Wrestlers are known for being tough, bruising athletes with an appetite for pain and a thirst for destruction.
While senior John-Martin Cannon fits that archetype, his palette is what separates him from the rest.
The one thing that most Bulls fans don't know is that Cannon shares another passion in his life – cooking.
He is an avid fan of the Food Network, so much so that after practice on Monday's the Bulls wrestler quickly changes and races home to catch the station's lineup of Diners, Drive-in's and Dives and Heat Seekers. Cannon finds himself replicating recipes that he finds interesting on certain shows.
"My favorite show now is Diners, Drive-in's, and Dives with Guy Fieri," Cannon said. "I can't wait until every Monday because they show you how [the restaurant] cooks the food. I learn a lot from that."
Since high school Cannon has shown interest in the culinary arts. Although cutting weight can stand in the way of him enjoying his favorite cuisine, it has allowed his friends to benefit.
"When I was cutting weight I took a liking to the Food Network," Cannon said. "My theory was if I couldn't eat [my food] why not cook it and give it to someone else?"
His infatuation with cooking does not go unnoticed. Cannon feels that if it weren't for his passion of wrestling he would not have been turned on to food.
"[The passion for cooking] relates to wrestling," Cannon said. "If I didn't cut weight in high school I would have never taken a liking to the Food Network. I like when it tastes good and when it pleases other people."
His theory has been a pleasure for those who know Cannon as a dominant performer on the mat. His teammates from past seasons even thought up a clever nickname for him.
Last year Cannon had his teammates over for a gathering. He was able to showcase his culinary skills, and his reasons for why he earned his nickname "John Martha."
While they often razz the wrestler over his passion for cooking, his teammates rarely take issue with the large meals that Cannon cooks up.
"I had the whole team over and made 10 pounds of my baked ziti," Cannon said. "I try to make it fancy, I actually try to have a gourmet four-course meal. It was pretty good."
One way Cannon got his fellow wrestlers hooked on his ziti was his homemade sauce. A sauce that is simple yet provides a kick that still remains a secret to those who eat it.
"I do make my own sauce, it has a secret ingredient I can't give to you," Cannon said. "I like to use a lot of different spices in my food, [especially] red pepper flakes."
Cannon's recipes often parallel those of a former food network star Emeril Lagasse. Cannon will be the first one to tell you his disappointment for the cancelation of the show.
Even though the enthusiasm for cooking and his love for the food network are present, we won't be seeing Cannon "kicking it up a notch" anytime soon. He has no intentions right now of being a food network star.
For now Cannon will stick to being a wrestler, and keep cooking as a hobby.
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