Wake Up With Kevin Smith's "Why Not?" Speech
I’ve never blogged about the actual meaning behind the basic bitch tattoo on my wrist. This morning I decided I’d let you in on why I permanently inked those words on my skin a few months ago. This’ll probably get a little sappy so if that’s not your style, either leave now or scroll down to the comments real quick and make sure to call me a bitch.
Today marks one year since I was hired by Riggs as the politics, golf, and world news intern for Barstool Sports. It’s funny looking back at that job title, because I don’t know a goddamn thing about any of those things, but hey, I had to get my foot in the door somehow. I was so fucking nervous on my walk from Penn Station to the office for my interview, I thought I was going to throw up. Not in the saying sense, but in the literal sense. I legitimately throw up when I get nervous.
The interview process was real quick, Riggs asked if I could photoshop some shit for him and produce an upcoming podcast he and Trent were working on (now called Fore Play, ever heard of it?). I was kinda taken aback by how easily he hired me, because I’d prepared about a dozen pitches of what I could provide Barstool Sports with, but he didn’t really give a shit. As he shouldn’t have. He needed a loyal guy to get him coffee and photoshop hurricanes into members of the Klu Klux Klan. Literally.
I kept at my “other pitches”, which were MMA coverage, expanded professional wrestling coverage, and an introduction of nerd culture to Barstool, and obviously, I was successful in bringing all three to the table. I got to write my first blog on December 29th, and since then, I’ve been to WrestleMania, Star Wars Celebration, Mayweather vs McGregor, The Masters, Bellator NYC, UFC on FOX 25, New York Comic Con, and so much more, all for the sake of talking about the shit I love. I host a podcast about wrestling now that allows me to talk to my heroes once a week with my buddy Carrabis. I’ve co-hosted the Rundown multiple times, which seemed like such a far off fantasy when I was emailing Barstool horrible shirt designs every day.
I credit a lot of that to this video. The first time I watched it in 2012, on Kevin Smith’s “Burn In Hell” DVD, it completely changed my life. I watched this video hundreds of times, when I was depressed, when I was happy, when I had writer’s block, when I was feeling creative, whenever. It has never failed to inspire me to be a better human being, and I’ve heard the same from just about everyone I’ve ever sent it to. I got the words “Why not?” tattooed on my wrist facing me, to serve as a reminder to encourage others to go for whatever makes them happy.
I didn’t take you through my “accomplishments” to brag, and I really hope this didn’t come off as egotistical. I just want it to be crystal clear with you guys that it’s doable.
I’ve accomplished pretty much everything I’ve dreamed of and more in a year, and I’m a complete moron who didn’t cum for a while. If idiot 19 year old Bob can do this, so can you. Go after that thing you’ve been chasing. Stop being hesitant to make what you love your profession. It probably won’t be easy, you’re going to face challenges along the way that make you want to give up, and not everyone will be encouraging. I will be. Work hard, and after a while nobody will be able to deny you.
Conor McGregor was once asked about his talent as a mixed martial artist and he responded, “There’s no talent here, this is hard work. This is an obsession. Talent does not exist, we are all equal as human beings. You could be anyone if you put in the time. You will reach the top, and that is that. I am not talented, I am obsessed.”
Become obsessed with whatever you want to do in this life, and put in the time. Turn your dreams into goals. This past year of my life has been a roller coaster full of highs and lows, but there’s no doubt that the peaks were worth the valleys and it’s been the best 365 days of my life. You deserve that too.
I guess what I’m really trying to say here is, thank you Dave Portnoy for all that you’ve given me. I’m so insanely grateful.