Lets face it, when it comes to writing columns, I'm one lazy bastard. But today I find myself wide awake at 5am and figure what the fuck, it is time for another edition of story telling minus the kayfabe. I like that. Lets shoot...
So the other day at work I see a cab pull up and I make my customary walk out to it and open the door. I notice someone who I have seen before and spot him right away. Its hard to miss the voice, let alone the loud shirt and bravado. He pays the cabbie and rolls out, slamming the door. Its Mark Madden, former color man for WCW.
I greet him with a handshake and tell him that he looks familiar. He begins to run down his credits and before he gets far I say, "Mark Madden how have you been"? He is surprised and I must say happy that I remember him. He says, "Wow, you still watch that stuff"? I tell him I do, although these days I follow the MMA game much more. He was in town on business and decided to roll my way before he hit the red eye later that evening.
We talked about the dirt sheets for a minute. I mentioned Bryan Alvarez's name and I got the feeling he wasn't a fan. I forget exactly what he said, but it was short and not too sweet. Of course when you mention sheets you have to include Dave Meltzer in the mix. Mark said he hadn't got the Observer in a long time, but used to read it on a regular basis and was a fan of old Meltzer's. That was until Dave said something about him replacing Bobby Heenan that didn't sit too well. Mark, who is a fan of Bobby, felt that Dave was too much of a "Bobby mark" to print anything negative about him and leaving out the real reasons for the change.
We discussed his friend Kurt Angle for a minute. He believes Kurt could make a dent in the MMA world. Well, after reading and listening to Angle, he believes that as well. Anyways, he paid the cover and went inside. About an hour later, he came out and I gave him my card. He was taking off in a couple of hours and had to leave early. Despite most of the negative things you hear about him, I have to tell you he was very friendly and a nice guy. Sometimes seeing naked girls will put you in that mood, but nonetheless, I enjoyed our brief conversation and enjoyed going back down memory lane.
That brings me next to the MMA world. I see a huge stretch limo pull up and notice this very large man get out with some of his friends. It's the former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia. He comes walking up with his shades on (its 11pm) and I extent my hand and greet him with, "You looked good last night Tim". He says, "Not good enough". He had just lost his fight with Nogueira and was a bit dejected. I brought him into the club and had management comp him and his group a bottle of Vodka. He was happy.
I mentioned the radio show. Even though he was sitting in a room with a bunch a naked chicks and drinking on the house, I got the impression he still was not a fan of it.....the radio show that is. I don't know why? I mean, we kid because we care. I told him he gained more in losing last night then he ever did in winning. I'm not sure he saw it that way. I told him that he finally got the fans respect, being in a losing manner, but he finally got the respect that he so craves. I think he started to understand what I was saying and appreciated the comments. I let him be soon after and within a matter of seconds Timmy was a giant chick magnet. I could see his pain slowly going away...
OTHER TIDBITS: Congratulations to Kimbo Slice for his mauling of Tank Abbott. Kimbo trained very hard for the fight and actually had a chef from Scores fly down to Miami and have him prepare his meals a couple of weeks before the fight. Kimbo was also a very nice guy when we has out little exchange a few months back at the club...Wanderlei Silva is back in Vegas and training at Randy Couture's gym. He worked out the other day with Phil Baroni working on his ground game...Who would have ever thought those two would ever be training together...The beautiful Arianny Celeste had a booth for the magic convention here in town. I have been sending her e-mails trying to get her on the show forever and finally I get one back from her that says, "Send me the last show you did and I will decide if I will come on or not". You have to be kidding me. We had Baroni on bashing the hell out of her ex Josh Burkman and Phil talked about him finally able to get some ass...Great....Just shoot me now. I haven't heard back from her....Enjoy your stay.... {plug}
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