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JR's Blog: Saturday Update...UFC 110...PPV Buying Decisions...Comedy in Wrestling...Steve Austin...Major Decisions to be Made Soon

Posted: Feb 21st 2010 By: CMBurnham

Here's hoping everyone is having a good weekend. Lots going on here in Norman. On line sales this month have more than doubled last year's entire month of February total which speaks to the great support we are receiving from many of you and the fact that many folks love our products and are re-ordering or trying them for the first time. Either way, thanks!

Here we go....

Got a cool email from Steve Austin showing me a billboard for his upcoming film "Damage" which is to be released on DVD in March...more specifically in a few weeks. I'm anxious to see the film and will be purchasing it just like I hope many of you do. Austin will be making the rounds promoting the action/adventure movie including Raw on March 15. Steve is the official starter for the big, NASCAR race this weekend, the Auto Club 500 which is NASCAR's West Coast Premier in 2010. Take a close look at turn number three as that's where Steve's billboard is located which depicts him with a nasty, pissed off look on his face which may come as a huge shock to Stone Cold's many, long time fans....only kidding. Check your TV listings for the Auto Club 500 and, hopefully, there won't be any inane pothole delays as many of us endured at the Daytona 500.

I screwed up. The Cauliflower Alley Club website address is www.caulifloweralleyclub.org. I strongly suggest that you check their site out and join the CAC. My old pal Gary Juster called me Friday and he's coming to Vegas in April to see me receive the Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award from CAC. I hope that more of my friends from the wrestling biz take the time out of their schedules to enjoy the CAC's annual reunion and banquet. I think that CAC has negotiated a $36 or so hotel room for your stay at the host hotel. Their website can answer all your questions, www.caulifloweralleyclub.org.

Leon "Vader" White emailed me this week and is sending me some things of which to remember our late, old friend Steve "Dr. Death" Williams. Leon has made many, personal, life style changes not to mention becoming a Born Again Christian. Leon and his son Jesse will form a tag team in April in Japan which will undoubtedly be an exiting experience for father and son. Jesse graduates from Oklahoma University in May and will likely test the waters in pro wrestling upon getting his college degree. Jesse is about 6'1"-240 pounds and is healthy now that he has stepped away from big time, college football and isn't carrying the additional weight that he did when he was the top center in high school football in America. Jesse has done some training with the incomparable Harley Race who used to manage Jesse's dad, Big Van Vader, in Atlanta's WCW .

Any one that says that the volume of PPV events offered to us fans whether it be in pro wrestling or UFC has no bearing on the success of the other genre is spreading manure. The Mrs and I have watched several PPV's the past month including MMA and wrestling and I know that our cable bill is going to be a hefty one. Luckily, we are blessed to be able to afford to pay the tab but many folks, especially in this economy, can't and have to make conscious decisions as to what event or events that they will or will not purchase. When UFC is on the same weekend at a wrestling PPV it poses a challenge for many who enjoy both genres. Competition for the consumer's dollar comes in many forms and those that profess that one PPV genre isn't "competition" for another PPV genre is selling the proverbial "bill of goods."

An emailer asked me what I generally thought about PPV pricing and like any consumer I wish that they were not as expensive as they are. However, the long term pricing of the PPV's will be determined by basic economics IE the law of supply and demand. As long as the demand stays at an acceptable, business level the prices will likely remain as they are. That's one reason why more groups of people congregate to watch a PPV together and they share the costs of the event.

Another emailer asked me if I missed the Bill Watts produced UWF and the answer is undoubtedly, yes. Not just for the in ring priority that was placed on the presentation but also for the mere fact that I was much younger then and it would be really cool to get those years back! This is just one guy's opinion, but the in ring product should remain the focal point of a wrestling show, duh, and the verbal build up and/or follow up of such is also an intricate part of the process. Free standing, poorly executed comedy bits that often die an embarrassingly, natural death are what causes many viewers, hard core fans and casual fans alike, to roll their eyes and emotionally disconnect from a broadcast or the genre in general. I love comedy but the fact is that fewer wrestlers can adequately execute comedy than can perform action/adventure, drama, etc. My suggestion is that comedy in wrestling has a place but it needs to be strategically placed and executed by only those that can do it well.

I may be too retro or old school or whatever one wants to categorize me as but to me a wrestling, TV program should still be primarily about physical, athletic wrestling and the promotion of that product. Wrestling shows that contain more steak than sizzle are more apt to create the emotional investment from the consumers/viewers than promotions covet.

UFC 110 is today from Australia. I'm looking forward to the event, as usual. I'm especially anxious to see heavyweight's Cain Vel?squez vs. Antonio Rodrigo Norgueira bang. The younger Vel?squez is looking to vault himself strongly into the heavyweight title picture with a victory against the veteran Norgueira. The vet still has fuel left in his tank and wants to remain relevant and possibly in line for a shot against Brock Lesnar some day, as well. Vel?squez tipped the Toledo's at 242 which is about 10 pounds more than his older adversary.

UK's Michael Bisping collides with the man with a vaunted and well earned rep, Wanderlei "The Ax Murderer" Silva in another much anticipated contest. After watching what I perceived to be a very solid, UFC 110 preview show this week on Spike TV, I'm leaning toward Silva and Vel?squez to win their fights but I'll readily admit that I'm not overly confident in my prediction. That's one of the facets that makes UFC fights so intriguing is that they are much more unpredictable than not. Sports fans love unpredictability and to see true, athletic contests which UFC provides extremely well.

Here's how my Friday night goes...I ease out of the house to socialize with some OU football coaches which I really enjoy as they are my friends and it is always "football season" here in Norman. Predictably, however, and not from my coaching friends, I am deluged by acquaintances who are asking for comp, WWE tickets for the March 1 event in OKC. Unbelievable. It's as if I carry "front row seats" in back pocket. The OKC tickets start at only $15 which wouldn't even begin to cover many of these freeloader's bar tab last night.

We have several, significant business decisions to address over the next few weeks. Between now and the end of March is going to be hectic. At my stage of the game, having fun and enjoying whatever I do is imperative. Plus, and more importantly, reducing one's stress and maintaining good health is of utmost importance. I've attended too many funerals of beloved friends recently to not be smart enough to make wise decisions and to focus on things that I feel will be fun and exciting.

A handful of babbling idiots who have written on some wrestling internet sites that I'm "too old and too frail" to still be an effective play by play broadcaster within the genre of pro wrestling or any other endeavor are insufferably ignorant. Doing effective, memorable play by play is enhanced by one's experience, real, not manufactured, passion, and natural instincts. I sincerely believe that my best, play by play days are ahead of me whether it be in pro wrestling or other arenas if that is what I choose to pursue.

Things usually seem to work out as they are meant to be and when one has their priorities in place then the foundation is established for one to achieve being happy, healthy, and successful.

Don't forget us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JRsBBQ. I'm having a blast with my tweets.

We have been selling a bunch of JR's Beef Jerky on line and it's also selling great at Norman area Homeland Grocery Stores. Homeland is also the local retail outlet for all our BBQ Sauces and the superb, Chipotle Ketchup. Our BBQ products have become our local Homeland stores top sellers and we hope to expand our line into the almost 80 other Homeland stores this spring.

Our on line business and the steady growth of our grocery store sales looks promising for the future and has the home team excited.

Exciting and interesting days lie ahead without question. We have much to be thankful for, I can assure one and all.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.

Tags: Jim Ross, Vader, Steve Williams, WCW, Bill Watts, UWF, WWE