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JR's Blog: RIP Lee Marshall & Dr. Jack Ramsay, Donald Sterling, Pro Wrestling's Biggest Problem, JR's Toronto & Chicago Show Updates, Ross Report Podcast News

Posted: Apr 28th 2014 By: Jim Ross- JRsBarBQ.com

Another busy Monday and here's hoping that all are well. Let's roll....

Condolences to the family, friends and fans of the late, broadcaster Lee Marshall who passed away over the weekend. Lee was a big time radio voice in Los Angeles among other markets before ne ventured into pro wrestling, a former AWA and WCW broadcaster who was brought to Atlanta by Eric Bischoff who I assume Eric met in AWA while working for Verne Gagne. Lee was also the voice of Tony the Tiger. I never worked with Lee that I recall but mutual friends always spoke highly of him. RIP Lee.

Dr. Jack Ramsay, one of basketball's greatest voices and minds, also passed away and will be missed by all who followed his work. I learned more hoops from listening to Dr Jack than any other basketball broadcaster I can recall. The former coach could say, more, teach more and influence more in a soundbyte than anyone in the business within his color analyst role.

Donald Sterling is a sad soul who is, at age 81, going to be known for the rest of his days and beyond as an alleged racist for comments he's made about African Americans to his 29 year old girlfriend. That sentence speaks volumes on multiple levels as people like him do not belong in any public walk of life. I fully suspect Sterling to sell his LA Clipper franchise of which he will be penalized by making IMMENSE profit from the transaction.

Sterling apparently has the same mindset that many old school, pro wrestling promoters had back in the day when they had an unwritten quota on how many black wrestlers that they would employ at any one time. That was the norm when I got into the wrestling business in 1974.

The erosion of the wrestling territories and the aftermath of their disappearance is starting to rear its ugly head within the business as it relates to the next generation of wrestling stars. Where will the stars of 3, 5, or 10 years and beyond come from for any company producing pro wrestling? The NFL has college football, the NBA has college hoops, MLB has a minor league system dotted with great high school and college players, and the NHL has an organized feeder system to make sure that the continue to add new, talented YOUNG athletes to their mix annually but the business of sports entertainment/pro wrestling has what?

The biz has nothing that even closely resembles the in depth level that the other aforementioned entities have notwithstanding what show business has as it looks for talented young actors, etc on a daily basis.

While many love to second guess today's pro wrestling creative, often times rightfully so, my biggest concern about the continued growth and overall health of the business lies within where are tomorrow's stars coming?

Finding the stars of tomorrow is the wrestling biz's greatest concern.

WWE, for example, actively recruiting the amateur wrestling scene is a Godsend but for one to think that will be enough over the long haul and for the generations to come is being highly naive.

Big Ross Report Podcast week.....our Gail Kim interview drops Tuesday PM USA time and it's a great one. Gail is so smart and aware of the business and has some very pointed and intelligent things to say. I have great respect for @gailkimItsMe.

I will also be working on the blockbuster Shawn Michaels podcast that has so much info in it that it will be a two parter beginning next week. Shawn's take on Undertaker's Streak ending is fascinating as are his thoughts on CM Punk leaving WWE as many remember that HBK left WWE for approximately four years at one point in his amazing career. These are just two of the many topics we discussed in depth with, arguably, the best to ever perform for a living inside the 20 foot squared circle.

Tuesday night I will be speaking with Bill Goldberg for a future Ross Report and if you have questions please Tweet them to me @JRsBBQ and use the hash tag #AskJR.

We have some fascinating guests booked well into July for our podcast. For those that continue to ask me about booking WWE talents, I am certainly willing but WWE has to approve such bookings and they are going to get back to me soon with their decision.

Ross Report Podcasts are FREE to download via podcastone.com and via iTunes and at this time we have no plans to expand to multiple podcasts a week but that could change in the future. Thanks for everyone's support of our efforts.

ticketmaster.ca has all the ticket info one could need for our upcoming show in Toronto. Toronto is Friday night May 9 at 9 pm at the Danforth Music Hall with one show only including a no holds barred Q&A session plus a VIP meet and greet for special ticket holders. Tickets will also be available the day of the event at the Danforth Music Hall box office.

For Chicago, visit ticketmaster.com and join me on Saturday afternoon May 31 at 2 pm for a great afternoon of Q&A's, stories and another VIP Meet and Greet with more photo and autograph opportunities for those special ticket holders. Tickets will also be available the day of the event at the House of Blues in Chicago and doors open at 1 pm.

The meet and greets for both these shows take place BEFORE the events and the Toronto and Chicago shows are the only dates for RINGSIDE w/ Jim Ross shows in those cities this year.

JR's products will also be available for sale at both events.

With grilling season upon us, I'm hoping that you shop online for JR's products from wweshop.com, americansoda.co.uk and beyondtheropes.co.uk. It';s convenient, sale shopping with quick delivery from three outstanding partners of ours.

If you get a photo of yourself or others in one of our shirts from http://wwwprowrestlingtees.com please tweet it to me @JRsBBQ.

RAW should be interesting tonight. I can't see WWE World Champions Daniel Bryan wrestling after taking THREE, Tombstone piledrivers last Monday from Kane but who knows? One thing that I do know is that St. Louis is a terrific wrestling city and the night that we had all the NWA Champions back as our guests there was SO special. St. Louis was also the city that we were in when we found out that my dear friend Brian Pillman passed away the night before. Mixed memories of St. Louis without question but it's a great city nonetheless. If it hadn't been for KMOX radio's coverage of Cardinal baseball with Harry Caray and Jack Buck I may never have been a broadcaster.

My narration for a Fox Sports 1 feature airs tonight right after boxing. It's on the life of former Oklahoman and WBO world champion Tommy Morrison of Rocky 5 fame and his son, Trey Lippe Morrison who is embarking on a pro boxing career following in his father's footsteps. I hope that you will check it out.

Do something nice for someone today and remember that our tomorrow's aren't guaranteed.

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ