Fight Night Round 4 Community Event - SHAKYR's Blog

SHAKYR's Blog

Fight Night Round 4 Community Event

Posted on February 27, 2009 at 04:35 PM.

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The day of the flight to Vancouver,Canada was big for me,I haven't flown since 1992. Flying is not my forte'. I have turned down numerous trips with my wife on planes. I just had to get rid of my distrust in flying and make this Fight Night Round 4 Community Event. I was on the plane saying to myself this trip better be worth it(even though it was paid for..lol).

I had to catch two planes, I got on another plane in Seattle,Washington that was delayed because the pilot said, they forgot to tell him the other plane was broken...fear set in, but I wouldn't let my fear take my mind off this event. Once, I reach Vancouver customs had me in line for about an hour. When I got up to customs I got drilled by the customs agent wanting to know why would EA want me there? The agent even called Alain to confirm why I was there. I caught a cab from the airport.

When I got to the hotel I met Alain and his wife and then I met Rich Reed from Xboxsolution.com, we talked for a while and then I went up to my room to leave my things. I hurried back to the lobby because I didn't want to miss anything.I sat waiting to meet the different community leaders, as they came in we greeted each other and shared stories.

Alain told us the schedule for that evening, we were all going to meet up at a Sports Bar called the G-Spot. Some of us met up in the lobby and shared a cab to the G-spot. I met more of the EA staff and other Community leaders I didn't see earlier that day. The Thompson brothers are wonderful guys. I talked a lot to both, but I talked more with John. He has this radio voice that makes you say WOW! John is as real as they come....back to the G-spot(Sports Bar) there was plenty of food and drinks to go around for everybody. I ate a salad, I'm vegan a big one too...lol.

The EA staff set up Fight Night Round 3 on two monitors. I played four games I won 2 games, I was rusty(yeah..that's it...lol). I was in the background watching Mandy(the lone female) hand a couple of the guys there losts( I think she is a hustler) I thought Mandy was a little kid in the bar, because she looked younger than she appeared. After more talk about boxing and Fight Night some of us went back to the hotel...It was a beautiful hotel I might add. We needed to get our rest for the next day.

The next day came and this was going to be a real eventful day. We started with a breakfast in the hotel with gaming and boxing talk. Tyrone(maxboxing) and me needed something from the store so we tried to rush out to get it. In front of the hotel Tyrone and me saw a jeep pull up and to our surprise it was Brian"Brizzo" Hayes, we quickly introduced ourselves and left.

About an hour later some of the EA staff and the community leaders all boarded a little bus that was going to take us to Griffin's Boxing gym. It reminded me of the times when my uncle use to pick me and city kids up before heading to the gym.

Inside Griffin's gym the community leaders filled out some paperwork and got dressed into the workout gear we were told to bring with us. I was very excited because this used to be my thing. I was a gym rat, I was the first in the gym and the last out. The excitement I had turned into exhaustion.
I was trying to do everything correct, but this extra person on my body said something different. While I was working out I happen to look up and there was "Sugar" Shane and Sergio Mora. I was excited because I remember him from the amateurs; I used to get his and Shannon Briggs first name mixed up at fights..lol. I talked to Shane about a fight in the amateur's he had with one of my team mates. It was fun reminiscing.

Everybody finished the floor workout,then the trainer for Griffin's chose three of us to spar Sergio Mora. I knew I was going to be one of the chosen three because the trainer stayed on me. I was excited because sparring was one of my favorite things to do in the gym. I got gloved up with pink gloves(stop laughing) and regular headgear.
I was the first up to spar Sergio Mora to the chant of Kimbo, Kimbo(you know who you are). It was fun, but my weight made me want to lay down in-between rounds. Mandy and Complex looked good in there with Sergio, even though Sergio had to tighten up a bit on Complex. Brizzo got in the ring for a couple round with Sergio too, Brizzo looked good in the ring.

After the gym we went to lunch at a nice restaurant. It had some great food, you could tell by how happy everyone was. The community leaders talked about the day so far and the day ahead.
We finished lunch and was on our way to EAC. I was amazed when we got to EAC, the building is huge. We went inside and went into a little conference room where Brizzo gave a presentation that made my mouth water. We were interrupted by Shane Mosley and Sergio Mora with a Q & A session,these two guys are honest and down to earth people. We talked to them for a while, then got back into the Fight Night Round 4 presentation with some questions being asked.

Alain gave us a tour of the EAC site. The EA facility is just as huge inside as it is on the outside. When went got back to the conference room, Alain and Brizzo told us we were about to play Fight Night Round 4. I was hyped beyond believe. I played the game for an hour and a half with Brizzo peeking in every once in a while making sure his baby was acting right. Alain told us that they ordered food for us so we went to eat in the conference room. While in the conference room I questioned and listened to Brizzo and Mike Mahar, these guy are passionate about this game. I played the game some more and came away very pleased.

I really enjoyed myself. Thanks you guys Alain,Brizzo, Mike Mahar and the rest of the EA staff. I enjoyed talking to you community leaders, this was my first event and I hope it wasn't my last. Keep in touch everyone.