Why I Write

BY: CHRISTIAN HOLMES (@HOLMESYWRITES)

Check out my columns on Last Word On Hockey/Last Word On Sports

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." —Dr. Seuss

Why do I write? Well it’s a long story. Let me try to explain.

I’ve always been interested in storytelling. Call me a nerd but I’ve always liked reading. I find how authors use their words to be interesting. I think it’s cool to see someone like Stephen King or George Martin differentiate themselves with their writing styles. You can honestly learn a lot from “book reading”. Being “book learnt” is enlightening. Of course, there’s many ways a person can get “learnt”, and every which way is enlightening. Well maybe not through a crack pipe, but besides that everything is good.

Honestly, it’s freaking interesting to read and learn new things. I always liked to say that you can learn a lot about yourself from others. This is so true when it comes to writing. And when I talk about writing, it’s not just novels or peer reviewed studies. I’m talking about lyrics to songs, poems, blogs, comics and anything where a person can string some words together and make those words mean something.

I’ve always been inspired by writers that can make me laugh. Whether that’s songwriters like Fat Mike from NOFX or Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus from Blink 182 (or Mark from Blink 182 and Tom from Angels & Airwaves. Seems like Tom let his love for ETs spread like fire. Somedays I think his head went “To The Stars”). Anyways, I could probably name some authors but right now I’m at a loss for them. The only one I can think of right now is Don Cherry. I’ve read all his books. I’ve probably watched all the Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Ems. I know with some of his books Ron MacLean helps him put his thoughts into words, but the thing I love about Grapes is that his personality really shines in his writing. I think that is awesome. He’s hard hitting, truth speaking, thought provoking, and downright entertaining! He’s not afraid to go on Coach’s Corner and speak his mind about anything. It takes balls to do what Grapes has been doing on Coach’s Corner for years! Like being an advocate for fighting in a society that is ruled by soccer moms that always ask to speak to your manager over a little technical error, and PC Principals that run off to their safe spaces when they get into a disagreement about the importance of Christopher Columbus in the world's history. The things Grapes says can get him in a lot of hot water with fans, the media, and at times, even his bosses. But he keeps talking and saying what needs to be said. And let me tell ya, that’s why many of us Canadians, like myself, love Grapes! He’s inspiring. In my opinion, yes he’s screwed up in the past saying things, but regardless, Grapes is a true class act and I think we should all aspire to be a little like him.

That’s why back when I was a little guy and people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always use to say, “Whatever Don Cherry is. That’s what I want to be!” I know it sounds cliche, but let me tell you something… it’s not just true… ITS DAMN TRUE that I wanted to be like him! I always wanted to build myself up to the point where I could say whatever the hell I wanted to say, how I wanted to say it, without having to think twice, and by doing so, building an audience that will listen to it. I wanted to have a voice that didn’t blend in with the crowd. I wanted to have a voice that stood out from the crowd. I didn’t want to turn into another Joe Blow that gets his kicks from staying up all night writing songs about the people that he thinks are gay. I couldn’t stand to be that guy. I wanted to be one of the quiet guys that when he does speak, people listen.

For the most part, over the years, I think that has helped form my writing style. I try to keep things “real”. Breaking the fourth wall is one of my specialties. I find more and more, when I read my blogs, that they sound more like me cutting a bomb ass wrestling promo more than me just writing. And I take pride in that, because if the people that read my work can find a way to invest themselves into what I’m writing about on that given day, I did my job right. My job is to entertain. My job is to be thought provoking. My job is to be the silver lining in this thing we call “life”. If that means scrambling some words together to make my readers laugh or to make my readers smile, so be it. After all, I think my writing persona is a lot like conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Okay, well I’m not fear mongering, but I do see my writing as being animated, straight shooting, funny, outrageous, and thought provoking. Although, I’m not screaming, “THE FRIGGIN’ GOVERNMENT IS PUTTING CHEMICALS IN THE WATER TO TURN THE FREAKING FROGS GAY!” I don’t use phrases like “I’m telling you folks”, but I do like to rant and I do think I can do a great job at it. And if ya rant well, in the entertainment business that equals money, laughs, and smiles! All in a day’s work, right? Besides, it’s never too early to spout, “What’s the story morning glory?” Because, after all, everybody wants to spend another sunny afternoon walking to the sounds of their favourite tunes. So, I thought, “Hey why can’t I be the voice of everybody’s favourite news?”

That’s why I’m going to school to become a journalist. And maybe with a little luck, one day become a motivational speaker. Over the past few years, I’ve learned that good writing doesn’t just come from a sound mind that knows how to work their way around a keyboard. It comes from experience. Talking to people. Being put into new situations. Learning more about yourself. Learning more about the world. You have to look outside of your realm of consciousness and breathe in the air of obscurity and the unknown. That is how you become a better writer. Quite frankly, that is one of the main reasons why I write. You never know what’s waiting out beyond your door, because the world is meant to be a place for you to explore. Put it this way, if you already think you’re in Heaven, why not live it up a little? Mingle with the angels. Make a new friend. Sport a new trend. Offend a loose end.

So why do I write? I write because I love to. I write to make people’s days better. I write because it’s my gig. I write, because maybe, if writing can help me out in my journey of self-discovery maybe it can help somebody out in theirs. I write because Fuq Boi Fashions can only support so many people. I write because it’s my passion, and it’s something that I plan to dedicate my life to. Life is too short to last long, so why not spend it doing what I love? Why not make people laugh, smile, and feel entertained? After all, no matter what, life's a lesson, why wait to learn it when I'm through?

Chasing Out The Darkness - An Important Talk About Mental Health

BY: CHRISTIAN HOLMES (@HOLMESYWRITES)

“If they say

Who cares if one more light goes out?

In a sky of a million stars

It flickers, flickers

Who cares when someone's time runs out?

If a moment is all we are

We're quicker, quicker

Who cares if one more light goes out?

Well, I do." 

One More Light by Linkin Park 

On Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, Linkin Park - along with a string of ‘friends’ featuring Blink 182, Deryck Whibley from Sum 41, Matt Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold, and many more - paid tribute to the late and great lead singer of Linkin Park, Chester Bennington. The concert was held to cover Bennington’s songs and raise awareness for mental health.

Throughout the show, Chester’s bandmate and close friend, Mike Shinoda, told stories about Chester and constantly reminded the audience that Chester would have loved what they were doing by putting on a tribute concert in memory of him and gathering the greatest musicians that music has to offer to celebrate Bennington’s life would truly #MakeChesterProud. That hashtag, along with the #FuckDepression, was trending on Twitter throughout the night.

The concert itself was raw, emotional, heartwarming, and heartbreaking. In other aspects, it was beautiful. A great example of that would be when the band put out a microphone stand and started playing “Numb”. The crowd at the Hollywood Bowl all joined in to sing the hit song. It was one of those moments where a person’s race, sexual orientation, creed and all the other things that can separate a person from another, was put on the back burner and for a moment in time, everyone could join together in a common cause, and pay homage to their hero, in many cases, their inspiration to keep on keeping on in this thing we call ‘life’, Chester Bennington.

It is abundantly clear that Chester had a major influence on many of the musicians performing on that very stage. It was uttered throughout the show, on stage, and on social media, that Chester will be missed. It’s hard to deny otherwise. Chester was a true class act. He was somebody that preached unity and gave desperate people a reason to keep trying. Not to give up. Even when life throws you curveballs.

If you are not in the know of what happened to Bennington… On July 20, 2017, Chester Bennington tragically took his own life. Bennington has had a troubled past with addictions to drugs and alcohol. Not to mention, Bennington suffered from depression. Two months before Chester ended his own life, in May his close friend, Chris Cornell, best known for being the lead singer of Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Temple of The Dog, tragically took his own life. Leaving many people shocked and speechless. Much like when Chester passed.

…

I know what you’re thinking, “Oh it’s just another sad rockstar that took his own life.” You see, that very thought is the biggest problem with suicide in our society. I know not everyone thinks that way, but for the vast majority of people that have not been to suicide awareness rallies or that have not been educated about mental health problems, it’s their exact thoughts. The biggest problem with saying “Oh it’s just another sad rockstar that took his own life”, is that not only does it further stigmatize the topic of mental health, but it also makes it so people that aren’t rock stars and just average joes hard to get help with the mental health problems they may be suffering from. It’s hard for someone to come out in today’s society and say that they’re suffering from depression or anxiety or bipolar disorder or suicidal thoughts because if they do, they are afraid of being viewed as weak or mentally unfit. They’re afraid that people will just look at them and prematurely judge them. By saying that, people with mental health problems think that they’re alone.

And it doesn’t help that today’s media, in my opinion, seems to glamorize suicide. It’s sad that for people who are suffering from mental health problems and are contemplating taking their own life, that they can turn on the TV or read something on the internet that glamorizes suicide. That says to them, “Hey, people will understand. Your pain will be gone,” because for realists, like myself, we know that the pain will only be transferred onto the loved ones of the victim.

For anyone that is suffering and thinking about taking their own lives or someone who has contemplated that in the past, look at the media reporting on suicide from this perspective. For the press corps, when a person kills themselves, it’s catchy and it’s trendy to say something like, “The deceased felt like this was the only way out. It was the only way they could escape their problems.” It’s easier for the reader to sympathize and it draws the person more emotionally into the story. It sells paper, gets reads, and get views. Lately, as suicide and mental health awareness campaigns have gained traction and more people have been getting educated on these problems, the less and less you see of these stories. Which don’t get me wrong, that’s good, because more publications are encouraging people to get help and saying that they are not alone. That is all great and in the long run, it’ll go a long way in demystifying mental health issues, but the problem that remains is that many people still feel, because of society’s past messages on mental health problems, that suicide is the only way out. When, in reality, it isn’t.

Think about it this way. If you make the choice to escape your problems, to free yourself of your burdens - you may be freeing yourself of these problems, but you’re just passing the burden onto someone else. You’re passing it onto the people that care for and love you. Whether it’s  your friends, family, co-workers, peers or acquaintances. That’s why, in my opinion, you owe it not only to yourself but to all the people that care about you and love you, to get help with whatever problems you are facing. I can understand that it is hard to speak about these problems. That it’s hard to come out and say that you’re suffering these problems. I get that but remember that talking about your mental health problems is the best way to relieve them. That is the first step to getting help is opening up to someone, whoever that may be.

If you’re afraid of people viewing you as being weak or unstable because you came out and asked for help, look at it this way: if I broke my arm playing football, what would my first reaction be? Probably to get help, because duh I broke my freaking arm. Would people view me as being weak for asking for help and getting treatment for my broken arm? Hell no, because it’s just common sense that if you break a bone, you go to the hospital and put your Ontario health card to use. If you tried to neglect your broken arm and not go to the hospital, what would your family and friends be doing? They’d be saying, “Bro, what the heck are you waiting for? Get your ass to the hospital!” They wouldn’t stigmatize your injury. And this is the way we have to start treating mental health. We have to create an environment where somebody can come out and talk about their mental health like they talk about their physical health. Until that day comes people will still keep these things to themselves and suffer alone. Which is sad because no one should ever, I say this sincerely, ever have to suffer alone. In a way, we’re all in this together.

I think the biggest thing people who are suffering should know is that they are not alone. There are many resources available to them. Suicide is not the answer. It sucks that many people have ended their lives because they thought that it was, but I think we owe it to those people that are one step from the edge, to show them that we’re there for them and that there are plenty of people who are there to talk to them. They shouldn’t have to suffer alone, nor should they have to project this idea to themselves that they are weak because they suffer from these issues. I think a good way to look at it is you are #SickNotWeak.

Speaking of #SickNotWeak, it is a great resource for people who are suffering. They have people that you can talk to for free on their website, and they are there for you 24/7. It was started by for host of Off The Record on TSN, Michael Landsberg, who suffers from depression. By no means is this a medical institution, but it’s a great resource nonetheless. If you are suffering please check this website out.

To conclude, for the people who are not suffering from any mental health problems, but want to end the stigma to mental health. Just don’t stigmatize it. Make yourself available to the ones that need help. Let them know that they are not alone. Go to the mental health rallies. Raise awareness. Be the bringer of change. For those who are suffering, get help. Talk to someone. Do not suffer alone. You are not weak because you are suffering. You are strong because it takes strength to get help. It takes strength to keep fighting the fight. But in the end, it worth the while to stay the course and fight the fight because life is truly beautiful. Life is worth living. Don’t ever think differently.

Why Georges "Rush" St-Pierre is The G.O.A.T.

BY: CHRISTIAN HOLMES (@HOLMESYWRITES)

Check out my columns on Last Word On Hockey/Last Word On Sports

GSP's post fight interview with Joe Rogan, after he beat Michael Bisping for the Middleweight title during the main event of the evening at UFC 217

“The road to athletic greatness is not marked by perfection, but by the ability to constantly overcome adversity and failure.” - Nike

What does it mean to be the greatest? Does it mean that one has to be the biggest, fastest, and strongest person in their respective sport? Does it mean that an athlete has to have all the best stats, beat all the unbeatable records, and remain in their prime physique forever? ‘Actions speak louder than words’, they say. In the sporting industry, actions do not necessarily speak louder than words. With the emergence of the use of analytics in many of the major sports today, a player or an athlete doesn’t have to be perfect, but as long as the athlete can do the little things right and can slightly distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack, the athlete will make themselves valuable to their employers. It’s very seldom is sports today that you see a “complete player or athlete” that can do it all, and then do some more. That’s what makes players and athletes like Sidney Crosby, Bryce Harper, and Mike Trout, (as much as I hate to say it) Tom Brady, LeBron James, Usain Bolt, and Lionel Messi, so special. They do not only excel at their sport, but they’re the best players in their sport today. They’re the players that every kid watching them play wants to be like. They’re the ones the bring intrigue to their respective sports. They make names for themselves. Maybe they’re not the greatest of all time just yet, but they’re sure as hell on track to sporting the label.

If one takes the time to look at the legends of the sports they love, that person will notice that the “GOATs” of those sports all share three common traits: heart, determination, and resiliency. Wayne Gretzky was not the biggest guy on the ice, but he played with heart and determination. If the opponent gave Gretzky an opportunity to set someone up or score a goal, he sure as hell did it. Look at Wayne now, “Gretz” is considered by many to be the best hockey player to ever lace up the skates. Skill can only get a player so far. Heart, determination, and resiliency are what it truly takes for a player to reach the pinnacle of their sport. That’s what it takes for a player to be put on the Mount Rushmore of the greatest of all-time. Bring in Canadian mixed martial artist and two-time UFC Welterweight Champion and current UFC Middleweight Champion, Georges “Rush” St. Pierre.

The sport of mixed martial arts has seen many great fighters take the rails over the years. MMA has many legends and heroes like Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, Fedor Emelianenko, Royce Gracie, Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, Matt Hughes and even the loveable and confident fighting Irishman Conor ‘fooking’ McGregor, just to name a few. Since, in the grand scheme of things, MMA is relatively a younger sport, one of the fastest growing sports in the world, the sport doesn’t have many true GOATs, at least that’s up until now.

In my honest and somewhat humble opinion, after Georges ‘Rush’ St. Pierre’s UFC Middleweight title-winning submission victory over Michael Bisping at UFC 217 in Madison Square Garden, GSP solidified his spot as the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time. No questions asked.

St. Pierre has a resumé that little to no one can touch. GSP has beaten some of the best welterweights of all time. Get this, not only did Georges St. Pierre beat greats like “The Prodigy” BJ Penn, Matt Hughes, and Carlos Condit, he has also beaten the lights of Nick Diaz, Johny Hendricks, and Josh Koscheck. That’s an impressive resumé. Not to mention, GSP successfully defended his welterweight title nine times before taking a four-year hiatus from the sport to rest and train. What did GSP do when he got back into the sport? He moved up to the 185ib Middleweight division and beat Michael Bisping for the Middleweight title. All in a day’s work.

And, yes, GSP’s record is 26-2. That means he lost twice. Those losses coming to Matt Hughes at UFC 50 and Matt Serra at UFC 69. The first time GSP lost was to Matt Hughes. At the time, GSP was an up and coming fighter. Matt Hughes was somewhat of a gritty and successful veteran at that time. No excuses, Matt Hughes simply beat GSP. Hughes was the better fighter. Now most fighters after suffering their first loss of their career would lower their expectations for what’s to come in the future. They get brought back down to Earth. They know they’re not invincible and they fight like that for the rest of their career. Not GSP. He trained hard, he went the extra mile, won a couple fights, and got another crack at Matt Hughes. What does GSP do? He beats Matt Hughes and becomes the new Undisputed UFC Welterweight Champion of the World.

When Welterweight Champion GSP got knocked out by Matt Serra at UFC 69 for his second career loss, which was considered to be the biggest upset in MMA history, what did Georges do after the loss? No, he didn’t go off into isolation and give himself pitty. He went back to the gym and trained. He focused on his weaknesses and he improved himself to the point where he earned himself another title shot. When he got another shot at Matt Serra at UFC 83, he proved that his loss was a kick in the fanny pack, knocked out Serra in the second round, and he went on to successfully defend his title nine consecutive times.

The thing that makes GSP so great is his outstanding heart, determination, and resiliency. Georges won’t go into press conferences saying that he’s going to do this and do that, he always said that he was going to let his talking be done in the octagon. Yeah, as Michael Bisping said in the buildup leading up to UFC 217, GSP is predictable; left jab, right jab, and then a takedown, but what makes GSP a true GOAT is the fact that his opponents know what’s coming for them, but they can’t stop it, because GSP’s skill and technique is that damn great. It’s just like the pitcher Walter “The Big Train” Johnson’s fastball, the hitter knew when the count was 3-2 that the fastball was coming middle in, yet there was nothing they could do to hit it, because “The Big Train’s” fastball was that damn good. Simply put, simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.

Everyone likes to talk about what Georges has done in the sport and the impact he has had on the sport, but no one really seems to take about his cultural significance. Georges brought a whole new demographic to come and watch the sport. He put Canadian MMA on the map. Georges St. Pierre is hands down by far the biggest reason why Canada is one of the UFC’s most profitable markets. And that is proven when UFC 217’s pay-per-view buys topped one of the biggest pay-per-view events in all of combat sports history, that being Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor. That stat alone proves how important GSP is in the Canadian market. Not only has Georges influenced many Canadians to watch the sport, he also influenced many past, present, and future Canadian mixed martial artists to partake in the sport. Who can only do that? The GOAT, the greatest of all-time!

Who is the GOAT? Who is the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time? There’s only one answer and that answer is .. GEORGES “RUSH” ST. PIERRE!