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

Good to be back home after visiting chilly Omaha Tuesday for the doubleheader taping of Friday Night Smackdown. The Omaha crowd was small but lively and they really did their share to make the event Tuesday night as good as it possibly could. I will be in here in Norman for a few hours before leaving Thursday for Houston where I will do a media day Friday for the  WWE Hall of Fame with tickets becoming available on Saturday at 10 a.m. Here are a few random thoughts. 

Our condolences to the family of Lanny Kean, Jr. who wrestled in many territories and in the WWE in the 80's and was best known for portraying Cousin Junior. Kean died this week of an apparent heart attack in Kentucky. Lanny was one of the ex-wrestlers that the WWE has  helped attend rehab to address his apparent drug and alcohol issues. Unfortunately Lanny left the Atlanta facility before finishing the treatment.

Now that we have a few of these every other week doubleheader tapings of Friday Night Smackdown under our belts, I can conclusively say that I have never done any broadcasts that are as challenging and as taxing as these. We started at 7:15 p.m. and finished at approximately 10:40 p.m. which is getting it! The entertainment world is supposed to be a "fun" venture and I have a theory that most people in the entertainment world, of which pro wrestling fits, are basically lazy by nature simply like to have fun and when they are having fun they do their jobs in a passionate way. Let me tell you friends and neighbors the broadcast roles on Smackdown doubleheaders is far from a day at the beach and is downright hard work. I know, poor me, but broadcasting two Friday night Smackdown's is much tougher than doing an entire PPV and when comparing these every other Tuesdays to a live Monday Night Raw, broadcasting Raw is like "stealing." Might be a nice gig for young Todd Grisham. 

Sorry to hear of my old friend Sgt. Slaughter being released from the WWE as I did not know it until I arrived in Omaha on Tuesday. Sarge and I both worked for Bill Watts back in the 70's, Sarge under his real name of Bob Remus, and for economic reasons we used to split an $8 room, with two beds for you wise asses out there, at the lovely Belmont Motor Inn on Airline Highway in Baton Rouge, La. Sarge and I made many visits to the local Chinese Buffet, usually in the late afternoon, for the all one could eat extravaganza or a "pitch 'till you win" meal.  Often times was our lunch AND dinner, or supper for my southern brethren. Sarge went on to become a huge star in wrestling and is one of the nicest individuals to ever work in the biz. I have yet to speak with Sarge but I will and I know he will eventually be fine. Bob has been in tough spots before in this wacky profession and has always persevered. I am not making light of this matter whatsoever as I can relate to Sarge's dilemma.  

I remember raising hell, for better or for worse, and it wasn't for the better quite honestly, when I was abruptly moved from Raw to Smackdown.  But I did not lose my job. Looking back on that time in my life,  I feel embarrassed that I raised hell over a little humiliation on TV, not my first, and now some of my pals are unemployed.   

Our country is facing major league economic challenges and the worse seemingly is yet to come. The WWE had to let some mighty good people go but I'm sure the same can be said of many, many company's in America.

Ron Simmons, who became the first black World's Champion of a major wrestling company when he defeated Big Van Vader in August of 1992 in Baltimore, has also been released from the WWE. I did not know this one either until I walked into the Quest Center Tuesday in Omaha. Ron might want to explore public and motivational speaking as he has a great story to tell and the pipes to tell it. Ironically that night in Baltimore, Ron defeated Leon (Vader) White in a battle of two division one college football stars of significant acclaim and it was a nose guard (Simmons from Florida State) versus a center (White from Colorado) in a match orchestrated by Bill Watts (former lineman at Oklahoma) who was in charge of WCW at that time. 

By the way, both Sarge and Ron were involved in Starrcade events over the years and Starrcade is now out on DVD and highly recommended on this end. Starrcade was the biggest live event of the year for Jim Crockett Promotions Mid Atlantic territory and then became a viable PPV. There are some awesome bouts on this DVD from an era where many old school fans would say that the wrestling was more physical, where more holds and counters were utilized, where personal issues were embellished and build over longer periods of time, and were fans truly made a significant emotional investment in said rivalries. Broadcasting many of the Starrcades featured was a blast for me and an awesome adrenaline rush. (That's for you Hawk.)  

My last talent recommendation to  the WWE talent relations department is the new ECW Champion Jack Swagger. Swagger wrestled at Oklahoma, my gosh we can't say THAT on TV, and used to eat the occasional meal at the Ross home while a student at OU. Swagger, then known as Jake Hager, was roommates with current Chicago Bear Dusty Dvorchek and the two of them used to hang out at our home. There is no reason Swagger shouldn't be a star if he continues to work hard and doesn't make any foolish or irresponsible mistakes. Educated 6'6"-270 pounders with natural balance, agility, a wrestling background and a bona fide mean streak aren't easy to find.

Jack Swagger is what I believe the WWE needs to recruit more of and that is tough, physical collegiate athletes who are college degreed with a strong work ethic and the drive to settle for being only the best and who don't have to go on the injured list every time they get a bump or a bruise. 

WWE HOF'er Gerald Brisco and WWE Diva Mickie James were involved in separate car accidents on Monday late night leaving Raw and heading to Omaha. Black ice was the culprit and both individuals escaped serious injury on the treacherous roads during frigid weather. I am not a big night time traveler if the weather is bad especially after a full day and night at work. I would rather find the nearest, local hotel and begin my trip the next day in the day light. 

Yours truly will be all over Houston doing WWE Hall of Fame media this Friday including the KRIV TV morning show at 7:30....790 Sports Talk at 8:40...94.5 The Buzz at 9:10...Sports Radio 610 at 10...KGOW radio with the notorious Ken "I like the dirt" Hoffman at Nick's Place Bar and Grill at noon....plus in the afternoon at ESPN Radio, Hot 95.7, KILT FM Country...and KBXX Radio "The Boxx." 

The announcement of my friend Stone cold Steve Austin going into the WE Hall of Fame in Houston on Saturday night April 4 was a big hit in my world. Steve is the greatest star of all time in the wrestling biz if one considers revenue into the equation including tickets and pay per views sold along with merchandise sales. Steve was a fierce competitor who was always his own worst critic and would not allow himself to be any thing but the best in his field. My hiring of Stone Cold certainly made my tenure as the head of talent relations in the WWE look good but, trust me, Steve Austin attained his success through hard work and being an amazing student of the game. Steve did and still does identify amazingly well with wrestling fans which helped him craft his Stone Cold persona so well. Ironically, Steve became a wrestling fan while watching wrestling from Houston which will be the same city that Steve will close the wrestling chapter of his life at WM25. 

The radio talk, internet speculation, etc all makes for entertaining discussions about Steve wrestling again but I feel  know him better than any one in the business and Stone Cold's days of donning his tights and black boots are history. Trust me on that one. 

I will be anxiously awaiting The Texas Rattlesnake's (what announcer came up with that?) induction speech and I know that fans from around the Globe are going to want to be in Houston to officially say goodbye to Stone Cold Steve Austin, WWE Hall of Famer and the best ever. 

MMA sources say that the Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir fight will likely occur on May 22 in Las Vegas. Lesnar is looking to avenge submission loss to Mir and I can personally assure you that Brock loves to "get even" and pay back can be hell from this freak of nature. Unless Brock makes a decisive mistake, Mir is in for a long night or a short night this spring. Lesnar training with Randy Couture and company is a sign of how gladly Brock wants to improve his over all game and how badly Lesnar wants to eradicate Mir. 

My thanks to those of you that have shopped in our store here on the site. Like any business we appreciate and need your support. 

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.