[glow=red,2,300]I'm The Best Whose Ever Done It...THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK![/glow]
Gumbel: Welcome to Real Sports ladies and gentleman. I’m Bryant Gumbel and we start off the show today with a segment that I’ve really been looking forward to.
(A picture is shown of Troy “The Baller” Franklin.)Gumbel: This man right here is know by many of you viewers as The Baller. The Baller…a professional wrestler who just about everyone knows is one of the most successful and popular wrestlers in the history of wrestling. He’s known world wide and when you talk about wrestling…you talk about The Baller. But Baller hasn’t always been a wrestler. In this segment we will take a look back on his Baller reached this level. Through his ups and downs he’s remained the same person and in today’s world that pretty unheard of.
(Again a picture is shown of The Baller…two to be exact. One with him being young and one with how he now looks. Then the segment begins. A wrestling ring is shown.)Andrea Kremer: Wrestling…a very popular sport followed by man kids. Wrestling is a profession that brings along lots of fame.
(Footage of Baller being mobbed by fans is shown.)Kremer: Many obstacles.
(Footage is shown of Baller coming out of a hospital using crutches.)Kremer: I don’t know if anyone grows up wanting to be a wrestling.
(A picture of a young Baller is shown.)Kremer: I mean who in their right mind would want to go through so much. Today during out segment we talk to a famous wrestler. Not just any wrestler…one of the best. THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK!!
(Andrea Kremer is now shown sitting with The Baller.)Kremer: Troy “The Baller” Franklin.
Baller: That would be me.
Kremer: I’m not a big fan but I will admit to knowing you. My kids love you.
Baller: I’m glad I can entertain them.
Kremer: You’re known as one of the best but wrestling wasn’t always your thing. How and why did you start wrestling?
Baller: I had friends who cared about me and didn’t want to see me wind up in jail or dead. Wrestling wasn’t introduced to me by my high school friends, Brien Cage and Dean.
Kremer: The two of them were also once in the wrestling business right?
Baller: Two of the best to ever do it.
Kremer: So it would be safe to say the save your life?
Baller: In more ways than one. I owe them a lot.
Kremer: Are you guys still close?
Baller: I’m going to always be close to those two. We will be friends for life.
(Footage is shown of Baller playing football in high school. He looks to be very good.)Kremer: Wrestling wasn’t your first love. I heard that you were good in both basketball and football. What made you go the directing of wrestling?
Baller: When I was sixteen I lost my brother. He wasn’t only my brother but also my best friend. I lost him to the streets and shortly after that I found myself losing myself to the street. I didn’t care about anything but making money and avenging my brothers death. So I forgot about football and basketball. I quit going to school and started hanging out on the corners. I lost myself.
Kremer: And Dean and Brien helped you find yourself again?
(A tear falls from Baller’s eye.)Baller: Coming up the way I did and going through the stuff I went through was tough. I didn’t have a rough childhood. My family had money and I had both my parents in the house. When I was young I had it all and didn’t know what it was like to go through hard times and not have whatever I wanted. When my brother was killed it rocked the foundation of my family. It was the first real hard thing that my family had to go through and it wasn’t easy dealing with it. My mom shut down. My sister started tricking. My dad was upset because he was the man of the house and he saw his family losing everything that he had built. My other brother was locked up. So I said to hell with it and started dealing drugs and not caring about anything. The only thing I cared about was killing the man that killed my brother.
Kremer: Did you ever get a chance to avenge your brother’s death?
Baller: Yeah I did but I was saved from that.
Kremer: By who?
Baller: A man that Dean and Brien introduced me to. He saw something in me when I didn’t. He rebuilt my confidence and made me once again start caring. He was also the guy who taught me what I know about wrestling.
Kremer: How did he save you?
Baller: I went to go kill the man who killed my brother. One night I had him in my sights. I aimed and was ready to fire and Mitch came and jumped in front of the bullet.
Kremer: Let me get this right. You were about to kill someone and this man jumped in front of the bullet to stop you from getting into trouble?
Baller: He sure did.
Kremer: I’m guessing he survived because you said he taught you about wrestling?
Baller: I owed him my life after that and the only thing he asked for was for me to leave the streets and join his wrestling school.
Kremer: That’s one hell of a man.
Baller: You don’t have to tell me that. Mitch left us a few years ago but still to this day I’m paying that man back. I owe him my life…in so many ways…he gave me life.
Kremer: Wow.
(Footage of Baller holding up the GWA World Title is shown.)Kremer: Not too many people have done what you’ve done in this sport. You’ve held World Title after World Title and you’ve done it in numerous feds. Would you say you’re better at wrestling than you expected?
Baller: I guess you can say that. But if you ask Mitch he would have said he saw this all along. He used to tell me that I would be the best. He would say all you have to do is give it your all and no one will be better than you.
Kremer: He was pretty right about that huh?
Baller: He sure was. Andrea if I put my all into it no one can beat me. I’ve done it all in this sport and I’m still hungry to do more.
(Footage is shown if Baller laying on a operating table.)Kremer: A lot of bumps and bruises come with wrestling. Is it worth it?
Baller: Is that a trick question?
Kremer: No.
Baller: You know me because of your kids. I’m known worldwide. I can go anywhere and get treated like a king. I don’t want for anything and neither does my family. I’m known all over the world. Yeah it’s worth it.
Kremer: I see.
Baller: There are not too many people in this world who are as popular as me. Who wouldn’t want this fame?
Kremer: How many injuries have you had?
Baller: To be honest with you I stopped counting a long time ago.
Kremer: How does your family feel about you wrestling?
Baller: They like it for the most part. They have their times in which they don’t care for it much because it takes up a lot of my time but they deal with it because they know I love it so much.
Kremer: You’ve been doing this for a long time now. How much do you have left in you?
Baller: I have a few more years left. I’m still doing this better than anyone out here. When I feel like I don’t have it anymore I’ll step away. Losing is not something I deal with very well.
Kremer: You’re not a champion right now. If you’re the best the sport has to offer…where is your hardware?
Baller: That’s a good question. You’re right…right now I don’t have a belt but that will soon change. The USPW hasn’t had it’s doors open that long. So as of right now I haven’t had my chance yet. I’ll get it soon and when I do I won’t disappoint.
Kremer: THAT I CAN TAKE TO THE BANK, right?
Baller: You sure can.
Kremer: Thanks for letting us visit with you today Baller. It was a pleasure.
Baller: The pleasure is all mine…thank you.
(Footage now cuts back to Bryant Gumbel and he’s sitting with Andrea Kremer.)Gumbel: So what did you learn about Baller with your visit?
Kremer: He’s a man who could have went the wrong way in life and because of other people he’s now one of the biggest icons in the world. He really feels like he owes all the people who helped he not go the wrong way. He’s best friends with Dean and Brien Cage…know in the wrestling world as The Dean and The Silent Assassin. And the guy Mitch…whenever Baller talked about him you could understand and feel the love he had for that man. Another thing I learned about Baller is how much he loves what he does. For wrestling not to be his first love you sure couldn’t tell when talking to him. Baller is wrestling and wrestling is Baller.
Gumbel: And how does he feel about not being champ?
Kremer: He doesn’t like it but he knows his time is coming. To him it’s just a matter of time.
Gumbel: And when could we see him again in the squared circle, as they like to call it?
Kremer: USPW has a weekly show called Freedom, which airs on Fridays, and this weekend they have their big PPV. Baller fights an old nemesis named AJ Johnson and he’s really looking forward to that match.
Gumbel: Anything else you think the listeners would like to know?
Kremer: He has big love for all his fans and he loves putting on a show for them. Some people are born to do certain things and Baller was born to wrestler. As he likes to say…THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK!
Gumbel: Thanks Andrea
(The scene cuts to Baller sitting in the living room looking at the television with his family.)Baller: So what did you think?
Keita: That was great baby.
Troy JR: Yeah dad that was a real good look for you.
(It’s the early morning and even though the episode aired last night Baller wanted to watch it with his family. Last night he was busy getting ready for his match so they all agreed to wait. Baller talks to his family a little more and then starts off his day.) Wow…we’re finally here. Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this day? I’m a man of power so it’s safe to say I never want for anything. Anything that I want, I get or if necessary, I take. This has been a different situation though. It’s been a few years since I’ve lost to AJ Johnson and I swear saying that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Not because AJ is a bum but because beating him is something I really wanted to do. There aren’t too many things that I’ve failed at but that day I did. Now this match has come back around and believe it or not, it’s bigger this time around. AJ might not agree but it is. You see this is a match I just have to win. Most people feel like that about all their matches but real talk…this is a match I just can’t lose. I’ve beaten the shit out of everyone lined up in front of me by USPW management but this is the match I really care about. I’m going to give it my all. With that being said, AJ better bring his “A” game. And with that being said…that still won’t be enough. THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK!!(The scene opens up on a rainy afternoon in Largo, Maryland. Baller has left his family to go away and get ready for his huge match with AJ Johnson. This is the house Baller stays at when he needs no distractions but this time around it’s a bit different. Baller is a very famous man and this week he has a lot planned. He didn’t mean to plan all this stuff the same week as this match but he had to do what he had to do. His morning starts off with a radio interview from SportsTalk 980. He’s doing the interview with former Washington Redskin, Lavar Arrington.)Arrington: It’s my honor and privilege to let the Washington fans know that we have one of our own on the phone this morning. Former GWA Everything and current USPW wrestler, Troy “The Baller” Franklin joins us this morning on the phone. How’s it going champ?
Baller: It’s going good Lavar but you can’t call me that just yet.
Arrington: You’re and champ in my eyes and I’m sure all the fans tuning in feel the same way. The USPW doesn’t know what it’s doing with you if you ask me. You’re the best they have to offer and they still haven’t given you a shot as of yet. We can start off there…how do you feel about that?
Baller: My time will come. I know what I bring to the table and I’m sure management does as well. I guess they have a plan for me. I’m just going to sit back and see what that plan is.
Arrington: This is me you’re talking to. You can’t fool me and your fans with that. I’m sure you have something up your sleeve.
Baller: Maybe…maybe not. I guess you guys are going to have to tune into the USPW to find out.
Arrington: Speaking of that, you have a pretty big match this week. Talk to us a little bit about the match.
Baller: It’s a match between AJ Johnson and myself…two of the best the USPW has to offer. I usually look forward to all of my matches because I like kicking butt and taking names. This match is even more special though. Winning this match will allow me to stay on a roll and it will also allow me to avenge a earlier lost in my career.
Arrington: I remember that match. It was a classic.
Baller: And this one will be even better if you ask me. AJ and I both are better wrestlers this time around. It should be a lot of fun.
Arrington: You’re saying all the right things. Deep down inside though…I know you really hate this guy.
Baller: Not true at all. I hate the fact that he beat me. But to be honest with you, AJ and I never had much of a beef or a problem. Just two competitors wanting to be the best and we stand in each others way of being that.
Arrington: AJ hasn’t been on much of a roll as of late. In singles matches he’s kind of struggled as of late. Do you think her has what it takes to beat you?
Baller: I don’t think…I know he has what it takes. He’s beaten me before. I would be crazy to think he doesn’t stand a chance. I can care less about those other matches. I know this match means a lot to AJ. A win over The Baller will make him quickly forget about those other loses. Those guys aren’t The Baller. This is the win he wants…believe me.
Arrington: What comes after this match? Shouldn’t you be getting a title match soon?
Baller: I’m not thinking about anything but this match. If I lose this match none of that other stuff matters.
Arrington: Just to change up the subject for a minute…RG3 was drafted by our Redskins Thursday night. How do you feel about that?
Baller: Truth is I personally know RG3 and I think he’s going to be one hell of an addition to our Redskins. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a good quarterback around here. Brad Johnson was good but I don’t think he’s the caliber of RG3. It’s going to be fun watching him play.
Arrington: Word has it that you’re helping him host his draft party.
Baller: Yeah he’s having it at Soldier’s Palace. We plan on putting on a hell of a show. You better be there.
Arrington: Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Well I know you have a lot on your plate with your match and all so I’ll let you go. Thanks a lot for joining us today And good luck with your match this week.
Baller: Anytime man…thanks for having me.
(Baller gets off the phone.)Now it’s time to go and get ready for this match. It’s finally here and I can’t wait for the bell to ring. Getting AJ in that ring is something I’ve wanted for a long time now. I owe my fans this win…better yet I owe it to myself. No more phone calls and no more distractions. It’s time to do what I do best. Time for me to show AJ that he’s not better than me. Time to show the USPW and the rest of the world who’s the best…THE BALLER…THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO THE BANK!(The scene fades to black.)
