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| A Strategic Mind | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 10 2009, 05:10 AM (43 Views) | |
| Deleted User | Sep 10 2009, 05:10 AM Post #1 |
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Deleted User
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Alexander Slate was rarely one to dislike a training session, and today was no different. A few sets of reps and max-out sessions left him satisfied with his ability and his comfort in doing so. As he sat down on a bench, he wiped a bit of the sweat off himself with a towel (which he rather bluntly tossed aside afterward) and unzipped his duffel bag. Today's workout was not over. "Hey, you," Alex said, calling out to one of CZW's trainers, who had spotted for Alex several times during the last couple of hours. He seemed young, and not important or prestigious to anyone else around. Perhaps he was just an intern, or simply had little if any seniority in the company. Not that Alex could lord that over him; he very likely had less. "What's your name?" "James, sir." Sir. Alex knew he should tell James first and foremost to can all the "sir" nonsense, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't like it. "Well. You're an alright spotter then, James." Alex took a swig from his bottle of water and gave James an expression that might pass for a smile in the same way that mixing that water with Listerine might pass for peppermint Schnapps. "Um, thanks. You taking a break?" James asked. "In a sense," Alex replied. Alex reached into his duffel bag and pulled out what appeared to be a chessboard, to which James understandably raised an eyebrow. "You know how to play?" Alex asked. "Yeah, I-I guess. ... The horses are the ones that move in the L-shapes, right?" Alex gave a blank stare past James's ankles. "I suppose, on some planet, that constitutes 'knowing how to play.' Sit down. Take the white pieces." James did so. "So," he said awkwardly, "uh-" "What's a wrestler doing playing chess?" Alex blurted out bluntly. "I was going to ask 'what's a chess geek doing wrestling,' but I guess they're the same thing." "I wouldn't exactly call those two interchangeable, but I suppose you do have a point. But I also hope you realize that wrestling is far from solely being a physical endeavor," Alex said, setting up his pieces. "Wrestling, in its purest form, is the ultimate, perfect marriage of physical and mental disciplines. Merely overpowering your opponent may give you a few wins, but one must also be capable of outsmarting them in order to truly excel." James set up his pieces, mimicking Alex. "And so the chess..." "Chess, much like wrestling, is a game of strategy- an ancient game of strategy. Centuries, maybe even millennia old, and yet it has never been perfected. Even today people are still coming up with new tactics, new gambits, new ways of thinking about the game." "Just like wrestling," James said, perking up. "CZW's always coming up with crazy new matches and new stipulations, the most hardcore, insane, death-defying..." James stopped. Alex mouth had now contorted into a snarl. "Um, I mean... um... it's-" "White always goes first," Alex replied, interrupting. "Oh. Oh! Sorry," James said, moving a pawn up one square. He couldn't tell if Alex was irritated at the mention of "crazy new matches" or if he was just being impatient. It could be both. Alex moved a knight up, and the game had begun. "I'll concede that wrestling continues to break new creative ground, and that certainly isn't a bad thing. I simply wish people wouldn't mock its rich history in doing so." James shrugged. "Hey, no disqualifications means anything goes. People are going to take advantage. Why wouldn't they?" Alex sighed. He looked up at the ceiling, almost wistfully. "James, do you know why I call my finisher 'Peace of Mind?'" "Of course," James replied. "It's 'cause you drop them on their head and knock out a piece of their-" "No, no, no!" Alex pounded the bench with his fist, shaking and tipping over some of the pieces. "Peace of mind. P-E-A-C-E. It represents the peace that I have, knowing that I am giving every match my true all, and that I am honoring wrestling's heritage in doing so. It also represents the same peace that I wish to grant to my opponents." Alex stood up his toppled pieces, moving a rook a square over to a more tactically advantageous position in the process. James didn't notice. "So... the fact that it's a Brainbuster..." Alex shrugged. "More coincidental than anything." James bit his lip as he moved a bishop. He needed to change the subject. He'd heard about the house show and didn't want Alex to tangent into another crusade. "So... you ready for your debut fight?" "Of course I am," Alex said, looking insulting that this guy would as much as imply that he wasn't. "I've done my scouting, seen plenty of tapes... I just wish I could've found out more about their medical records." "Medical records?" Alex nodded. "When they've been admitted to a hospital and why, where they've had surgery... people might say they're back to being at one hundred percent, and they might even believe it, but even after it heals a serious injury remains a weak point for a very long time, sometimes even the rest of a wrestler's career. And I plan to take advantage of any weak point I can." James didn't seem convinced. "But if they 'take advantage' by bringing a chair in-" "That's completely different. My advantage is sound strategy and tactical use of a wrestler's history; no different than memorizing their most effective and powerful moves. I respect my opponents and expect no different from them to me. But all that 'advantage' means is that they aren't smart enough to know how to fight effectively." James looked Alex in the eyes, moving his rook to capture his opponent's bishop. "Or maybe it means they are smart enough to know how to fight effectively." Alex grumbled, then looked down at the board, stunned. All this talk had caused complacency, and he had inadvertently boxed his own king in. James looked at the board as well, smiling sheepishly and emitting a faint, nervous chuckle. "Um... checkmate?" |
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2:22 PM Jul 11