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JR's Blog: Thursday Update..Rock/Coach on Sports Center Tonight..Gran Torino..Late Night Jets..The View

Posted: Jan 22nd 2010 By: CMBurnham

Thanks for stopping by. All is well in Norman, Oklahoma after a storm damned near blew us away last night. Mother Nature always wins her battles. We appreciate those of you that are supporting us with your on line business as it continues to grow.

The Rock and Jonathan Coachman are scheduled to be featured in a skit tonight on the 6 pm eastern time Sports Center on ESPN. It's set to air about half past the hour as it now stands. It was described to me as "old school WWE" and runs about 1:30 in length. "Charleston" anyone??

My wonderful wife said that I finally made it onto "The View" today but it wasn't as a scheduled guest. Barbara Walters didn't even know my name. The gall!! (I'm joking here.) The worn out piece of video that shows me getting "kicked" south of the belt line a few years ago by Linda McMahon aired. Professional politicians using footage such as that as a campaign issue is down right sad. We do not live in Connecticut any longer and informed voters there should vote for whoever they choose but in my personal opinion making one's voting preference based on a fictional moment from a TV show is lame. For those that read my blogs, you know that I feel politics in general in the USA are largely in sad shape because of professional politicians who are more hellbent about partisan politics and their own agendas than they are about making America a better, safer, more business friendly place to live.

I have become hooked on the Clint Eastwood film "Gran Torino." Are there others who are as obsessed with this film as am I? Is it because Eastwood's character is named "Walter Kowalski" as in Killer Kowalski or is it because Walt Kowalski reminds me of my Dad or even myself at times during the film? Yep, I've got a cranky side but a kind heart...at least that's my story. This movie told a great story whereby one can make the emotional attachment to the characters of which there was only one name star that being Eastwood who also directed and produced the film. If you haven't seen "Gran Torino" I highly recommend it but watch out for the adult oriented language if you have kids in the family.

For the record, I've met dozens of old time wrestlers who had some of the same personality traits as "Walt Kowalski" in "Gran Torino." "Walt" departed on the young neighbor boy Tao the same "guidance" that my Dad did me which in today's world would likely get Dad in trouble and on an episode of "Dr. Phil."

Today I met with OU hoops coach Jeff Capel, former star at Duke, and gave him a signed Ric Flair 8X10 that "Naitch" sent his fellow North Carolinian. Coach Capel is one of the great men in coaching and OU is lucky to have him at a school known for football and not basketball. Living in a college town is great for a sports fan like me as there are always games to attend.

Wrestling pet peeve of the week: wrestlers who wear jewelry while competing such as earrings and necklaces. Why not wear their Rolex watches as well? Yes, I freely admit that I'm a dinosaur, old schooler but it sort of takes me out of the moment of physicality when I see athletes in wrestling tights displaying their bling and their bling isn't used against them.

Funny email today....many liked my idea to have a Celeb Poker Tourney with WWE Superstars and stars from other walks of life playing Texas Hold 'Em for Haiti...and one person said that he thought I would be great at poker because the one thing that 3 bouts of Bells palsy gave me was a "poker face." I thought that was funny...and true. It reminded me of the sign I always remember seeing after my 2nd Bells palsy attack that read, "JR's Lost His Smile." Ouch.

Great analogy from one of our visitors to the site when they compared Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher to Stone Cold Steve Austin as in the Bruiser and the Crusher were to their generation what Steve has been to his. BTW don't miss Steve on "Chuck" this Monday on NBC at 8/7 central. Bruiser and Crusher wrestled like villains, loved a cold beer and generally kicked ass much like Stone Cold did in WWE.

Just to set the record straight, we are NOT looking to expand our BBQ concept at this time to other locations. Keeping up with the restaurant biz is sternly challenging and is more than another full time job. If we ever decide to do other eateries, and that's a huge IF, it would be via franchising the concept but that is not any where on the horizon at this time. I wish it were but the horrible economy and my health issues have significantly back burnered that matter.

We are focusing on growing our on line business which is why I hype it and promote it so much not to mention that we sell great products that our family is really happy to share with you.

We are getting new folks to the site all the time. If you are a first timer, please let us know how you heard of our website.

,,,and tell a friend.

My WWE.com Smackdown blog is up on the Smackdown page at www.wwe.com.

If you follow us on Twitter, please let me know. Just curious as to what you like or don't and how many are using the service of which I still don't fully understand. I'm having a blast doing it though and Tweet about a variety of topics at all hours.

Many members of the New York Jets were spotted in NYC this week partying including drinking some "shots" which I hope either means that they are really loose and ready to travel to Indianapolis to battle the Colts or are they drumming up a little false courage for the Jet nation? I think I like the Jets and the points Sunday but I'll get back to you on that one. I have too many pals who are Jets devotees to cheer for the talented Colts.

Cool email question...what wrestler that I never met would I have liked to have met? Great question. I answered Ed "Stranger" Lewis Jim Londos on our updated Q&A's but should have added Frank Gotch.

Read on line today where MMA journalists feel that Brock Lesnar will be "focused" and ready to rock when he returns to the Octagon. Duh. Not only did I write this yesterday but anyone who has followed Lesnar's athletic career knows that he despises being 2nd best at any thing and that he loves confrontation and competition. I am thankful that Brock is healthy and would not wish for him or any one to endure what I had to deal with regarding stomach and colon issues. Brock will be a monster for his next fight especially if he can't eat as much red meat as he used to. If Brock tells himself that he can have a big steak if he wins, then watch out!

Thanks for stopping by and for keeping those orders rolling. We need to be in your 'fridge...so to speak....with bottles of our sauces and ketchup.

BTW my doctor is happy with my progress medically and likes that I am using our Beef Jerky as my "late night snack" rather than sugar laden products which weren't doing me any favors.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.

Tags: Jim Ross, WWE, Ric Flair, Ed Lewis