Everyone has a sports idol, an icon that they follow. Someone that they look up to or just draw motivation from. For some, it is a legendary figure like MJ, or a famous player that signed their hat years ago. You will see many people this month talk about their favorite athlete or player.

Mine is my best friend.

Little backstory I went to a small community college. Breezing through my classes. Life had me with a chip on my shoulder, most loved me but wow did I make enemies. I really rubbed some people the wrong way and vice versa. Grew up in a small county grew up with the same group of kids they weren't so nice to me. To survive I treated school like war, like game of thrones just trying to stay alive. Resting on the fact I was better than them and smarter. No matter what they say I am going to do better than them.

Moved away and softened up a bit but I still held onto that anger that I manifested to stay alive. Got into college and I did not care what you thought of me I acted better than you. Because I was.

One of the options for my electives was to do public speaking. I signed up in a heartbeat, college credits for talking? Heck yea. I was a cocky son of a gun but man was I nervous. One of the first two people in the classroom on day one. Too nervous to say hi to anyone. This short little Italian guy walked by me in the class and sat down. Glanced at the back of his hat, flipped backward so the logo was facing me. A penguin carrying a hockey stick. being an absolute sports nut I knew the team.

"Pens fan huh?"

He whirled around.

"How does everyone know that today?!"

I squinted at his genuine surprise. And realize at that moment ' oh we are going to be good friends'. That was nearly six years ago. He has been my best and longest continuous friend I have ever had. We just went to my first WWE live event together. He has brought me along to Gator Basketball games and even a few political events in our area. Before I found crypto I was heavy into politics. Grew up angry and arguing my points so yea. Politics.

Zoomed in because I hate my skinny wrists

So he told me sometime last year he was going to try out for a University of Florida team. I figured he got autocorrected or was pulling my leg.

I knew UF my alma mater had a Quidditch team with kids running around on PVC pipes chasing a dude in a golden leotard. That I knew. I even knew UF had a pokemon team!

But I held the phone away from my face reading his text.

Do we have a hockey team?

Like the Jamaican Bobsled Team from Cool Runnings. How in the heck do we have a place to practice and much less compete against other teams?

He had to be joking.

NOPE.

This little joker literally is playing hockey for a Florida school.

Here he is. My best friend. AJ Ariondo. My favorite athlete.

"Oh ok he's your friend and plays sports that's cool he's your favorite."

I will stop you right there. No individual besides my own mother has had a bigger impact on my life but AJ. While I pretended to be all big and bad. I was a walking emotional wreck scared of his own shadow. AJ poked and prodded me into getting out of my comfort zone.

Made me talk to girls. Get out of the house and grow my confidence.

Had me go to the club he was performing at. Yea he sings too.

I almost didn't go to this club because I was afraid how my deeply religious parents would act. They didn't really care.

Years of fearing a fight for wanting to go out. "Yea ok. Just don't drink."

I remember he was practicing a set and stepped off stage. It like Gimli the dwarf hopping off a horse. "So you finally cut your umbilical cord huh?"

He is one of the only guys I will hug with both arms. He is like a little brother to me. The cooler musically inclined attractive brother who girls melt around. (Still pisses me off).

I told him I was doing a podcast for Scorum and he offered to give me his yeti microphone he used for music. I remember asking if they were expensive. He was like oh nah don't worry if I can find it. It's yours. He left it in his house in Georgia and so I went and got my own. I am not a very patient man haha.

People. A yeti costs 120 bucks.

My friend was literally so supportive of me he was going to give me a device that was as much as a paycheck to some folks. "You just now discovered you are meant for podcasts? Come on man."

Even between the roar of the crowd, those words have stuck with me in every podcast I have done with Mikey.

Oh and trust me I tried desperately to get AJ on here but he is insanely busy doing hockey. But after the season is over you bet I am getting his little tan a double s on here.

Thank you for reading.

Keep Scoring.

NCAA / myfavoriteathlete

My Favorite Athlete: AJ Ariondo

My Favorite Athlete: AJ Ariondo

My Favorite Athlete: AJ Ariondo