Talking To My Former Coaches Ignited My Fuse

ENTRY 383

TALKING TO MY 'OLD' COACHES

This past Saturday, Stockyards Boxing hosted 'Fight Night XXXI'.

I was there to cover the card for Metropolis TV. The bouts will be available for viewing by the end of the week. 

It was an exciting card with five great bouts.

While I was there, two of my former coaches stopped by to talk to me.

Will and Matt were asking about my training.

Will wanted to know when I was returning to Stockyards.

I told him that I was not returning because I liked my new gym. 

Thinking now, I probably should have been a bit more discreet about that. I am thinking back that I may have sounded a bit blunt.

However, you all know the story behind that already.

Matt offered to help train me for the Golden Gloves.

I will have to check with Coach Brock on that one. Some coaches do not like that. 

Although, I don't think that a little additional help could hurt.

It was interesting what Matt said though. He told me that in his opinion I am not mean enough in the ring.

That is interesting because I have noticed that about myself for a while. I have also mentioned it here.

Matt said that I need to be angry when I enter the ring to compete.

Yes. Like that.

I am angry at all other times, so why not in the ring as well?

I need to really start 'bringing it' more.

If I have to hurt a guy to win, well, so, that's it. Combat sport. Live with it.

If anything, my last bout taught me that more than anything.

That's it. Time to turn it on. 

February 8 is the last day of my suspension. After that...

A whole new 'Brick' is on the horizon.

Technique is important, but not all other boxers and coaches feel that way. Some just want to go for the quick knockout...

"...A man confronts you...he is the enemy...and the enemy deserves no mercy..."

Done.

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'ANOTHER BRICK IN THE SPRAWL' VLOG ARCHIVE  
=================================================================
ENTRY 001  JANUARY 4 2017   "Another Brick In the Sprawl, pt. 2"   
ENTRY 002  JANUARY 11 2017  "Crappy Computers and Electronics"
ENTRY 003  JANUARY 18 2017  "I Listen To Weird Music?"
ENTRY 004  JANUARY 26 2017  "Why You Should Not Lease From EasyHome"
ENTRY 005  FEBRUARY 1 2017

ENTRY 006   TBA
ENTRY 007   TBA

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'THE BRICK' TRAINS AT:

2389 St.Clair Ave. W. Toronto

Tuesday and Thursday, some Saturdays

--and--

2295 Dundas St. W. Toronto

Friday.

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LISTEN LIVE--Link on the right --->

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Moving (Defence ) On Up

ENTRY 382

TRAINING UPDATE: MOVING (DEFENCE) ON UP 

Although I still can not spar for another two weeks, I have been working on some new defence. 

I have been working on a defence tactic that some coaches don't like. I have been holding my left very high. I am doing this to defend against an overhand right.

My right is a bit lower, which I use for jab and left hook defence. 

This defence should work great if my opponent is using orthodox stance. I will not, however, work well against a southpaw.

I will get to dealing with a southpaw later. Baby steps.

I do still want to try for the Golden Gloves. That is definitely on my bucket list.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO BELL?

This past Saturday my dad of 85 years left us.
Needless to say, it was a very hectic and stressful day.
I received a lot of calls, e-mails, and Facebook posts, and I thank everybody for caring.

There was, however, one exception. 
My buddies at Bell.
Bell rhymes with Hell for a reason. It is because they are the root of all evil.

Somebody from Hell called me on Saturday, not two hours after my dad passed, and asked for a payment.

I understand that he did not know what happened, so I told him what happened and that I was not dealing with anything like that right now.
Didn't he keep right on going on asking for his damn payment?

Well, that just goes to show what is important to Bell. 
Life certainly goes right the HELL on doesn't it?

I think that once my contact is finished in November, I will be saying goodbye to Bell. 
I have already decided to change my mobile provider away from Bell because of their crap.

I am not going back to Rogers because they are just as bad.

The government needs to start cracking down on these idiots. Allowing more competition would definitely help.

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'ANOTHER BRICK IN THE SPRAWL' VLOG ARCHIVE  
=================================================================
ENTRY 001  JANUARY 4 2017   "Another Brick In the Sprawl, pt. 2"   
ENTRY 002  JANUARY 11 2017  "Crappy Computers and Electronics"
ENTRY 003  JANUARY 18 2017  "I Listen To Weird Music?"
ENTRY 004  JANUARY 26 2017  "Why You Should Not Lease From EasyHome"
ENTRY 005   TBA

ENTRY 006   TBA

=======================================================+=======

===============================================================

'THE BRICK' TRAINS AT:

2389 St.Clair Ave. W. Toronto

Tuesday and Thursday, some Saturdays

--and--

2295 Dundas St. W. Toronto

Friday.

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LISTEN LIVE--Link on the right --->

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R.I.P.

ENTRY 381

R.I.P.

I am deviating from my usual posts this week because I have just lost someone very close to me.
On Saturday January 21 at 11:24 AM, my father at age 85 died in his east-end Toronto apartment.
However, there is going to be an investigation because the coroner does not believe that his death was natural. He has classified it as 'accidental'.
It is believed that he died from a fall from a month ago.
That may seem odd, but at that age a fall can cause a lot of damage and will actually get worse if not immediately treated.
My dad was in and out of hospitals so much that it could have happened anywhere. Although, we have an idea of where it happened. All we are waiting for is the official report to be sure.  

That being said, if I am in the mood, there may be another "Blue Corner" entry within the next couple of days. 
I have some training updates to report, but as you can imagine, those are not important right now.

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'ANOTHER BRICK IN THE SPRAWL' VLOG ARCHIVE  
=================================================================
ENTRY 001  JANUARY 4 2017   "Another Brick In the Sprawl, pt. 2"   
ENTRY 002  JANUARY 11 2017  "Crappy Computers and Electronics"
ENTRY 003  JANUARY 17 2017  "I Listen To Weird Music?"
ENTRY 004   TBA

ENTRY 005   TBA

=======================================================+=======

===============================================================

'THE BRICK' TRAINS AT:

2389 St.Clair Ave. W. Toronto

Tuesday and Thursday, some Saturdays

--and--

2295 Dundas St. W. Toronto

Friday.

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LISTEN LIVE--Link on the right --->

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Chairman of the Bored

ENTRY 380

CHAIRMAN OF THE BORED

Well, I guess this is a case of the January Blues, or in my case the January Bored.
Absolutely nothing is happening. I am not allowed to spar for about another 20 days.

I was thinking of going into the boxing gym on Saturday morning, but the thing is I have no motivation right now. With being suspended and not on training for a bout, there is really no need for me to live in the gym.

It is actually beginning to annoy me.
I want to get back into training. I want a reason to get back into training.

I was thinking about entering the Ringside Masters Tournament being held this March in Kansas City.
However, there is a $100 entry fee. That would be $130 for me, plus travel costs. Plus i would have to renew my Nexus card, another $50.
I would be looking at close to $500 just to go to a tournament. 
There is also one coming up in a few weeks in Cleveland. Again, it is very expensive to travel to the U.S. for tournaments. 


VLOGS GOING WELL

I am really enjoying producing the weekly vlogs.
I would like to start doing them more often, but there are still not enough viewers to make it worth my while to produce more at this time.
I realize it takes a while for a vlog to start gaining viewers, but the key is to keep at it.

If anyone has ideas for things that I can cover on future vlogs, let me know and I will look into doing it.

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'ANOTHER BRICK IN THE SPRAWL' VLOG ARCHIVE  
=================================================================
ENTRY 001  JANUARY 4 2017   "Another Brick In the Sprawl, pt. 2"   
ENTRY 002  JANUARY 13 2017  "Crappy Computers and Electronics"
ENTRY 003   TBA
ENTRY 004   TBA

ENTRY 005   TBA

=======================================================+=======

===============================================================

'THE BRICK' TRAINS AT:

2389 St.Clair Ave. W. Toronto

Tuesday and Thursday, some Saturdays

--and--

2295 Dundas St. W. Toronto

Friday.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LISTEN LIVE--Link on the right --->

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Welcome 2017 !!!

ENTRY 379

Welcome to a new year, and a whole new beginning for 'The Brick'.
I am not going to recap 2016 because it was a crap year, and I can't change it anyway.
All I can do is look forward to what will be happening this year.

2017.
This is the year I make a comeback.
This is the year I win every bout.
This is the year I kick butt all around the ring in the Golden Gloves.
This is the year that could possibly be my last year in the ring as a boxer.
This is the year I make my mark.

My goal this year: Enter at least one tournament, and compete four times preferably at least once at my home gym. I would also like to participate an an exhibition, although there will be plenty of time for that after retirement.

One difference this year is that I will be taking you along.

Not just through this blog, but alternating with this entry will be a weekly video documenting the best parts of my week, but not just the boxing.
I invite you all to watch 'Another Brick In the Sprawl' weekly vlog on YouTube.

Links to the vlog archives are below.

Training for the Golden Gloves will begin immediately after my suspension expires.

About one more month. January is already a slow boring month for me, this will make it even worse.

Although, the wife does not want me to try for the Golden Gloves, but you all know that when I have a goal...that's it.

I will be trying for the Golden Gloves this year. Even though I was thinking about not. If I don't that will mean that I have quit, and I don't do that.

You all know the saying, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger."
That is what I am now, stronger.

As I mentioned before, there is a possibility that I could draw S.T. in the prelims, but that could be a good thing.

Few boxers, at amateur level, get to rematch. rematching is a very good thing. It is easier to deal with an opponent you know than one you don't.
There is no way I am going to fall for the same stunt again.
I know there were some things I could have done, but I didn't. 

I had a reason for that, and I don't wish to discuss it.

Anyway, I am suspended from training right now, but the countdown is on.

I plan on preparing for the Gloves like crazy. I can take it easy now, and I am enjoying the rest.

To be honest the suspension does not really bother me that much right now.
However, it might start bothering me later in the month. Although, I understand why it was done.
I fear getting 'rusty' and having to take so much time to catch up, but after a good rest I will be ready to go again. 

Refresh.

Changes for 2017:
"Comments From the Blue Corner" blog will be weekly and posted sometime during the weekend. 
It will be alternating with the "Another Brick In the Sprawl" vlog which will be on YouTube sometime during the week, generally on Wednesday. 

Links to vlog entries are here:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
'ANOTHER BRICK IN THE SPRAWL' VLOG ARCHIVE  
=================================================================
ENTRY 001  JANUARY 4 2017   "Another Brick In the Sprawl, pt. 2"   
ENTRY 002   TBA
ENTRY 003   TBA
ENTRY 004   TBA

ENTRY 005   TBA

=======================================================+=======

===============================================================

'THE BRICK' TRAINS AT:

2389 St.Clair Ave. W. Toronto

Tuesday and Thursday, some Wednesdays

--and--

2295 Dundas St. W. Toronto

Friday and Saturday

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LISTEN LIVE--Link on the right --->

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