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

Just a few thoughts, before we get to your comments. I always enjoy seeing MLB HOF’er Wade Boggs, and Monday night was no exception. Boggsie, who once drank something like 72 cold beers on a Red Sox team plane trip from Boston to the West Coast, is a great guy who loves life and is a serious WWE fan. Steve Austin and I had a blast with Wade at Wrestlemania 23 this year doing, guess what? Drinking a few cold ones… after work, of course.

It was also good to see several members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and some of their coaches at Raw this past Monday night. I heard that Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio was on hand for One Night Stand as well. It’s nice to see WWE fans from various NFL teams visit us, when we are in their cities.

The local interest in the NBA Finals in Oklahoma, is for the San Antonio Spurs, HBK’s favorite NBA team, and I feel the Spurs have a better team than do the Cleveland Cavaliers, but for some reason I think the Cavs have a really good chance in winning this series. Cleveland was 2-0 this regular season versus the Spurs, so we know the Cavs can play with San Antonio. Of course, LeBron James, whose autographed basketball he presented to me in Cleveland after a Monday Night Raw, and which will be on display at our restaurant, is the difference maker in this seven game series. As King James goes, so does Cleveland.

We get asked lots of questions about the return of the King of the Ring event. I have not heard anything regarding the reinstating of the King of the Ring one night tourney. Personally, I like tournaments of any kind, as a rule, but I don’t hold out any significant hope that the KOR will return. Nonetheless, I vividly remember handling the play by play for the 1993 KOR in Dayton, Ohio where Bret Hart won it all and then was attacked by Jerry Lawler.

Old school feedback always is interesting to me and that brings me to “time limits” for wrestling matches. I am a proponent of time limits for all bouts, unless conditions warrant a “no time limit” scenario. I don’t know why most matches don’t have time limits, but it may be because some feel it is too old school. Time limits add a sense of urgency and destination for wrestling bouts in my view, but I am also the veteran who would like to see more two out of three fall bouts from time to time, so consider the source.

I have no clue as to how the WWE Draft is going to be structured, and I am just as curious as many of you are about Monday’s festivities. I assume that all the WWE Superstars are eligable to be drafted including the injured competitors but that’s only an assumption. I do know that the Draft seems to be the talk of the industry these days. Everyone has an opinion, but we haven’t seen anything yet, as it relates to opinion and feedback. Just wait until the draft is over as the second guessing will run wild and rampant… brother!!

Sgt. Shane Woodrum- Good to hear from you and thanks for all that the US Armed Forces does for our country and the world. Yes, Sarge, I am still a fan and enjoy watching ECW and Smackdown on a weekly basis, but I don’t get as rowdy watching TV as I did in my younger days. Hell, I’m not as rowdy period, as I was in my younger days, thank goodness! Be safe, Sgt.

David- Which OU Football game am I most looking forward to? Easy answer… The Red River Shootout… OU vs. Texas. I hope to not miss a single OU game this year, including road games. Last season I missed the Oregon game because I was traveling to Toronto for a PPV and I missed the Fiesta Bowl, as I was in Miami for Raw. Hopefully this year I make ‘em all!

Alex- How do I pass the time on plane trips? Sleep and read as a rule. Show prep also factors into my flying time.

Tom- the Jersey Boy loves the J.R.’s Chipotle Ketchup and rightfully so, because it is really good! We appreciate your business Tom, as our ketchup is great in meatloaf, as a steak sauce, on fries and onion rings, and on burgers. I use it on my scrambled eggs as well.

Alinco- I fully realize everyone is “draft eligible,” but I still don’t want to leave Raw or to work with anyone other than The King. However, if it happens, it happens.

Mikey- Interesting, that you mention Bears QB Rex Grossman and Chris Masters in the same comment. Grossman has all the physical tools to be a big time NFL quarterback for years to come, but some feel he needs to be more comfortable in game situations. Masters could almost be described the same way. Both young athletes need to get more “big game” experience before anyone gives up on either athlete.

Paul- I am looking forward to Raw Monday night for several reasons, including the appearances of Bobby Heenan, Mean Gene Okerlund, and Jesse Ventura. All three WWE Hall of Famers can still bring viable goods to the table… the announce table that is. I hope they do some commentary Monday night during the THREE HOUR special that starts a hour early at 8/7 central. To address your second question, I still think it is “highly unlikely” that Paul Heyman returns to the WWE any time soon, but stranger things have happened. Heyman is a talented talker, which there is no overabundance of on TV. If it does happen, I would be surprised, but pleasantly so. However, I’m sticking with my “highly unlikely” answer.

Gavin- Good luck in finding out if Shakespeare ever used “Government Mule” or “Slobber-Knocker.” I have been using both these terms for about 25-30 years, and I did not willingly borrow them from William Shakespeare, to the best of my knowledge.

Danny- For any corporate job with the WWE, whether it be in creative or whatever, you need to contact the WWE’s corporate web site and interface with the Human Resources Department. That is the first step.

Jeek- I had heard something about Randy Savage being in the new season of Surreal Life. I will definitely check it out and, no, I am not interested in being a part of the cast. I’m just a little busy these days answering your comments, along with seemingly a zillion things on my ever-growing “to do” list. I’ll be watching though.

Matt- You are 18 and want to be a wrestler, do you? All the schools you mentioned will provide you good training. The WWE endorsed schools in Louisville and Tampa may provide the most exposure to the WWE, but that should not automatically eliminate Booker T, Harley Race, or Killer Kowalski’s schools. My advice would be to continue to go to regular school and do the wrestling school in the summer. Your formal education is vital in this day and age. A wrestling career is going to be a long shot, at best. You should hedge your bets and get an education first, or in conjunction with the wrestling school.

Rickie- I have heard zilch about a “new” AWA. Another “Gimmick Battle Royal” is not out of the question in the future. Lord knows that there are plenty of “gimmicks” in this business, so there would be no shortage of participants!

Scooter-What is the difference between pulled pork and brisket? The biggest difference is that pulled pork is slow smoked PORK shoulder, which comes from a pig, while brisket is BEEF, which comes from a cow. The pork is “pulled” from the bone, while the beef is either sliced or chopped. They are cooked the same nonetheless, at our place; smoked low and slow.

Howie- Nice hearing from you and I loved “The Sopranos” next to the last episode, that I watched when I arrived home from Florida this week. I am planning on flying to Wilkes Barre early this Sunday, so as to not miss the final episode ever, of one of my all time favorite TV shows. I can’t believe that this Sunday is the end of this classic program. I hope that the entire list of stars isn’t killed off, so that a full length feature film could be done, if possible. Wishful thinking perhaps.

Dan- At One Night Stand, when one of the competitors was “sandwiched” between two ladders, I said something regarding the “Home Depot Deli,” which was an attempt (obviously not a too successful one at that) at some humor or to make a timely, witty remark. I guess that line didn’t make the cut. It’s not the first time that has happened to yours truly. Oh, well…

Dr. Z- There are no bathroom breaks during RAW or PPV’s! We are tough men, Dr. Z, with amazing bladder control! Seriously, it is a matter of conditioning ourselves to these extended periods of time without a break and not over doing it on the liquids prior to a broadcast. Don’t think that there hasn’t been “issues,” but no “accidents” that I care to elaborate on at this time.

BMan- For the record my friend, The Fabulous Moolah is already in the WWE Hall of Fame and I don’t recall “Mae West” wrestling, but I do remember some of her films. Also, I would suggest that Mae West and Mae Young were about as different as night and day.

B’Bath- I can only assume that Michael Cole and Tazz’ radio remarks, you eluded to, allegedly knocking Scotland was merely their attempt at controversial humor. Nonetheless, neither speaks for the WWE, and neither do I, for that matter. I still believe that the WWE in general has no issues with Scotland. The thought of such is somewhat silly to be honest with you. As far as Colt Cabana is concerned I am not overly familiar with his in ring work, but if his claim to fame, in your view, is that he is a “funny wrestler” then Colt may have his challenges making it to the big time. Time will tell.

Donnie- Where is Harry Smith? I saw him Monday night in Tampa, where he is training. I do not know when Harry will debut, as he is still in training, and is doing well by all accounts. I do think Harry has the ability to be a star some day. He certainly is a well mannered and classy young man.

Adam- Even though Wilkes Barre is sold out for this Monday’s RAW, the box office will most likely make some tickets available late morning or early afternoon after the production crew does their thing.

OU4LIFE- Indeed DeMarco Murray is a special running back and we look forward to #7 being a big time contributor this year for OU. Murray’s performance at the Spring Game was a head turner. Ironically, he probably won’t even start!

Fran- I coined the phrase that the Undertaker is “the conscience of the WWE,” meaning that Taker is the most respected individual in any WWE locker room due to his extraordinary long tenure in the WWE and his uncompromising work ethic. “All man and a yard wide,” as Gordon Solie would say.

Thanks for checking out the site and we hope you will visit us again soon. We sincerely appreciate your business and love your feedback, good and bad, on our products.

BOOMER SOONER!

J.R.