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

TGIF as the old saying goes but my Granny said that one should never wish their life away as in "I wish today was Sunday so I could watch the NFL playoffs." Granny was right and the older I get the more that I don't want to see the sunset as that means another day has passed me by. Life is good here in Norman.  Our on line business is growing but we need your business. 

I encourage you to support the Haiti cause of your choice as how can one turn their back on the children who have no parents, can't find their siblings, and have no place to live? I honestly can't see how any one could knock the USA's Haitian efforts during this tragedy especially affecting so many kids and if that was one's opinion why would it need to be shared?

My Gran Torino content in Thursday's blog has elicited some entertaining responses. One reader even suggested various wrestlers to play the role of Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood's character) in the film. Names like Ole Anderson, Jerry Lawler, Dutch Mantell, Scandor Akbar, and Steve Austin were mentioned.  Ole would be classic in that role.

Speaking of Dutch, my pal Dennis Brent is reading Dutch's new book and says it is really interesting and I don't know of too many wrestling books that Dennis hasn't read. If Dennis likes it, then I would like it and will definitely give it a shot. Dutch is a colorful character, a bright guy, and we should not be fooled be his Yosemite Sam appearance as Dutch simply being a stereotypical wrestler who is one dimensional and can't articulate his thoughts. Dutch was also pretty handy with a bull whip back in the day.

Larry the Cable Guy is playing at the Riverwind Casino here in Norman tonight. Should I go? I saw Ron White there and he rocked. 

Here's a cool recipe that was sent to the site...canned baked beans, grilled brats sliced and mixed in, chopped onion AND, of course, J.R.'s Chipotle Ketchup. I could also see one using our Hot, BBQ Sauce either with the ketchup or replacing it. Keep those recipes coming that you're using with our products. Hell, I might have another cookbook on my hands. 

Pat Patterson turned 69 this week and the WWE HOF'er who created the Royal Rumble match is still one of the greatest minds in the business. Pat is also a man of convictions after coming to American from Montreal as a teen, not speaking English, having very, very little money to his name and being a Gay man in a tremendously non friendly environment for Gays.  Many old school promoters and power brokers were not always the best people to be around especially when it came to their prejudice ways of thinking as it related to Gays and Minorities. Pat is a wonderful man who was simply one of the top in ring performers that I ever saw in my life. Pat and Ray Stevens formed arguably the greatest tag team ever and most historians would agree that if Patterson and Stevens weren't the best they were easily one of the 5 best teams to ever step into a ring. Pat Patterson is a great friend and is one of the handful of people who still regularly check on me to see how I'm healing. Pat loves to sing and he has talent and is the star of any karaoke function that he attends and has even added some jokes to his "routine." 

Good luck to Chris Jericho and his band, Fozzy, on the release this coming Tuesday of their new CD.  Jericho is not afraid to work and has undying passion for the projects that he is involved. It takes a special performer like Jericho or John Cena to stay SO busy with outside projects and still maintain an active and productive in ring schedule. The only advice that I would share with talents like this is remember the term "moderation" and be sure that you take a "time out" occasionally. Burn out can occur or even more likely injuries are more prevalent when talents are worn out or unfocused. Jericho's in ring work since returning from a year or so sabbatical has been spectacular. 

A Texas judge has ordered former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, a good guy BTW, and the University to sit with a mediator and work out the embarrassing issues that caused Leach's firing at Tech over the alleged treatment of an apparent spoiled, child of privilege athlete. That means to me that Leach will be getting a check of some denomination from Tech who will never have a coach that will have a decade long run like Leach. That includes new coach Tommy Tuberville who is unlikely to stay in Lubbock for more than a couple of years.  I think Tuberville was one of Rock's position coaches back in the days at "The U." 

Good to hear that WWE has announced that Cheech and Chong are the Guest Hosts of the OKC March 1 Raw at the Ford Center in the state's capitol. Reason I say this is that fans around here have been wearing me out not only about tickets to the event but also the identity of the guest host. Now we know the hosts and I STILL don't have any free tickets.  BTW tickets for the OKC RAW start at only $15 which is a helluva deal. 

Of course one's friends don't want just any tickets they NEED to have front row, not any other row, ringside. Please, as Michael Cole used to say, "stop the pain."   

If you want to keep up with my Twitter business then here's the link http://twitter.com/JRsBBQ. 

One day this week I twittered that I thought Dog the Bounty Hunter was actually the 4th or 5th Fabulous Freebird and that I hoped that Warren Sapp would be a future host of Monday Night Raw. Not to mention that I am hooked on "Chelsea Lately" and think that the hilarious Chelsea's sidekick Chuy would interact well with Hornswoggle on a Raw. I also mentioned that I wanted to head slap the dude that does the Taco Bell commercials and thinks that he is weaseling his way to a deal by getting an 89 cent burrito.

Good luck to Trevor Murdoch on the opening of T. Murdoch's Bar and Grill in Eldon, Missouri. The personable and talented Murdoch is a fine young man who has plenty of in ring talent. I hope that Trevor spends as much time in his joint as he physically can because that's the only way that it works. Trust me. Why Murdoch isn't on someone's regular roster is a mystery to me. 

Please stop asking me about the WWE Draft because I have no info on it nor do I know the date, location, etc. Sorry I can't help those that are asking but I can't. My experiences with the Draft have been "unique" to put it nicely but I will say that if I'm still at home when the Draft airs on TV that I will watch it from start to finish.

Big night for fight fans, this might keep me from attending the aforementioned Larry the Cable Guy performance, on Spike TV especially if one is a fan of Brock Lesnar as many of his fights will be featured tonight. One could almost hear a collective sigh of relieve from the UFC offices when Lesnar announced that he was healthy and past his bout with diverticulitis. My instincts tell me that the diverticulitis was simply afraid of the former WWE and NCAA champion and left Lesnar's body voluntarily. 

One emailer railed a little on SD voice Matt Striker for over- hyping something on Friday Night Smackdown. I don't even remember what it was but just for the record announcers are paid to do a certain amount of hype and hyperbole while the magic is to do it and not slap the viewers across the face with it. I've been just as guilty as Striker or any other announcer hyping things that I needed to back down a notch or two.

BTW developing wrestling announcers within the wrestling business is on par with the development of new, wrestling stars. It has to be a priority and a never ending work in progress. Unfortunately  the lack of places individuals can regularly ply their trade will naturally slow down the process. 

An emailer asked me who I felt like was an underrated, wrestling announcer that I can recall and Kevin Kelly's name came to mind. I always thought that Kevin did a really good job. I also think that Tony Schiavone is underrated and was an excellent announcer particularly during the Crockett era but Tony's passion for the product seemed to be beaten out of him by the end of the WCW days.    

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Not that I encourage wagering but I'm looking at the Jets +7 1/2 and the Vikings +4 in the NFL Playoffs this Sunday.

In New Orleans, the Vikings offense must control the ball and the clock meaning Minnesota must be able to effectively run the football and to protect Brett Favre so #4 doesn't launch a plethora of pics.  If the Vikings can do these things they will  successfully take the crowd out of the game which seems essential.

Almost the same story holds true for New York's trip to Indianapolis. Peyton Manning can't hurt you when he standing on the sideline. If the Jets run the ball well, harass manning when he's on the field, and don't see their rookie QB Mark Sanchez implode then the Jets have a shot. 

Are you checking out our Q&A's as I am working daily on updating them? However, if they aren't being read I'll take a respite.

Enjoy the weekend and I hope that you will keep us busy with your orders of our products. The Red Hot Tag special is selling well as are the 6 Pak Powerslams and Jerky Mania.

Remember that we offer FREE SHIPPING  on many of your orders in the USA.

Thanks for stopping by and please forward a link to our site to a friend today. Be well.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.