camera zooms out to show Cannonball's full face)
Cannonball Kidd: I mean, I really hate to keep reiterating this same point over and over again, but every new match I'm given in GLCW just proves more and more how my career has taken off since I've arrived here. Even after my one fluke loss to that windbag Nemesis, I keep getting matches that not only advance my career, but allow me to spread my Message to ever-more-deserving audiences. I mean, "Rage 'o Fire" Jared Wells...the man was SO very in need of my program, and although he didn't really accept it, I still walked out the victor. And then there's the Gauntlet Match...when that match rolls around, not only will I have had the opportunity to help five other wrestlers, but I'll also be the number-one contender for the Television Title.
(Cannonball grins)
Cannonball Kidd: And hey! It comes to my attention that my next opponent may very well BE the Television champion by the time we meet, since he has the opportunity to beat Jarod Poe for that very title on the same night that I will earn a shot at the title. Could GLCW be signing this match with that in mind...? I wouldn't doubt it. Given the attention GLCW officials have been giving me, they're clearly very smart people. Not fully self-actualized, I'm sure, but relatively intelligent nonetheless.
(Camera zooms out to show Cannonball from the torso up)
Cannonball Kidd: But enough about opportunities. At this point, I suppose it would be wise to talk about my opponent a little. Of course, I've heard of Larry Tact before. Who hasn't? In recent years, the guy's been a big part of the (F)wrestling business. His name has been everywhere, in every league I've followed. It's funny, though...for all the guy's done, I've never really known anything about him. He doesn't come off as very mysterious, so naturally I was curious as to why I don't know anything about the guy. So I checked out a few of the promos he set up against Jarod Poe. And I have to say, things became clear very quickly.
(Cannonball shrugs)
Cannonball Kidd: The fact is, the guy can talk, but he is DAMNED boring. The really odd part is that I can't explain WHY. He's not like Nemesis, hiding behind enormous words to hide a lack of meaning. He's not like "Showtime" Steven James, who just spouts off random tripe and catch-phrases. Fundamentally there's nothing wrong with anything Larry Tact says...it's just that every word is like a powerful sedative, and given that I spent YEARS and YEARS getting rid of my addiction to such things, I don't appreciate this imitation.
(Cannonball adopts an overly serious thoughtful look)
Cannonball Kidd: But the one coherent thing I made out from Larry's promo was that he seems to have some sort of commitment to the truth. And even if everything else he said was just awful, that commitment to truth is important. Why, you ask?
(Cannonball grins in an inspirational fashion)
Cannonball Kidd: It's simple. A man as committed to the truth as Larry Tact is surely not willing to give in to denial. And if he can effectively avoid denial, that means he is a prime subject for my program. We've established that Larry Tact has a problem - he's boring. Now, I don't know WHY yet, but if my analysis of Larry's commitment to the truth is correct, he's sure to go along with things so that I can find the root of the problem and begin to fix it - putting Larry on the path towards the same self-actualization that I myself have achieved.
(The camera zooms in on Cannonball's face)
Cannonball Kidd: So, Larry Tact...what will it be? Maybe you hadn't noticed your monotony problem before, but now that you know, I hope you'll be willing to let me help you. Just say the words, and I can start work today helping you make your way down the path of self-actualization. I'm sure people have criticized your promo style before, Larry...it happens to everyone, and because of that, you may be reluctant to listen to yet another critic. But Larry, unlike most, I'm more than just a critic. I'm a Man...
(The camera zooms in on Cannonball's eyes)
Cannonball Kidd: ...with a Message.
(Fade out)
(Cueup: "Sober" by Butch Walker)
(Things start out with a black screen. After a few seconds, the words "CANNONBALL KIDD" appear, grow seemingly closer to the camera, and then fade out. They are followed by "A MAN" and "WITH A MESSAGE". After the text is a close-up on Cannonball Kidd's eyes, covered as always by his signature flight goggles)
Cannonball Kidd: ...Wow!
(The camera zooms out to show Cannonball's full face)
Cannonball Kidd: I mean, I really hate to keep reiterating this same point over and over again, but every new match I'm given in GLCW just proves more and more how my career has taken off since I've arrived here. Even after my one fluke loss to that windbag Nemesis, I keep getting matches that not only advance my career, but allow me to spread my Message to ever-more-deserving audiences. I mean, "Rage 'o Fire" Jared Wells...the man was SO very in need of my program, and although he didn't really accept it, I still walked out the victor. And then there's the Gauntlet Match...when that match rolls around, not only will I have had the opportunity to help five other wrestlers, but I'll also be the number-one contender for the Television Title.
(Cannonball grins)
Cannonball Kidd: And hey! It comes to my attention that my next opponent may very well BE the Television champion by the time we meet, since he has the opportunity to beat Jarod Poe for that very title on the same night that I will earn a shot at the title. Could GLCW be signing this match with that in mind...? I wouldn't doubt it. Given the attention GLCW officials have been giving me, they're clearly very smart people. Not fully self-actualized, I'm sure, but relatively intelligent nonetheless.
(Camera zooms out to show Cannonball from the torso up)
Cannonball Kidd: But enough about opportunities. At this point, I suppose it would be wise to talk about my opponent a little. Of course, I've heard of Larry Tact before. Who hasn't? In recent years, the guy's been a big part of the (F)wrestling business. His name has been everywhere, in every league I've followed. It's funny, though...for all the guy's done, I've never really known anything about him. He doesn't come off as very mysterious, so naturally I was curious as to why I don't know anything about the guy. So I checked out a few of the promos he set up against Jarod Poe. And I have to say, things became clear very quickly.
(Cannonball shrugs)
Cannonball Kidd: The fact is, the guy can talk, but he is DAMNED boring. The really odd part is that I can't explain WHY. He's not like Nemesis, hiding behind enormous words to hide a lack of meaning. He's not like "Showtime" Steven James, who just spouts off random tripe and catch-phrases. Fundamentally there's nothing wrong with anything Larry Tact says...it's just that every word is like a powerful sedative, and given that I spent YEARS and YEARS getting rid of my addiction to such things, I don't appreciate this imitation.
(Cannonball adopts an overly serious thoughtful look)
Cannonball Kidd: But the one coherent thing I made out from Larry's promo was that he seems to have some sort of commitment to the truth. And even if everything else he said was just awful, that commitment to truth is important. Why, you ask?
(Cannonball grins in an inspirational fashion)
Cannonball Kidd: It's simple. A man as committed to the truth as Larry Tact is surely not willing to give in to denial. And if he can effectively avoid denial, that means he is a prime subject for my program. We've established that Larry Tact has a problem - he's boring. Now, I don't know WHY yet, but if my analysis of Larry's commitment to the truth is correct, he's sure to go along with things so that I can find the root of the problem and begin to fix it - putting Larry on the path towards the same self-actualization that I myself have achieved.
(The camera zooms in on Cannonball's face)
Cannonball Kidd: So, Larry Tact...what will it be? Maybe you hadn't noticed your monotony problem before, but now that you know, I hope you'll be willing to let me help you. Just say the words, and I can start work today helping you make your way down the path of self-actualization. I'm sure people have criticized your promo style before, Larry...it happens to everyone, and because of that, you may be reluctant to listen to yet another critic. But Larry, unlike most, I'm more than just a critic. I'm a Man...
(The camera zooms in on Cannonball's eyes)
Cannonball Kidd: ...with a Message.
(Fade out)
Reflection.....
oorp: my apologies to Garth for not having RPed until now. The past week's been more stressing and hectic than I saw coming. In any case, I will use the time remaining to be more...talkative..
Fade in: to the apartment of Larry Tact. The black vinyl sofa is set down in front of a set of small square tables. A few feet from the sofa is a clear glass round table, with chairs on either side of it, and a nice flower arrangement in the middle. An entertainment system is set in front of the sofa, and there are some pictures of sports stadiums, from a blimp view, on the walls near the entertainment system. Larry Tact enters the room now, wearing black pants with a solid white stripe down either leg, and a white t-shirt. Tact's bleach blonde hair has been parted down the middle and combed down either side of his head; a look reminiscent of himself pre-haitus, except for the new hair color, rather than his recent spiked out hair. Tact has a serious, but thoughtful, look on his face, as he carries to the sofa a pitcher with a piece of tape on it reading, "Fruit Punch," and a clear glass with a few ice cubes in it. Tact walks to the sofa and casually sits down, pours himself some juice, and puts the pitcher on one of the square tables. Tact takes a sip of the juice and sits there, unmoving, glass in hand, for a short time. He then swallows the bit of juice, drinks a little more, and places the glass next to the pitcher. Tact is seen from a front profile as his calm, lower voice fills the room.
Tact: You know, I'll come out and say it right now...Jarod Poe made me do a good deal of thinking. In the weeks prior to our rematch, he opposed my ideals at every turn. He painted me out as the "villain" who should...should..inevitably go down his his part of the "hero." We exchanged words to the point that it became trivial debate. I don't know, maybe that's his idea of fun, maybe he enjoys confusing people. But I didn't find it very funny at all. In fact, it annoyed me. And in our match, it made me edgy and you know what? I broke my own focus. I'll admit, Jarod, you made me think a little too much. Your words before our match, they made me assume you were to be taken more seriously than the first time. But when I was sitting in the hospital, recovering from the concussion that the doctors say I sustained thanks to you...I realized something. By listening to you, and trying to accept your way of thinking, your logic...look where it got me? It led me to overestimate you, be too cautious. Because of it, I went with one too many precautions, expected you to be more than what you were, and you benefited from it. You caught me flush in the face with that clunky knee of yours, and now I only have vague remembrance of what went on in that ring. See, I should have just gone with my gut instinct, which up to last week, hadn't led me to such a fate in the GLCW. Instead it had led me to victory, and one clinic that I put on against you in our first match. But I veered away from gut instinct a little, credited you with more talent than you had, and subsequently lost. But next time, I won't make the same mistake. Next time, I'll make sure to keep in mind, that you're nothing but a glorified chump, who managed to get me to buy into your cheap hype just enough to take advantage. But next time, that won't be a factor. So go ahead, enjoy this victory you hold over me. I give you my congratulations on it, in fact. Just as long as you keep in your mind..that it won't last forever.
Tact takes his glass in hand, again, and drinks some more of the juice. He then stands and walks over to the wall-size window to the right of the couch. Tact looks out at the foggy city, some stories below, and is seen from a back profile as he continues.
Tact: One setback is not going to derail my place in the GLCW, though. I don't pick up and leave just because of one loss, no matter who it is to. My silence this week was mainly for reflective reasons, and also..contemplation. I heard the words of my next opponent, whom I am to face at Riptide: the Cannonball Kidd. A man...with a message...(chuckes)..and a catchy slogan. Kidd, your name is somewhat deceiving as to who you are. You've been around enough to know how the game is played. Both games, in fact. One being the game of wrestling, of course, as you have some nice aerial talents. I saw that somersault splash you do, what is it called..? The Crater Creator? Very well done, about as good as I used to do it, back when I had the same move by a different name: the Tactilizer. But I think you might know, unlike most of the people here, who would put deaf ears to anyone else's words, that I am not really one to compliment aerial tactics these days. They can be useful, sure. But if you can't do anything else, then I'm skeptical to believe you deserve to be around. However, you seem to have something other than just zipping up and down turnbuckles, jumping off of them in the time between.
Tact turns and walks over towards the glass table near the sofa. He sets his glass down on it, and walks back to the window, turning to face it once again, his hands interlocked behind his back.
Tact: Which brings me back to my original sentiment on you. It's pretty obvious that you're versed in more than just the wrestling game, or your version of it. In addition, you are also adept in the game of selling yourself. Marketing your image. Getting those who would cross you to buy into your "message." You're right, denial has been the word of the week for just about anyone who has seen your name opposed from theirs. But you'll probably agree, it's not your message that has been flawed. It's just that those people were in denial of the success your plan to self-actualization would bring. People are stubborn, and fickle, especially here in wrestling. It disgusted me to the point that it played a part in my leaving nearly a year ago. It still disgusts me, but I don't expect it to change. I'm not one to live in denial of the truth, and believing it would change is anything but being realistic. Now I won't hide the fact that, when I first heard of your plan on GLCW TV, I didn't think much of it. But you have given me reason to put some stock in you. After all, you've only attained one loss since coming here. In every other instance, you've come out victorious, and I have to think that it only adds credibility to your "message." The one time you did lose, to Nemesis, is simple to understand. You lost because of the very same reason I did to Jarod Poe. Your line of concentration was severed, and you reverted back to the man you were....a pathetic drug addict who thought he had power, but really had no direction or stability. At least, that's what I gather from your description of your previous self.
Tact turns and goes back to the table and picks up the glass. He gets the pitcher and refills the glass, then places the pitcher down on the glass table. He sits down on a chair in front of the table, and has a small grin on his face as he goes on.
Tact: I would think you'd have accepted that, and put it under wraps, never to be seen again. And, that being the case, it makes me want to consider your program for myself. I am no self-actualized man, I know this. After losing to Poe, and taking my second career concussion home as a consolation prize, maybe I need to make a minor adjustment in mental preparation. So your plan does appeal to me, Kidd. But a few days after Wired, I got a chance to watch tape of the whole show. I didn't bother to watch any other match before mine, as I wanted to make sure not to distract myself. But on the tape I saw it all, and it seems you again fell to Nemesis as part of his running the gauntlet, to become the number one contender to the TV Title. I'll tell you, Cannonball Kidd...it made me think some more about your program. I mean, your marketing hasn't dulled any at all. It's still as polished as ever, and you played that game well before you entered the ring against Steven James, and then again before you locked up with Nemesis. So I think the problem of your failure may not be in the program..but rather in you.
Tact's grin begins to fade, as he takes another drink from the glass. He leaves it with half a glassful of juice in it, and sets it down in front of him as he looks back at us, now with a small frown.
Your marketing shows you are anything but a Kidd, but your wrestling does not. Which begs the question: if you are self-actualized, is it only in thought, and not in practice as well? Is it just that you got the better of your opponents, mentally, before they even stepped into the squared-circle with you? Is that what your program is about? If so, then I am doubtful it will help me. Because while I think my mental preparation may need a bit of work, it is not..not..NOT to be improved at the sacrifice of my wrestling skills. So if your program is like this glass, half-empty, then I suggests you turn it to half-full, if you don't want to suffer a similar fate to me, as you did with Nemesis...twice, now.
Tact looks down at the glass and picks it up again, regarding it carefully and then returning his gaze. He laughs a little and smiles again.
Tact: I'm not going to let my skepticism turn to cynicism though, Cannonball Kidd. I will not condemn your program, wholly, just yet. Instead, I will let you explain to me your program. I would not be disappointed to hear you redeem my confidence in it. I'll leave it to you, then...
Tact holds the glass up in salute, then chugs down the rest of it and stands, taking both glass and pitcher with him as he leaves the room. Fade out.
oorp: my apologies to Garth for not having RPed until now. The past week's been more stressing and hectic than I saw coming. In any case, I will use the time remaining to be more...talkative..
Fade in: to the apartment of Larry Tact. The black vinyl sofa is set down in front of a set of small square tables. A few feet from the sofa is a clear glass round table, with chairs on either side of it, and a nice flower arrangement in the middle. An entertainment system is set in front of the sofa, and there are some pictures of sports stadiums, from a blimp view, on the walls near the entertainment system. Larry Tact enters the room now, wearing black pants with a solid white stripe down either leg, and a white t-shirt. Tact's bleach blonde hair has been parted down the middle and combed down either side of his head; a look reminiscent of himself pre-haitus, except for the new hair color, rather than his recent spiked out hair. Tact has a serious, but thoughtful, look on his face, as he carries to the sofa a pitcher with a piece of tape on it reading, "Fruit Punch," and a clear glass with a few ice cubes in it. Tact walks to the sofa and casually sits down, pours himself some juice, and puts the pitcher on one of the square tables. Tact takes a sip of the juice and sits there, unmoving, glass in hand, for a short time. He then swallows the bit of juice, drinks a little more, and places the glass next to the pitcher. Tact is seen from a front profile as his calm, lower voice fills the room.
Tact: You know, I'll come out and say it right now...Jarod Poe made me do a good deal of thinking. In the weeks prior to our rematch, he opposed my ideals at every turn. He painted me out as the "villain" who should...should..inevitably go down his his part of the "hero." We exchanged words to the point that it became trivial debate. I don't know, maybe that's his idea of fun, maybe he enjoys confusing people. But I didn't find it very funny at all. In fact, it annoyed me. And in our match, it made me edgy and you know what? I broke my own focus. I'll admit, Jarod, you made me think a little too much. Your words before our match, they made me assume you were to be taken more seriously than the first time. But when I was sitting in the hospital, recovering from the concussion that the doctors say I sustained thanks to you...I realized something. By listening to you, and trying to accept your way of thinking, your logic...look where it got me? It led me to overestimate you, be too cautious. Because of it, I went with one too many precautions, expected you to be more than what you were, and you benefited from it. You caught me flush in the face with that clunky knee of yours, and now I only have vague remembrance of what went on in that ring. See, I should have just gone with my gut instinct, which up to last week, hadn't led me to such a fate in the GLCW. Instead it had led me to victory, and one clinic that I put on against you in our first match. But I veered away from gut instinct a little, credited you with more talent than you had, and subsequently lost. But next time, I won't make the same mistake. Next time, I'll make sure to keep in mind, that you're nothing but a glorified chump, who managed to get me to buy into your cheap hype just enough to take advantage. But next time, that won't be a factor. So go ahead, enjoy this victory you hold over me. I give you my congratulations on it, in fact. Just as long as you keep in your mind..that it won't last forever.
Tact takes his glass in hand, again, and drinks some more of the juice. He then stands and walks over to the wall-size window to the right of the couch. Tact looks out at the foggy city, some stories below, and is seen from a back profile as he continues.
Tact: One setback is not going to derail my place in the GLCW, though. I don't pick up and leave just because of one loss, no matter who it is to. My silence this week was mainly for reflective reasons, and also..contemplation. I heard the words of my next opponent, whom I am to face at Riptide: the Cannonball Kidd. A man...with a message...(chuckes)..and a catchy slogan. Kidd, your name is somewhat deceiving as to who you are. You've been around enough to know how the game is played. Both games, in fact. One being the game of wrestling, of course, as you have some nice aerial talents. I saw that somersault splash you do, what is it called..? The Crater Creator? Very well done, about as good as I used to do it, back when I had the same move by a different name: the Tactilizer. But I think you might know, unlike most of the people here, who would put deaf ears to anyone else's words, that I am not really one to compliment aerial tactics these days. They can be useful, sure. But if you can't do anything else, then I'm skeptical to believe you deserve to be around. However, you seem to have something other than just zipping up and down turnbuckles, jumping off of them in the time between.
Tact turns and walks over towards the glass table near the sofa. He sets his glass down on it, and walks back to the window, turning to face it once again, his hands interlocked behind his back.
Tact: Which brings me back to my original sentiment on you. It's pretty obvious that you're versed in more than just the wrestling game, or your version of it. In addition, you are also adept in the game of selling yourself. Marketing your image. Getting those who would cross you to buy into your "message." You're right, denial has been the word of the week for just about anyone who has seen your name opposed from theirs. But you'll probably agree, it's not your message that has been flawed. It's just that those people were in denial of the success your plan to self-actualization would bring. People are stubborn, and fickle, especially here in wrestling. It disgusted me to the point that it played a part in my leaving nearly a year ago. It still disgusts me, but I don't expect it to change. I'm not one to live in denial of the truth, and believing it would change is anything but being realistic. Now I won't hide the fact that, when I first heard of your plan on GLCW TV, I didn't think much of it. But you have given me reason to put some stock in you. After all, you've only attained one loss since coming here. In every other instance, you've come out victorious, and I have to think that it only adds credibility to your "message." The one time you did lose, to Nemesis, is simple to understand. You lost because of the very same reason I did to Jarod Poe. Your line of concentration was severed, and you reverted back to the man you were....a pathetic drug addict who thought he had power, but really had no direction or stability. At least, that's what I gather from your description of your previous self.
Tact turns and goes back to the table and picks up the glass. He gets the pitcher and refills the glass, then places the pitcher down on the glass table. He sits down on a chair in front of the table, and has a small grin on his face as he goes on.
Tact: I would think you'd have accepted that, and put it under wraps, never to be seen again. And, that being the case, it makes me want to consider your program for myself. I am no self-actualized man, I know this. After losing to Poe, and taking my second career concussion home as a consolation prize, maybe I need to make a minor adjustment in mental preparation. So your plan does appeal to me, Kidd. But a few days after Wired, I got a chance to watch tape of the whole show. I didn't bother to watch any other match before mine, as I wanted to make sure not to distract myself. But on the tape I saw it all, and it seems you again fell to Nemesis as part of his running the gauntlet, to become the number one contender to the TV Title. I'll tell you, Cannonball Kidd...it made me think some more about your program. I mean, your marketing hasn't dulled any at all. It's still as polished as ever, and you played that game well before you entered the ring against Steven James, and then again before you locked up with Nemesis. So I think the problem of your failure may not be in the program..but rather in you.
Tact's grin begins to fade, as he takes another drink from the glass. He leaves it with half a glassful of juice in it, and sets it down in front of him as he looks back at us, now with a small frown.
Your marketing shows you are anything but a Kidd, but your wrestling does not. Which begs the question: if you are self-actualized, is it only in thought, and not in practice as well? Is it just that you got the better of your opponents, mentally, before they even stepped into the squared-circle with you? Is that what your program is about? If so, then I am doubtful it will help me. Because while I think my mental preparation may need a bit of work, it is not..not..NOT to be improved at the sacrifice of my wrestling skills. So if your program is like this glass, half-empty, then I suggests you turn it to half-full, if you don't want to suffer a similar fate to me, as you did with Nemesis...twice, now.
Tact looks down at the glass and picks it up again, regarding it carefully and then returning his gaze. He laughs a little and smiles again.
Tact: I'm not going to let my skepticism turn to cynicism though, Cannonball Kidd. I will not condemn your program, wholly, just yet. Instead, I will let you explain to me your program. I would not be disappointed to hear you redeem my confidence in it. I'll leave it to you, then...
Tact holds the glass up in salute, then chugs down the rest of it and stands, taking both glass and pitcher with him as he leaves the room. Fade out.
GARTHIsTheLaw
League Member
Superb
OORP: No need to apologize Jeff, life has been known to cause my RP response time to suffer, too...
(Cueup: "The New York Times" by Everclear)
(Things start out with a black screen. After a few seconds, the words "CANNONBALL KIDD" appear, grow seemingly closer to the camera, and then fade out. They are followed by "A MAN" and "WITH A MESSAGE". After the text is a close-up on Cannonball Kidd's eyes, covered as always by his signature flight goggles)
Cannonball Kidd: ...Hmm. Hmm, indeed.
(Camera zooms out to show Cannonball's full face. He is scratching his chin and exhibiting as thoughtful and contemplative a look as he can manage)
Cannonball Kidd: This is one of those times where I just don't know what to feel. On the one hand, there's the fact that Larry Tact has become the first brave soul to be willing to hear out my program, instead of dismissing it like so many other unfortunate opponents. But on the other hand, there's the fact that I fell short in my quest to earn my shot at the Television title...losing to Nemesis, no less! The one man it was most important for me to beat! And the only person I managed to beat was "Showtime" Steven James, whom I could have beaten if I were in a wheelchair. I'm glad I have a chance to better promote my program via Larry Tact now, but this recent loss really makes me question the way I do things...
(The camera zooms out very quickly to show Cannonball from the torso up. As the camera stops its zoom out, it shakes rapidly as though it has just been jerked backward. Cannonball holds out his hands open-palmed in a "Stop!" gesture)
Cannonball Kidd: HOLLLLLLD IT RIGHT THERE! That's not the way things are done!
(Cannonball grins in an inspirational but somewhat condescending manner)
Cannonball Kidd: I have to apologize for my deception there, but I thought it a necessary step. You see, the self-questioning I just demonstrated is precisely the problem with many a modern wrestler. It has become quite a trend in the business; anytime one suffers a loss, it seems, one must dwell on that loss, question one's ways, look within for answers before being able to move on and deal with the next opponent, yes? It may seem like a constructive way to deal with a loss, Mr. Tact...but as my first step in helping you move toward self-actualization, I will explain why this technique you use is actually counter-productive.
(Cannonball does away with the grin and puts his hands out in a gesture of explanation)
Cannonball Kidd: Now, the desire to question oneself is not bad in itself, but the main problem is that you, like many others who are not self-actualized, are really not smart enough to know the questions to ask. As a result, the unintuitive self-questioning you do breeds no helpful solutions, only frustration. And all of this is only if you really INTEND to question yourself - you could just be following the trend, and are questioning yourself on camera with no intent to actually change anything. I can't really tell which mistake you're making, Larry, but I think it's obvious that your self-questioning isn't doing you too much good. What have you accomplished since you began questioning yourself? It doesn't seem like you've changed your mental preparation for matches, and you yourself said you don't plan to change your wrestling techniques. So the only real benefits you've reaped seem to be a new hairstyle and an affinity for fruit punch. And while neither of those are bad things, they won't do you too much good either.
(The camera zooms back in on Cannonball's face)
Cannonball Kidd: So you want to know how I can help you become self-actualized? The first step is simple - you must use self-questioning only when it is absolutely necessary, and not just because of a loss. And before you start self-questioning, you must know what questions to ask yourself. Perhaps sometime when you are feeling perfectly confident, you can come up with some of these questions - that will keep them objective and avoid the self-defeating tendencies exhibited by so many poor souls who don't know the benefits of self-actualization.
(The camera zooms back out to the torso shot)
Cannonball Kidd: Yes, at Wired, I picked up my second loss to Nemesis. And yes, I was expecting to be able to beat him. But once again, his uncanny ability to bore the athletic energy right out of me won out. But I don't need to start questioning the way I do things. I know that the only reason Nemesis was able to bore the fight out of me a second time was because I was already winded from smacking around "Showtime" Steven James, who actually put up a decent fight for a guy who never wins. And that's the only reason I lost. Not because there's something inherently wrong with my techniques, but simply because of unfortunate circumstance. You would do well to realize that yourself, Tact; the Television title seemed to be just within your reach before Poe beat you.
(Zoom back in on Cannonball's face)
Cannonball Kidd: And that, Mr. Tact, is my first instruction to you. Now that you have seen the way that my program can help you move closer to self-actualization, I hope you will be wise enough to continue on it. For you see, by listening to what I have to say, you could be more than just a depressed chump with a bad haircut. Someday you could be much like me...a Man...
(Zoom in on Cannonball's eyes)
Cannonball Kidd: ...with a Message.
OORP: No need to apologize Jeff, life has been known to cause my RP response time to suffer, too...
(Cueup: "The New York Times" by Everclear)
(Things start out with a black screen. After a few seconds, the words "CANNONBALL KIDD" appear, grow seemingly closer to the camera, and then fade out. They are followed by "A MAN" and "WITH A MESSAGE". After the text is a close-up on Cannonball Kidd's eyes, covered as always by his signature flight goggles)
Cannonball Kidd: ...Hmm. Hmm, indeed.
(Camera zooms out to show Cannonball's full face. He is scratching his chin and exhibiting as thoughtful and contemplative a look as he can manage)
Cannonball Kidd: This is one of those times where I just don't know what to feel. On the one hand, there's the fact that Larry Tact has become the first brave soul to be willing to hear out my program, instead of dismissing it like so many other unfortunate opponents. But on the other hand, there's the fact that I fell short in my quest to earn my shot at the Television title...losing to Nemesis, no less! The one man it was most important for me to beat! And the only person I managed to beat was "Showtime" Steven James, whom I could have beaten if I were in a wheelchair. I'm glad I have a chance to better promote my program via Larry Tact now, but this recent loss really makes me question the way I do things...
(The camera zooms out very quickly to show Cannonball from the torso up. As the camera stops its zoom out, it shakes rapidly as though it has just been jerked backward. Cannonball holds out his hands open-palmed in a "Stop!" gesture)
Cannonball Kidd: HOLLLLLLD IT RIGHT THERE! That's not the way things are done!
(Cannonball grins in an inspirational but somewhat condescending manner)
Cannonball Kidd: I have to apologize for my deception there, but I thought it a necessary step. You see, the self-questioning I just demonstrated is precisely the problem with many a modern wrestler. It has become quite a trend in the business; anytime one suffers a loss, it seems, one must dwell on that loss, question one's ways, look within for answers before being able to move on and deal with the next opponent, yes? It may seem like a constructive way to deal with a loss, Mr. Tact...but as my first step in helping you move toward self-actualization, I will explain why this technique you use is actually counter-productive.
(Cannonball does away with the grin and puts his hands out in a gesture of explanation)
Cannonball Kidd: Now, the desire to question oneself is not bad in itself, but the main problem is that you, like many others who are not self-actualized, are really not smart enough to know the questions to ask. As a result, the unintuitive self-questioning you do breeds no helpful solutions, only frustration. And all of this is only if you really INTEND to question yourself - you could just be following the trend, and are questioning yourself on camera with no intent to actually change anything. I can't really tell which mistake you're making, Larry, but I think it's obvious that your self-questioning isn't doing you too much good. What have you accomplished since you began questioning yourself? It doesn't seem like you've changed your mental preparation for matches, and you yourself said you don't plan to change your wrestling techniques. So the only real benefits you've reaped seem to be a new hairstyle and an affinity for fruit punch. And while neither of those are bad things, they won't do you too much good either.
(The camera zooms back in on Cannonball's face)
Cannonball Kidd: So you want to know how I can help you become self-actualized? The first step is simple - you must use self-questioning only when it is absolutely necessary, and not just because of a loss. And before you start self-questioning, you must know what questions to ask yourself. Perhaps sometime when you are feeling perfectly confident, you can come up with some of these questions - that will keep them objective and avoid the self-defeating tendencies exhibited by so many poor souls who don't know the benefits of self-actualization.
(The camera zooms back out to the torso shot)
Cannonball Kidd: Yes, at Wired, I picked up my second loss to Nemesis. And yes, I was expecting to be able to beat him. But once again, his uncanny ability to bore the athletic energy right out of me won out. But I don't need to start questioning the way I do things. I know that the only reason Nemesis was able to bore the fight out of me a second time was because I was already winded from smacking around "Showtime" Steven James, who actually put up a decent fight for a guy who never wins. And that's the only reason I lost. Not because there's something inherently wrong with my techniques, but simply because of unfortunate circumstance. You would do well to realize that yourself, Tact; the Television title seemed to be just within your reach before Poe beat you.
(Zoom back in on Cannonball's face)
Cannonball Kidd: And that, Mr. Tact, is my first instruction to you. Now that you have seen the way that my program can help you move closer to self-actualization, I hope you will be wise enough to continue on it. For you see, by listening to what I have to say, you could be more than just a depressed chump with a bad haircut. Someday you could be much like me...a Man...
(Zoom in on Cannonball's eyes)
Cannonball Kidd: ...with a Message.
Stirving to improve.....
Fade in: to outside a restaurant, where Larry Tact is stepping out of a silver Pontiac Grand AM. Tact flips the keys to a valet, who catches them and goes to park the car, as Tact steps onto the sidewalk. He is wearing black slacks, a blue sweater with a white shirt underneath, and his hair is slicked back on his head. The cameras follow Tact as he heads inside the restuarant. The place has a cozy setting, with a straight and narrow hallway painted in a cream-color, some paintings hanging on the walls, a bar to the left and an entrance to a dining room on the right. Tact heads left, going to the burgundy stained counter, and taking a seat on a long-legged chair. He takes out his wallet and sets a twenty dollar bill down on the counter, sliding it towards the approaching bartender. The bartender greets him as he takes the bill, then walks off. Tact turns and looks at the cameraman, who is next to him, possibly sitting on the next chair. Tact has an amused look on his face as he speaks.
Tact: Being that I'm here to meet some more of the "non self-actualized" crowd this world has to offer, I thought of Cannonball Kidd, and what he had to say. On the one hand, I was interested to hear what he would say. But afterwards I had to wonder which was worse: that he went and insulted my hairstyle, when he had said there was nothing wrong with this "new" haircut only a little bit prior...or that he said I had an "affinity" for fruit punch....
Tact shakes his head, laughing a bit, and then composes himself, looking back at the camera.
Tact: But you did have a good point, in the sole point of your program that you explained. There are those who will say they are going to think things over, and then there are those that will actually do so. I had said that I thought it might be wise to rethink my mental preparation. I thought that your program might be able to help me accomplish this. But unfortunately, it seems you were not willing to go in-depth about what your program to self-actualization actually embodies. If it were me in your position, Kidd, I'd be giving the "customer" what he wants, and explaining all about the program I'd be attempting to get them interested in, to the point that they'd go with it. But instead, you only shared one part of that program. In addition, it was not very helpful. It's not that I am trying to put down your "message," but the truth is, I already know all about making sure not to scrutinize any one match too much. As I said, my match with Poe was only one, and it was not going to drive me away from my main focus. However, Kidd....your program seems to leave out the part about not excusing any match, either.
Tact glances over and sees the bartender come back with a clear plastic cup. In it is a drink, with some ice and a slice of lime on the side. Tact thanks the bartender and picks up the drink, taking a gulp before placing it back down.
Tact: See Kidd, you have this crazy thought about when and when not to look back at things, at least to me. You seem to believe that it is better to examine your weaknesses when you are in a very confident, positive frame of mind. Sounds like you mean after a solid victory in the ring, for example. But to me, that's all wrong. The best way to learn where you went wrong, is when you have gone down! It's a pretty simple concept...you learn more after a loss than after a win. You're more willing to admit you did something wrong when you've either fallen due to a problem with yourself, or not being ready for something, and it causing you to lose. But perhaps that is one reason you've lost to Nemesis twice. You would rather push away the opportunity to look at what you did wrong, after you lose, and in place of doing that you give yourself a reason why you shouldn't. Now, it sounds like you suffered an endurance problem in the Gauntlet. Whether you know it or not, you were not excusing your loss to Nemesis, but instead citing a reason why you lost. So in a way, subconsciously, you did find a proper answer, while trying to dismiss defeat. Unfortunately, it isn't going to help you unless you consciously realize what this means, that it was your preparation that lost you the match. It's easy to see, and once you identify with it, and resolve that issue, it will make you a better wrestler; maybe even good enough to defeat Nemesis the next time you two face each other. Surely you'll agree..? I mean, being stubborn cannot possibly be a quality of the self-actualized man, can it?
Another glance up at the bartender shows Tact he is being brought two other drinks. He again thanks the bartender, who walks off, and looks back smiling.
Tact: I'm not just saying this to help you though, Cannonball Kidd. See, I don't know whether being self-actualized is really a great help to you or not. I can only assume, and look at what I see happening. But I do want you to be a better wrestler, and that's why I am taking the time to share this advice with you. Hopefully you will take it into account before Riptide arrives, because I want you to be on your way to improving yourself, not as a man, but as a wrestler. I mean, if you're no better than Nemesis, then certainly you won't be better than me. Just check a tape of when GLCW paid its last visit to Hammond, Indiana, to see that. There's a line between how someone is as a man, and how they are as a wrestler. Most people fall into one of two categories. They can be a great man, or woman, but when they step through the ropes, they just don't cut it. They don't have the ability and willingness to strive towards improvement, and make progress. Then there is the other category: men and women who are not very nice outside the ring. For whatever reason, they're just bad people. But if there's one thing they can be called "good" about, it's when they're in the squared-circle, fulfilling their obligation to wrestle. Now, there are two other categories; those who are good at both and bad at both. I like to consider myself in the minority whom excel at wrestling, and are also respectable people when they aren't wrestling. It a spot that not many can achieve, but the place where I think all wrestlers should strive to get to.
Tact stands up from the chair, taking out a ten dollar bill and placing it down on the counter. He calls over to the bartender and indicates the bill, and the bartender calls back a thanks. Tact addresses the camera once more, afterwards.
Tact: Although I won't be able to really say your advice to me was helpful, at Riptide, I'll still hope to see you put my advice to good use in our match. I will be watching to see when you begin to tire out, because whether you take my tip or not, your necessary added endurance training will not be able to take effect in such a short time. But perhaps you will be a bit smarter with what tactics you choose to use in that ring with me, to keep you from wearing out so fast. I would take us to a no contest by way of a draw, but, well....I don't feel so generous as to do that. Instead, I'm going to have to end the match by instilling my own brand of "self-actualization" on you, Kidd. That being the time when you..will be....tactilized!
Tact smiles briefly as he turns and takes the three drinks in his hands. He then heads off into the dining room. Fade out.
Fade in: to outside a restaurant, where Larry Tact is stepping out of a silver Pontiac Grand AM. Tact flips the keys to a valet, who catches them and goes to park the car, as Tact steps onto the sidewalk. He is wearing black slacks, a blue sweater with a white shirt underneath, and his hair is slicked back on his head. The cameras follow Tact as he heads inside the restuarant. The place has a cozy setting, with a straight and narrow hallway painted in a cream-color, some paintings hanging on the walls, a bar to the left and an entrance to a dining room on the right. Tact heads left, going to the burgundy stained counter, and taking a seat on a long-legged chair. He takes out his wallet and sets a twenty dollar bill down on the counter, sliding it towards the approaching bartender. The bartender greets him as he takes the bill, then walks off. Tact turns and looks at the cameraman, who is next to him, possibly sitting on the next chair. Tact has an amused look on his face as he speaks.
Tact: Being that I'm here to meet some more of the "non self-actualized" crowd this world has to offer, I thought of Cannonball Kidd, and what he had to say. On the one hand, I was interested to hear what he would say. But afterwards I had to wonder which was worse: that he went and insulted my hairstyle, when he had said there was nothing wrong with this "new" haircut only a little bit prior...or that he said I had an "affinity" for fruit punch....
Tact shakes his head, laughing a bit, and then composes himself, looking back at the camera.
Tact: But you did have a good point, in the sole point of your program that you explained. There are those who will say they are going to think things over, and then there are those that will actually do so. I had said that I thought it might be wise to rethink my mental preparation. I thought that your program might be able to help me accomplish this. But unfortunately, it seems you were not willing to go in-depth about what your program to self-actualization actually embodies. If it were me in your position, Kidd, I'd be giving the "customer" what he wants, and explaining all about the program I'd be attempting to get them interested in, to the point that they'd go with it. But instead, you only shared one part of that program. In addition, it was not very helpful. It's not that I am trying to put down your "message," but the truth is, I already know all about making sure not to scrutinize any one match too much. As I said, my match with Poe was only one, and it was not going to drive me away from my main focus. However, Kidd....your program seems to leave out the part about not excusing any match, either.
Tact glances over and sees the bartender come back with a clear plastic cup. In it is a drink, with some ice and a slice of lime on the side. Tact thanks the bartender and picks up the drink, taking a gulp before placing it back down.
Tact: See Kidd, you have this crazy thought about when and when not to look back at things, at least to me. You seem to believe that it is better to examine your weaknesses when you are in a very confident, positive frame of mind. Sounds like you mean after a solid victory in the ring, for example. But to me, that's all wrong. The best way to learn where you went wrong, is when you have gone down! It's a pretty simple concept...you learn more after a loss than after a win. You're more willing to admit you did something wrong when you've either fallen due to a problem with yourself, or not being ready for something, and it causing you to lose. But perhaps that is one reason you've lost to Nemesis twice. You would rather push away the opportunity to look at what you did wrong, after you lose, and in place of doing that you give yourself a reason why you shouldn't. Now, it sounds like you suffered an endurance problem in the Gauntlet. Whether you know it or not, you were not excusing your loss to Nemesis, but instead citing a reason why you lost. So in a way, subconsciously, you did find a proper answer, while trying to dismiss defeat. Unfortunately, it isn't going to help you unless you consciously realize what this means, that it was your preparation that lost you the match. It's easy to see, and once you identify with it, and resolve that issue, it will make you a better wrestler; maybe even good enough to defeat Nemesis the next time you two face each other. Surely you'll agree..? I mean, being stubborn cannot possibly be a quality of the self-actualized man, can it?
Another glance up at the bartender shows Tact he is being brought two other drinks. He again thanks the bartender, who walks off, and looks back smiling.
Tact: I'm not just saying this to help you though, Cannonball Kidd. See, I don't know whether being self-actualized is really a great help to you or not. I can only assume, and look at what I see happening. But I do want you to be a better wrestler, and that's why I am taking the time to share this advice with you. Hopefully you will take it into account before Riptide arrives, because I want you to be on your way to improving yourself, not as a man, but as a wrestler. I mean, if you're no better than Nemesis, then certainly you won't be better than me. Just check a tape of when GLCW paid its last visit to Hammond, Indiana, to see that. There's a line between how someone is as a man, and how they are as a wrestler. Most people fall into one of two categories. They can be a great man, or woman, but when they step through the ropes, they just don't cut it. They don't have the ability and willingness to strive towards improvement, and make progress. Then there is the other category: men and women who are not very nice outside the ring. For whatever reason, they're just bad people. But if there's one thing they can be called "good" about, it's when they're in the squared-circle, fulfilling their obligation to wrestle. Now, there are two other categories; those who are good at both and bad at both. I like to consider myself in the minority whom excel at wrestling, and are also respectable people when they aren't wrestling. It a spot that not many can achieve, but the place where I think all wrestlers should strive to get to.
Tact stands up from the chair, taking out a ten dollar bill and placing it down on the counter. He calls over to the bartender and indicates the bill, and the bartender calls back a thanks. Tact addresses the camera once more, afterwards.
Tact: Although I won't be able to really say your advice to me was helpful, at Riptide, I'll still hope to see you put my advice to good use in our match. I will be watching to see when you begin to tire out, because whether you take my tip or not, your necessary added endurance training will not be able to take effect in such a short time. But perhaps you will be a bit smarter with what tactics you choose to use in that ring with me, to keep you from wearing out so fast. I would take us to a no contest by way of a draw, but, well....I don't feel so generous as to do that. Instead, I'm going to have to end the match by instilling my own brand of "self-actualization" on you, Kidd. That being the time when you..will be....tactilized!
Tact smiles briefly as he turns and takes the three drinks in his hands. He then heads off into the dining room. Fade out.