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

It's nice to be home if only for a couple of days as I plan on flying to Seattle Friday to attend the Oklahoma-Washington college football game on Saturday evening that will be broadcast on ESPN HD. Until then here's some random thoughts:

First of all, please make sure you understand that there is no one in the business that I have had more fun with or that I respect more for being the greatest in-ring performer of all time than I do Ric Flair. Someone asked me recently if I had to name just one match that I consider really special it would have to be around 1989 when Ricky Steamboat came back into the TBS wrestling picture and began another chapter in his storied rivalry with Ric Flair. Their match in Chicago at the UIC Pavilion was one of the most amazing bouts I can ever remember broadcasting and their chemistry was virtually seamless and oh so physical.  

Some of my most fun and memorable moments outside the wrestling ring have come with "Naitch" as well. My stories and experiences with him are damn near endless. For many years when I lived in Dallas and Atlanta, I was single and when Flair came to town it was "on" without question. 

I have never nor will I ever judge if Ric was right or wrong leaving  the WWE recently but I can understand him wanting to strike while the iron is hot and make as much money as he can as quickly as he can. Ric's personal obligations not to mention the fact that he has to prepare for his financial future like all of us can't go unaddressed. 

Blackjack Mulligan who probably knows Flair as well as anyone told noted wrestling writer Mike Mooneyham that Jack was worried about what would become of Ric once he retired.  Many of us were happy that the WWE hired Ric to be a "Good Will Ambassador" for a healthy amount of money. Some thought that perhaps this would keep the charismatic individual with the seemingly unscratchable itch for excitement and living on the edge content. 

It didn't.

Then "The Champ" signed with an agency to handle his bookings. This should be a good thing. However, what Ric Flair needs is full time management on a on going basis and not just some one to negotiate a fee and book Ric to go somewhere and sign his name. 

Ric needs some one to help protect Ric from Ric. 

The incidents of the past few days have troubled me. Seeing my dear friend with a nasty, black eye as a result of a still somewhat unexplained incident involving his youngest daughter and. allegedly.  her boyfriend.  Bad publicity soon followed the incident that included Ric's own daughter get tasered by the police.  

This is not a good deal any way one slice's it.  Yeah, it might be great cannon fodder for a reality show but is that a good thing? 

Perhaps "Naitch" should ask "The Hulkster" about that one. 

I desperately want Ric Flair to be happy and successful.  He deserves as much.  Ric Flair is loved by many of us and revered in the world of sports and entertainment by some of the most prominent personalities alive.  

I wanted to call "Naitch" when I heard of the ordeal he went through this week but I realized that for the first time in years and years that I did not have his cell number.  I can't remember the last time I did not have Ric Flair's phone number and how much I looked forward to his text messages during college football season or the hilarious texts I would sometimes receive at 4 in the morning. Some of Ric's other friends have said they have called but have been unable to reach him. 

At least they have his number. 

I just want the Nature Boy story to have a happy ending. The legacy of Ric Flair will endure long after many of us are gone and just as any other larger than life personality the legend of "The Naitch" will grow. 

Let's all think positive thoughts that there will be a happy ending to the amazing life of Nature Boy Ric Flair.

How can one not be impressed with young Evan "Air" Bourne? The tag bout on Monday Night Raw featuring Rey and Bourne against John Morrison and Miz was arguably the best bout on Raw Monday night. I think the WWE can "win" with talents like these four.

Wise ass, Internet, wrestling scribes making light of Justin Credible working at an Olive Garden Restaurant should be ashamed of themselves. There is damn sure nothing wrong with earning an honest day's work no matter what any one chooses to do for a living. I heard this same crap from friends and relatives when I first got in the wrestling business.

Jack Swagger, 6'6"-270 pounder, who debuted on ECW this week is another keeper. When he was known as Jake Hager this young man was a division one scholarship athlete at Oklahoma and played for Bob Stoops' football team as a defensive tackle before leaving the football team to concentrate full time on wrestling where he was an All American for the Sooners as a heavyweight. This young, college educated kid grew up in Perry, Oklahoma which is the home of arguably the greatest wrestler alive today,  Danny Hodge. Perry, Oklahoma  is to amateur wrestling as Williamsport, Pa. is to Little League Baseball. 

I love the "Honk-A- Meter and would love to see some interaction down the road between the Honky Tonk Man and Mr. Unibrow himself Santino Marella who's damn near too entertaining to dislike as an antagonist. 

So Jamie Noble was going to take Layla to the Olive Garden, huh? Why couldn't it have been J.R.'s Family BBQ Restaurant.  Seems like JBL's Mamajuana gets plenty of love so what about spreading the wealth with a little BBQ media stretch?

Happy Birthday to WWE Hall of Famer Superstar Billy Graham who is one of the most amazing artists around and one that I would suggest you check out and consider buying some of his original artwork. My wife and I are going to invest in some of Superstar's art. 

Expect to see ABC exploit Road Warrior Animal during this Saturday's much anticipated Ohio State vs. Southern Cal game telecast. Animal's son James is the middle linebacker and  wears #33 for the Buckeyes and will play an integral part of this huge college football game. USC's speed concerns me but I am not declaring a Trojan victory just yet.

I generally enjoy sports talk radio and ESPN's Colin Cowherd is a talented guy with a natural gift of gab but his "knuckle dragging" remarks about wrestling fans among other unflattering things he has said makes him seem so out of touch with today's marketplace as he is generalizing an outdated stereotype. Plus, he did a nice job of riling the Sooner faithful when he talks about "Chokelahoma" when referencing OU's BCS Bowl shortcomings. Hey, perhaps it makes good radio in the eyes of some but I'm not so amused by Cowherd's attempt to become sports talk's version of Howard Stern. 

With Edge away for now it seems as if another native Canadian has taken over where the R Rated Superstar left off and that's being the most controversial performer in the WWE. Chris Jericho is on a roll and had never been better in my view.  Jericho's recent work rivals some of the greats of the business that I have seen. Not only is Jericho intelligent but never...EVER...underestimate the toughness of this man.  

That's it for now...new Q&A's are up now as well. Remember all our items in our store for $9.99 or less. I hope you will give us some consideration for your holiday shopping needs.  

Boomer Sooner! 

J.R.