Post by Dorian Hawkhurst on Feb 6, 2017 5:15:07 GMT
The steel gray clouds in the sky almost match the concrete steps above. There isn't much hustle and bustle at this early hour. As the camera moves away from the top of the stairs, you can look and see two things that stand out. The first is a man in a Philadelphia Flyers hoodie and black sweat pants jogging down the steps in front of the East Entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The second, the real eye catchers, is a bronze statue of famed movie character Rocky Balboa.
The man jogging down the stairs gets to the bottom, and walks over to the Rocky statue and leans on it. A thick black beard is hanging out from inside the hoodie. The man pulls a water bottle out from the pocket of his hoodie and drinks about half the bottle. He pulls his ear buds out and turns the the camera.
“You know, I identify the most with Rocky Balboa. Not the parts when he wins, mind you. It's more the parts where he gets the shit kicked out of him and still tries to stand up.”
Dorian Hawkhurst pulls down his hood and smiles at the camera. Even underneath the bagginess of the hoodie, his chest is visibly heaving.
“Man, this cardio shit is overrated.”
Dorian drinks the other half of the water bottle and throws it into a nearby garbage can.
“Do you believe that America is the land of opportunity?” Those words stick with me. During the very first “Rocky” movie a fight promoter asks Balboa that very same question. The myth of the American dream provides the entire plot of the film. I guess that we all have a potential for greatness that can be actualized, if the right opportunity presents itself. Oh, and if we have the loving support of others. That's a big one, because this is, in all actuality, other one of those 'love conquers all' kind of deals. Being loved can change a person and provide the background support for achievement and personal growth. To the end, it's not totally wrong, at least when I look at it.”
“Rocky Balboa... “The Italian Stallion”... he represents the little guy, the man on the street, the person who has bottomed out.”
Dorian takes a deep breath.
“He represents me.”
“When fate steps in, or as they call him, Apollo Creed, steps in and offers him a chance, he rises to the occasion and shocks the world. Hell, even Adrian, thirty and afraid of the horizontal mamba, she starts out as a loser, also. Through her involvement with Rocky, she blossoms into a beautiful woman and in return supports him in his transformation.”
“Now some of us, we aren't that lucky, blessed or whatever you want to call it. Some of us get constantly shit on. That doesn't mean I've given up hope. It's just a struggle. It's a fight each and every day, sometimes each and every second. But nothing worthwhile is ever easy.”
Hawkhurst looks at the camera and puts his hands in the air as if painting a picture for the audience.
“The opening shot of the film is of a golden picture on a gym wall of Christ. Jesus 'mother fuckin' Christ. Then the camera zooms back to reveal a boxing ring. And then you see it. A wall inscription of one word in huge letters: “Resurrection”. It's all very subtle, yet obvious at the same time. The scene uses low key lighting, and all you hear are non-heroic sounds such as the chitter-chatter of the crowd and the bell signaling the end of a round. Rocky wins. Not only that, but the film makes his victory seem like a loss. Even though he's taken out Spider Rico, he took a beating and what did he get for it? Nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nada. NOTHING.”
“And I know you don't see it, but that's me. That's where I am right now. I've beaten Alex Jones and Jimmy Zane. Two men that are certified legends within this business. I've beaten Derek Brooks who, although not a legend, is a well recognized commodity in this business. What did I get? A pat on the back and a “Good job, kid” from a few of the guys in the back.”
“But now...”
Hawkhurst looks up towards the sky.
“But somewhere out there, somewhere up in the office, someone smiled upon me. So one smiled upon me and put me in this match with Pooler, Peterson and Black. While the opposition is going to be top notch, that's not what makes this match so great. I am being give the chance to step towards the spotlight. If I win this, I will get to stand across the ring and attempt to make Noah Field about fifteen pounds lighter.”
As he says this, Dorian makes the title belt motion around his waist.
“That's the goal, the Invictus Championship. I can't get ahead of myself, though. We all know that my first four way match didn't go so well. I'm not going to sit here and pretend it didn't happen. What happened is that I was overwhelmed and I took the loss. That's not even a bad thing. It's a good thing because now, going into this match, I have a better idea of what to expect. I know that I need to have my head on a swivel and be more aware of my surroundings. I went into the match thinking that I was hot shit because I had chalked my lose to Mac Bane up as a fluke. Not again. Not this time.”
“First, we've got Leon Black and Will Peterson. At Metamorphosis the two of you were a tag team. But this isn't Metamorphosis and this isn't a tag team match. I can see the two of you working together, taking your shoots at me and Pooler. I know how men like you operate. Sure, it will be all fine and good until one of you goes for the win. That's when the daggers start getting thrust into your back. It's a tale as old as time.”
“What I want to know isn't which one of you is going to be Brutus and which one of you is going to be Julius Caesar. I would rather see which one of you is really better. I want to see which of the two of you is the Alpha and which of you is, well, the wrestling equivalent of a dumpster fire. My money is on Will Peterson, especially after their singles match. I'm not saying that Leon Black is the weak link, but if Donald Trump put up a fence instead of a wall, the Mexicans would go through Leon Black.”
“Will is a man that I've had my eye on for a long time. By a long time, I mean since he got here. He's shown how good he is in the ring. And I realize that he has yet to taste defeat. But Peterson hasn't faced the likes of myself or against Bob Pooler. What Will Peterson is about to experience is going to be culture shock in it's purest form. He has been facing the equivalent of a high school team and is jumping directly into the Major Leagues. I have been in the ring with the best, the all-stars of Imperial Wrestling, since day one. I don't know if it's luck of the draw or if the men with the pens just didn't think you were up to the same level of competition. What I do know, Peterson, is that I am going to rock your world in a way that you have yet to experience.”
“I know when I step into the ring, that Bob Pooler will more than likely have the biggest target on his back. The man is another legend in this business. I guess it's more of the “to be the man you've got to beat the man” mentality. I'm gonna shoot you a straight one, Pooler. I'm going to tell you my strategy before we ever get in that ring. I'm not targeting you. I'm not targeting anyone. I am hitting everything and anything that moves.”
“Getting back to this guy here.” Dorian pats the Balboa statue next to him. “The movie ends with a fight that fulfills the resurrection promise of this first scene. In the final scene, which gives the film a circular structure, high key lighting and glorious music enhance the climactic sense of triumph as Rocky manages to go the distance. The decor is red, white, and blue, in honor of the nation’s bicentennial and the realization of the American dream.”
“This is where Rocky and I differ. It was enough for him to just survive. It isn't until Rocky II that he truly thrived. I don't have the time, nor the patience, to wait. I need to win. I need this now. Getting a shot at the Invictus Championship is the first step in my resurrection, my redemption, MY AMERICAN DREAM!”
Dorian takes a moment to collect himself.
“You need to understand how much this means to me. I've got a kid to support. I've got demons to conquer. Maybe I put too much stock in my work. But I want to be the best at everything I do. So, Pooler... Black... Peterson... I offer up a simple prayer. Forgive me, Father, for I know exactly what I do.”
Dorian flips his hood up and jogs off into the distance.
Well howdy there pardner.