.jpg "Jim Ross Blog - July 22, 2009")
The following are news highlights from the latest online blog entry from WWE Hall Of Famer announcer Jim Ross:
Shawn Michaels celebrates birthday # 44 Wednesday and our very best wishes go out to HBK. There is rampant speculation that Shawn will return to WWE in time to compete at Summerslam but I have yet to hear that confirmed. HBK returning at Summerslam would be my guess but I just can’t be sure at this time. Michaels is still, arguably, the best in ring performer in the business today.
One of my favorite writers, Bill Simmons of ESPN, is leaving ESPN to pursue other opportunities. Simmons must have been a wrestling fan at some point in his life because he has referenced wrestlers from the 80’s many times in his column. Simmons, a Boston native, said that "it was time to walk away" which gave me plenty to ponder after reading Bill’s wonderful, last column about his retiring Dad. No one, no matter what they do for a living, is going to have their job forever unless one becomes a Supreme Court Judge and even they resign or die at some point. "The Sports Guy" column by Bill Simmons was the first thing I read in ESPN The Magazine when it would come in the mail.
Here’s hoping Bobby Lashley isn’t coerced into fighting Fedor in a couple of weeks as a last minute replacement. Lashley is still learning his new vocation and to fight one of the most dominate MMA fighters ever with little time to train and having inadequate, overall preparation for Fedor would not be smart, no matter the pay day. A Lashley loss would be predictable and a Lashley upset would be tainted because Lashley would have been a last minute substitute that Fedor would have had "little time" for which to prepare. Bobby is steering a smart, deliberate course in MMA that he should remain on for the next several months.
Much has been made of the Steve Austin tax matter resulting from the sale of some property. Knowing Steve as well as I do, and we have not discussed this particular matter, I would assume that this is merely a clerical error and someone on the accounting or Realtor end dropped the ball. Austin is one of the most obsessed individuals I know regarding saving money and taking care of his business the right way. Austin "got it" when I used to preach to the wrestlers about saving their money, preparing for their future, getting professional financial planning and income tax help and not living beyond their means IE pay one’s bills and don’t buy too much bling. Trust me, Steve Austin won’t have any issues taking care of this $22K matter that I suspect simply fell through the cracks. I can tell you from personal experience and from dealing with accountants that things like this have happened to many of us and more often than not, if one is diligent in this area, these matters are simply oversights. Austin shares my philosophy and that is to NEVER "mess" with Uncle Sam and the IRS.
Now if I had heard this story about some other current and former wrestlers I would likely be singing another tune. And that, boys and girls, is a damn shame.
Helluva coup for Raw to nab Shaquille O’Neal as guest host this Monday night in Washington D.C., the day after Night of Champions in Philly. Shaq should be tremendous as his personality, like the rest of him, is huge. Shaq has been a long time fan and he once told me that he DVR’ed Raw every week so that he could keep up with what was happening especially during his NBA season. Shaq has an upcoming reality show that ABC is going to air this summer which will likely get some "stretch" come Monday night. The big fellow is a legit good dude let me assure you. Could we see Shaq in the ring Monday night? I don’t know but I do suspect that the Cleveland Cavaliers would likely not be overwhelmed. I suggest the Cavs send King James to D.C. to chaperon. LeBron is a big wrestling fan too. Nice tag team.
So Raw gets Shaq but, remember kids, Friday Night Smackdown still has "Delicious" so it’s all good, right?
Check out the complete blog on the official website of Jim Ross at JRsBarBQ.com.
