Just went for a walk at Brookside and found a man under the Bridge at Skunk River.
The man looked like a mess. Holes in his clothes. Dirt all over his face and body. He looked like he hadn't had food in weeks and streaks, presumably from tears, were the only marks on his face that wasn't covered in mud.
I knew the man had been through a lot. But I also know those who have been through failure know what it takes to succeed.
I asked what his name was. He said Bode.
I asked the man whats wrong. Why was he in this shape, and it was then that I learned...well, we'll get to that in a minute.
The man told me he had it all once. All the sources. All the money. The blackest black belt in the world. A great family that he happily provided for and a website that, despite all the haters, he provided his wealth of knowledge and blessed the peasants with his presence.
Until the site turned against him. Banished him for a bit even though he did nothing. But he came back, stronger then ever, and told the site that he knew who would win the World Series, and he even knew what the outcome would be to every game. And your champions would be the St. Louis Cardinals.
He was so confident in this, that he put all his money on them to win the World Series, risking all he was providing for his family to put food on the table, all his sources, EVERYTHING HE HAD, in the hopes that, with the money he would make in the World Series, he could cure his friend, 1970, of his erectile dysfunction.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals lost in the first series, and quite literally every prediction Bode made for the playoffs...went the opposite way. As for the bet, Bode lost everything he ever had, including internet access to the website that once banished him, but now begged for his comeback.
And, what was the lesson learned you ask? Nothing. I learned absolutely nothing from Bode.