On the one year anniversary of my first kiss with Jess something special happened.
Its hard to believe that one year ago we were going out to breakfast at Denny's at 9 am after staying up all night talking, laughing, walking and smiling that I would be the happiest I have ever felt in my entire life.
We were closing our class at Rollercon and I brought the class of 80-100 onlookers together for my closing statement. I said, " Its been a long Rollercon and I know everyone is tired so go ahead and take a knee," To which the whole group got down. "everyone take a deep breath," To which I had already reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring and turned around to face the light of my life, Jess and kneeled in front of her and took her hand into mine. Looking into those eyes that I have forever gotten lost in I said, "I love you."
The crowd behind us gasped, whispered, "Oh my god!" Some were crying. All were smiling as Jess turned away, her eyes swelling up as she looked at me and said, " I love you."
I said, " There is no one else in the world that has ever made me feel like I do when I am with you even though sometimes we are miles apart you are always by my side and I couldn't imagine anyone else in the world that I would love to travel and teach with and share my life with.
The announcers from DNN said something that I didn't hear but the entire Sports Complex all cheered. My friends from all over the world came up to me, some with tears in their eyes saying, "You jerk you made me cry."
Soon Twitter exploded in Montreal as the news was broadcast all over the world that Derby's power couple had now become the soon-to-be married couple like it has happened before in Derby.
Skating brought us together in 2007 when we first met in Boston at a BDD bout and the rest is history.
As I look back into my life I couldn't imagine anyone else in the world that I would move mountains for then Jess.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
What a season
Its been one hell of a wave up til this point. Ive taken the ladies in neon to a 9-3 season with losses to Boston, Charm City and Tuscon. Weve managed to impress everyone we have played against and have also surpassed our own goals or at least the goals I set when they first asked me to manage them.
Its the end of the season for us and whats coming up next will be the biggest part of our history as the skids. Regionals. We are 24th on DNN which is a huge pat on the back for everyone for working so hard, currently 9th in the east on wftda and 26th on flattrackstats.
My goal at the beginning of the year was 7th in the east and we are at 6th. My goal was also to get 35th and we are now26th on flattrackstats. So far I have helped them become one hell of an incredible team and I cant wait for the wave to keep going at regionals and nationals this year.
hangin tough!
Its the end of the season for us and whats coming up next will be the biggest part of our history as the skids. Regionals. We are 24th on DNN which is a huge pat on the back for everyone for working so hard, currently 9th in the east on wftda and 26th on flattrackstats.
My goal at the beginning of the year was 7th in the east and we are at 6th. My goal was also to get 35th and we are now26th on flattrackstats. So far I have helped them become one hell of an incredible team and I cant wait for the wave to keep going at regionals and nationals this year.
hangin tough!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
What it takes
What does it take to be a winner? Heart? Spirit? Drive? Fortitude and courage? Sometimes all it takes is guts. It takes the inner strength to adapt to whats happening and seize the moment and run with it as fast as you can.
8 and oh. Thats what Im looking at in front of me with a spreadsheet a mile long with names and numbers and stats. Eight and Ohhhhhhh my god. The stickers on my clipboard are weighing down my bag and its time to come to terms with myself and what Ive done.
Ive helped an amazing group of ladies rise to the top.
The world has stood up to take notice of the storm coming from the north and finally realized that its not a joke. Its not the dancing ladies at nationals anymore. Its the team that rose to the 25th slot in May.
1/2way through the year they rose to the top and this weekend it faces a threat from the Quakers.
I know my adversary has done his homework and is sitting behind a computer screen watching endless videos and spreadsheets and saying to himself, " Im fucked."
Yes. Its going to happen. After May ends and the world of Derby stands on its heads and says where did this storm come from?
The Great Neon North.
And its spreading faster then an Icelandic Volcano.
8 and oh. Thats what Im looking at in front of me with a spreadsheet a mile long with names and numbers and stats. Eight and Ohhhhhhh my god. The stickers on my clipboard are weighing down my bag and its time to come to terms with myself and what Ive done.
Ive helped an amazing group of ladies rise to the top.
The world has stood up to take notice of the storm coming from the north and finally realized that its not a joke. Its not the dancing ladies at nationals anymore. Its the team that rose to the 25th slot in May.
1/2way through the year they rose to the top and this weekend it faces a threat from the Quakers.
I know my adversary has done his homework and is sitting behind a computer screen watching endless videos and spreadsheets and saying to himself, " Im fucked."
Yes. Its going to happen. After May ends and the world of Derby stands on its heads and says where did this storm come from?
The Great Neon North.
And its spreading faster then an Icelandic Volcano.
Monday, March 8, 2010
http://www.mikedidonato.com/2010/03/08/international-derby/
http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/2010/03/weekend_review_382010
Patience pays off in the long run. The ladies in Neon have been training and it showed this weekend. Not only did they travel up and down the east coast but managed to pull off 3 victories and looked like they wanted more. After looking at the faces of the Skids and the faces of their opponents it became clear that the Neon powered uniforms were putting out extra power this weekend.
Tired and happy, the ladies returned to the Great White north for a 2 week break before another long weekend or Derby action. This time facing their Canadian counterparts.
http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/2010/03/weekend_review_382010
Patience pays off in the long run. The ladies in Neon have been training and it showed this weekend. Not only did they travel up and down the east coast but managed to pull off 3 victories and looked like they wanted more. After looking at the faces of the Skids and the faces of their opponents it became clear that the Neon powered uniforms were putting out extra power this weekend.
Tired and happy, the ladies returned to the Great White north for a 2 week break before another long weekend or Derby action. This time facing their Canadian counterparts.
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Coming storm
Ladies, tonight is the night of nights. You are on the eve of greatness to represent not only yourselves but your teammates on this short venture up and down the East Coast of America this weekend. My advice to you is to rest up for the weekend and take one day at a time when it comes. Put the game out of your heads until tomorrow and go out and eat with your friends laugh and love because this weekend belongs to you.
The Neon storm that is coming is something your adversaries don't expect from you. They expect to beat you and send you home to your loved ones dragging your feet. I say hold your heads high as you embark on this journey and remember its not you alone who is out there on the track, it is the lady next to you, in front of you and behind you in neon that represents something great in yourselves.
Don't stop Believing!
The Neon storm that is coming is something your adversaries don't expect from you. They expect to beat you and send you home to your loved ones dragging your feet. I say hold your heads high as you embark on this journey and remember its not you alone who is out there on the track, it is the lady next to you, in front of you and behind you in neon that represents something great in yourselves.
Don't stop Believing!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The coming storm of Neon
I'm proud to be managing the skids. They are a solid team of excellent players that just needed some direction in the right step and I feel Ive begun to provide them with that direction. Their Jammers are some of the best, their blockers work together as one unit while still being able to function as individuals.
The neon inspires me to drive myself and push myself past my limits and reach for new limits. The camaraderie of the team and my acceptance to it has made me feel like I have a home now.
Individually I could list the strength and weaknesses of each player but it is their strength in arms that makes them a fighting unit with spirit I haven't encountered since my Army days. It is the passion in their eyes and the sweat they put in and receive that drives me to push myself. it is their drive that drives me.
The coming storm of Neon is taking over the East coast as we travel to CT, DC and Suburbia. There is no doubt in my mind what the outcome will be. After witnessing them take on a team they knew they couldn't beat they held their own and proved themselves to be an adversary worthy of notice. This did not happen from me. It happened from each and every skater who took the track and looked at me with confidence that they knew where to be when to be there and who was to their left and right at all times.
It wasn't the payoff of a loss but the learning experience that they can carry with themselves of knowing that they took on impossible odds and stopped them dead in their tracks, if not for a minute but for a period. 30 minutes.
The wraith being unleashed this weekend is a precursor to the rest of the year. It is the year of Neon, the year that a team no one though could, will.
The neon inspires me to drive myself and push myself past my limits and reach for new limits. The camaraderie of the team and my acceptance to it has made me feel like I have a home now.
Individually I could list the strength and weaknesses of each player but it is their strength in arms that makes them a fighting unit with spirit I haven't encountered since my Army days. It is the passion in their eyes and the sweat they put in and receive that drives me to push myself. it is their drive that drives me.
The coming storm of Neon is taking over the East coast as we travel to CT, DC and Suburbia. There is no doubt in my mind what the outcome will be. After witnessing them take on a team they knew they couldn't beat they held their own and proved themselves to be an adversary worthy of notice. This did not happen from me. It happened from each and every skater who took the track and looked at me with confidence that they knew where to be when to be there and who was to their left and right at all times.
It wasn't the payoff of a loss but the learning experience that they can carry with themselves of knowing that they took on impossible odds and stopped them dead in their tracks, if not for a minute but for a period. 30 minutes.
The wraith being unleashed this weekend is a precursor to the rest of the year. It is the year of Neon, the year that a team no one though could, will.
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