Title: The Building of a Champion
Featuring: Tom Walczak
Date: 01/03/2011
Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Michael Jordan shrugging as he hits a game winning jumper against Craig Ehlo, Larry Bird hitting four three pointers in four minutes to take the life out of the Milwaukee Bucks, Joe Montana completing a pass to Dwight Clark to end the Dallas Cowboy’s season. These are all moments that we associate with transcendent athletes. Tom Walczak may have had such a moment at JITC. WHAT!?!?!? A tag match in the middle of a Pay-Per-View? That could hardly qualify as a transcendent moment. It was nothing more than an afterthought, a match to keep the crowd entertained until the big boys came out to play. Sure that what it started out at, and minutes into the match it seemed that it would remain as nothing more than an afterthought. What started out as two on two quickly devolved into a handicap match. Walczak does not blame his partner for leaving him out to dry. Hell, if Walczak had taken a beating like that who is to say that he would have gotten back up.

However, what happened next could just be the opening to Walczak’s Legend DVD, should it ever come to pass. Walczak, didn’t wilt under the pressure. He fought back against two highly skilled opponents, and pinned, not one but both of them. He imposed his will, and showed just what he could become if driven to it, but the tricky part comes next. All those famous moments mentioned earlier, they are not just remembered because they happened. No, they are remembered because of the careers they spawned. If Jordan hit that shot, but then never won the title would we even remember that game? Probably not.

The same goes for the other athletes. It’s never good enough to just do one thing, you have to build upon it, and that is what Walczak plans to do. Walczak has done many things in his past that he has been proud of, including becoming World Champion, but after every career high that Walczak has attained he took just as big a step back. He was affected by the disease of more. He wanted more money, more fame, more everything, but he didn’t want to work for it. Now, he doesn’t want anything but to become great, and he doesn’t want to just have it handed over to him. He wants to work for it, he wants to earn it.
After Winning the Old School Wrestling World Heavyweight Title, what did he do? He went to the nearest bar got shitfaced, brought home some ladies, and can barely remember any of it. How did he get rewarded for it? He lost his title five days later. Five days!!! He barely registers as a blip in the history of OSW.

After winning his tag team match at JITC, well that’s a different story. Walczak went back to the locker room changed into a sweatsuit and jogged the three miles back to his hotel. Once there he didn’t go back to his room, he went straight to the gym, and did some light lifting, to keep the juices in his muscles flowing. He then showered up, ate a protein heavy meal, and went to bed. He didn’t go out and party, or even give the win a second thought.

Did Walczak plan to go straight? Was it the end of partying for Walczak? No more drinking, no more women, no more antics? Of course not. This wasn’t Walczak becoming an angel, he is not trying to be a positive beacon in society, but he is trying to be the best. That is what he thinks of as he rests in his bed after JITC. He doesn’t think about what just happened, but about what is going to happen, and that is the biggest difference in Walczak.

__________________________________________________________

Passengers from Delta Flight 3206, are making their way out of the gate and into the baggage claim area of New York’s Laguardia Airport. Some families are waiting for their loved ones, but for the most part the area is empty. However, all the eyes of everyone who is there, make their way towards the behemoth coming out of the gate. Walczak doesn’t pay attention to anyone, his headphones drowning out all the rumblings of those around him. The headphones however, do prevent him from becoming aware of a stout man sneaking up behind him. The man winds up looking as if he is going to strike Walczak, blindsiding the big man, but the shorter man’s fist opens up and he plants a strong firm hand on Walczak’s shoulder. Startled, Walczak takes his headphones out and turns around, his fists clenched ready to go. However, as he turns around a smile appears on his face, and he embraces the man standing behind him.

“Piotr, I told you that I was going to take a cab home.”

“Come on, did you think that I was going to let you put your life in the hands of one of these maniacs?”

“I knew I shouldn’t have called you. Now, I just have to add this to the list of things that I owe you for in life.”

“What do you mean, you are in debt to me because I am giving you a ride home. That is ridiculous.”

“That’s what you say every time I ask you for something. Hey, can I get some money? Sure no problem. I’m drunk, can you pick me up? Sure no problem. I just can’t keep asking you for shit, and that’s why I didn’t ask you to pick me up.”

“This isn’t a favor. This is just what friends do. For Christ’s sake Tom, I pretty much raised you. You don’t owe me anything.”

“That’s the thing. You raised me, I would have washed up in a gutter long ago if not for you, and that is the first thing that I have to pay you back for. There is just one problem.”

“And what would that be?”

“Nothing that I could possibly do, and I mean nothing, could begin to pay you back for taking me in all those years ago. I have been trying to think about what I could do. I tried to buy you a car, hoping that could be a good starting place. What did you do? You sold it, for well below market value, just so you know. I paid for a trip for you and Monika to Poland. I even rented out a mansion for a month, and what happened. You, missed the flight, and then you just decided against going.”

“Don’t think that I didn’t appreciate all of that Thomas. With the car, I just didn’t think that I needed a fancy new car. Mine has lasted me twenty years and I just didn’t want to risk anything. Then the trip was just bad timing. You and Monika had just broken up, and she didn’t feel like having anything to do with you at the time. You know that I love you like a son, but I just couldn’t force my daughter to do something that she didn’t want.”

“I know, I know. Even, if you did enjoy those gifts, they could not begin to repay you, and that the thing. You gave me life, and what can one do to repay a gift like that.”

“You know what your problem is Tom? You think too much. You always have, and until you stop thinking so much you are going to keep tripping yourself up.”

“You’re always right Piotr.”

Walczak follows Piotr out of the airport, even allowing the man to carry his bag. Walczak knows how much joy it brings the old man to help out Walczak. No matter how big, how successful, Walczak gets, for Piotr he will always be that helpless boy that he picked out of the gym nearly twenty years ago.
__________________________________________________________

…January 6, 1991…

Walczak was looking forward to starting school, he thought that it would be a way to reinvent himself. Make himself into something he could never hope to become back in Poland. However, his first three days in school had been nothing but awkward glances, and people mumbling about him behind his back. The only person who talks to him is Monika, even when they sit together at lunch it is as if they are in two different worlds. Monika has her conversations with Walczak, and then she has her conversations with her other friends. Even though they all sit at the same table their worlds never collide. In fact, the only time that Walczak’s name was even mentioned was when Monika had to convince the others that Walczak was going to sit at their table. It wasn’t so much a discussion, as a declaration by Monika, and some sighs and groans from the others at the table.

Walczak had only one other class with Monika, so his social interaction was severely limited. For all that he had heard about America back when he was still in Poland, his first hand impressions were not at all similar. He didn’t expect to be taken in by the culture right away, but he also didn’t expect to be completely shunned. The fact that he was a foot taller than everyone else, and he spoke broken English didn’t help either.
As he walked down the hall for his final class of the day, he could not wait to get back home, and for the first time questioned coming to school at all. He kept his head hung low trying to ignore everyone gawking at him as he made his way down the hall. As he reached the door for his pre-calculus class, he was hit in the back by a piece of paper. Anger boiled up in Walczak, he clenched his fists, and wanted to kill whoever did this, he saw this as the last straw, but then he thought of Piotr and Monika, and decided to let it slide.

“What you didn’t feel that you big douche?”

Walczak turned around to see who it was that threw the paper. What he saw didn’t surprise him. Standing about ten feet away was Chet Watkins, a boy who Walczak had only a few run-ins with, but none of them were pleasant. He really wanted to fuck this kid up, but he was friends with Monika, and right now that was the only thing protecting him.

“Hello Chet.”

“Duh…Duh…Duh…Hello Chet…HAHAHA, do you even know how to speak?”
“I learn much every day, I apologize for my poor English.”

“You apologize for your English? You shouldn’t be the one apologizing. It should be your mother, for not having the foresight to get an abortion.”
“That is a good one Chet. If I have chance to see my mother again I shall let her know this.”

Walczak turns away and makes his way into the classroom wishing that he could beat the shit out of Chet, but knowing that in doing so he would never gain acceptance with his classmates. He just doesn’t know home much more of this he could take…

As the bell rings signaling the end of the day, Walczak immediately makes his way towards the door, and exits the building quickly. He does not even remember what the teacher talked about in class, he could only think of getting back home and forgetting about school altogether. He normally waited for Monika outside of the school, but today he wanted to be alone, and he made his way back home. He was thinking of what he should do next. He really wanted to go to school knowing all the opportunities that it would provide for him, but he knew that he would lose his mind if he had to go through this on a day by day basis. As he reached the door to Piotr’s home he had made up his mind. He was going to leave school, even if that meant that he would be kicked out of Piotr’s home.

“Oh, Tom you’re home, is Monika with you?”

“No, I didn’t wait for her today.”

“Well why not? Part of the deal that we had was that if I paid for you to go to school you would be my eyes and ears on the inside, and you would watch after her.”

“I know, I am just not sure if I could keep going to school.”

“What do you mean?”

“I not fit in so well. I am much different than all the other children. I think it better if I learn some more English first.”

“That’s fine, but how come the sudden change of heart. I thought that you really wanted to go to school not more than three days ago.”

“I think that I am no good for school right now. The children they do not like me, and I only speak with Monika.”

“I thought that you and Monika got along, and if you are going to let a couple of punks pick on you than I don’t think that there is any hope for you my friend. For Christ’s sake, you are sixteen and you are already bigger than anyone in my gym. Why don’t you sack up and fight back.”

“I don’t think that that would be such good idea. It would bring attention to myself, and I think that it would only cause children to pick on me more.”

“Pick on you. Come on there can’t be more than ten of those chicken shits that reach past your ballsack. You make an example of one of them then you either gain respect or fear, and either way they leave you alone.”

“Okay, I will try Piotr.”
__________________________________________________________

Walczak and Piotr pulled up in front of Piotr’s home, and a puzzled look plastered on his face.

“Piotr, where are we?”

“Come on you know.”

“I know where we are but why are we here? I thought that you were going to bring me back home. I’m tired, and I just got off a flight, I just want to go home and go to bed.”

“And what are you going to eat at home?”

“Whatever is in the fridge.”

“That is why we are here my friend. I am not going to let you go home and eat weeks old food. I have something prepared, and you are going to eat with me it’s the least you could do.”

“Alright I’ll eat. Just promise me you won’t break out the puppy dog eyes.”

“Fuck You.”

Walczak follows Piotr into the home he was raised in. Bending to the will, of one of the few people who still had control of him. As he steps through the door he feels more at home than he ever has in his own apartment. He takes his coat off, and makes his way towards the couch that he slept on his first night in the home.

“You still haven’t gotten rid of the flea bitten piece of shit.”

“Why would I get rid of it? It’s a good couch.”

“It’s nothing but a bunch of rags that make up a semblance of a couch.”

“You just can’t get rid of a good thing Tom, I thought I taught you that when you were younger.”

“Of course you did.”

As Walczak and Piotr stood around deciding on the merits of a good couch, the front door started to creak open. Walczak turns his gaze towards the door, and his eyes open wide, a look of shock plastered to his face. Monika makes her way through the door. He hasn’t seen her in nearly five years, but she hasn’t changed at all. Even with a bag of groceries in her hand and keys in the other she walks through the door elegantly. Her shoulder length blonde hair, almost putting a glow around the face that made Walczak quiver as a sixteen year old boy. She notices Walczak, but at the same time doesn’t pay him any attention. Instead making her way towards the kitchen counter, placing the groceries down.

“Monika, what are you doing here? I wasn’t expecting you to be here tonight.”

“Well dad, how are you going to restock your fridge if I don’t bring by your groceries.”

“Ha, that’s my little girl. I don’t know if you noticed, but Tomek is back in town. I am just making us some dinner if you would like to join us.”

“I saw him when I walked through the door, and I don’t think that I will be staying for dinner . Giorgio is waiting for me back home. He said that you weren’t at the gym today.”

“What your old man can’t take a day off? I am saddened to hear that you can’t even humor your father by staying for dinner, but I do believe that I raised you with proper manners, and when we have a guest in the house you are required to greet them.”

“Hello Thomas.”

“Hello Monika, you look great.”

“Thank you Thomas. Now, I think I am going to be heading home.”

“Alright honey, thanks for the groceries.”

Monika kisses her father on the cheek, and makes her way back out of the house not even glancing towards Walczak as she makes her exit, but for him it doesn’t matter. Just seeing her after all these years makes Walczak revert back to that cowering little boy, not believing that the person he had just seen was real.

“Well, it was nice to see Monika.”

“I’m sure she felt the same way.”

“Yeah, what gave it away? The charming introduction, or the ice cold stare piercing through me, trying to eradicate me from existence.”

“Oh, she seemed fine to me.”

“Yeah, just fine.”
__________________________________________________________

…January 6, 1991…

Walczak takes his school jacket off, and sits down on the couch, still not believing that Piotr had convinced him to go back to school even though he was certain that he would never return to that place when he walked through the door. He isn’t even upset, it’s not like he forced him to go back. No, he made him realize that if he didn’t go back, than the lasting impression in the minds of the kids back at school would be one of “Hey, that Walczak kid that used to go here was just a giant pussy…”, and let’s face it Piotr wasn’t going to have a pussy living in his home. The sound of rattling keys outside the door wake Walczak from his trance, and realizing that Monika is outside, he tries to gather his things and scurry away before she comes in.

“Hold it.”

Walczak is frozen in place still bending over to pick up his bookbag. He slowly gets up and turns to face Monika. He could see that she is upset, but as he struggles to form an apology the words get caught up in his throat

“Where the hell were you!!! I waited outside for twenty minutes before I went inside to look for you, and then when I realized that you weren’t in the school I walked home by myself in the freezing cold. Next time that you want to go home alone just give me a heads up will you.”

“I am sorry Monika. My head was not in the right place. I forgot I was to wait for you. I am sorry, very sorry.”

“You can’t just say that you are sorry every time you fuck up, and expect for everything to be okay.”

“I just did not want to be in school any longer. I was sick of that place, and everyone just looks at me like I am freak.”

“Well, I didn’t realize that the big man had feelings. You can’t let those kids get to you Tom, and if they do it doesn’t mean that you could just forget about all the people that care about you.”

“I not mean to upset you. I truly am sorry, and I never leave you alone again, I promise.”

“You, better not cause next time I won’t be so nice.”

Monika, walked towards Walczak grabbing him by the arm and leading him into the kitchen. Walczak still felt uneasy whenever Monika touched him, and you could see it on his face. It was not a bad feeling that Walczak felt, just one he wasn’t used to, but for him it was one he was looking forward to exploring.
__________________________________________________________

…January 7, 1991…

Walczak walked down the halls of Williamsburg Charter High School, just as he has done for the past three days, but today he takes them in differently. He no longer slouches as he walks, giving the people who now look at him a true look at just how immense he is. Walczak’s posture is not the only thing that has changed. The looks that are now directed towards him are no longer ones of bewilderment, and humor, but ones of fear, and to be honest Walczak enjoys these looks much more. There are no people muttering behind his back, or pointing at him. In fact as Walczak passes each student they tend to avert their eyes and burrow into their lockers. As Walczak makes his way towards his classroom, he smiles, because he knows that today will be different

…January 7, 1991…

Walczak makes his way into the cafeteria, very much looking forward to his daily hour with Monika. He normally grabs his lunch and sits at the table trying to make as little contact with anyone. Today he stands in the doorway taking in the lunchroom for the first time. He has taken to heart the talk he had yesterday with Piotr, and he wasn’t going to let anyone bully him anymore, and in doing so he has had the best day of school to date. He even managed to participate in class, taking his teachers by surprise as he raised his hand to answer the questions asked of the class, and surprising them even further when the answers that came from his mouth were correct.

Walczak takes a seat at his lunch table, and while he normally averts his eyes from the others at the table, today he makes sure that he stared at them, gazing directly into their eyes as if to say “This is my seat”. Walczak takes out his lunch, a roast beef sandwich, an apple, and a chocolate protein shake. While his lunch is the same as it was the previous three days, when he takes his first bite of the sandwich it just tastes better.

“You look happy today, so I guess you are finally getting the hang of this high school thing.”

“Today is good day Monika.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Just as Walczak begins to think that this is the best day of his life, Chet comes over and sits next to Monika. The mere sight of the boy makes Walczak’s smile disappear. Walczak and the rest of the male students have to suffer through the day in uncomfortable sports coats, but not Chet. No, Chet is a varsity athlete, and he can wear his letter jacket in school. If Walczak, or any other student forget their lunch, they have to suffer through one of the less than digestible school lunches, but the faculty just looks the other way when Chet and his buddies order a pizza. Every thing about the boy eats up Walczak inside, and he can’t even bear to look the boy in the face.

“Hey, Monika how’s it going?”

“Oh, it’s going well Chet. What did we do, for you to grace us with your presence?”

“What, can’t I come over to talk with my gal?”

“HA! Since when did I become your gal?”

“Only a matter of time babe, sooner or later the girls can’t resist my charm.”

“What charm? There is no place on this earth, no situation that can arise, that will put the two of us together.”

“I can see that you are warming to me already.”

As Chet finishes his last sentence, he places his arm around Monika, but before she can shrug him off, Walczak slaps his hand away.

“Hey, what’s your God Damn problem?”

“I think Monika would like you to leave her alone.”

“I think, that if she didn’t want me here she would tell me.”

“I don’t want you here.”

“Don’t be like that babe.”

“You should leave now.”

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

“Either way, you should be going now.”

“Would you just mind your own fucking business.”

Walczak turns his head for just a moment trying to calm the rage building inside of him, and when he turns back he is met by Chet’s closed fist slamming into his face. As Chet recoiled his hand in pain, the punch didn’t seem to inflict any physical damage unto Walczak, but any control he had on his rage went out the window. With Chet’s back turned, Walczak picked him up nearly over his head and threw him onto the tables, sending mashed potatoes, peas, and meat like substances flying through the air. All the nearby children scurry, as Walczak makes his way towards Chet, who is trying to get away awkwardly crawling along the floor.

“What the fuck is your problem?”

“I said you must leave Monika alone.”

“And, I said that I wasn’t talking to you.”

“But I was speaking to you.”

As Chet tries to lunge under a nearby lunch table, Walczak grabs him by the ankle, dragging him closer. Walczak easily picks the boy up, and turns him staring fiercely into the boys eyes, and seeing the look of cowardice that appears, Walczak can’t help but smile. Walczak lifts Chet by his collar, his legs kicking more and more as he rises into the air.

“HEY, PUT HIM DOWN!!!”

A teacher that Walczak has never seen before comes over to stop the boy, and not wanting to cause any more damage, Walczak places Chet on the ground. Looking around, the looks plastered on the faces of the students, show Walczak that he has gained the respect that he was looking for.

“I am sorry, but this boy started it.”

“I don’t give a damn who started it. Both of you go to the principal’s office right now.”

“Why do I have to go? This chump just thought it would be funny to pick me up and throw me across the cafeteria.”

“Like I said before, Mr. Watkins, I do not care who started the fight. Both of you were involved, so now both of you are to go to the principal’s office.”

“After you.”

Walczak gestures at Chet, sarcastically showing him the way to the principal’s office. Following Chet out of the cafeteria, Walczak has a new spring in his step, looking as if he is happy to go to the principal’s office.

__________________________________________________________

…January 7, 1991…

Walczak is waiting outside of the school for Monika to come out. He has a satisfied look on his face, and is now glad that the rest of the student body seems to avoid him. They choose not to come within five feet of the giant standing in front of the school, as if he had a force field built around him. He sees Monika coming down the stairs and walks over to meet her.

“I’m glad to see you waited for me today. I thought that maybe your trip to the principal’s office would have caused you to storm off in a fury yet again.”

“Today was good day.”

“Oh, it was a good day was it. What was that stunt that you pulled in the cafeteria?”

“He was not respecting you Monika, and I could no longer bear it. I lost control of emotions.”

“I’m a big girl Thomas, I can take care of myself. I do not need you to be my protector.”

“Your father says that I am to look after you, and that is what I was doing.”

“That is just like my father. No matter how old I get I will always be his little girl. Now, let’s go home, I am getting kind of hungry.”

Monika locks her arm into Walczak’s, catching him off guard, and causing him to stop for a moment. The pause is only momentary, and as the two of them continue their walk home, Walczak realizes that this truly is the best day of his life.
__________________________________________________________

Walczak and Piotr sit down for dinner, and looking at the steaks, and mashed potatoes in front of him he is happy that Piotr brought him back here instead of just dropping him off at home.

“Go ahead and dig in.”

“This looks great Piotr.”

For the past four years, Walczak has pretty much shut everyone out of his life, becoming somewhat of a social pariah. However, he now sees what he has been missing. By surrounding himself with people who care for him, he could set himself on a better track. One where he doesn’t throw in the towel at the first sign of adversity. For Walczak, he doesn’t want people to remember that he defeated two people by himself. No, he wants people to remember how he built on that victory, how he worked to become champion once again, and that next step comes with a victory over Seymour Almasy.
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