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JR's Blog: Coach Lesnar..WM27 Host..Robocop..Heyman=Myer Lansky..Too Much Too Soon for 'Bones?'..JR on Radio/Net Today

Posted: Feb 10th 2011 By: CMBurnham

We got nailed with more snow and at this rate school will end for the kids in our area around June. It's bitter cold for Oklahoma but enough on the Cantore Stories and let's get to some nice, HOT BBQ'ed random thoughts.

Good thing that we restocked on Beef Jerky and all our other products Tuesday with the impactful snow hitting our area again. We will be packing orders through this snow and will ship likely on Thursday. Good time to order in our on line store.

Our Beef Jerky is 97% Fat Free and is a healthy, protein laden snack. If you are looking for a snack that helps you watch your fat intake then we have it. Our manufacturer has been making award winning Jerky for over 40 years and is a small, detail oriented operation. He uses only the eye of round which is high quality for the jerky genre. We have many loyal, JR's Beef Jerky customers who order each month and we hope that if you haven't tried our Jerky that you will soon. Without over-hyping it, I feel our Jerky as as good as is out there.

WWE has ordered most of our line of products to sell at their Main, merchandise stand all week at Wrestlemania Axxess. The salesman in me told them that they weren't ordering enough and I predict that WWE will sell out of our products within hours of opening their doors at Axxess. I hope that those of you who are attending will make this a reality and remember that you escape shipping charges by buying at Axxess. This should be especially good for fans who live outside the USA.

If you aren't coming to WM27 and live outside the USA remember that you can get our products at http://www.wweshop.com. WWEShop has begun carrying more of our product line so check out their website for all the new info.

Just a reminder, if you are a website and are using any aspect of this blog, please be kind enough to prominently display the accurate link back to our site.

Many former WCW employees are having a private function as I understand it in Atlanta area in late March to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the last broadcast of Monday Nitro. I got invited and wish that I could attend and see old friends who I worked with in Atlanta during the Turner days. Of all the places outside Oklahoma that we have lived, Atlanta was our favorite.

Emailer...Asked how I kept a straight face while broadcasting the Robo Cop biz during a WCW PPV. It was too absurd to laugh about so I simply did my best, got through it, and promptly attempted to erase it from my mind as quickly as possible. I can't tell you to this day what the forgettable details were surrounding the Robo Cop storyline. It was another classic example of WCW attempting, in their mindset, to 'out WWE the WWE ' in the sizzle/show biz department and move more into the main stream of pop culture/entertainment, etc.

Instead of providing the wrestling fans an alternative to WWE, many WCW honchos felt compelled to try and beat WWE at WWE's own game, or so how many in WCW upper management perceived WWE to be. Bad move.....one of many that Ted's boys made.

The tease to next Monday Night's Raw regarding the 'Host' of WM27 has garnered a great deal of discussion and feedback on our site and w/ our Twitter followers @JRsBBQ. Actually it's one of the more thought provoking issues that WWE has thrown out there in a while, along with the vignettes talking about 2-21-11. Both of these matters are hits with fans based on what feedback that we've received.

We've gotten a wide array of suggestions as to who folks think will be the Guest Host of Wrestlemania 27 that emanates from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Bob Barker, Justin Beiber, 'Arnold the Governor,' The Rock, Stone Cold, Aaron Rodgers, Ted Turner, Dusty Rhodes, Mr. McMahon, the RAW General Manager revealed, etc. I'm happy that I don't know who it is and will enjoy watching Monday Night Raw that much more to find out.

Same goes for the 2-21-11 vignettes, which BTW, are very well produced. I have a good idea on this one based on the awesome, Johnny Cash music that was utilized. Some fans are hellbent that these vignettes are a 'Sting tease' of which I personally don't agree.

Even if I knew the answer to either of these matters I sure as hell wouldn't be talking about it publically even though some fans are apparently obsessed with wanting to know the identity of these individuals.

I hear that many of the Packers made quite the impact at the Smackdown TV taping in Green Bay Tuesday might. Star linebacker Clay Mathews has been tweeting about it. Congrats to all the Packer fans from a Steeler fan who freely admits that the better team won on Sunday in Arlington.

Brock Lesnar is reportedly doing an excellent job in his role as a coach for TUF that begins airing on Spike in a few weeks. This will lead into to the Lesnar-Junior Dos Santos fight later this year which will greatly enhance the UFC PPV headlined by these two heavyweights. Yes, 'business is picking up' for these two, talented heavyweights who are both looking for a title opportunity. Sources say Lesnar and his family and complete training camp are living in a luxury home in Vegas while TUF is being taped. This is a magnificent marketing opportunity for Brock's upcoming book written with Paul Heyman not to mention Lesnar's merch line 'Death Clutch.' In all due respect, I'd rather winter a few weeks in Vegas as opposed to Northern Minnesota but that's must me.

Hopefully Lesnar is working diligently on his striking defense as Dos Santos can throw with the best of them and seemingly the way to beat Brock is by exploiting his striking defense and staying vertical.

I'm anxious to see how UFC, 23 year old phenom John 'Bones' Jones handles success and the challenge of fighting for a UFC title so early in his career. There is no doubt that Jones is an athletic marvel who has uncanny, natural skills especially for someone so early in their UFC journey. Great things seem destined for the former JUCO Wrestling All American who was earmarked to attend powerhouse Iowa on a full, wrestling scholarship until personal matters intervened.

Hopefully Jones has strong people around him who have only 'Bones' best interests at heart and not their own, personal agendas. More importantly, Jones needs to realize the opportunities that await him and not have any self inflicted 'wounds' to his public persona/image that would not only detract from future, lucrative, main stream sponsors but would adversely affect his preparation for his title opportunity notwithstanding Jones' ongoing evolution as a skilled, well rounded mixed martial artist.

One would assume that UFC upper mgmt is keeping a watchful eye on this young man as he has the potential to be the American version of GSP for UFC for years to come.

'Bones' Jones is the type of athlete that could be sporting the Nike swoosh on his ring gear IE he has mainstream, marketing potential.

UFC legend Chuck Liddell, sporting Packers attire and a green Mohawk hair cut, was shown on the giant video board during the Super Bowl. We weren't sitting too far from 'The Iceman.'

I still contend that Cowboys Stadium would be a great location for a potential GSP-Anderson Silva dream fight. Between American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, the metroplex has the travel covered and the stadium is beyond compare with any domed stadium in the world. Plus, it can be scaled to accommodate any sizable crowd and still look great on TV.

Trying to do the Rogers Centre in Toronto five months or so after the first big TO event isn't an ideal scenario for any promoter. It's virtually impossible to catch 'lightning in a bottle' for two major events in the same venue that close together.

Twitter @JRsBBQ....What was my most memorable moment working with Paul Heyman? Many of my 'moments' with Paul E likely won't be talked about in this space to protect the innocent however working with him at WM17 was a blast and we were fortunate to be able to call one of the best, all time WWE Wrestlemania events. Working in the Houston Astro Dome was a hoot and Paul was a fabulous, instinctive antagonist. Working with Heyman might have been akin to partnering with Myer Lansky back in the day. for the record, Happy Heyman is the 'Myer Lansky of Multi Media.'

Heyman was natural....didn't pay a role...and was totally organic while broadcasting which has or seems to be becoming a lost art.

Same goes for wrestlers who aren't able to naturally speak their mind when called upon via their instincts and passion rather than attempting to memorize their thoughts.

If the NFL and the NFLPA actually prevent football from starting on time this fall, then shame on them. This would be one of the dumber moves in the history of American business. I am pro the League on this one. If the Golden Goose isn't healthy, she reduces the number of golden eggs she can produce which isn't good for any one. Keeping the Golden Goose healthy is imperative which is not saying that the players should bend over and cough.

I will be on KREF radio today in Norman and you can listen at http://www.sportstalk1400.com at 4:30 central today (Wednesday) and can call me toll free at 1-866-355-KREF or tweet your questions any time to 1-405-651-3439.

Also tonight at 6 central I will be on http://sportstalkNETWORK.com and there email is studio@sportstalkNETWORK.com.

Strikeforce has a golden opportunity to gain some much needed publicity with their heavyweight tournament that starts this Saturday night on Showtime. I saw a photo of the entrants to the tourney on Yahoo.com and it was disappointing to me in how the 'stars' were dressed because they certainly weren't dressed like stars. Perception becomes reality and the MMA world, in general, needs to project an ever improving public image and not be unfairly lumped into the tattooed world of unstructured, bar fighting which is antiquated and absurd. Nonetheless if one wants to be perceived as a successful star then one needs to dress as such and not use the lame excuse that "We're fighters and we dress any way we choose." If that's one's attitude then I say good luck with your post MMA career and enjoy that bouncer gig.

Have you tried our HOT, BBQ Sauce yet? Many have and a special offer is being considered to help more of you give it a shot. I love it but I like spicy food that's not overwhelming and doesn't dominate what I use it on. I wonder how it might be in a Bloody Mary?

Thanks for stopping by and check out the updated Q&A's before you leave.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R.