It’s a cold, drafty night in the skies of Chicago. Bums line up the poor streets for free food…men and women travel home to their average homes and families through filthy streets like these that are all over Chicago. Not a lot of wealthy people come around Chicago much these days, but Mr. KO will grace the windy city with a visit soon. Traveling in his own jet with his business associates, Dante Romano spared no costs to be able to travel from one place to another as fast as he possibly could. Dante is a busy man and he has a lot of places to go.Inside of this jet, Dante Romano sits in a fancy chair with his eyes closed. What is going on in Dante’s head right now?
--
Dante exited a small house into the streets of Los Angeles. He had bags packed, and a confident look on his face. But this is not the Dante we have come to know. Dante isn’t wearing any fancy clothes. Dante is just wearing a plain t-shirt that says “Marciano, A True Legend” and a pair of jeans. He hauled his bags along with him as a man opened the door Dante just exited from.
Joey Romano: “Dante! Get your ass back here right now!”
[I remember…a lot of people used to doubt me…now they regret it don’t they?]
Dante stopped in his tracks as he turned around and walked a few steps back to get into talking distance of this man.
Dante Romano: “I’ve had enough with this shit Joey. I’m not going to go to college just to end up with a dead end go no where job like you did. I have better things in mind for myself alright?”
Joey Romano: “At least I have a job! What are you gonna do huh? Your gonna end up with some minimum wage job…is that what you want for yourself? Just face it Dante…you are never going to make it as a boxer, never! If you go to college at least you’ll end up making some money, which is better than minimum wage. Hell, you may not even get a minimum wage job with a high school education!”
[Never make it as a boxer huh? Hah…maybe I should pay him a trip some time. With the kind of money I’m making I can buy and sell his ass]
Dante Romano: “You don’t realize my dreams…Uncle Romano does.”
Joey Romano: “Oh yeah, and how do you expect to get to that scum bag?”
Dante Romano: “Just worry about yourself, I’ll be fine.”
Joey Romano shook his head as he went back in without continuing the argument self assured that Dante would come crawling back within a few days. He was wrong though. Dante landed a minimum wage job and eventually got enough money to buy himself a ticket to Italy…a one-way ticket. Once Dante got to Italy, his uncle welcomed him with open arms. He even tried to take Dante into the family business.
???? Romano: “Come on, Dante…you can continue with your boxing career on the side if ya want but I guarantee you, you’ll make some serious money in the family business. Don’t be stupid like your father Dante.”
Dante Romano: “No thanks…I still think I can make it…”
[Oh I made it all right…why did I ever even doubt myself anyway? I used to be an idiot.]
Dante Romano ended up with a mediocre boxing career after going at it for a few months. He had another sport he loved that was in the back of his mind for a few years. Wrestling…amateur wrestling. He was a natural at amateur wrestling as he soon won a gold medal for his country. This won him some confidence when he returned to his boxing career. Dante came back into the game with vengeance. He beat the WBA heavyweight champion and became the champion himself.
[It was too easy…hell that title wasn’t good enough for me!]
Dante retired from boxing, having the title vacated. What did Dante do for the following years? All he did was have fun…that’s all he wanted to do and that’s all he did for a few years. However, seven words were in the back of Dante’s mind through the rest of his life. Words that he couldn’t get out of his head, no matter how hard he tried…
Joey Romano: “You are never going to make it…”
Dante was just a man chasing his dreams…
--
Suddenly Dante raised his head awakening. Now here is the Dante we all know. He is dressed in a dark blue Armani suit, along with snakeskin shoes and a Rolex watch. Dante looked down at his expensive watch…he shook his head as he exited his private little room and entered the room that was filled with 4 associates that were sleeping in their own chairs. The time was, 1:00 AM and everyone was sound asleep…until Dante turned on the lights and clapped his hands wakening all of his “associates”.
Jack Burns: “Hey, Romano, can’t you see we were sleeping?”
Dante Romano: “I don’t give a shit…”
The jet shook a little as Dante had an annoyed expression on his face.
Dante Romano: “Remind me to fire that damn pilot! Now…the reason I woke you guys up, are the preparations for the…“tour” ready?”
Jack Burns: “Yeah Dante…everything is ready and we’ll be landing in Chicago soon. Is that the reason you woke us all up? To ask us if the tour was ready, Dante?”
[These chumps… they actually think that I am the business equivalents to them? They are all nothing but my little personal assistants.]
Dante Romano: “Yeah…you got a problem with that? If you do, then just tell tell me...to my face.”
All the associates shook their heads as Dante turned off the lights and exited the room.
[Jake Lyon, Heater DiRocco and Seth Dryden. Why must Tyler continue putting me in matches with nobodies like these?]
That morning the jet had landed, Dante exited the plane and got into his personal limousine as it made it’s way to a local wrestling promotion in Chicago. Dante made his way to the backstage area and greeted the owner of the promotion.
Steve Armstrong: “Thanks for coming Dante…we’ll be ready for you in just a few minutes…we have a match that’s just finishing up.”
Dante nodded assuring him that he would wait.
[He wants me to wait? Screw that, nobody makes Dante Romano wait. His lucky that I’m even visiting this miserable city.]
Dante made his way to curtains and walked through. The fans began to cheer with excitement that a wrestling star from the SW had made a surprise visit. Dante made his way into the ring while one of the wrestlers had a rest hold set on his opponent. Dante asked for a mic as he stepped right into the middle of the ring. He began to applaud as he smirked.
Dante Romano: “Yes, yes…very good guys. Now…get the hell out of the ring I have some business to attend to. There is a reason why I visited Chicago today.”
The fans cheered at the mention of their city as Dante chuckled and shook his head. Both wrestler stood up and looked at each other, they were ready to double-team Dante but they reconsidered as they made their way to the back.
Dante Romano: “Yes every smart of you guys to leave. Ahem as I was saying. Isn’t Chicago the hometown of…Jake Lyon? I believe it is.”
The fans once again cheered loudly as Dante’s smirked disappeared.
Dante Romano: “Oh shut the hell up already! I came here to talk about Mr. Lyon. But first I have to mention this…I am in two matches this week. That’s right, tune into warfare to see your favorite wrestler perform in more than just one match. Now that’s a wrestling show. Before I get on with talking about my first match…I have to talk about the main event. Dante Romano Vs. Seth Dryden”
Dante Romano: “What the hell…why does Seth get a chance to go for the Supreme title time and time again? He has not proved himself. Remember the first SW PPV where I eliminated that no good son of a bitch? What makes Tyler think that he can actually beat me? Come on…give me a little challenge, Tyler. You put me in a match against 3 nobodies. I mean who the hell has heard of Seth Dryden, Jake Lyon and Heater DiRocco? Dante Romano is a much more recognizable name than all three of those names combined! Seth Dryden isn’t in my league…plain and simple.”
Dante Romano: “Which brigs me to Jake Lyon…I don’t understand why Tyler put me in a match that involved Jake Lyon…the real king of the jungle…yeah very clever. Hell I’ve fu*ked an illiterate whore one time…she could come up with something better than that. Speaking of illiterate whores, what’s Heater been up to these days? I heard her talking a few days ago saying… “I wouldn't mind if he turned and pinned me, if you know what I'm saying...” That is just…oh forget it…way too easy.”
Dante Romano: “So Jake Lyon is looking for some respect? How can I respect him when he says stupid shit like “Wrestling is 90% mental”? Your theory is absolutely correct Jake that’s why you’re the number one contender for…oh wait your not the number one contender for Jack shit. I on the other hand will be the number one contender for the Supreme title once I take out Seth Dryden.”
Dante Romano: “I suppose Jake Lyon does have a future in wrestling though I mean anyone coming from Chicago has to be successful, right? Please…all you people ever had was a successful basketball team and you don’t even have that anymore. What’s the attraction to this city? Nothing. I come from Los Angeles. Bright lights, movie stars…a lot of successful people come out of LA…and it shouldn’t be a surprise that I was born in LA.”
The fans begin to boo Dante as he smirks once again.
Dante Romano: “Oh I almost forgot…tonight I’m going to be introducing something to you people. Something that’s never been done in wrestling before. That’s right…I call it the “Dante Romano Tour USA”. I’ll be going around the country and digging into every state in this country, and I plan on reaching 50. Every now and then I’ll notify you jack asses of how many States I’m up to.
Dante Romano: “But as I was saying…I would have visited Heaters hometown of San Francisco but…I didn’t want to. I mean I’m having enough women go crazy over me as it is, I wouldn’t want to add onto it by going to San Francisco and having a bunch of guys go after me too. You see I would have rather come to a broken down city, Chicago, instead of a place like San Francisco. So consider yourselves lucky to be graced with a visit by the best wrestler in the world, Dante Romano. Oh what’s that…I’m cocky? Well I have to say it’s hard to be humble when you’re as good as I am”.
Dante dropped the mic and walked out of the ring to a chorus of boo’s. He shrugged not giving a damn about what the fans think of him. He walked through the curtains and to the back to be confronted by the promotions owner.
Steve Armstrong: “Dante! Are you crazy? We weren’t ready for you yet…and we didn’t have the time for you to talk that long!”
Dante Romano: “That’s alright…oh and remember Dante Romano doesn’t like to be kept waiting…pass that message along.”
Dante chuckled to himself as he walked out of the building and into his limousine. As the limousine was making it’s way to the airport the words “You are never going to make it…” echoed through his thoughts.
Just A Man Chasing His Dreams