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

I lost a great friend this week when cancer took the life of former Oklahoma University Quarterback and former Lt. Governor of our state, Jack Mildren, at the age of 58. Jack was one of the toughest men I ever met and had been battling the "Big C" for over two years, but rarely mentioned it to any of his pals. Jack was the Sooner QB in the "Game of the Century" when OU lost to Nebraska 35-31 in a battle of #1 vs. #2, a game that has been replayed on ESPN Classic numerous times. I've broadcast that game and 100s of other OU games in my head since I was a little boy. Oklahoma's greatest quarterback ever was the star of many of my personal broadcasts. And then, when my wife Jan and I moved back to Oklahoma to be closer to family, I met Jack and we became instant friends. For me, an OU Football fanatic, it was like meeting two of my other heroes, Mickey Mantle and John Wayne. I had met and befriended one of my football heroes. Jack worked his radio shift in afternoon drive this Tuesday on Jox930 in OKC, a sports talk station, and then passed away on Thursday. I listened to his show when I returned from my Omaha/K.C. run and old #11 sounded somewhat fatigued, but unwilling to sell the pain he was in due to stomach cancer that had spread throughout his body. Unexpectedly on Thursday the Good Lord finally got His QB to run the wishbone in heaven. My friend Jack was only 58, just two years older than yours truly, which certainly is sobering impetus for a guy at my stage of the game to stop and give pause.

Selfishly I could say that I have personally had better weeks but I also know that I am a better man for knowing Jack Mildren.

I read an online post, that I apparently wasn't familiar with Dory Funk Jr.'s career after, apparently, exception was taken when I said that brother Terry had more charisma than his older brother. Shame on me, but no disrespect was meant. Terry Funk just might have more charisma than 99.9% of all the wrestlers that I've laid eyes on but why let facts get in the way of a good story? I am very well familiar with Junior's career and have been since the 60's, for the record. Damn familiar. I mentioned that any Dory Funk, Jr. vs. Jack Brisco match should be required study for any one wanting or thinking of becoming a pro wrestler. This is high praise and without question well earned. Dory, inside the ropes and from bell to bell, had few, if any, equals in his prime. I have great respect for Junior and all that he has accomplished and recognize him for also being one of the best coaches of wrestling alive today. However, I don't need to be reminded of how great a career that Dory Funk, Jr. has had. I became a fan of Junior's a long time ago.

The Miami Dolphins' Jason Taylor, who I have met and is a helluva guy, seems to be in a no win situation these days speaking of his professional life. Taylor is a 12 year veteran in the NFL and at 34 or so is "past his NFL prime" according to many pro football types, even though he is still one of the top D-End's in the league. Taylor wants to go into another level of show business some day after his NFL days are over, namely the big screen. So, now many in the football world are looking at Taylor in a different light because he has the "audacity" to want to do something else other than football some day. Football will be more than willing to kick Taylor to the curb when they feel his usefulness is over, so shouldn't Taylor prepare for life after football? Taylor, unfortunately, is in for a rough ride from many within the "football world" until he finally officially retires from the NFL. Jason Taylor's story is reminiscent of the perplexities of "The Rock's" reoccurring situation within the wrestling world. Unfortunate to say the least.

So much is being made of Nick Hogan's 8 month jail stay, it's numbing. No, jail isn't supposed to be an enjoyable experience. Yes, people need to be punished when they commit crimes. Father Hulk's advice to "Man Up" is timely and approiate to his son. If I had been in young Nick's shoes back in the day, my dad would have told me he was anxiously counting down the days until I got out of the slammer so he could personally whip my ass. I'm not advocating such parental guidance in 2008, but just making a statement of fact of days gone by. Bottom line of this Hogan debacle is that too little is often times mentioned of the victim of this matter, John Graziano. Perhaps we should all say a prayer for him and not be so obsessed with the TMZ-like dirt regarding the Hogan family.

So the WWE settles out of court with a wrestling promoter in Memphis over Jerry Lawler not wrestling Hulk in Memphis some time back. This lawsuit, in my opinion, was a joke from the get go and apparently the WWE settled to simply move on. I can't blame them for that. The promoter most likely made more cash in the legal settlement than he would have if Lawler had wrestled Hogan. The King himself thought the lawsuit was ridiculous.

Speaking of my broadcast partner Jerry Lawler, I watched his Memphis match in 1988 where he beat Curt Hennig for the AWA World Title. What a simple yet effective conclusion to their much ballyhooed contest. Yes wrestling fans I will agree that simpler is often times better and trying to reinvent the wheel is not overly judicious. By the way, old friend Lance Russell and partner Dave Brown did a great job calling this emotional contest. This was a helluva match if you haven't seen it. For the record, I have the King hooked on our Beef Jerky which is 97% fat free if you're keeping score at home.

At J.R.'s Family Bar-B-Q in Norman, a fan asked me a what I thought the biggest change in women's wrestling has been over the past generation or so. I told him that question was easy to answer. Two words...plastic surgery. :)

The WWE's tour of Mexico is reportedly doing well as Monterrey had just under 12,000 fans in a sell out this week while Queretaro did approximately 8500 fans Thursday night. Chris Jericho received some stitches earlier this week on the tour but hasn't missed a beat.

The WWE's two days coming up in Mexico City looks as if it will gross well north of $1M. Again, the potential for the international growth for the WWE is limitless. It also makes bilingual athletes have more value, one would have to think.

What's the secret formula to making all TV wrestling better these days? For my money, it is creating new stars which is done by giving folks who have been "percolating" or have been "this close" in the past the ball and letting them run with it. They will either score or fumble but one will never know if said individuals are sitting on the bench. I suggest taking a chance....what's the worst thing that can happen?

There will be no two Monday Night Raw shows now for Oakland on June 9, just one live broadcast, as Salt Lake City is back on the schedule for Monday Night Raw and is well on its way to selling out on Monday June 16. (I don't need no stinking badges or no stinking days off!)

Just because it's that time of the year I feel compelled to tell you that I have become a big fan of Collegiate Women's Softball (cough...Jennie Finch).

A suggestion for NBA Commissioner David Stern....hire former pro wrestling referee Tommy Young to call a few play off games and "hint" that you would like to see a road team win occasionally.

See you in Denver Monday night for Raw on the USA Network live before a huge, and hopefully loud, sold out crowd. This is the final Raw before One Night Stand, so it should be a hot one. Now....please do some shopping...baby needs new shoes.

Boomer Sooner!
J.R.