Most people that know me know that I began all of this wild ride of lifting heavy objects from a Martial Arts background...trying to get better. To be a better fighter. Looking back on those years of my life a lot of good things come into my mind. Mostly fights that I won that I shouldn't have been able to. Hanging out with people that we all see in movies today. All of the little friendships that I made along the way. To sum up what I want to say here, there was a team that I badly wanted to be a part of through all of my life and I never made this a secret. The METRO All-Stars was THE TEAM as far as I was concerned. The guys that ran the team both had son's that were in my age division, which made it pretty tough for them to pick me up as a member, but they pretty much picked up ever youth that had amazing talent back then...except me. Or at least it sure felt that way. I can remember every member standing by me when I was in the ring, to help. I remember getting my nose broken and splattered and if I couldn't stop the bleeding I'd be disqualified...and THEIR team Dr was sent over to help me get the bleeding stopped so I could continue the fight. Honestly, I can't tell you all of the crazy things that these guys did but I also can't tell you all of the amazingly nice things that they did as well. Till the day that I die I will be able to tell you these stories as well as their names as they are forever engraved into my memories. About a month ago there was a public notice on the team's main page and that post stated that I was being made a full Team METRO All-Stars Member. When I read it I sat at my computer and just looked at it for who knows how long. Probably a least 5 minutes before I could exhale. I might have cried a little, I honestly don't know. As soon as I "woke up" I found the posts with my phone and made screen shots and immediately sent it to my mother, my wife, best friend, and I don't really remember who else. The honor! I mentioned that I was going to find some old logos and possibly make some shirts and a uniform with the Team Logo on it and I just kind of left it there...maybe they weren't REALLY serious. Tonight I got another message from their coach, REMINDING ME that as soon as I get my shirts made to post up the photos on the Team Page for everyone to see...and then I got some slightly "encouraging" comments about how I needed to sign up for SOMETHING and compete again...win or lose it didn't matter. Before I go to bed tonight I'm going to message a buddy of mine to see if he can make me a few t-shirts, a tank top or three, and where I can order a uniform large enough to fit me again. There really isn't a circuit here to fight on but there are a lot of online contests again and I could probably order a Bo Staff from somewhere and enter Men's Weapons. At least I'd get to represent! Team METRO...it's an honor.

Clint Darden
Tagged: Coaching Logs

EliteFTS Table Talk— Where strength meets truth. Hosted byDave Tate, Table Talk cuts through the noise to bring raw, unfiltered conversations about training, coaching, business, and life under the bar. No fluff. No hype. Just decades of experience — shared to make you stronger in and out of the gym.

Join the Crew!

Support us and access premium content monthly!