Well, back in 2005, when he was getting ready for the APF Wolverine Open, Matt learned the hard way about talking shit when you ought to be thinking about training.
There was another lifter in Michigan who had just set the new all-time state total record. Matt started talking shit on a couple of the forums, and the two of them started talking shit back and forth, albeit in a civilized and good-natured way. Matt put a lot of effort into participating in the forums, keeping up the banter, and crowing about what he was going to do at the upcoming meet.
On the day of the meet, we were all sitting around bullshitting, when all of a sudden the doors burst wide open. In struts Matt, grinning, laughing, shaking hands, waving. It was like the grand entrance of some pro wrestling star.
It was about 11:00 AM when he arrived, and he was scheduled to lift at 2:00 PM. The whole time, he just giggled, laughed, and goofed around with everyone, without eating or drinking anything. Finally, as if he just remembered why he was there, he said, "Oh, yeah, I have to lift!"
You can probably guess what happened next.
He got under the bar for his first squat attempt, which was loaded to about 848. He stood up, then squirted out from under it and dumped the bar. It came crashing down and bent the monolift. His next two were high and he bombed out.
The other guy from Michigan, the other shit talker, also bombed on the squats.
This was a big turning point for Matt. He had never realized until then how much of a distraction and dissipation bragging and talking shit can be. Now he hardly ever reads the forums, and generally never talks shit outside a small circle of friends.classic
