Explanation/Understanding...

NOTE: The following is something I wrote that I will probably use somewhere in my book..it deals with fighters and what happens when they step into the ring and despite all the training, skills, etc. they just do not perform like they expected they would. Sometimes a fighter will possess skills that he never uses, power that never shows itself and ring generalship that sputters when called upon under the hot lights of live competition and it's funny in a way but if I wanted to describe the feeling to you in a way that you might understand or relate to if you aren't a fighter then I might point to a song by Eminem that came out a few years ago that was the theme song for his movie "Eight Mile," the story of an unknown rapper who is trying to come up in the game but among other things has a moment early on when he hits the big stage for his big opportunity but when it comes time to show the skills that all his friends brag about to other people...he chokes. he's up on that stage and the words just wont come out. They come out like flowing water when he's alone in his room or with his friends in the car and maybe if he's on a smaller stage but here on this big stage with all the important people watching he just cant find the words, his mind goes black. The movie ends up with him getting one more chance at the end, under even more intense circumstances. Fighters definitely understand this song and I know this because I have seen more of them than I can remember who chose this song as the music that accompanies them to the ring on fight night and, actually, if I was still fighting for money I would probably choose it, too. "Look, if you had one shot, one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted- one moment Would you capture it... or just let it slip? His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti He's nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out He's chokin' now, everybody's jokin' now The clock's run out, time's up over, bloww! Snap back to reality, Oh there goes gravity Oh, there goes Rabbit, he choked He's so mad, but he won't give up that easy, No"