/ fifteen years ago. /
Young Spiros lays in the middle of The Groves, in the weeds, peering through the scope of a rifle. His grandfather lays next to him.
Pappoús: Steady the rifle, ayopi. You don’t want to miss your shot.
Spiros: I can’t see anything, Pappoús.
A deer walks out into the open. Spiros looks at him excitedly.
Pappoús: Calm yourself. You must be accurate with your shot, or you’ll wound it. We can’t have that. Every kill must be a clean kill, ayopi.
Spiros: Can I shoot?
Pappoús: Take your time. Aim, control your breathing and when the time is right, slowly pull the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet flies, missing the Deer by quite some distance. The noise startles it and it runs off, leaving Spiros to cut a frustrated figure. His grandfather consoles him.
Pappoús: Consider this a valuable lesson, Spiros. If you’re going to get behind the power of a rifle, you need to be calm, measured and careful. One mistake and you could miss your target, or worse, hurt yourself. Come, let’s practice on some cans.
/ today. /
Spiros sits on a deck chair in the middle of the groves with a rifle on his lap. He’s drinking a beer, taking in the nature.
Spiros the Great: The Great One remembers sitting out here with his Pappoús, learning how to shoot.
He smirks.
Spiros the Great: And that, just like everything else, Spiros excelled at. The Great One killed more targets out here than Mark Hayes has Guster Busters.
We know that’s a lie.
Spiros the Great: But Spiros’ didn’t do it alone. He took advice from his Grandfather that proved invaluable. You see Mark, if you’re gonna come into The Great One’s backyard and call yourself a Sharpshooter – you better know how to call your shot and make it.
He stands up and holds the rifle outwards towards the camera.
Spiros the Great: Because one wrong move and you aim at the wrong person, who might just be a better shot than you and it’s over.
BANG!
He fires into the distance. There’s a thud. He hit something, but we don’t get to see what.
Spiros the Great: Spiros has heard you’re one of the best technical and submission wrestlers in the business, but that’s all he’s heard. Words. Words of historic supposed importance of a man way past his prime in the world of athletes like Spiros the Great who’re just entering theirs.
Spiros shrugs.
Spiros the Great: A specialist. A Sharpshooter. They say when Mark Hayes takes a shot at an opponent, he doesn’t miss. Do you know what Spiros says to that? Come Get Some.
He makes the hand motion.
Spiros the Great: If you want a gun fight, you’ve got one. If you want to go toe to toe with The Great One, then bring your best guns and your true aim, cause you’re gonna need it, Marky Mark.
Spiros sits back down.
Spiros the Great: My Grandfather taught me all I need to know about how to take my shot and hit my target. Let’s see how much of a Sharpshooter you really are.