5) Write 800 words or more on something that interests you.
I would like to take this moment to recognize a man that many have seen before but not many have taken the time to get to know. This man's name is Mr. Geraldo Jimenez Guadalupe-Fransisco. He likes to go by Mr. G because, and I quote "most of these kids now days have the memory of taquito and can't remember my full name". Mr. G has worked for the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers organization from it' s inception back when it was on the other side of the country in Palm Beach, CA and the team was called the Solar Bears. He was one of the first employees hired in 2020 by then GM and team founder, Mr. Booter, to be the equipment manager. Mr. G has, since his hiring held many other unofficial jobs on the team but he still retains the official title of equipment manager to this very day. The mostly tragic history of this team is written in the lines of Mr. G's face but every time you see him, he will have his trademark smile on and wish you a beautiful day. He is ever hopeful and always dependable. That's the kind of man he is and that's the kind of man this team has always needed.
The first time I met Mr. G was after my first practice with the team. I had just transitioned from the position of linebacker to the position of wide receiver and was struggling with the playbook. It was getting late. Most of the team had already left the facilities and I was alone, sitting in my locker, trying to absorb concepts and verbage that I wasn't familiar with so the next day's practice would go better than my first. An older gentleman shuffled into the locker room and started gathering the bins that held our dirty jerseys and towels. He was making a bit of noise and I was already frustrated with my performance and how hard it was to memorize the playbook so I might have snapped at him a little bit to keep the noise down so I could keep studying. It got real quiet for about 30 seconds while he just stared at me so I went back to my playbook happy for the silence. The next thing I know, I'm being pelted with dirty ass-sweat towels and half full water bottles while while the older man was saying things en espanol toward me. He was not happy. I thought about getting mad at first but this guy was old like my grandpa so all I could do was to take cover behind my playbook while apologizing the whole time and wait until he ran out of ammunition. After what seemed like hours, he stopped throwing things and stormed out of the locker room. I didn't know what to do but the room was a mess and I really was sorry I snapped at the old fella like I did so I started picking things up and putting them back in the bins. About 10 minutes later the man came back in and informed me that I need to learn to respect my elders while helping me finish cleaning up the room. I apologized again and explained to him why I was so frustrated and that it accidentally manifested by me acting stupidly toward him. He said he understood and we officially introduced ourselves to each other.
Mr. G asked me what was so hard about the playbook? Why was I not understanding what I needed to do? I explained to him about how the coaches wanted me to not only understand what I was supposed to do but they wanted me to know what the defense would do to try to stop me. As a linebacker I had 3 jobs. Protect an area, follow a guy and make sure he doesn't catch a ball, or kill the QB/RB. That was easy. Now I have to count steps, remember routes, avoid getting stuffed at the line, and still catch the damn ball. Mr G just started laughing at me. He asked me who I thought was the best WR to ever come out of this franchise was. I said, "Rayne Gordon, he just had over almost 1200 yards and 86 catches just a couple seasons ago." Mr. G nodded his head.
"That's right, and you know what? He sat here in this locker room just like you after his first practice all pissed off because he had trouble as well.". Mr. G looked me in the eye and said, "and I'm going to tell you the same thing I told him." He picked up my playbook and tossed it in the trash bin. "You don't need that to win. All you need is speed boy. Speed is king. You know where you need to go to get points and you're going to be covered by 1 or 2 guys. Get there faster than everyone else and it all works itself out in the end."
"Mr. G, if that's what Rayne did, then I'll give it a try." I felt hopeful for the first time that day.
"Oh no, Rayne learned his playbook and was fast. Maybe you might need a couple things in that book. You better get it out of the trash before your coaches think you gave up. But don't worry about it so much. None of this stuff really matters. It's all a simulation. Digital words and dots on a computer screen. Turtles on turtles on turtles."
I laughed as I fished my playbook out of the trash and thought what he said about speed kinda makes sense but that last part was super weird. Maybe he's crazy? I don't know." OK Mr. G, I'm going home. Thanks for your help and stuff. Have a good night".
I would like to take this moment to recognize a man that many have seen before but not many have taken the time to get to know. This man's name is Mr. Geraldo Jimenez Guadalupe-Fransisco. He likes to go by Mr. G because, and I quote "most of these kids now days have the memory of taquito and can't remember my full name". Mr. G has worked for the Myrtle Beach Buccaneers organization from it' s inception back when it was on the other side of the country in Palm Beach, CA and the team was called the Solar Bears. He was one of the first employees hired in 2020 by then GM and team founder, Mr. Booter, to be the equipment manager. Mr. G has, since his hiring held many other unofficial jobs on the team but he still retains the official title of equipment manager to this very day. The mostly tragic history of this team is written in the lines of Mr. G's face but every time you see him, he will have his trademark smile on and wish you a beautiful day. He is ever hopeful and always dependable. That's the kind of man he is and that's the kind of man this team has always needed.
The first time I met Mr. G was after my first practice with the team. I had just transitioned from the position of linebacker to the position of wide receiver and was struggling with the playbook. It was getting late. Most of the team had already left the facilities and I was alone, sitting in my locker, trying to absorb concepts and verbage that I wasn't familiar with so the next day's practice would go better than my first. An older gentleman shuffled into the locker room and started gathering the bins that held our dirty jerseys and towels. He was making a bit of noise and I was already frustrated with my performance and how hard it was to memorize the playbook so I might have snapped at him a little bit to keep the noise down so I could keep studying. It got real quiet for about 30 seconds while he just stared at me so I went back to my playbook happy for the silence. The next thing I know, I'm being pelted with dirty ass-sweat towels and half full water bottles while while the older man was saying things en espanol toward me. He was not happy. I thought about getting mad at first but this guy was old like my grandpa so all I could do was to take cover behind my playbook while apologizing the whole time and wait until he ran out of ammunition. After what seemed like hours, he stopped throwing things and stormed out of the locker room. I didn't know what to do but the room was a mess and I really was sorry I snapped at the old fella like I did so I started picking things up and putting them back in the bins. About 10 minutes later the man came back in and informed me that I need to learn to respect my elders while helping me finish cleaning up the room. I apologized again and explained to him why I was so frustrated and that it accidentally manifested by me acting stupidly toward him. He said he understood and we officially introduced ourselves to each other.
Mr. G asked me what was so hard about the playbook? Why was I not understanding what I needed to do? I explained to him about how the coaches wanted me to not only understand what I was supposed to do but they wanted me to know what the defense would do to try to stop me. As a linebacker I had 3 jobs. Protect an area, follow a guy and make sure he doesn't catch a ball, or kill the QB/RB. That was easy. Now I have to count steps, remember routes, avoid getting stuffed at the line, and still catch the damn ball. Mr G just started laughing at me. He asked me who I thought was the best WR to ever come out of this franchise was. I said, "Rayne Gordon, he just had over almost 1200 yards and 86 catches just a couple seasons ago." Mr. G nodded his head.
"That's right, and you know what? He sat here in this locker room just like you after his first practice all pissed off because he had trouble as well.". Mr. G looked me in the eye and said, "and I'm going to tell you the same thing I told him." He picked up my playbook and tossed it in the trash bin. "You don't need that to win. All you need is speed boy. Speed is king. You know where you need to go to get points and you're going to be covered by 1 or 2 guys. Get there faster than everyone else and it all works itself out in the end."
"Mr. G, if that's what Rayne did, then I'll give it a try." I felt hopeful for the first time that day.
"Oh no, Rayne learned his playbook and was fast. Maybe you might need a couple things in that book. You better get it out of the trash before your coaches think you gave up. But don't worry about it so much. None of this stuff really matters. It's all a simulation. Digital words and dots on a computer screen. Turtles on turtles on turtles."
I laughed as I fished my playbook out of the trash and thought what he said about speed kinda makes sense but that last part was super weird. Maybe he's crazy? I don't know." OK Mr. G, I'm going home. Thanks for your help and stuff. Have a good night".