Walt Whitman meets Oscar Wilde

[Rob Vigeant Jr.]

well..........james , how friendly!ng impolite of you to talk all this poetic sh!t.

lets be straight since you are such an intellectic..........shall we?

about .........oh, I don't know..maybe 6 months ago you casually call me and fluff into the conversation about you POSSIBLY throwing an event and my possible interest in pulling dave chaffee for a $1000 ................" sure" I says................
now I ask....................when did you touch base with me?......oh right...I had to contact you seeing as to how you assumed...............you know what happens when one assumes james.
what happened to the $1000........RIGHT, IT FELL THROUGH
Now, for the gravy everyone has been waiting for.............why the fuc% can't I come.............well........you are all fuc#$d in the head if you think I'm scared.
I think kevin buckalew said I "have no heart".........well good sir...FUC% YOU you clown.....what do you know you dip sh!t ...........don't come on here talking like you know anything.
Truth...................I'm in a bad spot....period.
any of my friends can say I am like a gypsy who travels from town to town and job to job..it is just my lifestyle, I'm a vagrant.
Now I have had a baby in the past year................responsibility has taken over............sorry armwrestling gods.
This is where PETE goes from friend to foe......he knows all to well the pile of sh!t I have been in...........and calls me out on here to save face on some tournament?
FU$% YOU PETE...........call me out when you followed me from hotel to motel .......even when I was stuck in PA when my truck broke.....or all the talks we had about me moving in with you because I was so broke, outta work and being evicted........................this is what you call bogus excuses you two faced piece......over a tournament showing...................ya , I thought we were friends too.......
Fact is less than a month ago I was living in a 12 x 12 motel ......the skeeziest type with my girl and daughter....................with little to no money.
I suppose I should lose money on a trip to bust some over confident fools a$$..............that I just beat.
I got outta that garbage and just got a place............took a lot of payback and work.......I'm still in the hole......................but I'm getting there.
as far as going to the ROTN and obligations........that is ignorance on all your parts.........I told Gary I would be there as a returning champ 100% a year ago............long before James ever made his first call months ago..............so who takes presedence?
AND.....i BORROWED TO GET THERE AS WELL
On to daves hilarious posts...................If I am scared........come to NH........................I am man enough to admit I can't travel, but I have a backer that says I can beat you.........it's a shorter ride................how strong did you get in 2 weeks?..........a lot I hope or mike might whip your a$$.
onto the clever little "MIKE" post.......................james for a guy who is so well spoken and thought out......well, you missed the mark here.
Mike bailed out the morning of the event...............in his backyard....................when nobody knew why.
I bailed ahead of time, like you asked me to if necessary and I would have to travel cross country and invest more than the potential prize pot just to get there and pull ......its a lose lose.....................................where is the irony and parallel?
sorry james it is a lose lose.
you know what is BS ?.................I have pulled alot af matches for you guys.........even coming through with sylvain when I was injured.........in the same spot he attacked over and over.......but we put on a show................out of RESPECT
yet this is what I get .........................I get chastized for being in a bad spot...........by my supposed friends...................lol.............you'll see
FU#K all you fair weather fans..........talk all your sh!t...............its all you got 99% of you won't go anywhere in this sport anyhow...

[Pete & Tim]

Wow. All this because I break your balls about coming to Charlotte. WOW!!!

I'm not going to get into some kind of friendly apology because I know we're friends, but for you to question that is kind of insulting.

Yes I do know all too well what type of situation you and your family are in. That is why I was trying everything I could to help get you there without putting a strain on your family.

I went as far as to find you a cheap flight, rides to and from the airport and a place to stay so that you could get some financial gain from the match, but F*CK ME RIGHT?

If that's how you wanna play this Rob, that's fine, but don't ever come on here and question what I do or why I do it and accuse me of NOT being a friend cause when EVERYONE ELSE IN THIS SPORT SH*TS ON YOU OR YOUR NAME I STICK UP FOR YOU.

So yea, I guess F*CK ME!!!

Good Luck with your life and your "Vagrant" lifestyle. I just hope your family doesn't suffer because of it.

[jamesretarides]

Rob, I think all that alcohol you are wasting your family's money on is starting to have adverse effects on your memory. The deal was in place, the tournament was set, you said you didn't care what Dave Chaffee weighed, that you were in 100% (the same thing you said last week) and now this. You are so full of sh it. You read this board (that is why you got your library card right?) as much as anyone and know you had a match set with Dave. Nothing ever fell through. You can ask Dave. He will tell you that the original deal was $500, but you go ahead and try to create whatever you can to support your argument. YOU WILL LOSE ANYWAY. VERY BADLY

If we are going to talk about writing styles, I would say your's is a lot more Walt Whitman than Oscar Wilde. Like John Wilson said, Walt Whitman was a sissy. Allow me to show you a little Oscar Wilde.

First of all, Oscar Wilde would make fun of your use of repetitive periods after every sentence. You either believe you are transmitting in Morse Code of you have more problems with punctuation than you do with burning bridges. Which.............(<-notice the dots.......it is sort of ......an homage ..........to ........you) you do a lot of........burning bridges that is.. You speak of where people are headed in this sport, but I know of a few terrible, promise-breaking, alcoholics that pissed away their potential. And no one denies you have (soon to be had) a lot of it.

You made a commitment to the SEAC and more than once said you were in without a doubt. I never heard someone so enthusiastic about a supermatch. But all of a sudden I get this Private Message saying we to get a few things straight before the match. Then you get on the phone with me and ask me to add to the pot 3 weeks before the tournament. Then, you agree to come out to the original amount of money and two free entries. Then a few days later, you are out. You know what? That speaks volumes about your character.

And Kent Buckalew? You should count your blessings and pray to Sweet Jesus that you end up with one Iota of the class, dignity and credibility as a human that Buck has. The man came from nothing and has been very successful in everything he has ever done. Let me tell you something about Buck: he is a former professional boxer that had a 24-3 record as a professional. and even stood toe-to-toe with James Toney. I saw a fight of his where he broke his wrist in the first round and still won a decision in the fight. He was a special forces soldier in the first Gulf War (where he was wounded by the way). He now works with Morris Jenkins as a trainer and a motivational speaker and I have never in the time I have known him turned his back on a friend. To the contrary, he has done nothing but bend over backwards for friends. If he has anything to say about anyone's heart, including my own, I am all ears.

Say anything you want to Buck's face, right in front of him. And then watch a 44-year-old 160lb man dice you up like the afraid-of-the-dark (yes ask around, he actually is scared of the dark) flexing punk that you are. And here I am sinking to your level writing these terrible things about you (and I have a feeling it will get worse). Since you are costing me money now, I am going to get my money's worth on here, with a little interest.

You went about this all wrong and you know it. You knew you fell on hard economic times LONG before last week. If you called me then and said "James, I'm sorry but I can't come down in November." I would have said the same thing I said to Jeremy Plaster. "Hey man, I understand. I will have a match for you in the future for sure." Now, I want nothing to do with you at all (and I am sure the feeling is mutual ) See I have also fallen on hard economic times, but if I make a commitment I find a way. That is what a man of his word does. When I said that to your cousin on the phone (because he actually has....................a .................phone) he laughed and said your word meant "nothing." That is from the guy that bails you out whenever you need it though, huh? What is going to happen when he is tired of your shenanigans? These are the things you need to think about in the future. I have been very forgiving of you in the past. Those days are over. Another bridge burned. Oh, and thanks for helping promote my tournament. I should buy you a drink sometime.

[jamesretarides]

Oh and Rob, BTW, you pulled a lot of matches for YOU, not us. RVJ always looks out for RVJ, didn't miss the mark on that one.

[Rob Vigeant Jr.]

you'll see.........

to you and kevin's face.........you are sadly mistaken of what you are into.

no need to talk about my punctuation or balls............................you WILL see..........

you portray some bada$$...........................show me............I call your bluff.........




I know........too many periods..............too much alcohol..............too much bullsh!t.....................whats next?
James.............be real................you are a slap job.
This is reminisant of your supposed " I was gonna rush the stage and whoop Travis "
LOL, LOL, LOL........................oh boy.............evey time I think about this lunacy I crack up.
Honestly...............................do you believe you have an ounce of manhood to throw Travs' way.....................I 'll answer that for you.................................NO..............not even close.
Stick to journalism.........the only championships you can win are on fouls, who have you pinned
It is sad that a person so invested in the sport takes pride in their linguistic skills.................like that will win you a match......................LOL................what a friendly!N CLOWN.
I am VERY easy to find you PU$$Y..........................show me how bad you REALLY ARE, and not save face on here with some "poetic" bullsh!t.........

Rob Vigeant
60 Lowell rd.
Hudson Nh, 03052..............I think..........with all the booze and all...........and all the " burnt bridges "........................how do I get home ? ........................or even go on ?
without James at my side I am lost .............LOL..............










































like my use of periods ??

[Frank "The PREZ" Hirst]

Gonna throw in my 2 cents
I train with Rob at times and are friends with both. I feel Rob went about this all wrong. Sorry.
If your 100% sure your gonna win against Dave why wouldn't you go take all the money? You talked a lot (to much) crap on here just to back out of the match at this time. I think.
Its just my 2 cents. Sure it doesn't mean crap to you.

James I'm sure your tournament will be a success anyway. Hope I can make it.

[Kent Buckalew]

I just believe if you say you are going to do somthing you should make every effort to do it. I have had hard times in my life, but you will overcome them, with the right decisions. If it was a money thing we could have gave you a place to stay. The one thing I will say, and do not mean in a negitive way, is if you have honesty and integrity you have it all!

[Guy Lasorsa]

This is getting Ugly..
I like Rob and maybe he wont speak to me either after.
I also understand Robs hard times, But it takes something to evolve there. Dysfunction i like to call it takes chains of mishaps, and events to get to that point over time. without puting on the brakes and turning it positive.
There is no bad flip of the switch, car accident, or major cata strophic illness overnight .
I know this all to well as I have lived it in my life as many of us have to some degree. I know what self destruction over long periods of time feels Like. It doesn't feel good, it feels like years of pain on your shoulders.

We all can be our own worst enemy , but ultimately whether we succeed ,or fail, stand up or fall, meet obligations or not, make excuses or dont, is all on us.

I like Rob, I feel for him for where he is at right now just like there is some others that wont except weakness, faults or personality traits, I have a spot in my heart for it.

But I also believe Rob went about this the wrong way. Rob 's cousin Rob said he didnt think Rob would go to NC 2 months out because of funds and other issues. BUT there was money on the table .. Maybe not exactly a huge payday, but enough to break even IF your 99% confident of victory.. IF not Could have cancelled much earlier as others did.


Yet at the sametime was trying to get it together to go to ROTN and couldnt do both, because he needed a new place to live, and would also be going to the ROTN or NC on borrowed $$. And the ROTN came first on the calender and chose to go to ROTN, but certainly NOT to defend the 198 title.
And as dysfunctional as this may sound, believe it !! IF the dates were flipped, IF SEAC was October and ROTN November, we wouldnt have this thread , I honestly believe that.

Even Robs cousin Rob said "to ROB you gotta tell them if your not going. Its only fair !!!! Perhaps I understand Rob a little. He wanted to go to both , and still wanted to go up until the last minute, but with the dysfunctional pattern, which I lived also and spoke of above ,You can be torn and ultimately make your decision last minute and often with regret. Regret if chose either to go or not to go in fact.

James was trying to put together an event, with new sponsors , who were "TESTING the sport and its people .. So he wanted people early on to show up for practices at he events venue to help jump start this venture.

This was a work in progress and not a slap together event. This was to be a start ,a building block to bigger and better events "IF" all went well .

Not an easy task If you ever tried this before and than getting 150 arm wrestlers and especially a handful of super match pullers to cooperate was stressful.


IF he had a good showing and IF the tournament went well , IT would lead to BIG events.. The picture was very clear . Get on board and cooperate IF you want to see Arm wrestling take another step forward and support it.
Especially to those who spent $ to get there would be first in line for bigger purses in future events.


Now Yes Unfortunately other people backed out chose the rotn which I feel wasnt very ethical either .. YES Not good!!
When you make a commitment, That when you think about it was Much bigger than Just "you" or any individual and your part of a show to impress " NEW" sponsors, ( major complaint in our sport is lack of sponsors) just wasnt the right decision.
Lets see we also had someone with an injury back out and than 4 weeks later pulls at the worlds NOT cool

But what these have in common was the cancellations were done well ahead of time, not right , but this gave James enough time to see if he wanted another match added.

I believe James didnt want to add more matches because He still had what he called his marquee match Dave and Rob..

The later this was cancelled the worst it was going to get and did

[jamesretarides]

Oct 24, 2009 1:19:45 GMT -5 Rob Vigeant Jr. said:

you'll see.........

to you and kevin's face.........you are sadly mistaken of what you are into.

no need to talk about my punctuation or balls............................you WILL see..........

you portray some bada$$...........................show me............I call your bluff.........




I know........too many periods..............too much alcohol..............too much bullsh!t.....................whats next?
James.............be real................you are a slap job.
This is reminisant of your supposed " I was gonna rush the stage and whoop Travis "
LOL, LOL, LOL........................oh boy.............evey time I think about this lunacy I crack up.
Honestly...............................do you believe you have an ounce of manhood to throw Travs' way.....................I 'll answer that for you.................................NO..............not even close.
Stick to journalism.........the only championships you can win are on fouls, who have you pinned
It is sad that a person so invested in the sport takes pride in their linguistic skills.................like that will win you a match......................LOL................what a f**k!N CLOWN.
I am VERY easy to find you PU$$Y..........................show me how bad you REALLY ARE, and not save face on here with some "poetic" bullsh!t.........

Rob Vigeant
60 Lowell rd.
Hudson Nh, 03052..............I think..........with all the booze and all...........and all the " burnt bridges "........................how do I get home ? ........................or even go on ?
without James at my side I am lost .............LOL..............










































like my use of periods ??

What's that Rob, you are on you period? Thought I hit a little below the belt before? Not even close. Right now I am looking at the time stamp on your post. How did you gain access to a computer last night. Did you shop your food stamps in front of the Stop and Shop and buy a laptop? Or did you break into the library? If you broke into the library, I would certainly try to deter you from doing so in the future.

We all know your girlfriend has a restraining order on you and that you have a court date coming up. For a moment there, Pete and I were worried your November court date was going to coincide with the tournament. What's funny (and ironic) is that you backed out the wrong match. At least with Dave you had a chance to win. This is just suicide (journalistic albeit). We all know how much stronger you are than me.

Did you really play the TALENT CARD with me? That's priceless. Grab your baba full of whiskey and nestle in Robbie, because it is story time. When I got out of college (you know that place you go to parties at............................well they actually conduct classes there too) I worked at a radio station called WEBE 108. There was a fellow that did the afternoon drive named Peter Bush. I used to produce live afternoon remotes and when Peter would show up, he insisted he be referred to as "The Talent."

Can you imagine? We are at a Mazda dealership in Danbury and this guy about to go on a menopause music radio station (you would have loved it, they play many Michael Bolton songs). Anyhow, I digress. This guy, wanted to be referred to by me as well as employees at said dealership as "The Talent." Like, "hey, the talent just arrived." Well one day, in a meeting where he wasn't getting his way, he stormed out yelling "none of you will ever go anywhere in radio." He was right, then again, who aside from 60-year-old broads from the bustling Southwestern CT market has ever heard of Peter Bush?

Do you get my drift hotshot? Or do I have to spell it out for you? I see you posted your address. Tough move. Then again, by the time I get up there you will probably have been evicted already. Everyone seems to be jumping to your side Rob. Notice that? Change your life now Rob, because you are running out of time. And when you hit hard times you are going to need someone there (that you haven't already alienated). What are you going to say then? "At least I have big strong hands." By then you'll be strung out and skinny, fumbling through an alley with a ghastly white face and big meat hooks hanging from your wrist..................................like Edward Scissorhands.

And once again, thanks for promoting my tournament. Guy and Frank and well, everyone else is right. You thought, because you were RVJ, you could strong arm me out of more money. You even had to gaul to ask me what I would do if Ron or John was calling with the same request. Can you imagine, putting yourself in the class of Ron and John? That is hysterical and shows how vane you really are. If you weren't a child, you would have listened to your cousin and to Guy and called me because you are such a friend. I forgave you like 3 times last year after nationals when you were going through your embarrassing bi-polar diatribe that started the Sunday after nationals. Then you apologized that day. Then, on the board, you did your tough guy posturing and you apologized again. I forgave you. Then you did it again (go back and look) and apologized again and I forgave you. That well has run dry. You don't need me. I am sure you are right. But I am also sure you apply that philosophy to other people in your life.

Oh, and who have I pinned? They know who they are and I am not going to post that on a message board. But I know who you haven't pinned----------------------> Me

fin <------now that was poetic.

[Jeramie Towle]

This has gotten real ugly. I am sorry that I ever got involved in the other thread. I dont understand why all this has to be dragged out on a public message board. I do believe RVJ should have backed out sooner if he had known he wasnt going. I also believe that Guy shouldnt be on here explaining all of RVJ's problem's. That is upto RVJ if he so chooses. I hope that this can come to an end soon. It dosent look good for the sport. I do wish James and Pete the best of luck with there event.

[jamesretarides]

I agree and I never wanted it to come to this Jeramie. Sometimes I let my temper get the best of me and toe the line of what is right and wrong. I apologize for that. I just can't be another person that enables Rob, friend or not.

[Dan Fortuna]

Ok I planned on not posting anything because it has transcended arm wrestling and got very personal. But I still feel a need and I'm not sure why....

First remind me never to get in a war of words with James. You are the Mike Tyson of posting.. I really think you are on the verge of eating Robs child as mighty Mike has once so eloquently stated about one of his opponents.

2nd Rob you definitely seem to be a magnet for controversy since all the boasting and trash talking of your opponents.

With this said I find this the most entertaining yet very very sad thread I have ever read.

We are a community of friends like no other. There is no doubt in my mind that if I post I will be in some state next week not only would I have a practice set up for my time there I probably would be invited to stay at someones house. Is that because Im so popular and damn good looking...No (even tho the good looking part is true ) Its because of the incredible generosity and camaraderie we all have.Its like no other sport around.

We have a very unique thing going here lets not wreck it by loosing focus on whats truly important.
As a not so sound minded friend of mine keeps saying its Only arm wrestling!!!
But what we do before and after we arm wrestle is what makes this sport soo different from all the others.

My only hope is like as in a family things can get very very ugly but at the end of the day we recognize and try to respect what is most important and that is the bonds we all have that makes this thing special.

[Max Moore]

DAYUUUMMMM!

[jamesretarides]

You are right Dan. Often my posts in these wars of words are just knee-jerk reactions that come off looking like jerk-off reactions. I have hit hard times in my life like anyone else and do sympathize with his personal plight. I have been getting into hot-headed verbal jousts on message boards for at least a decade. I usually use them as a deterrent but that can go too far.

There is no where to go with this thread other than uglier. I think I will let cooler heads prevail. I think Guy put it best. It is very hard to deal with the stresses of putting together a tournament and hoping that it is a huge success without all of the other extraneous stress factors.

[Karen Bean]

I have to agree with Jeramie. I too like Dan wasn't going to post but this also saddens me. Along with sickening me to be honest.

THIS IS ARMWRESTLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For God's sake it is NOT anywhere remotely close to what is truly important in our daily lives.

Pardon me, but SO WHAT if Rob or anyone else that is scheduled to pull a Challenge/Super/Whatever Match has to cancel? Haven't we all had to cancel something in our lives? I have been present when a promoter received a call from a person scheduled for a Challenge/Super/Whatever Match THE VERY DAY OF THE EVENT and he canceled. Was an attempt made to publicly destroy him on this board? Not that I ever saw. How many of these matches are set up and canceled? How many of the people involved have tried to get more money? Answer ---- A LOT that I have been told about straight from some promoters mouths. So why is Rob any different?

How horrifying to have your personal life aired on a message board, and all over an armwrestling match. You think you can trust someone, confide in them, and the next thing you know you're reading your life story and being ridiculed and belittled for it. And because of what? You aren't coming to an armwrestling tournament? You've got to be kidding me. In that case everyone out there is fair game.

Please don't tell me that this is happening because Rob shot off his mouth about the match. Again, I have to say SO WHAT. What's new? People are shooting off their mouths all the time about matches and then for whatever the reason the particular competitor doesn't show up. Life happens.

It also can't be happening because this one particular match - Rob & Dave - are SO much more important than all the other matches. Can't be. Last time I checked everyone was an armwrestler and nobody was more important than anyone else. Sure there's matches that some of us may want to see more than others but that doesn't mean they are going to make or break a tournament. IMO, Rob & Dave's match was no more important than Chad & Bill, Angel & Matt, Danial & Noah, etc etc

I understand disappointment. I'm sure there are a number of people that are disappointed this match won't take place. I also understand responsibility and commitment. Sure Rob made a commitment to go to NC and armwrestle. Rob has also made a commitment to take care of and support a child. Which is more important? Which should be first priority?

I couldn't tell you how many competitors have committed to coming to an event I've hosted only to not show up. I couldn't tell you how many referees have committed to an event only to have to cancel at the last minute. I couldn't tell you how many promoters have committed to paying me cash, hotel rooms, airfare, rental car for me to referee their event and have not come through with what they offered. I couldn't tell you how many people in this sport have borrowed money from me promising faithfully to pay me back at a specific time only to either not pay me back at all, or take months longer than committed to.

LIFE HAPPENS!