Hype can be good, but it can also be a detriment

[Reginald Rutledge]

Ever since I sanctioned my first "rasslin' match" in the 7th grade, I saw both the good and bad in hyping up an entertainment event. I had created a wrestling association of 7th graders to wrestle at lunch time, holding championship bouts with a championship belt I created out of cardboard with the glitter and glamour of what championship paraphanelia should look like. In my infinite wisdom, I never thought a bout would go on without my approval, only to find that one of the referee got beat up because one of the wrestlers thought he quick-counted him out of the title!

At the time, it was serious business for the loser because I had hyped him up to be the school's best 7th grade wrestler. He wanted to take on all comers. He took on the #1 contender while I was getting my mack on with a little "hot" girl at the time, only to have the kids watching bring him in to me at my lunch table. With him all bloodied up and the principal coming upon us, what was I to do? I remember my best friend telling me, "You've created a monster".

Fast-forward 30 something years later and still bringing hype into the game (for entertainment purposes only), I find that some of the guys that you hype up take themselves seriously. I have had guys call me everything but a child of God in the name of hype! I had some guys even attack my family, although my family had been nothing but kind and nice to them, when they stayed at my home. All in the name of hype.

But sometimes, hyping the game is a necessary evil to get the people out. Yeah, it is easy to say you're gonna have a tourney and all are welcome to come. It's another thing when you know who will be coming! That makes a great deal of difference when you know here's an opportunity for me to meet this person. Let's see what he's all about.

In a recent post by my brother Biglock, you could tell the frustrations he had of an earlier post hyping the participation of some individuals. In my opinion, that type of hype can be good or bad. It is based on whether said individual takes himself seriously. We have always hyped up champions in miniature football ranging from Vince Peatros, Dirk Thomas, Edgar Downs, to the Michael Robertson's of the world. Some take themselves seriously thinking they should never lose and others humbly understand it's just a game and on any given day, they can lose too. My wife Rose has this saying, "His sh$t stanks too!", meaning he's no better than you (Rose was raised in the 'hood too) and essentially, he can lose too. Just like you!

So when I speak to guys who has this arrogance or brashness or whatever you call it, I think my friend from years back may be right, "I may have created a monster". Sometimes guys believe their hype so much that they lose sight of what we are trying to do. It really has little or nothing to do with them personally. It has everything to do with the game. If hyping individuals in the game bring people back to the game, that is a GREAT thing! Yeah, I love to hype guys who got game but I hype guys who don't got game either. It's all about the game!

Some people call me the "Don King" of miniature football, the "James Brown" of miniature football, and even the "Donald Trump" of miniature football. I just look at myself as an average guy who see the beauty of the entertainment value of miniature football. I see the value of hyping up the game because if you can not be enthusiastic about what you do, how do you project that to the public?

I do wish some guys would not take themselves that serious though because under the right set of rules, on any given day, even the mighty can fall. It's just a fact. So guys, if you are coming to the SWB thinking you've got to prove you are the greatest, don't sweat yourself. Mostly everyone is coming to enjoy each other company, not create rifts in the waters.

So come to the SWB and have a good time!

Reg