J.R.'s Family Bar-B-Q

Let’s Rock: Dustin- Indeed the Sooners are playing well. Another trip to the Holiday Bowl wouldn’t offend me and a rematch with Oregon might be sweet. I would rather sit outside in San Diego that time of the year than Dallas even though I love Big D and can easily drive down to the Cotton Bowl. T. Adams- I have followed Boise State and their blue carpet since Dan Hawkins turned the program around. I hope Boise State gets the credit they deserve but I don’t think they will due to their schedule. Ian Johnson is one helluva running back but will he get the time of day from the eastern sportswriters? Bronko Nagurski was a freak of nature. An All Pro running back in the NFL and the NWA Wrestling champion too. Not bad work if one can get it. Jimmy Garner-Coach Bob Stoops has plenty of guts as evidenced by his 4th and inches gamble on his own 29 against A&M. Something tells me my friend Bob has a few more tricks up his sleeve that we might see before this season is over. ZePaul- I am sure that organizations like Pride and UFC have had some influence on sports entertainment but I would be guessing if I tried to quantify it. Perhaps the biggest matter is the battle for the PPV bucks. If we start seeing more and more wrestlers use the ground and pound tactics of the mixed martial arts guys successfully then we will definitely see the influences. Bryan- I know that the WWE covets the Mid South footage and I would to see it on WWE 24/7 which I am a big fan of. However, thus far the ownership of the old Mid South library has not seemed overly interested in selling. Perhaps that will change in the future. I sure hope so. KevBone- I enjoyed visiting with the Ohio State players that attended Raw Monday night in Columbus including QB Troy Smith who was a class act. Obviously the Buckeyes have to get by a tough Michigan team on November 18 to make their dreams come true. Until someone beats the Buckeyes, they are #1. Not having to play a conference championship game helps them too. Brenda- I don’t know if any Smackdown or ECW wrestlers will be a part of the Baltimore RAW but it would not surprise me. Honestly, one truly never knows what to expect Monday to Monday. If you figure it out, please let me know. Eli-Good to hear from you in Port Arthur. What a great place for yours truly over the years. My friend and mentor Ernie Ladd is from Orange and my close friend Bud Hebert is from Beaumont not to mention all the Mid South Wrestling we used to have in your area. That Little Joe Washington, silver shoes and all, was an amazing athlete. I wear a 1974 OU National Championship ring on my right hand for good luck compliments of my wife and thanks to the efforts of Little Joe! Neal- Hindsight is always 20/20 but if I had a 300 pound fullback and two plays to score from the 3 yard line I would be really tempted to give the big guy the ball. Coach Fran will hear plenty about this matter I am sure as time goes on. I have seen Kevin Von Erich a few times over the past year or so and love to visit with him. Kevin’s son Ross is quite the athlete and reminds me of his Uncle Kerry. Spicyboy- What a screen name, but nonetheless the WCW DVD’s of which there can be many will probably be in the mix sooner than later. Knowing the WWE they will fully monetize their library in every form feasible. James- I think JoePa should coach as long as he wants to coach. The Penn State legend will know when it is time to step down before any one else. Dave- If you are interested in a career in creative writing within a company like the WWE then I suggest you work through their Human Resources Department. That’s where the journey will begin. Let me warn you that being in the creative writing department is a challenging, tireless, and thankless job that I could not handle. Good luck. Ben-Have I ever been to Dreamland BBQ?! Are you kidding me? Absolutely because just like the shirt says, “There ain’t nothing like it nowhere!” Plus if it is good enough for the Bear it’s danged sure good enough for me. Love their “Q”! Sam- Last October the company decided to go in a different direction and replace me at the broadcast table. That is certainly their choice and it was/is bound to happen someday. Right after the decision was made to replace me, my illness was discovered so I looked at the business decision as a blessing in disguise. I was fortunate to dodge the colon cancer bullet which is ultimately much more important than working on RAW or any other job one can name. I was pleased when the company brought me back and count my blessings every Monday night. I hope I can continue to announce on RAW for years to come but nothing in life comes with a guarantee except death and taxes it seems. Not unlike any other announcer in sports or entertainment, we are communicated with via our headsets. The goal is to do well enough that the communication one hears is for vital info or regarding timing elements but that is not always the case. Sometimes I need to have a fire lighted underneath me and that has been done on numerous occasions. Dave- I think Mike Bucci has a valuable role in the WWE developmental Area that will probably preclude him from returning to the ring any time soon. Philip- Rick Martel was a smooth as they come inside the ring and a talented hand. Whether Rick will ever be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame is anyone’s guess. I wish there were more guys like Rick in the business today. Mick- When Mick Foley took those horrible falls vs. The Undertaker in the Hell in a Cell my mind thought only one thing. Has Mick Foley just been killed? I was so scared that Mick had pushed the envelope too far and thank God he did not. Dave- Tiger Woods is a phenom. Golf may never see another individual with Tiger’s natural skills and aptitude for his craft. My friend Charles Barkley and Tiger are close and I understand Woods is a helluva nice guy when one gets to know him. Rick- A.J. Styles is good enough to make it any where he chooses to hang his hat. Dustin- Bill Watts removed the mats from ringside at WCW back in the day to make the whole presentation seem more believable. Perhaps it was Cowboy’s “Man Law”. Watts wanted to go back to basics in many facets of the business and feature more physicality and realism. Jim-The wrestling territories were different than today’s Indy’s because the territories usually ran 6-7 nights a week until the middle of December and would do huge holiday shows on Christmas night (Thanksgiving Night too). These territories also produced weekly TV shows which the Indy’s don’t usually do. There are several major differences than running a monthly show at various locales and running markets every week including producing a weekly television show that aired throughout the territory. Ric- Dallas is a great market for any wrestling event especially PPV’s. I would love to see a Wrestlemania from some day. James- Whenever great talent leaves a company it immediately creates an opportunity for those that stay. It has been that way since I got into the business in the early 70’s. It is really up to the talent to step up and get themselves noticed to fill the void left by a departing star. However, let’s not kid ourselves, when wrestlers like Stone Cold or the Rock leave the ring replacing stars of their magnitude isn’t done easily or perhaps not at all. Dave- Joining the Kiss My Ass club simply goes with the territory. It was not a pleasant experience but luckily for me it did not last long nor did it kill me. I have had plenty of in ring experiences I have not throughly enjoyed, perhaps more than any other announcer, but I survived them and continue to report to work every week. I have had several conversations with Ed Ferrara over the past couple of years and we have no issues lingering between us. Life is too short to life with that sort of angst. Ed was just doing his job when he portrayed me as Oklahoma. Those that live in the past are destined to die there. Billy- In my opinion, the defining match for Steve Austin was Mania 13 against Bret Hart. That was one of the greatest contests for many reasons I can remember seeing. That match launched Steve to another level in another role as a fan favorite. Andrew- If you want a signed photo then send us your address and I will see how I can help you. but if you continue to whine…...no photo for you! D. Drose- Your email certainly caught my attention.I don’t know if I should laugh or cry at it. I don’t think my manhood is in question nor has it ever been. I have endured some trying times in this business but walking away from a challenge is not how I was taught to handle adversity. Yes, I am attracted to money as most successful businessmen are. Some sites have wrongly reported that I am working without a contract which is not true. I am talking to the WWE about a new contract that we hope to have finalized one way or another soon. My decision no matter what it is will be based on what is best for my family and me. My tenure at the WWE has not been without challenges but at the end of the day coming to the WWE was the best career move I ever made. Finally, yes indeed our sauces go great with venison. My mom used to make the best venison back in the day and she soaked it in milk over night to take the gamy taste out of it. Tim D.- I think it is a great idea for the fans to have a vote in the WWE Hall of Fame. The more interactive our business can become with the paying customers the better I.E. Cyber Sunday. Captain Obvious- I agree that there are many fine wrestling announcers who each bring their own individual seasoning to the party. The San Antonio Royal Rumble should be a blast as I would assume that all three brands will be involved. My Sooners may be in San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl depending on how the season ends. I love the Alamo City because the food is awesome.(Friendly people too). Nick- We never say never but for some reason I don’t feel another Flair World Title run. I really hope I am wrong as I love Flair and truly appreciate all his accomplishments and contributions to wrestling. Stranger things have happened in this biz that’s for sure. Dave and G. Kelly- I hope Mick Foley is back sooner than later as Mick is one of my all time favorites. I would be shocked if Mick were not a vital part of Wrestlemania 23. Dave- I want to thank you for your kind words and am really pleased that you watch RAW with your 12 and 13 year old sons. I hope you 3 are enjoying some great family time and creating memories that will last for years to come. Will Barnes- Will, you forget I am from Westville just down the road from Sallisaw the home of the Black Diamonds and I have been to Wild Horse Mountain BBQ on MANY occasions! It is great stuff and my football officiating crew and I used to eat there virtually every time we called a game in that area. JLM- No one in the world would rather step back in the ring more than Steve himself. If his neck issues and schedule would ever permit it there is no doubt that Steve Austin would be front and center at Wrestlemania 23. Steve is still in great shape, has a great mind for the business, and the passion that carried him to greatness in the WWE. Never say never JLM. Jon/Detroit- I don’t think the reason Tully Blanchard did not stay any longer in the WWE had anything to do with JBL. The travel schedule and the ever changing business may have contributed to Tully’s decision plus the WWE may have decided to go another direction. Been there done that myself. Aaron/Singapore- If the WWE TV airs in Singapore then you can almost bet that there will be live events in your future. I don’t think the WWE utilizes the Million Dollar Belt or at least they have not since I have been there. The winner of the 2007 Royal Rumble will be largely determined by the luck of the draw. Your guess is as good as mine. Peter/Australia- I rarely speak of my tainted “win” over HHH in Madison Square Garden because HHH beat me like a government mule and I don’t want seconds. Let’s just leave that one alone for old J.R.’s sake. No, I am not interested in heading talent relations again as they have a good man in that position. John Laurinaitis is in a thankless job that no one can do perfectly. I would be willing to help John if the situation arose but going back to a 24/7 grind is not in the cards for me at this stage of the game. I was fortunate to sign some outstanding talents during my tenure and John can do the same thing over time if he is given the chance. I assure you that there is not an over abundance of seasoned wrestlers available who are sitting by the phone awaiting a call from any organization. Young talents must be found who are athletic, motivated, and love the product. Size helps but it isn’t the end all. These types of athletes don’t grow on trees unfortunately. Scouting for new faces is more crucial now than ever before. After these talents are signed then “coaching them up” is a must. There are so many variables that go into the make up of a successful wrestler that it literally allows about 1-2 out of every 50 one signs to make it to the roster as I see it. Jason- In your perfect world, if I could book Steve Austin in one match at Wrestlemania it would be against an equally healthy Bret Hart. We would hopefully see another classic, pure wrestling match unobstructed by whistles and bells. There are many who I would love to see Austin wrestle but Bret would make for a special Wrestlemania. Unfortunately, that match will never happen again. Fred- Sorry I offended you when you knocked Austin. However, for the record I only wear a suit on Monday nights and the Sunday pay per views. To categorize J.R. as a “suit” isn’t exactly accurate. Thanks for all your emails. I will get to more this week prior to departing for Manchester, England for Monday’s RAW. I always look forward to arriving in the UK but the flights to get there are tough. However, playing before a full house of loud, enthusiastic fans is worth the trip.