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JR's Blog: Sonnen..Strikeforce..Hulk..Vince Young..Lance Russell..Tebow Documentry..Lesnar..FCW..Order JR's Products Today

Posted: Jan 8th 2011 By: CMBurnham

Big football weekend....cold weather heading to Oklahoma...on line business staying steady...lots of random thoughts from emailers and Tweets @JRsBBQ.

Chael Sonnen....I'm still a fan of the embattled UFC fighter and hope that he gets his 'house in order' so that he can resume his MMA career. It won't be easy but Sonnen's public image can be rehabilitated as long as he's sincere and honest about such. Even smart individuals make stupid mistakes and Chael has made a couple of very public ones. People/fans will forgive Sonnen to some degree in time.

Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament....good idea by Scott Coker. Timely considering that the UFC's heavyweight division is seemingly in somewhat a state of flux largely due to injuries. I'm hoping that Coker/Strikeforce can craft the bracket that they envision, that the fighters don't become problematic due to ego or injury, and that Showtime doesn't try and become 'match makers.' Imagine NBC telling a NFL team who to play and what plays to run. Showtime might want to focus on how to produce effective personality profiles so that casual fans will have a clue as to who the heavyweights actually are and why all fans should watch the tournament. Emotional investment is just as crucial in MMA as it is in pro wresting. Same for the NFL as evidenced as to how important the 'home field advantage' is during the playoffs.

WWE is taping Smackdown in Tulsa at the new, tricked out BOK Center on Tuesday January 18. I did some media for the event Thursday. Lots of Jack Swagger talk during the interview. I hope that Swagger has a big 2011 and feel that he is a long way away from his peak or approaching his potential. The former Sooner is a superb, natural athlete. The writer also asked me about the soon to be available OU Sooner Football radio gig of which is still on my 'dream job' list but as I have mentioned before I think it's a long shot for me.

Yours truly will be headed to FCW next week to meet with and observe WWE rookies. This is one of my favorite trips to make these days as the future of WWE largely rests in the developmental program where the evolution of developing new stars begins in earnest.

Hulk Hogan...I inadvertently left out Hulk as a back to back winner of the Royal Rumble match as Hogan won the Rumble in '90-'91 to join HBK and Steve Austin as back to back Rumble Match Winners. Hulk had a hellaciously challenging 2010 and here's hoping that he has a much better 2011. Losing one's Mom is a challenging piece of business. I was in the UK for a WWE event there when I got word that my Mom had died suddenly at age 64.

Vince Young...entitled, rich athletes who put themselves above their team and teammates need to go and they need to change. It's no different than wrestlers who put their win/loss records ahead of the company that they are working. Young has amazing, God gifted athletic talent but he needs to grow up.

Andrew Luck.....the Stanford QB turned this year's NFL draft upside down by declaring that he was staying in college and would continue to work toward graduating next spring. Gutsy move by the projected #1 pick in the draft and I think it has more with his character and personal goals than it does with him NOT wanting to be drafted by Carolina.

Lance Russell...Had a Tweet about old friend Lance who was the voice of Memphis Wrestling forever and one of the genuinely nicest men in the wrestling business. If the biz had more people like Lance Russell in it over the years there would have been fewer negative issues and dilemmas. Lance had a unique albeit very natural style behind the mic and was arguably as popular, if not more, than the vast majority of wrestlers to ever perform in Memphis.

One a related subject....A Twitter follower asked me if I started in wrestling today who would I study to develop my game as a broadcaster. It would be Gordon Solie, Lance Russell, Bob Caudle, Bill Watts, Vince McMahon, and Gorilla Monsoon for starters. Each had their own, natural style and none of them, more often than not, portrayed the role of a wrestling announcer and none of the aforementioned sought to be the 'hip, ESPN Sports Center-type' and strive to be glib and cool and come off as disingenuous.

Speaking of ESPN....I really enjoyed the Tim Tebow documentary that aired on ESPN2 Thursday night. Really well done/produced and it offered a unique look behind the scenes at Tebow preparing for the NFL draft after leaving Florida. Pro Wrestling could learn a thing or two about reality TV, etc from watching this program.

Brock Lesnar....his new book about his life and times that's co-written with Paul Heyman is due out April 19. It will be interesting to see how many book signings the intensely private Lesnar does but as the old saying goes, "A signed book is a sold book." Most MMA insiders think that Lesnar will next fight in July for UFC. With Lesnar off the radar and with nothing currently, publically established for his return, many die hard MMA fanatics seemingly have used that opportunity and Lesnar losing the UFC Heavyweight Title to start 'hating on' Brock again. Amazing. Lesnar will never fully live down his time in WWE to many MMA purists.

Anyone who has gained their public identity via pro wrestling and then moves or attempts to move into other professional arenas will generally always been known as 'former pro wrestling' whatever. I've personally experienced that over the years which provides some to display an unfortunate, pro wrestling bias. As for me, I have not one regret.

Looking forward to accompanying my real life boss, my wife, to her hometown of Pittsburgh soon to catch a Steelers playoff game. Pittsburgh is a great city with a small town feel dotted with superb eateries which I always embrace.

We're keeping up with your orders on a timely basis in our on line store. Great tasting products that are all based in our family's recipes await you. We've made great strides in improving on what was already big time, 97% Fat Free Beef Jerky. The Main Event Mustard has exploded in popularity and is getting rave reviews plus it is one of the healthiest condiments you will ever find. "Mustard with a personality' is one way to describe it. Sister in law Jeanine will make sure your order is packed correctly and shipped promptly. We sure appreciate your support.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.