"Mask", Charles Lews, Dies in California...

Many of you reading are wondering "who's is this 'Mask' guy?", and are the ones this article is truly for.

I remember vividly the first time I heard a cackling, hyena-like laugh while I was searching for new mixed martial arts programming to watch and review for The TelevisionReviewBlogs.Com in early 2008. My curiosity was peaked. I stopped and witnessed three jackasses playing tricks on each other, providing a strange sample to those watching and the young men that they had in their stead.

Skoff!

"TapouT" a word that has become synonymous with "giving up" when fighting across the world. Hmm, what does this have to do with "mixed martial arts"?

When I read the show description - courtesy of the large green "INFO" button on my remote control, I found that this entourage, this "team" of guys was searching the nation, looking for new and hungry fighters to sponsor via their promotion company, "TapouT". Their goal? To find the NEXT Chuck Liddell. The NEXT Matt Hughes. The NEXT BJ Penn, who would be brought into top tier organizations like the UFC, the IFL, and many other organizations.

In their march to find new and young talent, those names, organizations and more were the powers that helped to propel and welcome both TapouT and the fighters they found into arenas around the nation. Their show appearing on the VS network, wasn't a Jackass-ripoff at all, but a glorious televised showcase that provided young, wayward fighters to potentially make smarter choices and a visual venue for this strange and quirky but fun-loving team to showcase how they make a difference in fighters lives - that surely need it and benefited from it - regularly.

The three hosts, Mask, PunkAss and SkYSkrape, are characters that provide you with a personality stamp (for better or worse is a complete matter of opinion) that is unforgettable. The influence they provide is one of American pride - "do not give up - ever", which is strangely in stark contrast to the name that they took as a show - as professionals - TapouT, the international fighters sign to "give up."

What I didn't realize the day I heard that first brazen laugh, was that I had been baptized by the TapouT crew and I have to admit - they offered a gooney, quirky, can't stop watching flavor that few shows nowadays do.

I had the opportunity to review episodes of TapouT for The CaptionHunt.Com Project, and all were truly fun, spirited and able to provide me a showcase of talent, ideas and fundamental life stories that continue to inspire me to "not give up."

Early Thursday morning, Charles "Mask" Lewis, who was the co-founder and "frontman" of the TapouT program, was killed in a terrible car accident in California, taking with him not only the future, potential inspiration he might offer, but also his trademark, hyena-like calling card laugh.

As I read comments left for him around the Internet, and as I complete this article, one thing holds true:

One of the most important parts of remembering people is taking everything into account.

Mask provided one of the most genuine representations of America at-work. While the man wore make-up, the Mask that he put one wasn't one of villainy, but of absolute, no-holds-barred positive influence.

There were many times in the show that seemed like they were just spoiled brats, but when you take into account the lives that were altered not just on the show, but the ones who will benefit from the influence and grandeur as the TapouT legacy continues - as he said himself - "long after he's dead and gone" - the benefits are immeasurable. Goodbye, Charles, and thank you for the time you showed us a Mask, and infected us with a laugh, that I will remember forever.