The following is the latest blog entry from JRsBarBQ.com:
What an amazing world we live in. The Internet will take comments from anyone at random, it seems, print them as fact, and then actually print the psychological analysis of what the writer perceived was said.
I did a radio interview Friday morning with my friends Rick and Brad on the KATT in Oklahoma City. A listener of that broadcast wrote his own analysis of what he heard, interpreted it as he saw fit and then it became fact on the ‘net thus it takes on a life of its own.
Amazing.
I was on the radio and on TV in the OKC market Thursday and Friday to promote the Monday Night Raw event coming to the Ford Center on June 30 by working several, long hours to help the WWE sell as many tickets as possible for the event in my home market.
Here’s the point, I am not a “hater”. I do highly dislike many things. Probably many of them are likely the same as you. for example, I highly dislike child abuse, serious illnesses, war, poverty, racism, and dishonest people. There are others, but you get the picture.
Why would I ever say that HHH and John Cena are “pals” when they aren’t, but I also pointed out that both respected each other and that their “competition” was healthy for the fans and for them? Sorry conspiracy theorists but there is no conspiracy here. These men are competitors, but they don’t “hate” each other as best I know. There are only so many spots at the top of the card and any one with any Spauldings is going to try and be “the man”. Guys fighting for the “top spots” don’t need to be each other’s best buddy and, in my old school opinion, I don’t think they should be. The end result is the relentless pursuit to get to the top which benefits all us fans because it usually raises the performance level of the individuals involved.
Secondly, Shawn Michaels, by his own admission, read his book if my word isn’t good enough for you, was not a great guy at times when he was younger. You don’t have to believe me just ask HBK. To be clever or to try and get the irrepressible sound byte perhaps I shouldn’t have called Shawn a “turd” when referring to his younger days. That would be “my bad” of which I readily admit, but my general assessment was accurate. Of course, it was glossed over that I mentioned that Shawn Michaels was one of the finest men the WWE has on its roster, a man I greatly respect, and, in my view, the best all around in ring performer in the business. That’s one guy’s opinion. No one has to agree with it, which is why it is called an opinion. I never said HBK “knows he’s the best” I said “I feel” that HBK is the best. Again, one man’s opinion.
Regarding Steve Austin, I do feel that it will be next to impossible for any one to ever exceed what Steve accomplished while he was in the WWE. I hope someone does, but I don’t see it at this time. That doesn’t mean that many of the current guys are not excellent in ring performers, that they won’t earn big money, or have exciting matches. What Steve did was special just as how Michael Jordan was special when he starred in the NBA. Will Jordan’s legacy ever be erased? Not likely. Austin’s most likely won’t be erased either. To suggest that Steve would be happy as an announcer is ridiculous. If the right thing came along at the right time for the right reasons, would Steve Austin get involved in a personal issue? Perhaps. Only Steve can answer that one, but I do know that all the variables would have to be in their proper place as far as Steve’s instincts are concerned and I damn sure trust Stone Cold’s instincts. If I were in Austin’s position I would make the exact same decision and so would any other “top guy”, who had any brains, in the same position who was presented with the same situation.
When addressing the Rock, I do think that wrestling fans will buy tickets to see his movies. I think that movie makers should take advantage of that fact and use wrestling programs to help market Dwayne’s movies. Another personal opinion. I have zero issues with Dwayne Johnson leaving wrestling and becoming a movie star and earning a living that many of us can only dream about. If others have issues with Dwayne’s career decisions then that is their opinion and they certainly have a right to it. Is this matter really that big a deal? It isn’t to me.
Regarding Hulk Hogan, I do not hate Hulk and as any responsible human and parent should, I have empathy for the situation his family is in at this time. I do not choose to pile on Hulk’s family over the recent developments that have seen his son incarcerated. I know how I would feel if if were one of my kids in that situation.
Yes, Hogan had issues over his pay at times. That fact is not a revelation. Nor has Hogan been the only wrestler who ever bitched about a payday. Hell, I think I am under paid too (“Poor me”) but one could speculate that many American’s feel the same about their jobs.
Regarding Hulk’s daughter, the interviewer brought up a blog that she had apparently written and that had been promptly been taken down. I don’t think I am the only one who felt that the young lady should simply stay low key on the matter of her brother. Less is best at this point in time. I’m no PR guru, but that makes common sense to me….but I could be wrong. Nonetheless, I again went for the “sound byte” when I said Brooke should be “muzzled” regarding talking about this emotional situation. And again I may have tried too hard to make a memorable sound byte in the spirit of trying to do entertaining radio. I never indicted the young lady, but simply stated what I felt was the best path to take for her at this time. Another opinion that was made without malice to the Hogan family.
I have written here before that I felt that Hogan should not have worn his trademark bandana, especially a black one, in the court room. Again, that’s my opinion and I still feel the same about that matter. Is the wearing, or not, of the bandana the real issue here?
Of course not.
No comment I made in this radio interview was intended to tarnish Hogan’s contributions to the wrestling business, which are mighty.
No, I don’t “hate” Hogan. I am not a “hater” because it’s one of the most undesirable and ugly emotions one can have.
So what is the bottom line of this filibuster? That would be don’t hate and don’t believe everything you read, especially when things are taken out of context and then “Dr. Phil’ed”.
Have a great weekend.
J.R.