Post by George Duke on Feb 12, 2007 17:17:29 GMT -6
George Duke doesn't drink very heavily, usually a few beers or a shot at the end of a long day. A bar is usually the last place you'd see George in the middle of a training day. However, he has an engagement to meet a reporter for a regional fanzine at Fitz's Southenders Pub. George walks through the door and immediately spots the pale Jewish kid sitting alone at a table drinking soda with a tape recorder. He doesn't exactly fit in with the mess of burly Irish guys that sit at the bar all day. George sits down and orders a beer, but barely touches it when it comes. George doesn't mind press, it can only help, but he tries to keep it short every time. This small Penn State fanzine covers regionals all over the country. The editor is the son of a friend of a friend, so George get some press from time to time. This particular peice is to be included in a feature story about Midwest Regionals, so George was the guy to call from a limited list of contacts. After a bit of small talk, the kid goes right into his questions.
"There is a lot of public attention (considering) surrounding your match with Velimir Radinovic this week. Why do you think this is, and what are your plans for this bout?"
"Well, there is some attention for this bout. The fans are eager to see it, it's picked up some small time press, and as I understand it - it might draw in a few more people. Why? Because everyone loves a blood-bath, and they know that they'll get one. We don't really have similar styles, other than the fact that we're rough about it. We both know what we want, and we'll just go ahead and take it. If anyone gets in our way, they're gonna get hurt. We both have the same mentality about it - and people know that we'll practically have to kill eachother to win. Now, it's for this reason that I have to pull out all stops. Not to give the fans a good show. Hell, I couldn't care less about that. But the fact that everyone is watching - and the fact that this is sort of a 'Clash of the Titans', I have to prove I'm the better man. I know I'd get plenty of respect and self-satisfaction just by beating him in a close match, but if I destroyed him - that'd be a real victory. Suppose I broke his neck. Even if he won, I'd come out on top. I slayed a dragon. I'd be the top dragon, I'd be the king. The only way to get respect in this business is to earn it. I'm an older guy that never made it really big, so when I come into a new territory, a lot of the younger guys try to make a joke out of me. However, they find out really fast that I'm not a guy you screw around with - they start to fear me. It's like starting all over again everytime you go somewhere. This is part of that, and this match especially is important."
"Velimir Radinovic has developed a reputation as a tough and sadistic wrestler, as have you. Both of you are undefeated in the POW at this point. Do you think this is an even match?"
"I guess you could say that it's fairly even, but not entirely. He's got a mean streak in 'em, and I know his peice of crap manager breeds in it him, but that's good for him. He's a good fighter, and he's earned my respect, mostly by default. I'm not a big fan of most of the guys on the roster, but this Russian guy fights like he means it - like he gives a damn. So he's won me over there. Of course, I won't think twice about hurting him - in fact, I'm aiming for it, as I've mentioned. As far as it being even, he's got a few things on me, but I've got a lot more on him. He's younger and faster - more lung capacity, more flexibility. However, my age has given me plenty of experience. I know how to get around those things - I've got to slow it down to a pace I'm comfortable with. If it's slowed down, then I'm in control. He might lose his temper then, which I know not to do. I know my sh*t, man. I know my holds, but most importantly, I know the dirty tricks. This is going to be a challenge, but I'm confident I'll come out on top - not unscathed, but on top."
"You referred to Kristoff Sterling in a negative way. Why is this?"
"I don't like managers. Managers usually flaunt guys around to make themselves rich. They'll exploit them, get them to do all sorts of things. They'll get you to ruin your body real fast, but they'll be collecting the cash. Sometimes a manager has your best interests at heart. That usually means you're weak. Can't handle your own sh*t? Then get the Hell out of here. I used to manage Frank Christian, but it was because he was have some serious physical problems. I'd go on the road with him to help him train, then at bell-time I'd get to come to the ring and have the best seats in the house! People like Sterling are different - they're the worst. These guys moved out of Hollywood and into my sport, and thats one of the reasons it's dying. Trust me, Sterling will get a little something from me, too."
The reporter looks at his watch, noticing that George is already itching to leave.
"Thanks a lot, Mr. Duke. I think we have all we need."
George shakes his hand firmly, maybe a little more than is nessisary, before leaving the bar (and the tab) behind.
"There is a lot of public attention (considering) surrounding your match with Velimir Radinovic this week. Why do you think this is, and what are your plans for this bout?"
"Well, there is some attention for this bout. The fans are eager to see it, it's picked up some small time press, and as I understand it - it might draw in a few more people. Why? Because everyone loves a blood-bath, and they know that they'll get one. We don't really have similar styles, other than the fact that we're rough about it. We both know what we want, and we'll just go ahead and take it. If anyone gets in our way, they're gonna get hurt. We both have the same mentality about it - and people know that we'll practically have to kill eachother to win. Now, it's for this reason that I have to pull out all stops. Not to give the fans a good show. Hell, I couldn't care less about that. But the fact that everyone is watching - and the fact that this is sort of a 'Clash of the Titans', I have to prove I'm the better man. I know I'd get plenty of respect and self-satisfaction just by beating him in a close match, but if I destroyed him - that'd be a real victory. Suppose I broke his neck. Even if he won, I'd come out on top. I slayed a dragon. I'd be the top dragon, I'd be the king. The only way to get respect in this business is to earn it. I'm an older guy that never made it really big, so when I come into a new territory, a lot of the younger guys try to make a joke out of me. However, they find out really fast that I'm not a guy you screw around with - they start to fear me. It's like starting all over again everytime you go somewhere. This is part of that, and this match especially is important."
"Velimir Radinovic has developed a reputation as a tough and sadistic wrestler, as have you. Both of you are undefeated in the POW at this point. Do you think this is an even match?"
"I guess you could say that it's fairly even, but not entirely. He's got a mean streak in 'em, and I know his peice of crap manager breeds in it him, but that's good for him. He's a good fighter, and he's earned my respect, mostly by default. I'm not a big fan of most of the guys on the roster, but this Russian guy fights like he means it - like he gives a damn. So he's won me over there. Of course, I won't think twice about hurting him - in fact, I'm aiming for it, as I've mentioned. As far as it being even, he's got a few things on me, but I've got a lot more on him. He's younger and faster - more lung capacity, more flexibility. However, my age has given me plenty of experience. I know how to get around those things - I've got to slow it down to a pace I'm comfortable with. If it's slowed down, then I'm in control. He might lose his temper then, which I know not to do. I know my sh*t, man. I know my holds, but most importantly, I know the dirty tricks. This is going to be a challenge, but I'm confident I'll come out on top - not unscathed, but on top."
"You referred to Kristoff Sterling in a negative way. Why is this?"
"I don't like managers. Managers usually flaunt guys around to make themselves rich. They'll exploit them, get them to do all sorts of things. They'll get you to ruin your body real fast, but they'll be collecting the cash. Sometimes a manager has your best interests at heart. That usually means you're weak. Can't handle your own sh*t? Then get the Hell out of here. I used to manage Frank Christian, but it was because he was have some serious physical problems. I'd go on the road with him to help him train, then at bell-time I'd get to come to the ring and have the best seats in the house! People like Sterling are different - they're the worst. These guys moved out of Hollywood and into my sport, and thats one of the reasons it's dying. Trust me, Sterling will get a little something from me, too."
The reporter looks at his watch, noticing that George is already itching to leave.
"Thanks a lot, Mr. Duke. I think we have all we need."
George shakes his hand firmly, maybe a little more than is nessisary, before leaving the bar (and the tab) behind.
