Things I'm proud to say

I decided to write this a couple of weeks ago, but am just now getting around to it. I want to take a few minutes to explain how proud I am to be a part of two wonderful organizations in the Lima area that a lot of people may not necessarily be aware of, so here goes:

Earlier this month I got the chance to go to Homestead, Florida(about 40 minutes south of Miami) to call a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. Now that may not mean a lot to some people as it's "just semi-pro football", but to me and the men lucky enough to continue playing the game they love it meant a lot. All you need to know about the game itself is that even through all the technical problems we had for the broadcast, and bullshit surrounding the leadup to the game, and the fact that it was probably the worst offensive performance of the year for the Warriors, the defense balled out and helped bring home the trophy to the Lima area with one of the best defensive performances I've ever personally witnessed...capped off by 5 interceptions in the 4th quarter. We had a lot of issues with the trip and leading up to the game itself, but like I said, we stuck together and got it done as a family, and were crowned 2010 AA National Champions.

I gotta be honest here for a second, a couple of years ago when my best friend Aaron Matthews first got involved with the Warriors and told me about it, I didn't really get it....I had heard all the bad stigmas about semi-pro football and some of the thuglike mentality that took place at the games, and to be totally honest did not give it a chance or the respect it deserved...two problems that were quickly solved when I attended my first Warrior game at Lima Senior and saw the level of play these men put in every weekend. After that, I was hooked....and was lucky enough to be a part of the Warrior family the next season when my friend asked me to be a part of the broadcast team with him as the color guy. Since that day I have become the Warriors play by play guy with Aaron stepping into the coaches box this past season, and have never been more proud to be a part of something as I am to say I am part of the Lima Warriors.

As we roll off the high of winning the National Championship and our 14-3 season, and into the defense of our HFL title as well, I am asking that anyone who reads this who has never been to or listened to a Warriors game online(and I hope I have done a good job to those of you that have listened in), to come to or listen to a game next season and see just how amazing the Greatest Show in Semi-Pro really is to be a part of. It's a high I can not put into words that would do it justice....I just wish more people in the Lima area gave it the respect it deserved and gave it a shot.....get ahold of me and I'll even pay for your entry.....and if you need a testimonial about what just one Warrior game can do, look up Ben Sherman and ask him about the power of one game...it'll hook you, this I promise you.

Another company I am proud to say I am fortunate enough to be a part of their family is a group called WAR Wrestling run by a great man in Big Tom Williams. Wrestling in general gets a bad rap imo, but Tom and the amazing performers he brings in have been working to change that with a good and affordable show every 2 months. If you aren't busy on Saturday Feb 5th, I hope you can make an effort to come see a great lineup, and all for about 10 bucks too, where else can you get that?

Wrestling has been one of my favorite things for as long as I can remember, and much like the Warriors stigma about Semi-Pro football, I didn't attend an Indy show(for those of you who don't know, it's what non-wwe/tna shows are called), because I was always told it was "low brow" or "not that good", but started when my buddy Sean Lyle(or Peachy Rodriguez) got trained and started working in the business....after that I was once again hooked. For a long time I was nothing but a fan who just loved the product Big Tom and his amazing performers put out, but then I was lucky enough to start helping with the show running sound with a hoodie....and eventually get a chance to do play by play on dvd's(which along with football pbp is one of my dream jobs), and garnered a whole new appreciation and love for what WAR stands for. I've once again been lucky enough to become a part of the wonderful family of not only great performers, but also great people the likes of Matt Mason, Dusty Dillenger, Sherman Tank and even Ripper Blackhart, but also to meet some "names" in Jerry Lawler and Andrew "Test" Martin(may he rest in peace) to name a few.Where else can you see a wrestling show that sells out the UAW hall on a regular basis? WAR also helps out charities like the Allen County Humane Society, which no matter what they say no other wrestling companies in the area do.

My point is that when people say there's nothing to do in Lima, I think they're dead wrong.....these two companies are overlooked by the Lima area in my opinion, and that is a damn shame as both give back to the community in not only monetary ways, but also in sheer joy of bringing something good to the area in every way they can.

Please if you get the chance check out www.warwrestling.com for the next show in Lima(which there are plenty of, even at the fair this summer), or www.limawarriors.com to see the two in my opinion crown jewels of Lima that not a lot of people know about.

Thanks for reading, any input appreciated.