About a week old but deadlines slowed me down.
On Groundhog Day New York City hovered around freezing, London had the worst snowstorm in 18 years, and Tokyo choked on volcanic ash. Editors in all three locations were thankful I was on the job but cursing the fact I was transmitting from Coconut Creek, FL where it was 65 degrees. What they didnt know was the previous and following weekends I covered shows in Atlantic City, NJ for the web, driving the 20 hours to Florida and back again as if snared in comet orbit.
Atlantic City; spawning ground of dream-feeding neon monsters squatting on the bones of junkies like some Greek titan defecated on a Monopoly board. The birthplace of sanctioned MMA but now the doorstep where promoters ring the bell of New York City, New Jersey in general is crawling with cross-over promoters from kickboxing etc and established MMA promoters trying to put on a game face while losing money, treading water with smiles on their faces.
Miami; swampland to the west, ocean to the east, and Cuba to the south this isnt so much the Deep South as Northernmost Caribbean. 15 miles north in Coconut Creek the strip malls meet the palm trees and the American Top Team nest quietly like gators. If NJ is where the money is being spent Coconut Creek is where the money is coming in as ATT have fighters in every UFC through April when I left (Saunders was injured this weekend).
Both cities at this time are like walking through an airport on the way to a gate. Flights come and go, suits shuffle toward their next stop in the 40-year plan, and the sense of time and money are not the same as norms believe. Hes in Brazil right now but Ill bring him back tomorrowcan you stay another day? or I want photos of that one showhere is $300. Sure, Ill eat at 7-11 and sleep in the car at a rest stop.
Cant relate to the money men, cant relate to friends back home, but two weeks away from the grind feeling snow on my face and sand between my toes only days apart was worth it.
Guess I saw my shadow and will be an early spring.
On Groundhog Day New York City hovered around freezing, London had the worst snowstorm in 18 years, and Tokyo choked on volcanic ash. Editors in all three locations were thankful I was on the job but cursing the fact I was transmitting from Coconut Creek, FL where it was 65 degrees. What they didnt know was the previous and following weekends I covered shows in Atlantic City, NJ for the web, driving the 20 hours to Florida and back again as if snared in comet orbit.
Atlantic City; spawning ground of dream-feeding neon monsters squatting on the bones of junkies like some Greek titan defecated on a Monopoly board. The birthplace of sanctioned MMA but now the doorstep where promoters ring the bell of New York City, New Jersey in general is crawling with cross-over promoters from kickboxing etc and established MMA promoters trying to put on a game face while losing money, treading water with smiles on their faces.
Miami; swampland to the west, ocean to the east, and Cuba to the south this isnt so much the Deep South as Northernmost Caribbean. 15 miles north in Coconut Creek the strip malls meet the palm trees and the American Top Team nest quietly like gators. If NJ is where the money is being spent Coconut Creek is where the money is coming in as ATT have fighters in every UFC through April when I left (Saunders was injured this weekend).
Both cities at this time are like walking through an airport on the way to a gate. Flights come and go, suits shuffle toward their next stop in the 40-year plan, and the sense of time and money are not the same as norms believe. Hes in Brazil right now but Ill bring him back tomorrowcan you stay another day? or I want photos of that one showhere is $300. Sure, Ill eat at 7-11 and sleep in the car at a rest stop.
Cant relate to the money men, cant relate to friends back home, but two weeks away from the grind feeling snow on my face and sand between my toes only days apart was worth it.
Guess I saw my shadow and will be an early spring.
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
niobe:
Take me with you!
niobe:
I hope you are having a good night.