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A ‘Fast’ Eddie Constantine Fighter, R.I.P. Brother.
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Tuesday, January 26th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
by Danny Acosta
(Left to right: “Fast” Eddie Constantine, his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach Dave Camarillo, and FIGHT! Magazine’s Danny Acosta, Eddie’s student.)
A ‘Fast’ Eddie Constantine Fighter
By Danny Acosta, FIGHT! Magazine
When I entered Eddie Constantine’s home, I usually found a hug, an armbar and a meal, but not on Monday, January 25, 2010. That’s the day I found my friend dead.
He left us 23 days after turning 31-years-old, maybe even a day earlier.
I met Eddie, a purple belt under Renzo Gracie and journalist for promma.info, at Gilbert Melendez’s media day on March 30, 2009 at Cesar Gracie’s gym in Pleasant Hill, Calif. When I told him my name, he said he knew me.
I was surprised, but he knew my work. We started talking more and reporting less. We exchanged information. I had to come train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in his living room dojo, which sometimes made its way onto his back lawn depending on the weather, he said.
I became Eddie’s student. He trained me for free because he never charged anyone. He’d cook dinner for recovery and lend grappling DVD’s almost like homework, reminding me to practice hip escapes in his Brazilian-English parody voice—the impression every jiu-jitsu player does. His was especially Renzo. Eddie emphasized technique, hard work and heart, but most of all an enjoyable learning experience.
One day, we were sitting across from each other and stretching on his living room carpet. His weinerdog Tuffy came and sat between my legs, standing tall as if to protect me. We joked even Tuffy knows I’m about to get my ass kicked. Eddie was always having fun with whatever he was doing. His head would fall back when his laugh would thunder.
A plague of back problems kept his belt the same color for a decade. That didn’t stop him from loving fighting and teaching it to others though.
As both a teacher and a friend, I was constantly surprised at how genuine and loving Eddie was. He complimented me on stories I wrote I didn’t know had been published yet—that’s how dedicated he was to supporting those close to him. He believed in others, perhaps more than he believed in himself.
No matter how much I wash my hands, I feel they are tinged with death—a dirty, subconscious guilt that I could have helped and I should have seen it. The truth is Eddie did not want to burden others with his pain so he hid it. Tragically, he committed the lone selfish act of his life and it was fatal one.
So what do you do on days like these where your worst fears are realized? Today, I had an ill feeling of maggots burrowing into my gums. On days like these the world is still, cold and unreal.
After our first class, Eddie paid me high compliment: he said I was a fighter. After our last class, he commented he loved our training. Somewhere along the line, Eddie said he saw himself in me. I cried today like I was injected with torture, thinking about how much those words mean to me.
I celebrated the New Year with Eddie then his birthday a day after. I had no idea they would both be his last.
Yeah, I guess Eddie did know me, but after this it’s hard to comprehend if I ever knew him. Regardless, if Eddie believed I was a fighter, then I’m a fighter.
With that thought, I started a memorial fund for Eddie called “Fast Eddie’s Fighters,” which will provide scholarships for young jiu-jitsu fighters like the ones he trained free of charge. Eddie would always talk about being Tim McKenzie’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach while both were the University of the Pacific. McKenzie went on to fight in the WEC and the UFC.
To preserve Eddie’s memory, we hope to produce more success stories like that and eventually champions like Eddie believed anyone could be.
The world lost a great coach today; however, Eddie Constantine will forever be in our corner.
***
Donations for the services and the fund can be made to:
Fast Eddie’s Fighters
Care of: Status 5 Studio, Inc.
1250 Oakmead Parkway #210
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Or made via Paypal to: fasteddiesfighters@gmail.com
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Here’s an interview from the first day we met. Eddie asks the second question and I ask the third. And a photo from that day:
One of the greatest experiences I’ve enjoyed not just in mixed martial arts, but in life, was when Eddie and our friend Matt de la Rosa invited me in studio for their podcast the same day Dave Camarillo was in studio. We had an incredibly interesting conversation that Joe Rogan endorsed on the UG. It really illustrates how passionate Eddie was. You can listen here and on iTunes.
Here’s Eddie talking to Dave, patently calling everyone “my friend.”
Thanks so much to MMAJunkie for paying tribute today. Eddie loved MMA radio and he never missed anything I wrote. So I know he hears us now.
We love you Eddie.
19 Responses to “A ‘Fast’ Eddie Constantine Fighter, R.I.P. Brother.”
Leave a Reply
RIP Eddie. You are gone too soon and will be missed by many. May you find the peace that you sought. God bless you.
You will be missed. A good friend and fellow fighter
RIP “Fast” Eddie.
Well written and from the heart Danny. I don’t have words to express the sorrow I feel, for all of you. My thoughts go to you guys, Eddie, and his family…..
My heart is so deeply saddened for all of those that are missing Eddie this day&more so for those that will never have the honor of knowing him or calling him friend. Danny nailed it in the article. You couldn’t be around Eddie without smiling. That thron back head laugh&kind word for everyone iin every situation is so rare in our world…&he had mastered it. Its been 23 hours since I got that fateful call & still can’t believe it. Eddie you will forever be in our hearts but your spirit, your voice&I can only hope your attitude will be with us always.
Eddie is one of the finest men I have ever had the honor of being able to call my friend.
If everyone helped one another even 10% like Eddie was always willing to help friends and
strangers alike, the world would be a much, much better place.
Great article. I’m so proud to see all the love and outpouring of affection for Eddie from the comments and from the different tributes that have been and are going on. I can only hope and think one day we will meet again my friend. He has left behind a great body of work that is completely filled with his passion. Almost every word from Eddie’s mouth was uttered with passion. He lived with passion. He died in passion. He loved with passion. He was loyal with passion. “What it is, what it is”
Love you my friend
TaKe DoWn EnTeRpRiSeS
Our office had the pleasure of working with Eddie via the Cage Divas radio podcast. He was extremely likeable, very down to earth and a real professional. He had a wonderful hardy laugh and a warm hug for everyone. We will miss him much.
God Speed Eddie. Be at peace.
I know a lot of fighters enjoy reporting on the sport they love. Eddie was no different. Unfortunately in this industry its hard to make it a full time job to support yourself or a family. I had the privilege of knowing Eddie during his ‘day job’. Prior to meeting Eddie I was a your cliche fan of MMA. I could name a few big names and I would pay for the occasional Pay Per Views. After my first hour of meeting Eddie I knew how to do a proper Arm bar and how to choke someone out. He also ‘told’ me his secret remedy for getting rid of the hiccups.
Eddie was an original character. His passion for MMA drove him during his day job. He was always talking about what he had planned after work. His Nano Ipod always had the latest podcast of his fellow journalist. If he wasn’t listing to his fellow journalist he was critiquing his own Podcast. There where moments I specifically remember telling myself that I wish I had a passion for something or anything the way Eddie had a passion for mma.
Eddie and I had some real personal conversations about his life and his upbringing. He was never short of a story that could one up me. He led a full life.
We all have our own personal demons we deal with. Some of them we can choke out until they pass out for another day. Some people deal with personal demons or issues more regularly. Eddie was no different. He had his good days and bad days. Having said that, Eddie put up a damn good fight dealing with his issues. I feel privileged to have known him. It sounds like the personal issues got the better of him, but in my book he’s a friend, a fighter and a winner.
I’m gonna miss you ‘my friend’. I’m glad our paths crossed.
Sometimes you find yourself in the weirdest of places–searching for someone with a soul that mirrors your own…My fears have kept me from going so many places in life–But, in more than a few moments–I was able to send fear packing thanks to my dear friend Eddie. It’s almost impossible to find another broken soul with such powerful spirit. Our times together may have been few, but the joy gained by seeing another fragile soul succeed will carry on forever…You are loved. You are missed. You will never be forgotten. Until that day…
I am very saddened to hear the news about Eddie. I met Eddie at a Strikeforce event and got along very well. I saw him many other times at weigh-ins or open work-outs. Peoples reports of him being a very friendly person are spot on. Eddie greeted me with a hug and a big “What’s up bro” every time I saw him. I met Danny Acosta at Gilbert Melendez’ open workout and was a witness to Eddie working the room. He followed his passion, which takes a lot of guts and dedication, especially when it comes to reporting MMA and the lack of pay that most of us endure for it. He was recognized by many people everywhere he went, a testament to how well he worked with and respected others. His body of work WILL carry on, and the thought of losing a beloved member of the MMA community is painfull. His work ethic could easily humble you when you think about how hard he worked at his journalism, while maintaining a full-time job, and still finding time for his family and friends.
I was looking forward to seeing him at the next weigh-ins, which will not happen, but I will carry with me the knowledge that he would have been there, as he always was.
If you can spare, please donate to this worthy cause, as his name deserves to carry on among those who knew him, and those who deserved a chance to know him.
Rest In Peace Eddie Constantine,
JC
I am still in a state a shock to hear about this. I am very saddened.
Why would he commit suicide????? What caused his death?
Glad good old google led me here, how refreshing to find something worth reading.
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