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Collected Wisdom: Jim Ross

Posted: Dec 9th 2007 By: CMBurnham

He's been a Monday night stable for over 10 years and has been in the wrestling business for 34. His patented catchphrases such as "slobberknocker", "being whipped like a government mule", "running away like a scalded dog", among others, have branched out past wrestling. But Jim Ross is more than just the Hall of Fame announcer for World Wrestling Entertainment and an Oklahoma Sooners fanatic. He's a grown up kid from Westville living his dream and running his restaurant; J. R.'s Family Bar-B-Q.

The following are some observations from J. R. himself about his life and career:

I can remember the year I started watching wrestling--1960. I spent almost every Saturday night with my grandparents. We would watch "Gunsmoke" "Perry Mason" the local news at 10. At 10:30 would be the one-hour wrestling show. That was my Saturday night. I got that wonderful experience of being young enough to learn from my grandparents. They were great role models. My parents were great, too.

I was an only child growing up. My mom and dad converted a concrete block milk barn into our home. I was born in eastern Oklahoma--Westville. My dad made a smoker out of 50-gallon drum. He would put meats on the smoker at 6 in the morning and then go to work on the highway patrol. My job was the make sure the fire never went out. I got the fundamentals of smoking meat at an early age because it was one of my chores.

My wrestling career started out akin to my running away from home and joining the circus in 1974 and I have loved every minute of it. I think I have a few more miles left in the tank before I focus on growing out BBQ business full time.

We hired Steve Williams, "Dr. Death" between his junior and senior years at OU. And Doc was a wrestler for OU and played football for Coach (Barry) Switzer. We hired Steve and worked him into pro wrestling. So that's when I met Coach Switzer, about 1980. I was just in awe of him. He was such a charismatic guy. He was genuine and real. He had this uncanny memory.

We're ready to celebrate our 15th year anniversay of "Monday Night Raw" on December 10. Two weeks ago in Charlotte, we did episode #757. for one show to be on cable TV for 15 years in primetime without being cancelled is nothing short of amazing.

I think that wrestling is part of the American fabric. Whether it be a large part or a small part is up to the individual, but it's part of the fabric of Americana.

He (Mike Stoops) and Mike Leach used to watch "Monday Night Raw" when they were looking at tape. They would take a break to watch and that's how I met Mike in 1999. Through Mike, that was my way of meeting the other coaches and, of course, his brother Bob. Since that time, I've become great friends with Bob and all the other coaches.

I know when I did the XFL on NBC, one of the first things the writer from USA Today said was that I was an exciteable guy with a Southern drawl. Somebody said "Did you see the way they knocked you in the paper?" I read it and, well, I am exciteable and I am enthusiastic. I do enjoy what I do. Whatever I do, I'm going to put everything I've got into it. I'm not ashamed of my Southern drawl. It's part of my heritage.

I'm a dreamer. When you stop dreaming, stop having goals--you stop living. My wife, Jan, is a real great motivator. She's in the gym four or five times a week. She's a bundle of energy and a great resource and inspiration for me.

It's not Mr. Ross. It's J. R. It's J. R. to everybody. My dad was Mr. Ross. I'm J. R.--that's just the way it is.

Tags: Jim Ross