Mr. Push-Ups Reality 31, 600 by Tony L. Ward
Copyright Smashwords Edition Copyright@2014 T.L. Ward Smashwords Edition, License Notes Thank you for downloading this eBook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-‐ commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.
Important Legal Disclaimer The information in this book reflects the author’s views and is not intended to replace medical or expert advice. Before beginning this or any exercise regimen, consult your physician first to ensure it is suitable for you. If you are apprehensive about any training recommendation, you should always consult your physician for guidance. The author has made every effort to supply accurate information during the creation of this book. The author offers no warranty and accepts no responsibility for any loss of damages of any kind that may be incurred by the reader as a result of actions arising from the use of the contents in this book. The reader assumes all responsibility for the use of the information in this publication.
Table of Contents Acknowledgments Foreword Chapter 1 -‐ Childhood & Love for Basketball Chapter 2 -‐ High School Years As An Athlete Chapter 3 -‐ Lebanon Clowns Negro League Baseball Team Chapter 4 -‐ Guinness World Record Attempt Chapter 5 -‐ Struggle with Drug Addiction Chapter 6 -‐ Overcoming Drug Addiction Chapter 7 -‐ Birth of Covina Chapter 8 -‐ I Made It Chapter 9 -‐ Double-‐Increase Pushup Workout Chapter 10 -‐ Power Packed Nutrition About the Author
Acknowledgments I would like to give special thanks to my sons, Moland and Elijah, who stuck with me through all my troubled times. I give thanks to my wonderful fiancé, Victoria, who supported me in writing, preparing and editing the manuscript for my book. Also, I would like to thank my high school coach, Hester Gibbs, who instilled “competitive greatness” in me as an athlete. There are so many people who have had a great impact on my life. But most importantly, I give thanks to the Ward family and everyone who NEVER, NEVER gave up on me, for being there for me at a time in my life when I needed them the most. Thank you. Lastly I want to acknowledge the love and grace of God. Without Him, I would not have a story to share.
Foreword When was the last time you dreamed something really big? As a little kid, did you dream of being a super hero, baseball player, fireman, princess, or someone bigger than life itself? One man's walk into freedom, from the crucible of failure and testing, will challenge all to dream again and never give up. In the mundane chores of life, Laundromats are one of my all time favorite places. One day, challenged with getting piles of clothes washed, I met two of the most wonderful people at Scotch Wash Super Laundromat. Tony “Elmo” Ward and Victoria Teasley immediately captured my heart as I saw something unusual. Elmo was wearing an embroidered baseball hat with the number 31,600 in large, bold numbers. Curious about the number, Tony began to share his story. Smiling together, captivated by his story, he had a dream waiting to be told. Victoria was a key player, gentle, full of smiles, filled with quiet confidence. Tony shared about his wonderful family, failures, defeats, cocaine addiction and years of homelessness. Victoria stood beside him supporting his new life. She helped him to see, believe, hope and dream again. Victoria, a seeker of truth, was a catalyst in his life with a spirit of excellence, discipline, and faithfulness. Her skill set became the gift needed to publish a book. Tony is not a man identified by his failures, but rather a man overcoming failures. He learns from them and grows through them. Mr. Push-‐Ups Reality 31,600 unveils a captivating story of disappointment, mixed with despair, yet, one rising to victory and reality. Growing up in Lebanon, Tennessee, a very small rural Southern town, with eight brothers and five sisters, Tony Ward dreamed of becoming a world-‐class athlete. His family modeled character, perseverance and hard work, preparing him for life’s challenges ahead. He faced challenges that no man could have dreamed of facing. Tears may wet your eyes walking alongside this man who loved deeply and dreamed the impossible. Knocking on his door, time after time, were people giving him a second, third, fourth and fifth chance. Perseverance, dedication, determination and the grace of God brought him to victory. This overcoming world-‐class athlete never quit. His dream became a reality when he entered the Guinness Book of World Records Pushups Contest, completing 31,600 push-‐ups within 20-‐hours. Learn about the powerful, practical tools of walking into your destiny, letting your dreams become a reality! This book provides rich soil into which powerful seeds are about to be sown. Anne Thompson Ebookannie “Where Moments Become Memories
Chapter 1 Childhood & Love for Basketball I was born April 20, 1958 in Lebanon, Tennessee, a very small rural Southern town 30 miles south of Nashville, Tennessee. The first school that I attended was Market Street Elementary School, a historical African-‐American school that still stands today. I have eight brothers and five sisters. From the oldest to youngest brothers are Terry, Joel, Gary, Ken, Kevin Chris, and Corey. I am third from my oldest brother. From the oldest to youngest sisters are Wanda, Karen, Cresseda, Melody, and Gail. We were raised in a five-‐bedroom house in Lebanon, which is located at 403 South Greenwood Street. We were a close-‐knit family like the family featured in "The Waltons," an American television series that aired on CBS in 1972. We laughed and joked with each other all the time. Our neighbors, the Anderson's, called us the “Ward Athletic Team” because my brothers and sisters were always playing basketball in our backyard. My brother, Joel Ward, was mature beyond his years. When we were teens, he always told me that he was joining the Army and never coming back to live in Lebanon. That is what he did. He inspired me and taught me what was truly important in life, which was to be responsible. He passed away on May 3, 2009. It hurt me that I did not get the chance to spend one more time with him when he enlisted. However, he will always be a part of me, and was one of the reasons my dream began. It was his encouragement, love and support that pushed me towards my dream. I could never thank him enough and will always love and miss him deeply. To my family, I was known as “Tony.” My Mother gave me that nickname from Tony the Tiger because I use to always eat Kellogg’s Corn Flakes. When I was 3-‐years old, my Dad used to tell me that he knew that I was going to be an athlete because I always kicked the ball around in the house. I grew up in a loving environment. My Mom, Pattie Russell and my Father, Louis Dale (L.D) Ward, were constantly there for my brothers, my sisters and me. Pattie Russell was a housewife and L.D. Ward was a heavy equipment operator for 58-‐years. He was a workaholic and my Mom was a devoted Christian housewife who was always reading verses from the Bible to me daily. At age 10, I was jogging the streets of Lebanon and something in my mind told me to go and play basketball. I ran as fast as I could to get home. When I got there, I went
to the back yard, got an axe out the shed, got a 20-‐inch bicycle rim, and chopped the spokes out of it to make a basketball hoop. I then nailed it to the wood house, and started playing basketball. Forty-‐five years later, I’m still involved in the game that I have a passion for and one that has taken me around the world. Lebanon was a very peaceful town, giving me the time to focus on sports. Being raised in a family of thirteen, we all had chores. The one that I used to remember the best was pushing a shopping cart to the Laundromat to wash the clothes for all the family. It was very exciting and I enjoyed doing it. All of my brothers and sisters worked well together. When I was 12-‐years old, I played in a National YMCA Basketball Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. We played against former NBA legend Darrell Griffith and Bobby Turner, who played their collegiate careers at the University of Louisville. I started lifting weights when I was 14-‐years old and forty-‐one years later, I’m still lifting, because of my drive to become a successful athlete. I played basketball for Lebanon Junior High in the 7th and 8th grade. My coach, Bill Robinson, was very tough and a disciplinarian, but I enjoyed him as a coach. Baseball was my second love. I started playing baseball when I was 11-‐years old in the Kiwanis Baseball League. Mr. William Fish, my little league coach, was an amazing coach. He taught me the fundamentals very well. I played second baseman and hind catcher for two years. I made All-‐Star my second year, then moved up to the Babe Ruth League. I played for Perfection Dairy and we won the championship. (Back to Table of Contents)
Chapter 2 High School Years As An Athlete In my freshman year of high school, I started out as a 145-‐pound athlete. Two former Lebanon high school star athletes, Danny Watkins and Ronnie McClellan, brought me to the hot, old, muggy Lebanon auxiliary gym and helped me train, pushing me in the gym to become a great athlete. During my freshman year in high school, I played freshman football. Although I wasn’t very big, I had a lot of determination, dedication, and desire. I was the smallest one on the team, yet I played lineman; which means my job was to line up close to the ball on the line of scrimmage. We had a pretty good team, finishing six and two. In my sophomore year we finished five and five. In my junior year of football we finished six and four. In my senior year we finished ten and one and won the Mid-‐State Bowl. Ralph Overton, our coach, was sensational in bringing out the best in us. We had the best defensive team in the state. Randy Stafford, our tailback, used to remind me of Larry Brown, the former great running back of the Washington Redskins. During my freshman year of basketball, I lead the team in scoring, making it to the regional finals. Then, in my sophomore year, I led the Junior Varsity basketball team in scoring 15 points a game. During my junior year in basketball, we went to the Regional finals, finishing the season twenty-‐seven and three. In my junior year, we had a great team and people called us the Boston Celtics because we used to fast break so much. I remember the biggest game of my junior year was against Springfield High School, in Springfield, TN. When they came to Lebanon, they had Johnny Darden, the best point guard in the state. We had a packed house of 6,000 people and college scouts from everywhere. Johnny Darden was averaging forty points. My backcourt mate, Corky Cross, and I held him to twenty points and we beat them seventy-‐five to seventy-‐ two. Springfield was ranked number one in the state and we were ranked number two. In my senior year, we were twenty-‐three and three. We had a good team and made it to the Sub State game against Brownsville High School, who beat us by one point. I made all District, All-‐Regional, all Sub-‐State, and All-‐State Honorable Mention. In my senior year, my former girlfriend became pregnant, which caused us both a lot stress. I had scholarships from every junior college in the United States, but I chose to stay home. I enrolled at Cumberland Junior College as a walk-‐on with everything to gain and nothing to lose. I didn’t get a scholarship, but I was driven and did not let it bother me. Determined to make it, I woke up every morning at 4:30 a.m. and
ran seven miles. I lifted weights every other day, shot 500 jump shots daily, and worked on my ball handling skills for two hours every day. Most of the guys on the basketball team were from the big cities and used to pick on me calling me “little nappy headed country boy.” It pushed me even more. At the start of 1977 Cumberland Junior College basketball season, I started as a walk-‐on point guard and finished third on the list in all categories of scoring, rebounding, steals, assists, and free throws. At Cumberland in 1977 and 1978, when it used to be a Junior College, I signed with the University of Florida, along with my cousin Rickey Joe Johnson. Rickey Joe also played at Lebanon High School at Cumberland with me. Together we were unstoppable. In the summer of 1978, my friend, Ronnie Kelly, was driving my cousin Rickey Joe Johnson and me home from a party. We were chatting, as I sat in the back seat, and my cousin in the front passenger seat. We were high on marijuana and laughing. Ricky Joe turned his head, and looked back at me from the front passenger seat. He said, “Straighten up!” Then all of a sudden, my friend, Ronnie Kelly, swerved off the road and hit a tree. It killed Ricky instantly and I was in a coma for fifteen hours. Ronnie had a full-‐body cast, but by the grace of the good Lord, he survived the accident. They rushed me to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center and I remember waking up asking, “What time is it and where am I?” My mother and father were standing by my bed. I asked, “Where’s Ricky Joe?” They hesitated at first, and then finally told me that my cousin did not make it. I started crying very heavily and couldn’t believe it a first, but I knew my parents had no reason to lie to me. I lost it. I felt like we were walking into our destiny with high hopes of playing for the NBA. This took a lot out me, however I bounced back, and will never forget him. Rest in peace Ricky Joe. After one year playing junior college basketball at Cumberland, I quit school. My brother Joel, who had joined the Army, was a big inspiration to me. He told me to join the Army, saying, “Be all that you can be.” (Back to Table of Contents)
Chapter 3 Lebanon Clowns Negro League The Lebanon Clowns, Tennessee-‐based Negro League Team, first started playing in 1951 and ended in 1964. They were a talented group of guys that participated in a semi-‐pro league. They played against other African American teams from Chattanooga, TN, Birmingham, Alabama, Nashville TN, and Pontiac, Michigan. My Dad, L.D. (Zeak) Ward, was a marvelous second baseman who could hit with power, also a great fielder and base stealer.
John (Big Clue) Griffith was a stopper on the mound and he could easily throw it a hundred mile per hour. The crowds were great on Sunday; along with the music and the barbecue. It was just amazing. They played behind the old Lebanon radio station. When I was 11-‐years old, I watched my Dad one time. He was batting and fouled off twenty pitches. Then on the twenty-‐first pitch, he hit a line drive up the middle and helped his team win the game. The whole community always followed and supported them. The popcorn tasted so good that I used to eat about five bags of it. It cost only ten cents a bag. My family always cheered my Dad on as we sat right behind the backstop. The players carpooled with each other to get to the games, since their away games were at Nashville Sulphur Dell Park. The Lebanon Clowns always won the championships because most of the payers had major league talent.
A lot of the Lebanon players could have played major league baseball, but they didn’t get the recognition because they were playing in the Negro League. The managers were Roy “Shorty” Catron, Odell Dockins, PJ Skeens, Tom Walker, and Carl “Bow Chicken” Rhodes. The Negro League brought in players like Satchel Page, Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, Hank Aaron, and Willie Mays. The Lebanon Clowns practiced four times a week and although most of the players held full time jobs, they had a passion and love for the game. They were a team characterized by toughness, pride, compassion, dedication, determination, desire, and there was always a lot of chatter when they were on the field. They used to whistle and say, “Ducks on the pond,” always clapping their hands and encouraging each other. In 1999, Senator Fred Thompson inducted the Lebanon Clowns into the Congressional Record in Washington D. C. They also were enshrined in the Roy Bailey African American Museum in Lebanon, Tennessee: My father, L.D. “Zeak” Ward along with John Forris Griffith, Tommy “Red Eye” Humes, Harry Harris Jr., “Smiley” Smith Gilbert, Robert Oldham, Teddy “Mutts” Owens, Claude Britton, Sunny Oldham, George McGowen Jr., Jerry “Foots” Oldham, Price Louge, Robert L. “Pondwater” McClellan, Bob White, Norton Whitley, Roy L. Clark, James Shannon, Carl Walker, Eddie Muirhead, Lee R. Rhodes, Kenny Andrews, Pot Walker, Walter “Rabbit” Hastings, Charlie McAdoo, Lonnie Neuble, Richard “Boosem” Owens, John C. Martin, Jelly Walker, Elmer Draper, Buck Hunt, James Turner, Thomas Tubb, John Dockins, Authur Turner, Honey Johnson, Junior Donnell, CD Woodmore, James Harrison, Charlie B. Hill, Frank Simpson, and Mose Alexander. These were all the names of the Lebanon Clowns Negro League Team. (Back to Table of Contents)
Chapter 4 Guinness World Record Attempt I started reading the Guinness World Record Book for athletic achievements when I was living in Worcester, Massachusetts. The one that intrigued me the most was a guy from England, named Paddy Doyle. He was number one in the world, having completing 37,350 push-‐ups in 24-‐hours. With my stamina and endurance, I set out to attempt to break Paddy Doyle’s record. I went to Wal-‐Mart, bought some push-‐up bars, and then started training by doing 500 push-‐ups a day. I did not realize that it was so tough using the push-‐up bars, as it doubled my push-‐up output. I trained for a year doing 80,000 push-ups. I practice everywhere I went and people thought I was insane but I kept on doing it. I always believed that anything was possible and to “Just Do It.” After practicing for a whole year, I took off a month and then called the New York Guinness World Records, and a week later attempted the record at the Greendale YMCA Branch in Worcester, Massachusetts. What a huge crowd it was. I thought that the three marathons in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago were the most physically, grueling, athletic events that I had ever participated in, but the push-‐up event was much harder. I went for it and winded up doing 31,600 push-ups in 20 hours. I came in second place and third place in the history of the Guinness Book of World Records. I also attempted the World Records for rope skipping and squatting in the 90’s, finishing second in the world in rope skipping. I skipped rope 10 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes. The world record was 58 minutes in ten miles. The record for squats was 4,289 in an hour. I was rope skipping about five miles a day. It’s hard on your arms because you have to hold the rope for long periods. I practiced squats until I reached 2,150 squats and continued until my numbers increased. It takes a whole lot of discipline and consistency to just attempt a world record, but I was driven to become a world-‐class athlete. I always had heart, strength and spirit. By being a world-‐class athlete it gave me the opportunity to be a motivational speaker at the YMCA, universities, high schools, and corporations that were helping athletes reach their dreams. Larry Bird, a National Basketball Association player and legend, once said that as one goes along in life working hard, he reaches new plateaus of accomplishments. With each plateau one reaches, the demands become greater and pride increases to
meet those demands, driving one harder than before. You cannot afford negative thinking, so you'll always believe you build an image of yourself that has nothing to do with ego. It just has to be satisfied.” (Back to Table of Contents)
Chapter 5 Struggle with Drug Addiction While I was in college, I started using marijuana and drinking very heavily. I started traveling and fell into a serious cocaine addiction. I worked out of day labors across the U.S. staying in day labor bunkhouses. It was a very crazy lifestyle, living around all kinds of people that I did not know anything about. It was better than being homeless. I always have gotten the best jobs because I always kept myself physically fit. But can you imagine working around crack heads, violent people and all kinds of street people? Every time I would wake up to go to work, there would be drug dealers outside of the bunkhouse. Also, when I got off of work they still would be there. I was living a double life; but I needed a place to stay and survive to care for myself. I remember one time when I was working a 24-‐hour shift at the shipyards in Tampa, Florida. We had eight guys in the hole, and it was very important that each guy looked out for each other. At about an hour before I got off work, I remember looking up and one of the guy’s head got smashed and it killed him instantly. I ran out of the ship and ran all the way back to the bunkhouse. I was very terrified of that incident. I did not go back to that job for a week. There were also prostitutes that hung out by the company worksite. It was a very undesirable situation to be in. I met an older African American Christian woman who gave me a room in her house. She took me away from that awful environment and only charged me $200 a month with all utilities included. She also was a good cook and I ate well. She would read the Bible and help me to understand it. She was an angel in disguise. I stopped using cocaine for two months, but I relapsed. The older woman that took me in continued to help me, even though she knew I had a drug addiction. I eventually left and went to Orlando, Florida, continued working at the day labor, staying in the bunkhouse and continued using cocaine. My world felt like it was coming to an end. By being an athlete, I continued to work out three times a week as it helped me keep my sanity. I always remembered what my parents told me, “Follow your dreams son and never give up.” That’s what kept me going. I finally left Florida and went to Houston, Texas because I heard that it was where day labor was popping at, “ mo money”, “mo drugs.” Sometimes I would be so high on cocaine that I would forget to change my clothes or shower. It made me think of
John Lucas, the former great NBA guard, who overcame his drug addiction. Houston was really marvelous, a great city full of opportunities for African Americans. I can remember a time that I almost lost my life. I met a lady and went to her apartment to do drugs with her. Once I got there, I realized that she had set me up to try to get me killed. Five guys kicked the door in and beat me almost to death. I looked like Cyclops. They stole $700 dollars from me and left me to die. I remember crawling down the steps. An older woman helped me into her home and fed me. It was freezing outside. She saved my life. This was the second time an older woman came to my rescue. I knew it had to be the Lord's angels protecting me. She called the ambulance and I was taken to the emergency room. I stayed in the hospital for three weeks. They had taken photos of me before I went into the hospital. It was amazing how fast I healed and was released from the hospital. I met a Nigerian woman named Becky, who had a business helping disabled people by allowing them to stay in her homes in Houston, TX. She hired me as a caretaker to run one of her homes and I took care of six people in her house. The job paid well, but I never had time for myself. I was on call for 24-‐hours a day. I did not like the job, so I quit. The good thing about this job though was that it kept me occupied and off of drugs. Soon after I quit the job I left Texas for California. When living in California in 1987, I started using cocaine on and off for 19-‐years. I tried to stop many times. California was exciting. I called it the Magic Johnson years. When I got to California, I checked into the West Los Angeles Drug and Rehabilitation Center. It was a blessing as it gave me chance to stabilize myself. I found a job working in Hollywood for the American Film Institute as a security guard and I began to meet a lot of actors. As I was doing my rounds, I met the first Tyrone that acted in the Young and the Restless. He thought I was the boxer “Marvelous Marvin Hagler.” He gave a business card for Ron’s Smith Celebrity Look-‐ a-‐likes. I applied for the Marvin Hagler look-‐a-‐like and I got the position. This was a great opportunity to meet people. I met Adam West who played Batman, and I also met the great actors Robert Deniro, Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn. I even got a chance to run on the beach with Magic Johnson and O.J. Simpson. Also, I had the opportunity of playing professional basketball in The Puerto Rican Basketball League for several seasons. My drug addiction did not go away. I was hanging around the wrong crowd of people who were not looking out for my best interest. My life was like a roller coaster, spinning out of control. As the saying goes, “Bad association spoils useful habits.” My drug addiction caused me to become unstable. In 1993, while living in Atlanta, Georgia, I got shot in my left leg and blew my vein out. The doctor told me that I
would never play basketball again. However, a Nigerian surgeon saved my leg and was a miracle worker. I really began considering to live a sober life. (Back to Table of Contents)
Chapter 6 Overcoming Drug Addiction Michael Jordan, a former American basketball player, once said, “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something, but I can't accept not trying.” Although I’ve had many trials and tribulations, I overcame them through perseverance. Anything is possible if you believe in yourself and you have determination, dedication, desire, and always keep the LORD first in your life. I arrived in Phoenix, Arizona in 2001 when the Arizona Diamondbacks had won the World Series. I could feel the victorious aura in the air. When I was homeless, I always found work. I lived in South Phoenix in a tent about 15-‐minutes from the labor pool. I showered in the backyard of a neighbor’s house, where he had a built-‐in shower. They were very hospitable towards me and let me wash my clothes in their house. I thanked them for all their help, but I had to move on. Being homeless and addicted to cocaine is no joke, because I had to keep up my appearance, bathe, eat, and wash the clothes on my back. I always kept three changes of clothes in my backpack. After arriving at the Laundromat in South Phoenix, I met a lady who was also washing her laundry. We held a conversation as she introduced herself as Rose. I told her my name was “Elmo.” She lived near the Laundromat and showed me where she lived. We made it a date to meet at the Laundromat every Saturday for a month. She didn’t know that I was homeless because I did not tell her. She couldn’t tell that I was homeless because I was clean and my clothes were clean. She asked me where I stayed and I told her that I stayed in a tent next to the labor pool. She invited me over to her house and I ended up staying the night on her porch for two weeks. She cooked for me, and we watched T.V. until 11 p.m. She was ready to call it a night and gave me some blankets, my sleeping bag as I continued to sleep on the porch. It was 3’o clock in the morning going to work at the labor pool and returning in the evening when finishing my construction labor job. Rose asked me to move in with her, with the request that I would pay her 50 dollars a week, so I accepted her invitation. She introduced me to her juvenile twin sons who were 14-‐years old at the time. They were very disrespectful and disobedient to their mother. After staying there for six months, I began to feel like I was the boys’ counselor and father
figure. We moved out of the apartment and into a house, which was in a much better location. I continued to use drugs, but not in the presence of Rose and her sons. I would go across town to my buddy’s house. The twins were really beginning to get out of control and were a nuisance. I had heated arguments with them sometimes, trying to fight me, but I had to put them in their place. I took their privileges and allowances away from them. In the back of my mind I thought, “Is this worth my time?” I was fed up with the twins’ behavioral issues as it ruined my relationship with their mother, often causing us to get into heated arguments. It was over. I relapsed in to using cocaine heavily again. One day I woke up and got on the bus. While on the bus, I met a lady name Gwen who asked me where I was heading. I told her that I was on my way to shoot some ball. She gave me her number and said, “Whenever you’re in Sunny Slope give me a call.” About two weeks later, I called her and she gave me directions on how to get to where she lived. I caught the bus to her house, we ate, and she told me that she was going to work and that I could stay at her house. I was so exhausted that I slept for 16 hours straight. She told me about a day labor job close to where she lived. I got up the next morning to apply for work and got some work. When I got off from work, she was waiting for me. I did not know that she was also a drug user. We got back to her house and started using cocaine. It became an everyday thing. I thought Sunny Slope was a quiet little town but it could’ve fooled me. It had more crack and cocaine than Phoenix had. I was getting into trouble with the law because of my drug use. I ended up on probation for 18-‐months. We lived together for a year until I was finished with her. There was a lot of drug trafficking, a lot of crack heads in and out of her house, and I was fed up. I told her that I had to get away from Sunny Slope because I was tired of using drugs. I went to the supermarket, called “Food City,” and began talking to a guy asking him, “Where are the quiet places in Arizona to go to get away from drugs?” He told me to go to Flagstaff, Arizona because it was a peaceful, small town, and predominately Navajo Indians lived there. The next day I got up, went to the bank, got my last $300 out of my bank account, left my Volvo along the side of the road, and caught a mini bus up to Flagstaff, Arizona. This was the beginning of my new recovery, and my journey to a clean and sober life. (Back to Table of Contents)
Chapter 7 Birth of Covina When leaving Phoenix for Flagstaff, I felt at peace. A feeling of serenity came over me, as if someone were watching over me. I finally arrived at Flagstaff, Arizona. What a beautiful place, where the trees were beautiful, and people were very hospitable. What a big difference from Phoenix, going from a place with a population of 6 million people, to a location with about 60,000 people. It was where I needed to be. I asked some people where I could I find a shelter where I could stay. I found out about a Christian shelter. The shelter was pretty clean and I ate pretty well. It was also a strict place with a lot of rules. I dealt with it for about three weeks. It felt so good to be clean and sober. God answered my prayers. I finally left the shelter and slept behind a church with my sleeping bag. Getting up the next morning at about 3:30 a.m., I headed to the labor pool. When I got there, the other workers were all Navajo Indians. I felt kind of out of place at first. They gave me a warm welcome. One of them said, “Hey brother, have a seat.” I was given a sandwich and coffee and told that I had a job. Shortly after his welcome, a guy from California arrived and said, “Who wants to go to work?” I quickly walked over to him and told him that I was ready to work. He asked my name and I told him, “Elmo.” He said that he had a furnished room and board for me to stay in, $200 cash a day, doing physical labor type of work for a Navajo Woman named Mrs. Rosetta. I loaded my belongings in the back his truck. He took me to a hotel to meet my co-‐ workers who would be working with me. He told me his name was Randy. God answered my prayers again with housing, a job, and a marvelous new beginning. I said to myself, “Nobody can do it like God. He might not be there when I want Him, but He is always on time.” I finally met the Navajo woman, Mrs. Rosetta, who I worked for. She was a very hospitable woman and fixed home cooked lunches for Randy and me. She was also a Christian. I worked twelve tough hour days, but enjoyed it. I enjoyed it so much that it made me want to sing religious hymns that my mother used to sing with me when I was ten. What a miracle to be clean and sober from drugs for a change.
I looked up towards the sky and said, “Thank you LORD.” It sounded to me like I heard, “Everything is going to be alright.” One month passed, then two months, and then three months. I could feel my body getting stronger each day. So much so, l believed that I could carry two landscaped cross ties, two on each shoulder. I felt like the African American Mr. Universe, Lee Haney. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” like what is written in the Bible from Philippians 4:13. I was now six months drug free. After six months had passed, I received a call from the State of Arizona stating that Gwen had just given birth to a 7 lb. baby girl and that she was my daughter. Her name is Covina. I could not believe what I had just heard. At first I was shocked, and jogged to the supermarket and bought me some cigars. I started walking downtown Flagstaff puffing on a cigar like I was the President of the United State. I told Mrs. Rosetta that night that I was going to have to quit my job and head back to Phoenix because of the birth of my daughter. She cried and I cried because we were very close friends. Mrs. Rosetta told me to go back, be a man, and take care my child. She handed me an envelope with $250 dollars in it, so I left for Phoenix. I was kind of scared of going back to Phoenix because of all the drugs and the people who I had associated with. I prayed to GOD and asked Him to help me raise my little girl. The next day, I arrived at the Phoenix bus station, called Gwen, and asked her to pick me up. When getting into her car, I knew something was not right. We went to McDonald's to eat and I asked her where Covina was. She said that she was taken by the State because of the amount of cocaine in her system. I began to cry and everyone kept staring at me. I said, "Lets take a ride in your car,” then asked, "What are we going to do?” I told her that I was drug free and will never pick up a crack pipe again. She began crying and told me goodbye. I stayed with some friends in Avondale, Arizona until I received my retirement check the following week. I got a studio apartment in Scottsdale and the State ordered me to take a DNA test. When the results were in, I was 99.7 percent positive that Covina was mine. The State of Arizona put me to the test, making me attend to a six-‐month parenting class, drop a urine test every Friday, and attend a class four times a week. I did not live far from the State building, and whenever I went to the store I felt that someone from the State was following me. They were watching my every move, but I hung in there and I graduated from the parenting class. My daughter spent every weekend with me. It was such a joy being with my little girl.
I received a letter from the State stating that I would get full custody of Covina. I was so happy. One day, I was riding my bicycle and someone from the State kept calling me to check up on me. This became annoying to me and I finally 'went off,' cussing the lady out over the phone, but she turned out to be my case manager and I did not know that. They recorded me and sent it to the Board. A week later, I received a letter stating that I was denied my rights to take custody of my daughter. I was outraged and cried all night. The Supervisor of the State called me and said Covina would be taken to a foster home. She also told me that if I had a stable family member to adopt her, I could keep Covina in the family. A young African American family wanted to adopt her at the same time. Two weeks later, when they were ready to adopt Covina, my brother, Keven and his wife Tamara, said that they would adopt her. I put my faith in my brother and his wife. Keven gave his life to the LORD when he was 17-‐years old, retired from the U.S. Air Force with 22 years of service and became a pastor. It was a great feeling knowing the Covina would be raised up in my own family. I call her every week. To this day, I believe that she is an angel from the Lord. (Back to Table of Contents)
Chapter 8 I Made It After going through so much drama in Arizona, along with the drugs, police, and losing custody of my daughter, it was time to leave. I was ready to get out of Arizona. Life can be what you make it. You must believe in yourself and keep on going through whatever obstacles come up against you. A lot of times I didn’t know if I was going to make it, but just kept on scratching until reality came. Through the grace of Jesus Christ, I overcame homelessness, getting shot, and cocaine addiction because of my daughter Covina -‐ who was born January 20, 2006 in Phoenix, Arizona. In my mind, my daughter was an angel from God. Whenever I speak to my daughter, He helps me stay focused and brings me stability. Although I had all these trials and tribulations, I overcame them through perseverance. I got my life back on track and through the LORD. I always kept faith in Him to lead the way. To all of you, all over the world, who have dreams and aspirations, always remember to, “Never, Never, Never, Never, Never give up!” Reality will come. (Back to Table of Contents)
Chapter 9 Ward’s Push-Up Technique I first started doing push-‐ups in 1997, I was doing push-‐ups in the regular way, you come down locking your arms, and you have to come all the way up. I wasn’t getting results. I was watching TV one day and saw someone doing push-‐ups on push-‐up bars. They said it would increase your output of push-‐ups, give your more powerful arms and build up your chest. I went to Wal-‐Mart, bought some push-‐up bars, I continued to practice, my bench press increased from 200 lb. to 300 lb. My daily push-‐ups increased from 750 to 1500. You can’t cheat push-ups by using the push-up bars. It’s becomes more intense, gives you stamina and endurance. They can be very strenuous, but practice makes perfect. Your chest will be chiseled and have definition. They are also considered an isometric exercise, which makes your body stronger because you are pushing against your own body weight. It is the most effective exercise for your chest, arms, body, and shoulders. Frame supported pushups are the best. 1. Place the push-‐bars wider than shoulder with apart. 2. Hold your body straight resting on your toes. 3. Breathe in and lower your body until the line of the body is below your flexed elbows. 4. Pause for a second at the bottom of the motion. Press back up until you return to the start position. 5. Get in the push-‐up position, take your left leg and put it over the top of right leg. This will help take a lot of tension of your toes. When doing push-‐ups, never let your torso sag as you push yourself up. This will cut down the range of your movement, diminishing the effect on your chest shoulders and arms. Failure to straighten your arms after each rep will also make the exercise less effective. I challenge all of you as a push-‐up artist myself, to increase the challenge by placing your feet on a bench. The higher your feet, the more your shoulders are brought into play. You can move the frames wider or closer. Close spacing will work your triceps more. What can be more natural than using your own body weight to help you stay in shape? That’s why body weight exercises are perfect for everyone. It is resistance training at its best. Your body has its own natural limits and you can build achievable goals. Push-‐ups are training going against gravity.
Here are the ten best tips pushup workouts: 1. Fuel up; try to eat a meal at least three hours before your workout. 2. Warm up, stretch, and make sure your muscles are warmed up before you start exercising. 3. Limit rest periods. Rest periods between sets should be as short as possible. 4. Know your muscles, always be aware of the muscles that you’re working when performing. 5. Isolate; try to isolate the major muscles that are being worked during the exercise. 6. Practice good form. Good form is extremely important when seeking good results. 7. Control your pace; Use a nice controlled pace 8. Exhale on the hard and inhale on the easy. Exhale on your positive. Good breathing is as important as good form. 9. Feel the burn; the longer you keep the muscles under stress, the better/faster your body will change. 10. Challenge yourself. Your workout should never be easy to muscle failure. For every rep of every set, for every workout. So as Mr. Pushups, I challenge you to start off slowly on your push-‐up program and all you have to do is want it badly enough, because a beautiful body brings a beautiful mind and spirit. (Back to Table of Contents)
Chapter 10 Mr. Push-Up’s Nutrition Facts I always used whole foods instead of powdered supplements or vitamins for my nutritional needs. You need micronutrients, which are composed of vitamins and minerals. Your body requires vitamins to regulate its complex chemistry including the digestive and nervous system. Minerals are the building blocks for bones, strength, and cardiovascular health. Meats, fruits, and vegetables contain the majority of the vitamins and minerals that your body needs on a daily basis. Always read the small print on labels just like you would when signing a legal agreement. Consider the stuff you put in your body just as important as any written contract you’d sign. Micronutrients are what all athletes need. If you want to sculpt your physique and pack on muscles, you must start in the kitchen. Eating right is 80% of the battle right there. Sure, you’ll have to strength train to get and stay buff; which is the other very crucial 20%, but you’ll also have to actively pay attention to what you’re putting into your mouth and stay in control of your choices. After all, you and you alone are responsible for deciding what you eat. The keys to success in this regard are simple: 1. Remain aware of your food intake and plan out your meals in advance. When you get to the end, I will be providing tips to help you accomplish both. 2. Start with lean proteins, health fats, and slow burning (brown or green carbohydrates) then build your daily and weekly intake from there. 3. Once you get that down, tweak it for certain situations; such as eating fast burning carbohydrates, doing a long distance event or 15 minutes before a high intensity workout. From “Mr. Push-ups” to you all: Eat healthy lean meats, fresh fruit, vegetables while limiting processed foods and sugars.
As a baseline, get up to 35% of your daily calories from lean proteins, 45% from high quality carbohydrates, and 20% from healthy fats. It’s really not hard to follow and the results will be noticeable. (Back to Table of Contents)
About the Author
Tony L. Ward, a world-class athlete, shares his compelling story of a childhood dream. Entering the Guinness Book of World Records Pushup competition, having suffering years of obstacles, he completed 31,600 pushups in twenty hours, awarded second place. Tony shares keys of walking into freedom through perseverance, dedication, determination, and God's grace. Mr. Push-‐Ups Reality 31,600 unveils a man not identified by his failures, but rather one who overcame insurmountable obstacles, learned from them is now impacting the lives of others. Love is a powerful force! A must read for all needing resurrected dreams and hope ignited! Some Interesting Facts Full Name: Elmer Louis Ward Height: 5’8 Weight: 200 pounds Birthplace: Lebanon, Tennessee Birthday: April 20, 1958 Parents: Pattie Ward & Louis Ward Siblings: Sisters: Wanda, Karen, Cresseda, Melody, Gale Brothers: Terry, Joel, Gary, Ken, Keven, Chris, Corey Wife: Victoria Sons: Moland, Elijh and daughter, Covina High School: Lebanon High School
College: Cumberland Junior College; Columbia College (Columbia, Missouri) First Team: Lebanon YMCA Basketball Youth League Greatest Influence: Father, Louis Ward and Brother, Joel Ward Favorite Childhood Athletes: Bill Russell and Walt Frazier Hobbies: Weight lifting, swimming and mentoring youth.
Note from Tony Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite book retailer? Thanks! Tony “Elmo” Ward