Lou Pickney's Online Commentary
Jacksonville Thoughts
Friday
February 21, 2003
I'll have the full story on the Jacksonville trip, the Lex & Terry funeral, and much more on here tomorrow. I've got to head over to Masquerade for the Something Corporate concert in a few minutes. But first, some highlights from the trip:
-The tour bus was amazing. Far and away the nicest bus I've ever been on.
-Bubba went off on me, Brent and Co-Co after we had about a half-hour long discussion of the 2003 NFL Draft last night. He came out from the back saying "3 for 5, 5 for 3, conditional picks, I'm sick of it!" It was utterly hilarious, like in Reservoir Dogs where Mr. White snaps during the restaurant conversation at the beginning of the film.
-Josh Talkington is a reporter with the ability to be in Tampa. He handled an interview Bubba last night about as well as anyone in that situation could (including somehow managing to not crack up when Bubba did an impromptu "RVD" pointing outburst that had us all rolling with laughter).
-Big Show is one huge guy. Up there on the stage I was standing next to Hulk Hogan, who is taller than me (and remember, I'm 6'2"). And then next to Hogan was Big Show, who overshadowed us both. Hogan did a funny bit where he made himself "disappear" to the crowd by walking behind Big Show. A few idiots out of the crowd came up on stage to take some chops from Big Show. It was amazing/slightly frightening to be standing next to Big Show holding a normal-sized guy in a lucha mask up by ONE ARM. And those chops... man, he laid them in there hard. The tough guys from the crowd suddenly changed their tune, struggling to walk off the stage sporting a huge red welt across their chest.
-The most interesting conversation of the trip had to be on the bus with me, Damian (an intern with Bubba) and Crystal Gunns, an exotic dancer who came out to promote her shows this weekend at Cheaters, a gentleman's club in Jacksonville. You never know what you'll get when you talk to a stripper, but she was actually quite articulate and intelligent. She offered to get me into the "Executive Suite" at the club tonight, but alas I had to leave with the bus. Too bad, could've been fun...
-Bubba is amazing to see in action in front of a live crowd. Handling a live broadcast, describing the action and keeping it going in a hilarious matter... he's got a real gift for it. Good work by Spice Boy leading the funeral procession and by Brent in keeping things going on the live location site (with the wrestlers, the girls from the crowd, etc.)
-Quotes from the HBO show "Oz" were prevalent on the bus, including "Shut up and spot me, prag", which I think was said no less than 100 times.
Overall, it was an overwhelmingly positive experience. I'll share more about it tomorrow...
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