 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||
 |
2017 has been a year that is currently contrasting the past couple for Jake Starr. He has been part of a number of major incidents, and has actually emerged victorious. More importantly, he has been able to step up and actually prove to the world that he's capable of winning big matches, and not simply talking a good game.
This success has begun to make Jake realize that maybe, just maybe, he can truly compete again. While the external persona has kept the confident tone, the reality of the situation has left Jake believing that the industry is at a point where, if he is to compete, he'll have to step up and rise to a level he's never attained in his career thus far. The talent has become greater than anything in the past, and he realizes this. He also has finally come to grips with understanding he cannot obsess over his successes and failures. That point was driven home when he watched Brandon Evans walk out of the FBO and talk to him outside of a hospital for the first time in nearly a year. That moment showed Jake the importance of everything in his life, and not just professional wrestling. He realizes that it "brings home the bacon," but when he's home, doesn't provide any additional gratification to his personal life. This new mentality has allowed him to finally put a distinct wedge between his personal and professional life, as when he arrived home from another successful Breakdown, his focus on "what was next in SCW," didn't even enter into his mindset. Instead, he knew the focus had to be on the unnerving meeting with the Des Moines Public School (DMPS) system superintendent. A day after returning home, it was D-Day for Roeper and Jake, as they both frantically try to get "put together" in their "professional" clothes, rather than their day-to-day garb. As Roeper stares into the mirror, getting her makeup ready, she looks behind her and sees Jake on the side of the bed. She cannot see that Jake is actually putting his socks on, and immediately chides him. Roeper Hart: Dude! Quit farting around! We have to be at the DMPS in less than 30 minutes! Jake is quick to fire back.
Jake Starr: Jesus, I'm just putting my socks on! I can't really do this very well while standing... Roeper quickly realizes she didn't see, and feels a bit bad.
Roeper Hart: Sorry... My bad... I'm just a big nervous and anxious about all of this... Jake Starr: Babe... It's all going to be fine... Roeper Hart: Well pardon me for thinking otherwise. He didn't sound "fine" on the phone. He wasn't giving the "don't worry it's ok" vibe, from the sound of his voice. Jake Starr: Don't worry! I'll handle the situation, if he decides to get unruly. Roeper's voice gets a bit more serious.
Roeper Hart: I won't lie, that's what I'm afraid of. Your "handling" of the situation at the PTA meeting is what basically what is getting us called to the principal's office as it is... Jake stands up and walks over to his wife, trying to do his best to calm her down.
Jake Starr: Babe... Don't worry. The fact of the matter is, if this turns into a big "to do," then it'll ultimately turn into a big "political" war anyway. And if it gets into that kind of war, then it'll become a battle of his menial amount of political clout versus my name recognition... Roeper cocks an eyebrow.
Roeper Hart: ... So you're basically going to say, "don't you know who the fuck I am?" Jake smirks.
Jake Starr: If need be, then yeah... I mean, let's be real, I don't like using my "celebrity" status for anything because that's not my M. O., but when it comes to my family I will use whatever tactics are necessary to win. Roeper sighs.
Roeper Hart: Well I hope that it doesn't come to that... Jake Starr: That makes two of us, then... I don't want it to be anything that I ever actually have to do. Too many people end up using it in their private citizens, instead of just trying to live normal lives and be normal people. Roeper Hart: Yeah... The two go back to finishing getting put together, before running into the family room and telling Mara bye. Mara is being watched, again, by her babysitter, Shelby, but is relatively oblivious to her parents leaving because she's fixated on watching April the Giraffe meander around her enclosure, hoping to see her give birth. Both parents give her a quick kiss on the head, and head for the DMPS offices.
Upon arriving at the office, both Jake and Roeper begin to play out every possible scenario of how this meeting could go in their heads. Neither know what to expect, but both seem to believe that it ultimately will be going south. Each also believes they are the only one who will be able to be the "rational" mind in the discussion. They both think that if it begins to go bad, they'll need to be able to be of sound mind the try and react in a manner that is still respectful. They park and exit the vehicle, and walk into the building to find a skeleton crew working over the Spring Break holiday week. They approach the receptionist, who greets the pair with a big smile. Receptionist: Hello! May I help you? Roeper Hart: Yes, we're here to see the superintendent. Receptionist: Oh ok! Do you have an appointment? Jake Starr: I'm Jake Starr... The receptionist's eyes widen.
Receptionist: Oh! She immediately dials to the back without any hesitation. She is on the phone briefly, presumably with the superintendent himself, and informs the person that "Mr. Starr and Mrs. Hart" are there to see him. The exchange of words becomes more brief as she quickly hangs up, and she looks back up at the pair.
Receptionist: I'll take you right on back! The receptionist immediately stands up and begins escorting them to the back executive offices. They are taken directly to the superintendent's office, and shown in. He immediately greets the pair, and offers them a seat and something to drink. Both Roeper and Jake decline the drink off, and take a seat across the desk from where the superintendent will be sitting.
As the receptionist leaves, the superintendent does sit down across from the pair, and wastes no time getting into the discussion. Superintendent: I presume that we all know why we're here, yes? Roeper Hart: Yes... Jake Starr: I'm guessing it's because someone didn't approve of my manners of persuasion? The superintendent nods.
Superintendent: That is definitely one way of describing the situation at hand. Jake Starr: I'd say it's one of the nicer ways... Roeper can sense Jake getting snarky before it's actually necessary, and she believes that the role of "level-headed party" will be played by her. She quickly jumps in and begins to explain her view of the situation.
Roeper Hart: We were there trying to exercise our rights as parents of a student, to be part if the PTA process and have our say in things that would affect the students, and our child. We showed up, and we were immediately treated as if we didn't belong. Jake Starr: Exactly... We were treated as "outsiders." We weren't looked at as parents, but as ruffians who simply walked into a hoity-toity gathering at the local country club. We weren't given an IOTA of respect, like the rest were. The superintendent nods.
Superintendent: Well do you think there may be a reason for that type of reaction? Could it have possibly been due to some concern that SOMEONE might get a little unruly and start assaulting people. Jake begins to realize that this man is sharing similar feelings to other parents and the PTA President. The defense mechanisms kick in, in full force.
Jake Starr: Would you all be ones to treat a member of the NFL that way? Would you go out of your way to treat a member of any MMA organization that way? Would you treat a hockey player that way, too? Or are those professions that would receive a little more courtesy, than he is getting? Instead of trying to calm Jake down, Roeper actually begins to agree with Jake's logic.
Roeper Hart: Jake's right... His profession shouldn't have ANYTHING to do with how we are viewed as parents and members of the community. Superintendent: Those other professions he mentioned, however, tend to carry themselves with a little more class in public settings. Jake's eyes widen, and his volume slowly begins to increase.
Jake Starr: Oh really? How so? How is it an MMA fighter, you know, someone who is LEGITIMATELY out there trying to MURDER another human being, only to be stopped by an arbitrary third party, or an NHL player who drops the gloves and doesn't stop swinging until someone steps in and forces them to stop, is more "classy" than what I do? Superintendent: Maybe, Mr. Starr, it's just that they handle themselves a little more "professionally" than you care to. Jake cocks an eyebrow.
Jake Starr: Oh really, and how is that? Is it because they don't say bad words because if THAT is even ONE of your reasons, then MAYBE you should listen a little clearer next time. The superintendent begins to sense Jake getting riled up.
Superintendent: The hostility tactics, sir, are not going to be doing you any favors. Jake glares at the man.
Jake Starr: Trust me when I say that you have NOT seen hostile yet. Roeper quickly jumps in to try and cut this off at the pass.
Roeper Hart: Jake... She then looks directly at the superintendent.
Roeper Hart: The fact of the matter is, sir, we were treated completely improperly by the PTA President AND her friends. That is not becoming of someone representing that organization or the school in general. We have EVERY right to be at that meeting and be a part of our daughter's educational process. Superintendent: And I would agree. Because of that, I would say that I have a solution in mind. Jake mumbles.
Jake Starr: ... Well this should be interesting... The superintendent matches Jake's sarcasm with sarcasm of his own.
Superintendent: Oh yes, very... The fact is, I have spoken with other superintendents on this matter, and after doing so I believe that your daughter, Mara, would be a much better fit in another school district... Both Jake and Roeper's eyes widen.
Superintendent: ... And that is why I am giving you the opportunity to transfer to another district without any opposition or justification necessary. Roeper's fire begins to blaze.
Roeper Hart: The hell we're transferring her! We live in THIS district, and will CONTINUE to be a part of it. Superintendent: Well the alternative is that you can transfer without the district injecting itself, or we will inject ourselves and she will be removed from the school district, due to the distraction that her parents cause. I have spoken with those affected by this decision, and decided that this was the proper course of action... As he continues to justify the reasoning for trying to kick Mara out of the Des Moines Public School System, Jake sees something over the superintendent's left shoulder that catches his eye. An electronic picture frame cycling through personal photos switches to one that depicts the superintendent and the PTA President embraced in a tropical location. Jake then interrupts the superintendent's rationale, and is blunt with his commentary.
Jake Starr: So... You fucking her, or is she your sister? The superintendent's eyes go wide, and Roeper exclaims.
Roeper Hart: JAKE! Superintendent: I BEG your pardon?! Jake doesn't back down.
Jake Starr: I didn't stutter... That pic back there of you two getting all friendly on the beach makes this decision of yours seem a little bit unfair, if you ask me. The superintendent immediately becomes stunned, forgetting that picture existed. Jake can see this shock in the facial expression of the man, and begins to work his verbal and psychological magic.
Jake Starr: Now seeing that little picture of you two canoodling makes me realize what is REALLY going on here. See, I told off your little lady friend, and instead of being the impartial judge in the matter, you're being "the man" in your relationship and trying to protect this broad. Effectively, you just made this whole process irrelevant, you know that? You've officially changed this from a legitimate situation to a political one. So let the games begin! I want you to know that I took a look at the rules for the district on nepotism. I know that you're not allowed to be in relationships like this. I also am WELL aware that you're up for reelection next year. So it's a game of who blinks first, now, you know that? I mean, you have two options, here... You can force Mara to transfer and face whatever political and legal backlash that WILL ensue, or you tell your little lass to step back, and back the fuck off. The superintendent is not pleased with Jake trying to call the shots.
Superintendent: You have NO RIGHT to say ANY of that. You have NO right to even THINK about threatening me. Jake smirks.
Jake Starr: Oh trust me, I do. And why do I? Because unlike you, I have a war chest filled with UNLIMITED amounts of cash that could EASILY be dumped into as many legal cases against you and the school district as I wanted. THEN, I could begin dumping cash into an opponent for you come election time. Trust me... If you want to play nasty, we'll get nasty! The superintendent tries to take a dominant position by standing up, over Jake and Roeper. Jake slowly stands up, dwarfing the man in size.
Superintendent: You have no idea who you're messing with, Jake. Jake smirks.
Jake Starr: ... That sentiment goes both ways. But ultimately, right now, the ball is in your court. Superintendent: Then I can just as easily make your little girl's life hell, and yours, too! Jake steps right into the superintendent's face.
Jake Starr: Is that so? Are you going to run to the press and say that Jake Starr's daughter is a shitty student? Are you going to tell the media that Jake Starr is a bad guy? What are you going to do? Because the fact is, the MINUTE you go out there and say ONE WORD about my family, that war chest and those resources open against you with libel, slander, and any other lawsuit I can fathom. Those nepotism charges will be brought, and the world will realize how improper your relationships are, and your head will fucking spin! Face it, the minute you called us in, my team began reading up on EVERYTHING. And right now, one phone call will make your life miserable. Superintendent: Oh... Like the call you threatened to make on her? The one that NEVER happened? Jake smirks.
Jake Starr: This isn't an idle threat, sir... This is a Goddamn promise. So think about what is more important to you... Your career, or your little trollop... Because I'm not here to play games. You're threatening my daughter, and doing that just made you public enemy number one, and I have eyes and ears in every nook and cranny in this town, plus when it comes to name recognition, I definitely have you beat. If I have to use it, I will. If I have to make your entire life hell, so be it. But this could be easily rectified if you and your little lady just shut the fuck up, and make the school district one where there isn't ANY nepotism driving policy. You do that, neither Roeper nor I say a damn word, and our daughter gets her education. Everything is good. Otherwise, life is going to get VERY ugly. Superintendent: So you threaten me again? Jake Starr: Do you REALLY want to find out? The superintendent visibly is shaken, and takes a gulp of his saliva. Jake smirks, and simply turns back to Roeper.
Jake Starr: We can go now... The superintendent begins to seethe as he watches the pair exit, and walk down the hall. As they walk, Roeper looks over at Jake.
Roeper Hart: Where did you find all that info out about the school district policies? Jake smirks again.
Jake Starr: I had Eric's legal team prodding through all of it the minute you mentioned that they called. I had a feeling, deep down, what was about to happen, and they found some info on his relationship. I just needed some way to get it brought up. His dumbass leaving that picture frame going was perfect. Roeper Hart: Did Eric really give you a blank check on this? Jake Starr: Oh yes he did. Eric is protective of his "niece," and once he heard that she was being threatened, he opened his pockets if need be. So this one wasn't idle. This time it's real. Roeper is impressed Jake went to the lengths to prepare as he did, rather than just "shooting from the hip," like normal. She begins to feel that her husband is truly capable of "adulting" for the first time in his life. She's also impressed that he is putting the interests of his family over his own, and doing so by any means necessary. She worried that he would use his celebrity status to protect his own image rather than protecting Mara, but instead he showed selflessness using whatever resources were necessary to protect his daughter.
For Jake, there was never a concern about his image. He was concerned about Mara, and Mara alone. He knew he had the resources to make life difficult for the superintendent, and he elected to use them. He also know Eric would exhaust all resources to protect his family, and had to use them. Jake Starr: What is real? What is reality? What actually exists? What are the figments of our imagination. I ask you this because at Breakdown I brought reality to the forefront of the lives of Katie Steward and her minions ONCE AGAIN. I proved to the world that her little hope for a tyrannical rule over SCW was complete and utter bullshit. I showed her little pal TJ Hooker that trying to involve yourself in MY BUSINESS would not turn out well for your precious Queenie. I reminded Katie Steward loudly and proudly that she was NOT to try and get in my way. Did she get the message? Did Katie Steward actually allow herself to live in the moment, and in reality? Oh for fuck's sake, no... She didn't... Instead she had the gall, the audacity, the, quite frankly, STUPIDITY, to go out there later and actually "proclaim" that Jake Starr is beneath her in "her Queendom?" Holy shit... Back up... Wait a minute... Did that broad just say what I thought she did? Did she just state that I, the guy who definitively beat her, even with the aid of a William Shatner wannabe, is somehow less of a person than she is, and she is to be the focal point of SCW? Now, when I saw this, three possible scenarios ran through my head. The first... She's obviously a severe drug addict, and SCW should look into finally getting her into rehab. If this is true, she is using some serious mind-altering substances, and for the grace of humanity, SCW should step in and try and save her worthless life. Number two... She's actually a schizophrenic, who truly does not understand that she's not a queen, and not any form of royalty whatsoever. If this is a case, again, the burden falls on SCW to intervene. She's obviously put people around her who, obviously, abuse her by pandering to this fantasy life she is living in. SCW needs to go to a judge, get a court order to involuntarily intern her in an institution, and let the professionals help. Option three is the one, I personally believe, is the most likely... I beat the fuck out of her SO FUCKING BADLY she didn't realize what truly happened, and then she went out on TV, and made a complete fool of herself. It seems the most logical as well. Now, like options one and two, SCW should now step in, put her in concussion protocol, and limit her activities for the next, oh I don't know, millennia? I'm just trying to beat a dead horse here and say, Katie Steward is a lunatic. She has been, and always will be. She's delusional to think that EVERYONE is beneath her, even after they have proven otherwise time, after time, after time, after time. And while it's becoming commonplace for Jake Starr to beat Katie Steward, it doesn't negate what it means for me. If this had happened in 2015 or 2016, I wouldn't have felt as confident, deep down. I would have doubted my ability to do what I did. Walking into Breakdown, however, I knew what I could do, and I knew what was going to happen. I was focused. I was centered. I was Jake Starr. It felt good, I won't lie. Yeah, this year has been relatively successful, but this was the first time, THE FIRST FUCKING TIME, that I actually walked in feeling confident in myself. And that should fucking terrify EVERYONE! Everyone should stand there and realize what it means to have Jake Starr actually feeling confident. Everyone should worry that, when I'm on my game, when I'm FOCUSED, when I KNOW that I will win, the dreams and aspirations of others tend to become nightmares. And most importantly, everyone should NOT mistake the confidence as cockiness because after two years of being a nobody, two years of being someone who people have forgotten, I've seen what cockiness and arrogance can do to a person. I've seen the downward spiral it sent me into and it wasn't pretty. I wasn't the guy who "brought out the best" in others because it wasn't necessary anymore. Nobody had to "try" to beat Jake Starr because it was basically a given. People just assumed that I was going to be a pushover, and for some, that mentality still exists. It's not something I can crush with one person, or one win, or one anything, but right now, eyes are on me. There are a lot of people SCARED that this is that resurgence I always tried to hype myself into. But this isn't hype... Jake's intensity begins to build.
Katie Steward wasn't hype... The Trios Tourney wasn't hype... Tactical FUCKING Warfare was NOT about hype! This is real, people... This is everything I have talked about, and then some. This is the moment that I have been YEARNING for because it's what I have known I could achieve if I could just get my feet back under me. But it isn't going to stop here. It CAN'T stop here. I cannot allow myself to become complacent. I have to continue to raise the bar higher and higher each time I step out there because one day I want to reach the summit of Mount SCW again. One day I expect to be the undisputed BEST IN THE WORLD once again. That means fighting every fight like it already means everything. I have to fight like each match holds the key to me climbing back. I have to realize that NOTHING is a guarantee anymore, and EVERYTHING can be stripped away in a heartbeat. That means no matter who it is, new or established, successful or shitty, I have to take them on like they're the number one guy or girl. I have to USE them as my statement because everything matters nowadays. Too easy is it to fall into the cracks and become one of the crowd. You have to thin the herd yourself! And that's why I don't look at Jinn as many have in the past. I don't look at him as someone who is completely irrelevant. He showed the world what he can do in the Shot of Adrenaline Tournament. He didn't let people use him as a fucking stepping stone, but he went out there and actually competed. He came within ONE MATCH of actually making the semi-finals, and that says a lot. Now he's in my path, though. He's being rewarded for his showing. Some might say it's deserved as well. He's being given another chance to earn his way to gold in SCW, just like I am. He's going to get an opportunity to prove to the world that his run in that little tournament wasn't a flash in the pan, but a clear depiction of what is to come in his SCW future. Jake smirks.
The only problem is, Captain Konami Code has to go through ME to do it! You see Jinny is a man who is still, shall I say, finding his way in SCW... Hell, probably in wrestling in general. The guy is a bit out there, to say the least. I mean, hell, did any of you actually LISTEN to the promo he cut before Retribution? I mean he kind of did his own commentary, then made references to him having special attacks, and then talking about how he wanted the crowd to be without pants. Then there was that moment of irony when he actually stated that he didn't know who his opponent was... Kind of humorous coming from the new guy... But... If you ask me, this is talk from a madman. It's talk of someone who is really hyped up on an energy drink, and just espousing nonsense. He's either that, or that really hyper little puppy from the cartoon that always follows the bigger, badder, actually intimidating, dog around... You know the one... Jake gets down on his knees, and the camera pans down. Jake then makes his voice higher, and speaks in a super-fast speed.
"Isn't that right Spike, huh, huh, huh? We're gonna get them, huh, huh, right? That's right boss! You're gonna get'em!" Jake stands back up, and goes back to talking regularly.
Or at least that's all I could gather from his banter. Now in all seriousness, I get that he is psyched. I get that he is excited to get out there and try and prove himself. I get that he's got the mental aptitude of a elementary school child who just learned to read, but hey, he's got some skills in the ring, so we'll overlook his stupidity. The fact is, he is walking into a match where there is a MASSIVE opportunity on the line for me. I've talked about what winning the Television Title would mean for me on the occasions I've even gotten to wet my palate with the idea. It'd put me at a level that, face it, nobody has achieved yet. So getting the opportunity to walk out there and actually WIN my chance to vie for the Television Title isn't something I'm looking past. This championship wouldn't mean nothing to me, it would mean EVERYTHING. And Forrest Gump's girlfriend is probably in a similar boat. He probably wants to supplant his name on the history books of SCW's championship winners pretty badly. Want will get him nowhere, though! You see Jinny-poo, no matter how much incessant nonsense you talk toward me, it isn't going to deter me from the plan of what is GOING to happen to you. Just like Katie, who went out there just ASSUMING that she could use her royal ways against me, you're going to assume that you have 30 lives to save your ass against me. You're going to assume that a Game Genie is going to protect you from losing. Trust me when I say there aren't enough cheat codes in the WORLD to save you. There aren't enough power pellets on the board to stop me from cornering your ass, and taking you down. I get that you have high aspirations, and I get that you believe one day you're going to main event Rise to Greatness, and have everyone chanting your name. And who knows, you may be right? But like your own words stated, that's YEARS from now. That's not 2017. That's not beginning with a win over me. What is happening is something you felt back at Retribution. You're going to feel yourself planning to fly, a lot like I used to when I dominated the Adrenaline Division. You're going to feel like you can be like Skye from the Paw Patrol, and take to the skies. You're going to assume that I am going to go along with it, and we're going to put on an aerial show the likes of which would make trapeze artists jealous. But then reality will sink in. The feeling of flying won't last, and instead, the feeling of FAILING will set in. You'll be forced to lie on your back and use your mind's eye to count the number of lights the road crew hung up, or the amount of ceiling tiles in the arena. You'll have a faint recollection of the ref counting to three, and MY MUSIC echoing through your brain for weeks to come. Because once I am done with you, you won't have another opportunity to get a chance at the Television Title for a while, and instead you'll be watching me put one final notch in my championship resume, and be the first to complete the full cycle. But take solace in the fact that one day, you'll get to look back and realize you were that person who helped Jake Starr achieve immortality. You'll be that guy who helped Jake Starr take that next step in revitalizing his career. Think about what that means for you, big man! Think about how cool that will make you in the history books. Think about how much like your icons, Zelda and Super Mario, you'll be. You will have done something special! In a sense... You'll be a superhero, in that regard! The only problem with that scenario is that what will ultimately happen is you're going to wake up, realize you truly only had one life, wonder why yelling "UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A START" got you nowhere in life. Face it, kiddo, when all is said and done, the closest thing you're going to be to a video game star will be Baby Mario who just got kicked off of Yoshi. You're going to flying around, crying, and wishing that your little pal would save you. The only problem is, like when Baby Mario is in his bubble, that timer goes quick, and once it expires, you're dead. This isn't a game, junior... This is real life... And the only thing going up, then down, are your hopes of being the next Television Champion! Fin |
|
|||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||