• Look Back In History
• Pmessages
• Quiz
• Stump The Staff
• Top Fifty
• Close

JR's Blog: Mayweather-Pacquiao..The Rock Says..Striker..Jamarcus Russell..Tony Atlas..Jericho Not Welcome..Order BBQ Sauce Today

Posted: May 3rd 2010 By: CMBurnham

Great day here in Oklahoma with bright, sunshine as I prepare to head to the backyard to catch up on work and reading. Our $19.88 Original BBQ Sauce special is doing very well. Check it out and Thanks! As much as we enjoy working on our website it is all about selling products which fund what this venture. Your support is sincerely appreciated.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao has to happen if boxing wants to maintain a pulse. Why does Pacquiao refuse to allow drug screening/testing via blood samples? If Manny has nothing to hide then he will do the drug testing as requested and make history in his chosen profession.

Mayweather is SO good that him losing two rounds of a twelve round fight seems to have become talking points within the sports world.

JaMarcus Russell, the Oakland Raiders drastically overpaid QB, is in voluntary camp. That might be a indirect compliment to catering and the Raiders' buffet table. When Russell makes the commitment to lose weight and totally commit to his team then people will get off his back. I see the former LSU QB as nearing Ryan Leaf territory as it relates to draft busts. Hopefully Russell has invested well, bought less and less bling, and is planning for a future that doesn't include the NFL. It's all too bad as the man has many God given, athletic gifts.

Hey, Santonio Holmes, turn off the IPhone on the airplane. Don't be defiant and feel so privileged. Look at where it has gotten you. BTW when does your season start with the Jets? October? Wrestling, talent rosters are not unlike NFL rosters when it comes to harboring those with issues no matter what those issues are. Holmes should be given the opportunity to make a new, fresh start and if his problems can't be solved then they should be eliminated.

I actually like the Jets and particularly their coach, Rex Ryan, but they may need a retired parole officers to monitor some of the Jets players this season.

NBA officials do not cost teams games. Announcers and coaches should shut up and stop whining about such. If a team loses a close game, it's easy to blame an official's call. My suggestion is that the losing team should have made a few more baskets or free throws and played better defense. The human element of the game applies to referees just as it does to players and highly paid coaches.

Yes, it's THE Steve Austin who Twitters at steveaustinBSR. I swear.

Speaking of Stone Cold, I watched 'Damage' for the 3rd time last night as it seems that every time I watch it I see something that I missed. Nice story...easy to follow...and features some good, fight scenes. The 'Damage' DVD is recommended. Did you count the 'heart punches?'

Email follow-up's....

Yes...sad to hear Tony Atlas got 'future endeavored' but it will likely happen to all of us at one time or another. Dislike the term 'future endeavors' as it feels like an empty phase. It's almost become an inside joke with many of the talents. Atlas did get a nice run when it looked as if his WWE days had ended long ago and now perhaps Tony can focus on his art work which is outstanding.

No...Chris Jericho was not welcomed with open arms in the WWE locker room when he first arrived from WCW. Some thought that Jericho was too short/small to be a big time player but Chris has long proved those naysayers wrong. Professional jealousy isn't an exclusive of pro wrestling as you can take a look at your own workplace or school and see what I mean. However, one of the first things that I saw and learned first hand when I walked in my first locker room in pro wrestling in 1974 was the paranoia and insecure nature that many wrestlers perpetuated. To many wrestlers, then and now, the glass is always or usually half empty rather than half full. Now with there actually being fewer places for wrestlers to work and earn a viable living working full time, one can argue those negative emotions might even be more pronounced which is why these issues always have to be addressed so that the various locker rooms can be more stable thus more productive.

No...I have not 'reconsidered' doing a 'shoot interview' for the sole purpose of throwing people who I've worked with under a bus. I don't need a payday that badly to compromise my character to make associates past and present look bad and to make others money off my stories that I choose to tell.

Yes...Matt Striker is trying to be edgy or antagonistic from what I gather when he works with Cole and Lawler and I don't think that's a bad thing. Some emailers have issues with things Striker has said but if those things sting then perhaps Striker is doing his job. All announcers who work on TV and have never worked in a territory system and did not have the opportunity come up thru the ranks are going to be at a disadvantage and their growth is going to be deliberate at best. To essentially learn on the job and to do embellished auditions before powerful decision makers and, more importantly, the fans puts younger broadcasters at a distinct disadvantage. The function of training young announcers in the pro wrestling genre is essentially non existent.

I think it all starts with the hiring process of entry level on air talents as they must have some natural instincts and not just possess the look and youth of a weekend Sports Center news reader.

Yes...I think that NXT will return for another season but I'm not sure on what network but it will likely be one owned by NBC Universal. I would like to see NXT more like 'The Ultimate Fighter' where the rookies have to do more to earn the right to wrestle on TV. That's just one fan's opinion.

We got a helluva email from a Chyna fan who scolded me somewhat because I actually called her Joanie Lauer. That particular classic is in the Q&A section. This mega, Chyna fan also told me that Chyna had three movies about to be released. Interesting.

Running with the Bulls is like going to an ex-wife's family reunion. Why do it?

Got some really cool, St. Louis Rams swag this week. I'm ready to see #8, Sam Bradford, QB the Rams back to prominence over the next few seasons. Next on my shopping list is Tampa Bay, Redskins, and Bengals swag honoring all my 'boys' from OU that went in the 1st round of the draft and whose contracts will likely total over 200M when all is said and done. It's great having friends who work in the NFL.

No...I'm not interested in having a TV authority figure role on a wrestling show. None has been offered, by the way, but it isn't something that interests me at this stage of the game. I'm one that believes that the authority figure role on a wrestling TV show is waning and needs to be refreshed and invigorated. I'm not the guy to do that.

Several emailers have suggested that I just broadcast PPV's for WWE. Again, thanks for the suggestions but that ship has long since sailed. I'm good staying behind and monitoring its voyage.

Yes...we are doing all we can to hold every cost down that we can on the products that we sell on our site. The cost of shipping, usually $8-$11 per order based on weight, and the rising price of beef which will eventually affect the price of our Beef Jerky are things that we have to deal with on an on going basis. Plus, we have to pay handling costs and the price of warehousing our goods. Bottom line is that we will strive to keep prices fair, provide a great product, as one gets what they pay for, and will always be honest when we tell you that building sales on this site is why we work hard on it and why this site is even here. So, that's why every order that we receive is greatly appreciated and valued.

Today is the Rock's Birthday and it seems like it was just yesterday when I was traveling to Florida to see him work out in the ring. One can do a decent job of looking at talent on DVDs, etc but nothing replaces seeing the talent in person, in a ring, mat or practice field and getting to know then one on one. Dwayne Johnson was a 'keeper' the minute I laid eyes on him. Some of my peers agreed with me and some not so much. I still remember telling him the story of Deion Sanders always talking in the third person when I interviewed him in my Atlanta Falcon days which encouraged Rock to take that particular presentation to the next level. ("The Rock says.") I have never seen such a naturally athletic gifted, charismatic, hard working individual come along in wrestling before or since.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.

Tags: Jim Ross, Tony Atlas, WWE, WCW