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JR's Blog: Good News on Shipping Costs...Post Smackdown Random Thoughts...Beyond the Mat...Sailors Need Thick Skin

Posted: Nov 2nd 2008 By: mikeiles

What a great football weekend here in Norman with temps today scheduled to be in the upper 70's or low 80's. Oklahoma plays our most respected rival, Nebraska, Saturday night at 8/7 central on ESPN where yours truly will be manning the sidelines spending my favorite time of the entire week watching "my team" play. This will be a much more positive experience than reading on the 'net how "ridiculous" I looked Friday night in the sailor's outfit on Smackdown. I think that was the general idea and, if so, mission accomplished. The truth hurts sometimes.

Overall, I enjoyed Friday Night Smackdown. I have certainly been a part of worse broadcasts and without question on better ones as well. Because it was Halloween and I was providing moral support for the Mrs as she gave out Halloween candy to all the little ghouls and goblins in our neighborhood, I actually watched the show as it aired and not via DVR.

Wife Jan was unaware that I was in costume until she saw the show and without question she laughed out loud and started calling relatives and friends. I felt so proud. Thanks, honey.

Speaking of Halloween and the generation we live in and what our society may look forward to in the future, some little 7 or 8 year old spoiled brat asked Jan if she had Kit Kat bars and she said no that she had Snickers, Milky Ways, M&M's and several other prominent name brand candy. After finding out that there were no Kit Kat bars the boy told my wife, "Keep your candy lady" and walked off. His mommy was waiting for the child in their Mercedes at the end of our drive way but what I would have given to have been at the door when the little jerk showed complete disrespect to someone providing him FREE stuff.

Get back to your video game you little turd or go critique a wrestling show on the internet.

I saw some criticism of Chavo Guerrero being 'Taker's Casket Match opponent as if anyone thought Chavo was going to be any thing more than a sacrificial lamb and set the table for the Big Show. I thought that was pretty well established without saying such long before the final segment of the show.

Yes, I made a factual error as the Undertaker has lost the isolated, casket match here and there including one that I called against the late Yokozuna. That was a mental lapse on my end and ironically no one ever corrected me. I had asked for more info earlier in the day on Casket Matches but that info never materialized. No mistaking, this was my error but sometimes a guy needs a little help remembering all the details considering I've got more going on in my life than wrestling....or entertainment...or whatever. Nonetheless I apologize for the mistake. Perhaps my sailor hat was on too tight.

The Masked Magician segment was forgettable. But now I'm sounding as cynical as those that described yours truly in a variety of unique ways last night including "ridiculous", Pillsbury Doughboy", etc. Oh well, I wonder what the masked magician does in his day job.

Jimmy Yang is grossly underrated and with such a lack of talent depth why Yang isn't being utilized more prominently is a question I won't venture to ask.

For Big Zeke to improve and get to the next level both financially and talent wise, he needs to start wrestling more and managing or what ever it is he does less. Nice look, solid athleticism, but the only way a young guy gets better is to get into the ring and get after it. We all know Kendrick is really good, just small, which can work to Brian's advantage with Zeke in the picture.

I have no idea where the seemingly nicer Great Khali is going but I am thankful that he is heterosexual. Ranjin's sideburns are outrageous and are just a little width away from the lamb chop level, Honky Tonk Man level. Could these two natives of India, not HTM, be preparing to be the next comedy pairing in their native land? Stranger things have happened friends and neighbors.

Why didn't Michael Cole mention that the King and HTM are first cousins when they all did their "entertaining" commentary Monday Night? I would have loved to have heard the reactions.

I really enjoyed the 6 man tag on Friday Night Smackdown. Really nice energy and execution. Plus, the world's "Angriest Announcer" was particularly good in this contest. He was oh so "entertaining" and isn't that what matters most for a TV performer?

The submission hold that the Undertaker uses has no official name for the record. Gogoplata it is not even though it isn't if you know what I mean. We aren't allowed to say choke but it does slip by occasionally.

Said it before...I like where Vladimir Kozlov is headed but how much better would he be with a bona fide, main event level manager? BTW there are none available which speaks to the shape the business is in regarding talent development.

Some naysayers who seemingly love to bitch about virtually every segment of every broadcast took issue at the Monday Night Raw promotion within Friday Night Smackdown. Were you surprised that the WWE pushed promoting the 3 hour Raw this Monday in Tampa? Raw sells more PPV's than any other WWE vehicle and getting Raw healthy with strong ratings is a must.

Speaking of Raw, what a jaw dropping night it would be if Miz and Morrison beat DX and Jericho beat Batista in the World's Title Bout. I'm just saying.....

Yours truly made the mistake of watching "Beyond the Mat" late Friday night and watching it still pisses me off. I honestly feel as if I was duped during the production of this film which I was told specifically was only going to be an "art film" and released only in a few selected art theaters. No one ever mentioned a DVD release or the fact that the film was produced in 1999 and is still playing on cable. Bottom line, I spend many, many hours in helping facilitate WWE talents for the film not to mention helping provide unlimited access and got not as much as a thank you in the credits much less a pay day. The film goes to great lengths to sensationalize the negative aspect of the business, some deservedly so, and without question the production had its stellar moments. But a thanks and a check would have been nice to have received as I assure you that the film made someone some cash.

Just for the record, we broke the Austin breaking the extras nose on the set of Steve's movie last week. We had that here on Monday. Steve always texts me on game day or I him and he will hopefully be able to find ESPN Saturday night in Vancouver to watch the OU-Nebraska game. Many eyes Saturday night will be in Lubbock Texas where Texas Tech hopes to upset #1 ranked Texas which most college football fans other than those who support UT are pulling for as well. I see Texas winning but a Tech win would not shock me either in what will be a rabid Lubbock, Texas Saturday night on ABC.

Just a personal opinion, but I would love to see more pieces like the Cena vignette utilized to help establish more wrestler's personas. In order for any talent to become marketable, the audience must make an emotional investment in that individual and understand what the athlete is about. What do they do outside the ring as in what are their hobbies, their personal backgrounds, what are their families like, essentially what makes these men and women tick?. The smallest detail can actually link a fan to the wrestler and then the foundation begins to be established or strengthened.

BTW is there anything sadder when watching TV wrestling than to seeing a non skilled verbalizer attempt to be a comedian?

Got a nice email from a fan who actually did remember Sailor Art Thomas on a night where the ultra powerful Thomas with a body builders psychique before the advent of "you know what" teaming with Dick "The Bruiser" (no kids that not a porn star) vs. the Blackjacks, Mulligan and Lanza, managed but the incomparable Bobby Heenan. BTW if Heenan were in is prime today and was managing Kozlov, I would pencil the big Russian in the Main Event at Wrestlemania as we speak.

I plan on answering a bunch of your questions/comments on our Q&A section before I head to Orlando this week. Depending on how the OU-NU games comes out they might be a little edgy.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by. Oh yea, our store is open for those of you that feel like supporting the cause here. Your biz is greatly appreciated. We have positive news on our shipping issues so that problem is solved for most of you via the United States Postal Service.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.