Post by tneff on May 28, 2006 9:40:51 GMT -5
Peace. A feeling of relief, of quiet. Very seldom has Tom Neff had that. For the better part of his adult life, he has been running from federation to federation, winning match after match. The man was only in his early 20's, and the way he was abusing his body, he would be lucky to make it to 35 without seriously considering being a wheelchair user. Then in February 2005, Neff abrubtly left the spotlight, citing personal reasons. The business should have known better. The world has known Neff from when he was an arrogant 18 year old. He had no "personal" life. And from February 13, 2005 until May of 2006, Neff had one thing he hadn't had for a long time. Freedom. He settled down a little bit. Got a fiance, has his first son on the way. And then, some guy he had never heard of, Brian Daniels, gave him an offer he couldn't refuse. Which puts him back where he thought he would never be. A wrestling ring. As the scene begins, you can see Neff packing a duffel bag, obviously preparing to leave his Long Beach home for his first match in over a year. Presently, his fiance, Lily, walks in.
Lily: I know you can't be talked out of this, but are you sure?
T-Neff stops to think about what he wants to say before speaking.Neff: 2, 3 months ago, I would have hung up on Daniels. I would have told him to take his offer, and shove it........well, you know where. But I just have a good feeling about this. That and...............I really don't want to say this, but.........There are only 2 times where I feel like I'm truly alive. When I'm with you, and when I am in the ring. So when I left wrestling, It was like killing half of me. And of all people, you told me to follow my heart. My heart is saying now is the right time.
Of course, by the look she had, Neff knew she had doubts.
Lily: What about our son? What would he think of you if you went and got yourself paralyzed? You're not an old man, and I just think sometimes you don't want to be.
It wasn't what she said that bothered him, but how. She stopped talking when she saw Neff's face, which was cold.
Neff: I'm not having this conversation right now. I have a match to focus on. I have a match this Monday against Deshaun Smith. A fellow Californian. And by the sound of that beep, LJ is waiting outside to take me to the airport. I'll see you later.
Before he can kiss her, Lily runs from the room. "Great", Neff thought...................already she wants me to retire. LJ hit his horn again, and Neff scrambles for his things before running out the door. He is greeted by his best friend, LaMont Jackson, and LJ's prized possession, his 2005 Dodge Ram Hemi.
Neff: haha........you love this thing, don't you?
LJ: You know I do.............almost like a long lost son.........hahaha. Get in man, we've got stuff to talk about. Like your match this week, against Deshaun. He's from my hometown, man. Compton.
Neff:Haha. Yeah, he's from Compton, and he's your average, everyday gangsta. I'm giving up a lot of size, but that has been something that's followed me all my career. Either I was always to small, or the opposition was too big. Not this time. Deshaun can have his size advantage. I have the utmost desire to win. And that's the real reason anyone is in this business. If you don't want to win, you're in the wrong company. And recently, people have been talking about me like I am supposed to lay down and die for them. Not gonna happen.
LJ: Yeah, but what do you truly feel about Deshaun?
Neff: What do I think? He's a skilled man. He's capable of great things. He is your typical guy. But I have faced tons of guys like him before, and I'll face tons more before I quit. Really, I am very confident in my abilities. Yeah, it's been 15 months since I last wrestled, but it's all still there. I am ready to roll like never before. Deshaun had better be ready to come with it, because I know I will.
While the two were talking, they reach the airport. Neff thanks LJ for the ride, grabs his bag, and heads towards a sign that says "NYC: Boarding time 11 AM." As he walks down the busy airport hallways, the scene fades out
Lily: I know you can't be talked out of this, but are you sure?
T-Neff stops to think about what he wants to say before speaking.Neff: 2, 3 months ago, I would have hung up on Daniels. I would have told him to take his offer, and shove it........well, you know where. But I just have a good feeling about this. That and...............I really don't want to say this, but.........There are only 2 times where I feel like I'm truly alive. When I'm with you, and when I am in the ring. So when I left wrestling, It was like killing half of me. And of all people, you told me to follow my heart. My heart is saying now is the right time.
Of course, by the look she had, Neff knew she had doubts.
Lily: What about our son? What would he think of you if you went and got yourself paralyzed? You're not an old man, and I just think sometimes you don't want to be.
It wasn't what she said that bothered him, but how. She stopped talking when she saw Neff's face, which was cold.
Neff: I'm not having this conversation right now. I have a match to focus on. I have a match this Monday against Deshaun Smith. A fellow Californian. And by the sound of that beep, LJ is waiting outside to take me to the airport. I'll see you later.
Before he can kiss her, Lily runs from the room. "Great", Neff thought...................already she wants me to retire. LJ hit his horn again, and Neff scrambles for his things before running out the door. He is greeted by his best friend, LaMont Jackson, and LJ's prized possession, his 2005 Dodge Ram Hemi.
Neff: haha........you love this thing, don't you?
LJ: You know I do.............almost like a long lost son.........hahaha. Get in man, we've got stuff to talk about. Like your match this week, against Deshaun. He's from my hometown, man. Compton.
Neff:Haha. Yeah, he's from Compton, and he's your average, everyday gangsta. I'm giving up a lot of size, but that has been something that's followed me all my career. Either I was always to small, or the opposition was too big. Not this time. Deshaun can have his size advantage. I have the utmost desire to win. And that's the real reason anyone is in this business. If you don't want to win, you're in the wrong company. And recently, people have been talking about me like I am supposed to lay down and die for them. Not gonna happen.
LJ: Yeah, but what do you truly feel about Deshaun?
Neff: What do I think? He's a skilled man. He's capable of great things. He is your typical guy. But I have faced tons of guys like him before, and I'll face tons more before I quit. Really, I am very confident in my abilities. Yeah, it's been 15 months since I last wrestled, but it's all still there. I am ready to roll like never before. Deshaun had better be ready to come with it, because I know I will.
While the two were talking, they reach the airport. Neff thanks LJ for the ride, grabs his bag, and heads towards a sign that says "NYC: Boarding time 11 AM." As he walks down the busy airport hallways, the scene fades out
