Post by Apex Onyx on Nov 11, 2018 22:41:25 GMT -5
Birmingham Alabama
July 17th 2004
Governor Wallace City Park
“Crimson Tide Trouble Begins Part 2”
Hymon Burston, Peter Insidya, and Dick Wellhung are all sitting under a gazebo about 100 yards away from a collection of basketball courts. Each is a white man in his late 40’s to early 50’s. The courts are packed with men and women, young and old alike. The vast majority of the people on the court are black. There are grills and coolers. The music is blasting a mix of the hottest music like; Terror Squad “Lean Back”, “Tipsy”, by J-Kwon, and “Goodies” by Ciara. Every now and then a Motown classic by Marvin Gaye’s, “What’s Going On” or Aretha Franklin’s “RESPECT”. This is most likely done to appease the older crowd, but none of the young cats seems to complain. There’s a lot of activity on and around the courts and there is a lot of money changing hands. There are impressive food carts with ornately decorated signs that tout their diverse menus. Whether it’s rib platters or plates of chicken and waffles, it could be empanadas or stir-fry, funnel cake or cotton candy, its all cash only. It’s not just food for sale; there are dresses, shoes, suits, wigs, hats. You name it, if can fall off the back of a truck, it is being sold here at the Wall, the nickname given Governor Wallace City Park. There are also plenty of services available. There are cobblers and tailors who will make your shoes or suit in an afternoon. There are no less than 15 different beauticians ready to do hair, nails, facials, or makeup. Ladies often use Saturday afternoon at the Wall to prepare for Saturday night on the town. Although almost every young man is wearing some color bandana, there doesn’t seem to be any hostilities.
Hymon Burston’s suit is seersucker, his red tie is loose around his neck and he wears a straw hat that he also uses to fan himself on occasion. Dick Wellhung’s suit is white and his tie yellow. Peter Insidya’s suit too, is white cotton. His loosened blue tie is not helping him in the sweat department. Insidya is the heaviest of the 3 men and is the only one sweating. The men have been drinking Pappy Van Winkle bourbon out of red solo cups and chasing it with Budweiser.
Burston has just handed an envelope containing $15,000 in cash to a man named Jay who serves as the “street agent” for Washington Apex Onyx, a 15 year-old Freshman at Barry Madikkin High School in Birmingham, Alabama.
The men’s attention is squarely on the court where the Apex Onyx is getting ready to attempt to touch the back of the backboard. The men watch as a gangly young black man climbs a ladder and measures the top of the backboard. The young man gives his approval with a thumbs up. Before climbing down the ladder he places a piece small rectangular piece of paper on top of the backboard. As he reaches the ground he hands something to Apex and they both laugh. The gangly man gives some instruction and a look as is to say, “yeah but I’m serious”. Onyx shrugs his shoulders as if to say, “why not”.
All balls have stopped bouncing, conversations have paused, the only noise other than ambient is the quiet sounds of “Return of the Mack” by Craig Mack, a cut that the DJ has chosen for the event. The men who were with Jay earlier as he picked up the $15k envelope are now acting as bookies, taking bets on whether or not Apex will be able to touch the top of the backboard. As the men are running around taking bets, the gangly man who measured the backboard approaches one of them. Whatever he says gets him an audience with Jay. Upon hearing the man out, Jay chuckles and nods his head. The bookie, takes a wad of cash from the man and it appears this is ready to happen.
Onyx takes a position at about the 3-point line and licks his palms before rubbing them on the soles of his shoes. The shoes are Nike Air Jordan XX. The shoe is not set for release until April 2005. Onyx and about 50 other high school athletes from around the country were mysteriously mailed a pair that happened to fit perfectly. Nike has never commented on the XX mailout. His Nike dry-fit shorts are navy blue and his grey tank top reads “The blacker the Barry; the sweeter the White”, with an image of Barry White behind the text. His socks are so low that you can’t see them. Not they needed it, but the non visible socks makes his calves look even bigger. His chiseled body is a sight to behold. His mannerisms and behavior clearly are those of a 15-year old boy. The body is more like that of a Greek God. At 6’3” and 270 pounds, Onyx is a man among boys and a beast among men. Every lady in sight wants to do him and every man in sight wants to be him.
Onyx pauses, licks his finger and holds it up to the windless sky. The crowd chuckles and he then bends down and simulates picking up grass and tossing it in the air. Again, the crowd chuckles and Onyx nods his head. The DJ pumps R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly”, the crowd laughs then boos as DJ Bama switches up the record as he laughs and boos along with the crowd. The record he bumps is Redman’s 1992 jam “Time for some Aktion”. The court erupts with the first sound of the beat and no doubt they are ready for some action.
It takes Onyx about 4 steps to travel the almost 20 feet to a spot on the court where he leaps from one foot. With one hand in the air Onyx is a few inches above the backboard. He is high enough to slap something down on the backboard and takes the piece of paper that the gangly man placed up there.
PETER INSIDYA: Did that son of a gun just leave quarters on the backboard?
HYMON BURSTON: It’s called making change. He dropped 4 quarters and took the dollar off the top.
The court erupts as Onyx comes down with the dollar bill. Onyx, rips off his tank top and the crowd rushed him, he is soaking in the adulation. Jay shakes his head, but nods at his bookie as a sign to say, “go ahead and pay out”. He does, and he collects too. Not everybody bet on Apex, just the smart ones. After standing around and collecting daps and hugs from the crowd, Apex begins the walk up to the gazebo where Hymon Buster and his boys are sitting. When he arrives he is not offered any bourbon or a beer. He declines Peter Insidya’s offer of a cup of ice.
APEX ONYX: Mr. Burston, I just wanted to come by and say thanks for everything you do for my Uncle Jay. He always says how good of a man you are.
HYMON BURSTON: Your Uncle Jay is a good man too. He’s a huge Bama fan, and that’s one of those things I like about him. He really does want to see you at the University of Alabama in a few years. How do you feel about that?
APEX ONYX: Yeah, he’s always telling me, Tuscaloosa is the right fit for me. I just don’t know. I know LSU wants me, and they’re good. And I like that coach. Coach Saban is a great coach, and I would love to play for him.
HYMON BURSTON: Then Bama is your choice son.
APEX ONYX: How do you mean? Coach Saban is at LSU.
HYMON BURSTON: Actually Washington, he just signed a monster contract with the Dolphins, he’s not coaching at LSU anymore. You won’t hear about it for a couple of weeks, but trust me, it’s happening.
APEX ONYX: But you talking about Alabama? They went 6-6 last year and the only thing I like about that coach is that he is Don Shula’s son.
HYMON BURSTON: I don’t disagree. Listen, if things go the way I have planned, when you are a freshman at Alabama, Nick Saban will be out as Dolphin’s coach and in his second year at Alabama. Son, you and the Crimson Tide will be on your way to greatness.
APEX ONYX: Sounds great. But how are you so sure about all of this stuff Hymon?
HYMON BURSTON: Money talks my young man.
APEX ONYX: I hear you Mr. Buston. I just wonder if it is always saying the right thing.
London England
November 11th 2018
11 Downing Street
FU Corporation;
London Office
Luke Force and Apex Onyx are sitting in the London offices of FU Corporation. The place is abuzz because the big Boss is in town, and he is rolling with a 6’6” 330 pound beast. Luke requests the use of a secluded conference room. Luke is dressed in black slacks, black Bruno Magli shoes, and a black tight- fitting long sleeve t-shirt. He removes his black sports coat as soon as he enters the conference room and drapes in on an office chair.
Onyx is in a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt with the words “Black Betty” written on it. He is also wearing a white Nike track suit jacket that he has unzipped. His Nike Free X Metcons are black and look brand new.
LUKE FORCE: Alright brother, big opportunity tonight. You take care of Parrish, you probably set on the PPV card. You looked good last week.
APEX ONYX: What do you know about Parrish?
LUKE FORCE: Good question, but more importantly, what do you know about Parrish?
APEX ONYX: I know he is focused. But not on me. He’s got this whole Brotherhood thing going on. I think he’s here for some Brotherhood vengeance or reunion, but that’s got nothing to do with me.
LUKE FORCE: Actually, it does. Look I don’t know a lot about the Boringhood except that it is yesterday’s news. So this clown Parrish has got to come in and make some type of noise. So he figures that taking you out is going to make some noise. That way he has a platform to yap about Boringhood and that crap.
APEX ONYX: Why would he chose me as that guy.
LUKE FORCE: Stupidity and laziness. He’s never heard of you, probably did little to no research on what you're about. How could he, like you said, he’s too wrapped up in Boringhood shit. Make no mistake Apex, this guy is good. He’s been around, he’s got some friends and a shit ton of enemies. I just don’t think week he has what it takes. Hey, we talked about what’s in store for your in Action. You just need to go make it happen.
Luke pokes his head out of the conference.
LUKE FORCE: Shelia, would you mind closing the curtains in here, we are going to be doing an interview via satellite.
Shelia: Absolutely, Mr. Force. I can prep the entire room for an SMI, if you would like.
LUKE FORCE: Sure. What’s am SMI? I don’t want to cause any trouble.
Shelia: It’s no trouble at all Mr. Force. An SMI is a satellite media interview. It’s just a matter of me pressing a button that sets the lighting and you moving chairs to the color coordinated X’s on the floor in front of the monitor. How many local participants?
LUKE FORCE: It will be me and Mr. Onyx.
Shelia: Perfect. Just move two chairs and put the front left leg of each chair on the green X, you will be all set. The lights will automatically adjust once the satellite link is made.
Luke and Apex move the chairs as directed by Shelia. As the face of Harry Nutsake (Noot-sock-ay), a feature columnist for F US Weekly appears on screen, the lights adjust to provide perfect studio lighting.
HARRY NUTSAKE: Good afternoon Mr. Force, and good afternoon Mr. Onyx. Thank you so much for giving me this interview. I’m sure there were several people just dying to have this opportunity.
LUKE FORCE: Cut the crap Harry. Apex knows he wouldn’t be getting interviewed by you, if I didn’t own the magazine. Just do a good job of making Apex look good. Shouldn’t be that hard, the guy is a stud. Let’s do it.
HARRY NUTSAKE: Apex, you go 6’6” and weigh 330 pounds. Parrish is 6’9” 300. How do you feel about going up against a man that is about your size?
APEX ONYX: Yeah, normally I’m in he ring with guys who I’m a lot bigger than. But I look at this as an advantage for two reasons. I know what a guy that size goes through in a match. I know how much and where his body hurts. Second, it’s a rare a guy my size is in the type of shape I’m in, mentally and physically. Physically, I think I can wear him down. Mentally, he’s already worn down. He’s still living in the past where his crew mattered. They don’t. If you think you are going to go through me to try to get the attention of your fanboy crush Kevin Bishop, you're just wrong.
HARRY NUTSAKE: Do you know the relationship between Kevin Bishop and Lester Parrish?
APEX ONYX: Don’t know, don’t care. I think this week Kevin Bishop will cost Lester the match.
HARRY NUTSAKE: How do you figure that Apex?
APEX ONYX: I’ve said it before, Lester has a lot on his mind, I have one thing on my mind. He’s thinking about what happens next. He’s making plans for the future. I know what happens next and plan on BEING the future. But I also understand that in order to make that happen, I need to kick ass today. So today it happens to be Lester’s ass. And that is all I am thinking about.
HARRY NUTSAKE: Luke, you’ve been around a while, how does Apex compare to what you’ve seen.
LUKE FORCE: Look at him Harry. He is six feet six inches of Black Badass. Would you want to meet up him in a dark alley? Thought not. Harry, this specimen right here is the real deal. He puts in work where he needs to, he listens, he’s coachable. You know Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were horrible coaches. They couldn’t find any players who were as good as they were. This is guy is that good, and I found him 6 years ago. He’s been kicking ass ever since.
HARRY NUTSAKE: Apex, any last words for Lester Parrish.
APEX ONYX: It’s the same as I always say. If you showin’ up just for a paycheck, it aint worth it. If you showin’ up with something else on your mind, then you aint ready. I’m tellin’ as sure as I am sitting her, Lester, you ain’t ready for me. You can’t be ready for me, it doesn’t work that way!
(Luke and Apex get up from the chairs and leaver Harry Nutsake sitting there waiting for the satellite to drop off.)