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

Greetings from under the black, 200X Resistol hat from the soon to be Bar-B-Q Capitol of the World (Hey, I can dream can’t I?) Norman, Oklahoma.

What a great, long weekend the Mrs. and I had down in Dallas commemorating the OU-Texas Red River Shootout, which the Sooners won 28-21 in one of the better college football games I have seen in quite some time. My hat is off to the Longhorns who played hard and were well prepared for their rivals from North of the Red River. Unlike some of my WWE associates, I will continue to demonstrate some class when speaking of this classic rivalry, just as I will do the next time my Sooners lose to Texas.

It was great hearing from the likes of Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker during the OU-UT game, as all these guys are class acts and we always have a great time no matter who wins during this much anticipated weekend. I had the opportunity to be on the Sooner sideline with Toby Keith, Adrian Peterson, LA Dodger pitcher Brad Penny, and the Dallas Cowboys’ Roy Williams during the game, which was also a blast.

OU has another huge challenge awaiting them this Saturday evening in Norman when the nationally ranked Missouri Tigers come to town. Mizzou will play the Sooners off their feet without question and this Saturday’s game on Fox Sports will be tougher for Oklahoma to win than perhaps even the Texas game. Nonetheless, the Sooners have played themselves back into the Big 12 Title hunt, which means they are back in the National Title picture, as well, but losing to Mizzou this week would stick a dagger in the hearts of all OU fanatics, without question.

I am going to be at the game and then fly to the United Kingdom for Monday Night Raw. The King and I will fly from Chicago to Manchester on Sunday afternoon arriving in the UK on Monday morning where we will travel by ground to Birmingham for a sold out Monday Night Raw. Then it is back to Manchester after the event and a flight home Tuesday, which will see me get back to OKC around 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Busy week, but as my Dad used to say, “No hill for a stepper.” Plus the opportunity to work before the wonderful fans of the UK is always a thrill, as they are passionate and their enthusiasm is definitely contagious. Who knows, we might even see some “J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q” signs in the audience Monday night.

My congrats to my friend Travis Hafner, #48 of the Cleveland Indians, and his teammates for advancing in the American League Baseball playoffs with a 3-1 edge over the New York Yankees. Travis is a huge Monday Night Raw AND Sooner fan, so how can I not cheer for the power hitting DH of the Tribe? Seriously, Travis is a down to earth, good person that any of you would like as well if given the opportunity to meet him.

The business at J.R.’s Family Bar-B-Q is really doing great and we should have a super week this week with the ESPN Game Day crew in town for the OU-Missouri Big 12 Slobber-Knocker. OU and Mizzou fans will be visiting our place this week and I plan to spend as much time at J.R.’s as possible during this huge, football week.

Our website folks tell me we are selling the heck out of our autographed J.R.’s Cookbook, which brings a smile, or as best I can generate one, to my face. We do appreciate all your business and support and that’s not a sales pitch but simply a fact.

One door closes and another opens.

John Cena will unfortunately be out of action for 7-12 months it would appear and Cena being back for Wrestlemania seems like a stretch, but I am no doctor, nor am I underestimating John Cena’s work ethic and will to heal, after under going successful pectorial surgery by the skilled hands of Dr. Jim “Saint” Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama. No one, and I mean no one, will work harder than will John Cena to get back better than he ever was after this major surgery, so any one of us that puts time limit restrictions on Cena aren’t using our best judgment. The “Cena haters” and the anti Cena proponents, I assume, are happy that Cena is off their TV sets for now, but most will retort with the same old, worn out response of “I just wanted someone else to be champion.” Oh well, to each his own I suppose.

Shawn Michaels return to Raw Monday was a huge surprise and man did the live crowd, who were super all night, in Grand Rapids, Michigan ever respond accordingly. HBK has been sorely missed as his leadership and maturity in the locker room is a great asset with such a young group of Raw superstars currently competing. I assume HBK will be in the UK this Monday for Raw much to the chagrin of Randy Orton, the new WWE Champion. HBK is feeling great and is as competitive as ever. If there is a man in the WWE with more passion and desire to steal every show on which he appears, I would love to meet him and give him a well deserved attaboy. There is, without fail, some superstars with HBK-level passion but that list is short and very exclusive. The young talents that can find that passion in themselves on a nightly basis will see their status on the cards improve greatly along with their bank accounts.

The difference between great wrestlers who started in HBK’s era and the wrestlers who have started without the benefit of the territory system is often times the will to be the absolute best and snatch up those top, main event slots on the card because that is where the big cash is found. Wrestlers of a generation ago found a way to get to the Promised Land where many, not all, of today’s younger athletes are seemingly content to wait for their break to be awarded to them. I know that for me personally if I had done that I would still be on the ring crew and refereeing matches just like I was doing in the 70s and would have never become a broadcaster.

It looks like a nice rivalry is evolving between IC Champ Jeff Hardy and Mr. Kennedy. I am interested in this matchup and feel both these two men are going to play a major part in the long term growth of the Raw brand. Both Hardy and Kennedy had their fair share of fans in Grand Rapids Monday night, which always makes for an interesting presentation. I should have most likely done a better job identifying the Kennedy fans’ chants in hindsight in Grand Rapids.

To say that HHH and Umaga have unfinished business would be an understatement. This pairing could really produce some compelling bouts going forward, which will no doubt be physical, which I personally really enjoy. This will not be a “cute” or “comedic” presentation that is for sure and that suits me just fine. Smashmouth wrestling still works more often than not, as these two will deliver the raw steak that most of us enjoy seeing.

Speaking of HHH, what a night he had at No Mercy. I have been around a long time, no jokes please, and I can assure you that it is tougher than the proverbial $2 steak to wrestle THREE main event level bouts in one night, but The Game pulled it off. The last main event with Last Man Standing rules was old school spectacular and HHH and Master Randy Orton told a damn compelling story. I hope all the talents who were not booked on No Mercy, but were in Chicago, were paying attention and not packing their bags to make a quick getaway from the arena or playing video games in some hidden part of the building. I thought the last match of No Mercy was really special and I had a blast being a fan and enjoying every moment of it.

Check back with us soon and we will be answering your comments. Thanks and please take the time to visit our store before you leave the site. Again, we sincerely appreciate your business and don’t forget that our autographed J.R.’s Cookbook offer includes free mailing in the continental United States.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.