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

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and that the majority of you are able to spend quality time with family and friends. In our materialistic world, we often times don’t spend enough time with our loved ones and dear friends which we all realize when they are gone. Don’t hesitate to spend time with people you care for and don’t hesitate to pick up the telephone today or any time during the holiday season to make one phone call to someone special and let them know that they are special. I can assure you that these matters are so much more important than who’s leaving what company, what superstar is unhappy, why isn’t this person getting a “push”, what is the main event for Wrestlemania, etc. I got a beautiful text message last night from Roddy Piper who seems to be doing well in his battle with cancer. I have the utmost respect for Rowdy Roddy and even through all the controversial periods of his life Roddy was always straight up with me and we never “butted heads” because our relationship was based strictly on honesty and respect. Too many management/wrestler relationships these days are based solely on business and politics which is a fragile way to establish a personal foundation of trust and mutual respect. Bottom line it won’t work over the long haul. Every year managing highly motivated and often times paranoid athletes changes in style and tone but it still will always come back to one being honest and treating people with respect. That’s what I tried to do over the years and I am sure some wrestlers will agree with me on that one and some will disagree as I was the one who hired and fired many wrestlers during my tenure as head of Talent Relations for the WWE. Quite frankly, there were wrestlers who deserved to be cut loose and there were others that did not deserve the pink slip. And no, I won’t get into names on this matter at this time. Stone Cold is enjoying the holidays with his family down in Edna, Texas. Steve has communicated with me several times over the past few weeks with the exploits of his deer and elk hunting trip in south Texas. For a business that doesn’t allow lasting friendships to foster, I know that I will always have Steve’s friendship to depend upon and visa versa. There are no greater gifts in our lives than family and friends and I have been blessed with both. Steve and I had planned on celebrating New Year’s Eve together with a big party in Phoenix prior to the Fiesta Bowl but those plans changed with the January 1 Raw from Miami. Maybe next year. We are excited to be opening our first “J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q Restaurant” in Norman, Oklahoma just off I-35 and Main Street hopefully in April 2007. If the first one works we certainly plan on rolling out other locations. Getting the sauces in grocery stores is another matter as the “big boys” have much of the available shelf space spoken for. Many of you write about the old UWF Wrestling Promotion which featured some great athletes who thrived on physicality. Bill Watts ran his company like a pro sports franchise and therefore was able to get the maximum results of the individuals who wrestled for the “Big Cowboy”. The talent roster of the UWF would match up with most any organization in the world. Losing JYD and Hacksaw Jim Duggan to the WWE was a blow but we worked through it because fans are always interested in NEW stars being developed and featured. Some of wrestling’s most famous names cut their teeth in the UWF in their formative years and took what they learned to the next level, the WWE and WCW, and helped the WWE become the global phenomenon it is today. I am not sure I am buying PWI’s 8 “equal” World Champions that they recognize. Sounds kind of watered down to me but then again I might be wrong. Just my two cents. We are asked quite often about our Bar-B-Q business in Toronto and my honest answer is “who knows”? I hope we can grow our business that far north of Oklahoma and I “never say never”. Toronto is one of my favorite cites that’s for sure so why not?? I have been getting a fair amount of emails regarding RVD. I don’t know that RVD has “heat” on him as pronounced as people seem to speculate or if Rob has any “heat” on him at all for not traveling to Baghdad. It is a voluntary trip first of all which doesn’t necessarily make those who don’t go the most popular kid in class. Rob is a unique talent and I hope he stays in the WWE and continues to do well. Again, the final decision as to what RVD does with his future is Rob’s call but this issue isn’t something that a better line of communications wouldn’t solve in my humble opinion. Is it possible that I could ever do OU Football play by play on radio? I assume it is possible but the voice of OU Football, Bob Barry Sr., is in his 70s and has been the voice of the Sooners since I was a young man. So, bottom line, the job isn’t available and I happen to really like Bob Senior but if the job ever came I would definitely be interested as I could do that and do RAW. Does Jerry Lawler deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? Absolutely! The sooner the better. Lawler is not only one of the best wrestlers/talkers ever but also one of the best broadcasters too. Jerry is like a brother to me and I would be honored to see him be inducted sooner than later. I have no issues with short term contracts for veteran wrestlers and don’t think the WWE does either. The only downside to this arrangement is that it does take a certain length of time to get issues established on TV and just about the time the issue is established the contract is virtually up. It’s a two edged sword but it is all doable. I have not taken up playing our video games. Do you think I would enjoy it or am I past my video game playing prime? Brock Lesnar pops up on our screen from time to time about his possible return to the WWE. I don’t know the tenor of how Lesnar left exactly although I know it wasn’t altogether positive. I do think that if Brock had a positive attitude and the WWE did likewise there could be a great partnership there. But it takes two to Tango or to make a relationship, business or personal, work so who really knows? Lesnar is physically and athletically gifted that is for sure but all parties have to be comfortable in the “deal” or these reconciliations will not work. Kennedy’s work reminds me, as I have mentioned of a young “Stunning” Steve Austin. Kennedy has “it”. Assuming Kennedy stays healthy, physically and mentally, his future is limitless. Someday Kennedy could be one of the most popular superstars in the WWE if my instincts are accurate. I would love for the WWE to do an event in the Superdome in New Orleans! I have been there for many a Thanksgiving and Christmas and would want to get their early for the FOOD. The Commanders Palace may be the best eatery I EVER frequented plus I LOVE Dookie Chase’s where I once took Muhammad Ali for dinner and he loved it too. I am not involved with the arena booking or routing but the Superdome would be a great stop for a PPV or a RAW. How about them Saints?? I have had many great guests drop by the various announce table and there are too many to mention. Some names pop up in my head including Jim Cornette, Ric Flair, HHH, Michael Hayes, Dick Murdoch, Dusty Rhodes, among others. This would be a nice chapter to include in a book. The Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Kelly Gregg, an OU alum and former multiple time state high school heavyweight wrestling champion might make a helluva WWE Superstar some day. Kelly is only 6 feet tall at 300 plus pounds so he might not fit the “ideal size” the WWE is looking for these days as it relates to height. I do not adhere totally to that “formula” as wrestling greats over the years have come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Kelly Gregg is a stud and the Ravens feature several of my friends from OU on their talented NFL squad. Ah, the WSB AM750 radio days was so much fun. Every Sunday night at 9 eastern we took calls for an hour and had a blast. I followed the legendary voice of the Georgia Bulldogs Larry Munson who hosted the Georgia Bulldog Coaches Show just before our piece of business. Radio is an avenue I plan on exploring in the future. Kevin Nash, before he became a star, was a regular guest on my show because Big Kev could talk. The promoters found out the same later about the former Tennessee hoops star. An Arkansas Mid South/UWF fan asked about traveling the “Land of Opportunity” over the years and I can tell you that we always stopped in Conway because they had a “pitch till you win” buffet for something like $5.95 for all one could eat. It was at a hotel along I-40 and was a “must stop” especially when one was making $25-$40 per day refereeing and that includes paying all one’s expenses out of that money plus paying all one’s personal bills such as rent and groceries. I would have passengers in my vehicle like Danny Hodge and Scandor Akbar, until they turned on each other, who paid me 3 cents a mile which was a life saver in those days. Of course, I did all the driving which could be challenging at times but I was young and learning something new every day. My wrestling education was largely founded on the long car trips listening to a succession of veterans discuss the business while I intently listened and rarely participated in the discussions. I also suffered through the weekly Wednesday night live events in Fort Smith at the Jimmy Lott Sports Arena on Towson Avenue which was an old car dealership that had one shower for the entire roster to utilize. Because I was the only Ref on the card my shower came last and the hot water was LONG gone. Some days our payoffs were supplemented by the hot dogs that were not sold that night and I never made more than $40 dollars for a Ft. Smith shot…ever. It’s called paying dues. I read a great deal about Daniel Rodimer the rookie who has a great “look”. However, I have not seen Rodimer wrestle lately and even though it is great he “looks the part” can he physically and mentally get it done? Dan resembles NY Giant tight end Jeremy Shockey and definitely has potential. “Look” is important but natural talent and the burning desire to be the best is more important in my perspective. I am not saying an out of shape athlete with a great attitude is the tickets as being in great athletic shape is imperative. I just don’t think everyone has to be 6’5” to be star. If everyone is 6”5” then who is “special”. Plus what kind of “motor” does Rodimer and his fellow rookies have? Never discount an athlete’s motor or will to succeed. Independent wrestlers getting payoffs with drugs is pathetic. Recreational drug use and prescription drug abuse is the kiss of death. That includes wrestling, the NFL, the NBA, MLB, showbiz, etc. It’s a sad state of affairs. Sports Entertainment is a WWE coined term that we are asked to use on TV and on WWE platforms. I use wrestling here because I am more comfortable with that term because I am old school and that’s what I grew up on. Small issue but we continue to call John Cena “The Marine” because of the movie and the fact it is still out there producing revenue. It is called marketing and promotion. Plus, I like the hell out of Cena because I know him personally and was in charge of Talent Relations when John was signed. He is one of “my guys”. Shame on me but as legendary Coach Barry Switzer once told me “when you recruit a player and sign him you have recruited him for life.” I agree with that philosophy. Some of you may not be “Cena fans” which is your prerogative but I happen to think the young man is a stud who works his ass off in ways most fans will never hear about. I also think it is “trendy” for some to dis Cena because they perceive it to be cool and edgy. Whatever. Speaking of Cena, his Subway commercials are excellent. I am not sure if he or any other WWE Superstar will be doing others. I hope so. I also like the “Man Law’ commercials HHH has done for Miller Lite Beer even though Burt Reynolds looks more like a Kenny Rogers-like Martian every time I see him. I like JBL’s commentary and he is just grading enough on one’s nerves to stimulate the viewers to listen. Calling Helms’ the best kept secret on Smackdown is a good line. Gregory Helms is a talented kid and the cruiserweights, in general, are underutilized in my humble opinion. Are there communications between the WWE and TNA? Officially, I have no idea. Unofficially, are you serious?! It won’t happen in my life time if I had to make a wager on it. Will Jeff Jarrett ever return to the WWE? Never say never but that would be a long shot and it would have nothing to do with the manner in which he left. I think Double J is busy these days. Is Jack Doan still with the WWE? Absolutely and he is making Danville, Illinois famous as one of Raw’s best referees. I don’t choose to comment on the future management team of the WWE after Mr. McMahon “retires” which will NEVER happen in my opinion. Mr. McMahon will most likely run his company until the day he dies which will probably be when he’s around 100 years old. Is Heyman really done in the WWE? I will believe it when I see it. I suspect Heyman has yet to miss a paycheck since being removed from ECW. Heyman could be reassigned just as easily as not to another area or he could simply part ways with the company. Time will tell but it won’t be a fatal blow to either party. Heyman has written several screen plays he wants to “pitch” and that may be his “calling”. In any case neither party will need a telethon or a fund raiser when it is all said and done. I am as anxious to see who gets selected for this years Hall of Fame. My best guesses and they are merely guesses would be Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Ted DiBiase, perhaps Randy Savage if he and the company are willing to cooperate of which I have NO idea, maybe Bob Backlund, a celeb (Aretha Franklin??), a tag team, and a deceased superstar, and maybe another announcer. Hopefully we will have an indication within the next month or so. The ceremony will be in Detroit the night before Wrestlemania. It’s one of my favorite events of the year. What other sports do I watch on TV? Football and more Football. I have all the OU games saved on my DVR from the 2006 season. I like Boxing, too. I watch Poker. I’m a redneck so I find that Nascar is fun to watch. The MLB playoffs and the NBA playoffs often times make it to my TV screen. I even used to be a fan of the old Roller Derby back in the day of Charlie O’Connell and Ann Cavello. Who is going to take J.R.’s place at the announce desk when I retire? First of all, slow down, I am not ready to retire nor am I close to retiring. There is still an adequate amount of fuel left in the tank to get the job done or at least that’s my mindset. I have no idea but it will be someone with NO accent, someone YOUNG, and someone who “looks nice” on TV. In other words everything that I am not. The attempts to replace me on RAW have been well documented and it is inevitable as one can’t travel 51 weeks a year for ever nor do I want to but I am not ready to be kicked to the curb just yet. However, if I do, it has been a beautiful career that has exceeded my wildest expectations. I also realize that I am the last of a dying breed of wrestling broadcasters who cut their teeth in the territory system which any successor will not have the luxury of doing. My only hope is that whomever is hired is a bonafide fan and not just a person who says he is a fan to make “points”. I actually get to be home until New Year’s Eve when I fly to Miami. My Oklahoma coaching friends leave tonight with their families for the Fiesta Bowl to finish preparing for undefeated Boise State. That means I will spend less time at “happy hour” this week and will be able to do more blogs. I look forward to more of your questions. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. BOOMER SOONER! J.R.