Opening Gambit
3-29-01

Look at that picture up above. People ask me all the time what it is that I see everytime I wrestled. That is what I see. Clouds. And now that I am retired, I will be enjoying that view everyday of my life. Why is that you may ask? Well, allow me to give my thoughts on that to you and how this pertains to the UBWF, in the first installment of The Opening Gambit.

(Gambit: Noun – A remark made to open or redirect a conversation.)

Like the clouds above, everything changes. They never stay the same. Look what has occurred in the UBWF. I have retired. Quiz made a surprizing return. Lord Rahl retired from the UBWF. There is a new belt that is being added. These are the keys. Things are coming and going. And that leads to the conclusion that change is both positive and negative.

The Positive and Negative to all things that change is crucial to us. And, unfortunately for us, we have opted for the Negative side of change in the UBWF. You have Old School vs. Youth Liberation. You have fight after fight to see who is the better opponent. That is good. But after every match, the lines of respect do not advance. Everyone's ego seems to get in the way. Which is bad. No one gives into the fact that they were beaten by a better opponent that day. Someone who was a little more prepared that day then they were.

And look what this has gotten us since everyone doesn't give respect to others. A creation of yet another belt. This time for people in the Youth Liberation. This doesn't seem right folks. You create a new belt for one set of people just so they can have respect from the Old School? You create a new belt for the Youth Liberation to prove their skills amongst themselves? Something is out of place here. I think that this is called oppression. Only for those that are not "in the clique". (Case in point, Pantero. Great guy. Member of the Youth Liberation last time I checked. Yet, he was UBWF Heavyweight Champion. Could it be because he is friends with Dr. Death, a card bearing member and one of the found members of the old school? Or because he gave respect to those around him when he entered? Think about it.)

Either way you look at it, something doesn't seem right. And yes, many of you would consider me a member of the Old School. But, I have always put my thoughts and actions ahead of my alignment. And I will still do so until the day I die. That is how the UBWF needs to be. Give the respect to those that deserve it in our times of change. Put aside the idea of associations to groups in the league when it comes to making Championship Matches. Let the wrestlers make their way up to the top. Don't draw up new targets for people to earn the respect they already earned and keep them at the bottom. They are in the UBWF already.

And like the clouds above, things will move and change again.

Until then....................McCloud