The first year, Ice-T and Gerard Depardiou's breakfast

When we started out last october it was no sure shot, sure we knew we had something that had not been done before but how would the good folks in sports take us - shun us or embrace us. As the first year operational is closing in we don't know but have a pretty strong idea about it.

For myself, I cannot speak for everyone, nor would I ever want to. This is completely against the idea we set out to stand for - individuality. It takes one to know one. What follows is a year in learning of one chairman of the board. Let my people go swimming. Let one reluctant CEO speak. 

There has been a certain degree of swagger associated with us from the start. Zero arrogance - 100% taste. The way I see it, we are a brand. But more than a brand - a story. It's all logical and well crafted. The outlaw aspect. The lifestyle aspect. Yes, crafted but not fake. The key is being real. There is no tolerance for being fake. This is my self expression. And this, I believe, is the self expression of my people. Story like this has an appeal to certain people. Drawing from different cultures. I have never been sports as sports are considered. A jock. This is why if I lead we go elsewhere. We go big. Not home. In terms of hawaiian legends - we would go. Eddie. You the man. 

What have I learned. Many things. The quote from Ice-T says something a lot better I could - "As you grow, the game you play gets more advanced. Never let the minor league players pull you back to their level." This translated to what we have made - the more we got into our thing, more our game evolved, the more heat we got from the powers that be. The way I see it, we will never be like them. Not now. Not in the future. We were made players of the game but the game we made is ours, it's not theirs. And this bothers them to no end. There where several attempts to pull us back to the minors but we prevailed. Why someone would even try is anybody's guess. As told by Price, one of the main characters in Call of Duty - modern warfare 2 franchise, you can't be betrayed if you trust no one. Thus, I have learned that if you play your game by your rules it's very difficult to touch you. In military slang, always cover your six. There is such thing as foolproof plan. I and we have taken the seven P's of planning to heart and live by them. Proper Planning and Preparation Prevent Piss Poor Performance. 

"In the game, spectators, commentators, and critics don't get the trophies - only the players do."

Another from Ice-T. There has been lot of this and that, even dis an dat. I visited a company that makes trophies just the other day. Told them that I actually by happenstance have two of their make at home made for certain customer. They said you really did well as there where only eight made. The trophies. Hit the pool tiles at the right moment and they might just be yours. I have learned that the road is long and at times it looks grim but believe and the end might as well be a happy one. I have never forsaken the path. Like in psalm 23, I have walked the valley of shadow of death, thou I had no other shepherd than the believe in the cause and the fact that I had nothing to lose. Never play chicken with someone who has both covered all bases and has nothing to lose. If you take nothing for granted you have nothing and nobody can touch you as you have nothing to take. It has certain liberating effect on you. Like having immunity necklace on survivor TV show. Two words you never hear - I quit. Two words you could but won't in public. If you think you have it, all good - take a shot or take a picture with us. No charge. But we players. 

There are entities that are achieving results like us. This is all good. Comparing resources, many have multiple times more, some even times hundreds or more. Some of them work with us, some with open minds, some with prejudice. Result per euro ratio - no one can touch us there. I have learned that next time you are going to pull a rabbit out of your hat, pull one with a million in cash in tow. The odds are better and benefits accessible instantly. If not - have the ability to deliver and do the impossible. 

Still. Our guy got the trophies. Still we had great time. Still at the end of the banquet our table looked like Gerard Depardiou had had a breakfast there. Counting the empty wine bottles. This is like Counting the the unread ones in the Umberto Eco's library. The only way to go. You go big or you go home. Only other option is EPIC. Thank you my people. We are EPIC!