Random thoughts from hither and yon…
WWE Friday Night Smackdown leaving the CW Network at the end of this season seems to be the most topical news story of the day. Smackdown will move to another network, come Fall, after being on the air approximately 10 years on network, prime time TV. It would seem to me that Smackdown would have ample suitors for the two hour program with an established, built in audience. Original, first-run programming, 51 weeks a year, is a premium commodity for any TV network. One could also assume that it is possible that Smackdown could theoretically move back to its original Thursday night slot if that’s where the negotiations took it. Bottom line, as Stone Cold Steve Austin would say, is that Smackdown will undoubtedly find a new home this Fall, while the compelling aspect of the matter is where and on what night? Yours truly actually broadcast the very first episode of Smackdown, which might be the answer to a trivia question some day. Since then, Michael Cole, if that is his real name, has admirably sat in the lead announcer’s chair and has quietly put up some damn impressive numbers as it relates to the number of episodes on which he has appeared.
News of the WWE severing its ties with Ohio Valley Wrestling was met by yours truly with mixed emotions. The WWE made a business decision to consolidate all their developmental talents under one roof, in Tampa, which makes sense. For young athletes to live in Florida isn’t all bad, as one could easily surmise. The Florida facility is apparently a bona fide, first rate operation that has been a significant investment by the WWE to make it state of the art. Nonetheless, OVW’s legacy will be that of helping to develop some of the WWE biggest stars of this generation and for that, Danny Davis and his crew, including trainer Al Snow, among others, should be commended. I have long said that the future success of the WWE largely lies in the success of their developmental program and now that responsibility rests squarely on the shoulders of the Florida operation. Recruiting athletic, extroverted, preferably long time wrestling fans to train to be WWE Superstars is a huge responsibility, as the actual number of individuals who make it and become main eventers is minuscule compared to the number of people that are signed. Many more people will not make it to the Promised Land than will, which mirrors other major sports and entertainment entities.
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Ah, the glamorous life of a ‘rasslin announcer… Tuesday morning I left the Mohegan Sun at 3:45 a.m. for my trip to Hartford’s Bradley Airport to fly back to OKC via Dallas. A short night to say the least, but I got to watch SportsCenter like 3 times and catch up with LSU’s victory over Ohio State for the National Championship of college football’s most elite division. LSU is tough to beat, essentially at home, and Les Miles’ squad is talented and fast and proved too much for James Laurinaitis’ Buckeyes to handle. Laurinaitis is the son of Road Warrior Animal and the rumors abound that James will declare for the NFL Draft which remains to be seen. My take on that matter is that a kid has to take the big, guaranteed money IF it is there, but there is nothing better than the college experience if the large cash isn’t a guarantee via being a first round draft pick.
I met a bunch of fans after Raw Monday night at the hotel and did my best to sign all their autograph requests and then even took photos and signed some autographs Tuesday morning at 4 a.m. which should invoke some scary images. By the way, the crowd at the Mohegan Sun Casino Arena was hot Monday night – and that certainly helps any TV show, as the Raw fans went above and beyond the call.
Many fans were disappointed that Ric Flair was not on Raw Monday and I don’t know why he wasn’t but I do know that many fans are talking about the Flair retirement scenario wherever I travel. Hopefully “Naitch” will make an appearance next Monday when Raw originates from Mobile, Alabama. From what I can tell it would see that Raw goes full time HD in two weeks. (more…)
My thanks to those of you that have responded with such positive feedback over the past few days. It is refreshing to read of the positive energy from so many especially for a business that is about entertainment and not about any of the urgencies that we face in many aspects of our every day lives. Wrestling is intended, in my opinion, to be fun and entertaining and to not be over analyzed as it so often times is. There is no doubt that TV wrestling is subjective and that some weeks are definitely better than others. Just like we have some days that are better than others, some wrestling programs are better some weeks than other weeks. I plan on doing my best to keep this site positive and fun and to not allow myself or what I do for a living to be taken too seriously. The product should be entertaining, but without fail some weeks will be more entertaining than others and no broadcast will ever be perfect. I’m still looking for that perfect show even after 4 decades of trying. I will continue to seek the perfect broadcast even though I fully realize I am likely to never experience it. But I will continue to have fun and enjoy what I do and the day that ceases is the day the black hat disappears from your TV set.
It was a great weekend for yours truly on a personal level as I attended the Big 12 Title game in San Antonio and watched from the OU sideline as the Sooners won another Championship over a talented Missouri team, that had a super year.
Now it is on to the Fiesta Bowl for my team and I plan on attending the festivities in the desert, come January 2, when Oklahoma plays a really strong West Virginia team.
This Monday is really a wonderful milestone in broadcasting, as it will be the 15th Anniversary of Monday Night Raw. It is amazing that this program has lasted all these years in the volatile world of cable TV and in prime time to boot. Kudos to the many men and women who have contributed to the show’s success over the past 15 years. I am proud to have been a small part of the process and hope to continue to be sitting at ringside every Monday night for the foreseeable future doing what I love to do and that is broadcast wrestling and to, hopefully, entertain people. There isn’t another two hours of the entire week that I enjoy more than being at ringside as a part of Monday Night Raw. (more…)
According to everyone I have been in contact with this week, the Oklahoma Sooners have had an exceptional week of practice in preparation for Saturday’s Big 12 Championship Showdown against the #1 ranked team in the nation, the Missouri Tigers.
The Sooners has been focused and intense in their practices, and to a man are looking forward to flying to San Antonio Friday afternoon for a return match with the explosive Tigers, who OU defeated on October 13. Seven days after beating Texas, by the way, 41-31, in Norman.
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We hope every one had a great Thanksgiving and didn’t eat too much. I can’t say I heeded my own advise but I sure had a super time with family, friends, food, and football! We are excited about how well our Redneck Gift Buckets are selling. Keep the orders coming as our shippers have been instructed to do whatever it takes to get your orders out within hours of receiving them. The feedback we have received from those who have received their products has been overwhelmingly positive and we are more certain than ever that our new Gift Buckets make not only wonderful holiday gifts but great gifts for any occasion. Please check out our Store before you leave the site….And thanks for everything you do for all of us that work hard to make this website as entertaining and informative as we possibly can.
“J.R.’s Nuts” are Big!!!!
Bar-B-Qed feedback time:
Steve- Nebraska coach Bill Callahan certainly seems like a jerk. His disrespect of Dr. Tom Osborne was unprofessional and unnecessary. Now that Callahan is gone, the great tradition of Cornhusker football needs to be jump started. Perhaps they can hire Tazz as he seems to be a husker fan, most weeks. Seriously, the Nebraska job is a plum of a job and with the athletic director Peterson gone perhaps Bo Pelini who is at LSU will try once again to get the head job in Huskerland on a full time basis.
Kelvin-thanks for the props regarding the call of the Orton-HBK match at Survivor series. Most announcers only have experience doing today’s sports entertainment while I have had the opportunity to work in the territories where classic wrestling matches were always the goal. I am still a believer than there are a good many fans would prefer to see more wrestling and physicality over some types of humor especially when the humor isn’t properly executed and thus isn’t that funny. Back to HBK-Orton, the call would not have been worth talking about it the two talents had not put on such a strong performance. (more…)
First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all Sooner Football fans and here’s hoping you enjoy the holiday with your family and friends. Regardless of the heartbreaking loss at Texas Tech last week, all of us still have a great deal to be thankful for as it relates to our favorite football team.
Also, please don’t forget to include our troops in your prayers and thoughts this weekend. Many of us will be fortunate enough to be able to see OU play Oklahoma State Saturday, either in person or on TV, while many Oklahomans serving our country will have other priorities with which to address.
There is not much more that can be said about the disappointing play of the Sooners last Saturday down in Lubbock that hasn’t been already been repeated over and over. The team’s sense of urgency, or seemingly their lack thereof, was disheartening against Tech especially with so much at stake, including the opportunity to play for another national title on January 7. However, the Big 12 Championship and a BCS Bowl Game are still within reach with a Sooner win on Saturday in Norman against our in-state rival, who has designs on breaking hearts in the Sooners’ house Saturday at 2:30 pm.
J.R.
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