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

Coming off our recent Monday Night RAW in Atlanta, it felt appropriate to add this vintage photo of yours truly with the inspirational leader of the Fabulous Freebirds, Michael "P.S." Hayes. The Birds really got rolling in the Mid South working for the big Cowboy, Bill Watts, and was heat seeking missiles in and out of the ring. Terry Gordy was a true phenomenon and was damn near as good at 15 years of age as many of today's wrestlers are with years more experience. Gordy was a prodigy and as natural as any talent I can ever remember seeing. The Freebirds lived hard outside the ring as they were the 'Birds 24/7. Unfortunately, Terry was a victim of that lifestyle but he will always be missed and I will always have fond memories of the big country boy who was as good as anyone in the business back in the day. Buddy Roberts, a veteran when he joined the Freebirds, was the perfect compliment to Hayes and Gordy as Roberts was extremely skilled, very underrated and taught both his younger partners a great deal about in ring psychology. Hayes has to be ranked as one of the all time best "stick men" or talkers ever in the biz. At least he is for my money. Michael and I partnered on the TV broadcast of Watts' UWF and had a helluva great time working together. Michael Hayes was an excellent color analyst, one of the best I ever worked with in my career. Michael has a great mind for the business and works in the creative area at the WWE and still makes his home near Atlanta.