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Jerry Root

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THE MAT POTATO

I originally wrote a column a couple of years (three?) ago concerning a topic near and dear to my heart. After a bit of soul searching (and a total dearth of ideas), I figured "Hey, if it's good enough for Russo, then it's good enough for the Potato". So, without further ado, or a minimum anyway, here we go. Hang on, it may get a bit bumpy.

Originally I was going to write about the changes in wrestling. This was going to be a non-flame response to Buff McKenzie's column where he pretty much told us dinosaurs (my word, not his) to "get used to it." However, it can't stop me from missing some of the more colorful characters who have haunted the wrestling world pretty much from day one.

However, this particular breed seems to be vanishing in the haze of "sports entertainment", and the ever-lasting soap opera that tries to pass itself off as professional wrestling.

I am referring, of course, to the jobber.

I'm not referring to one of the names who will do the job, but the guy who, from the moment he steps into the ring, you know has absolutely zero chance of pulling it out.

Fodder. Ego-builders. Sacrificial lambs. Call them what you will, but often the jobber had a personality that was just endearing, charming, and made you root for him on the off chance that he would actually get over for once.

So, who are some of my favorites? Jake "the Milkman" Milliken (I do hope I spelled the name right). He was the "everyman" in the ring. He was tenacious, tried every match, and ended up getting his head handed to him. I can't put my finger on it, but he just maintains a spot in my heart.

Speaking of characters, who could ever forget Pete Dougherty? The "Duke of Dorchester". I think he had about 3 teeth in his entire head, had a straggly beard, and was about as goofy as they come. (Even more so than Foley.) He was just fun to watch. The highlight of my watching came the day that he won his "retirement" match. He was going to retire after the match, and I believe it was in his home town. It was a classic moment. Speaking of marking out!

NWA/WCW had Pat Rose. Like the Milkman, he was a blue collar sort. He actually looked like he had a chance, but he always came up short. Last I heard, he teamed up and had a moderate bit of success, then vanished off the radar screen. It's a shame, but he's long gone from the glare of the lights, as far as I know.

Tommy "Wildfire" Rich was more in the JOTS category, but he certainly didn't win while I was watching him. He was sort of an upper level jobber at the time, as he was allowed time on the mic and would always give a heartfelt entreaty to the fans to come out and support him as he did his level best to nail the vicious heel that was causing so much grief, only to end up getting screwed out of it, again and again. Yet I kept believing he could do it.

Of course, what review of the (in)famous jobbers would be complete without at least a passing reference to the Mulky brothers? I think that combined, they weighed in at an impressive 250 lbs. A couple of skinny kids who had as much business in the ring as the old Potato here. You would have to see it to believe it, but one of them would go up against one of the big (and I do mean BIG) men. Can you say "squash"? I knew you could.

This is part of the heritage of professional wrestling that is falling to the wayside. Once upon a time there was a use for the jobber. He filled a vital spot in the hierarchy, providing valuable time to the stars, making them seem invulnerable, giving the dastardly heel a play-thing to toy with and really boost the heel attitude.

How many remember when DDP was a jobber? Or "Jobbin' Bob" Holly? They rose above their humble beginnings. However, that opportunity has been lost, or at least drastically diminished, as matches that would once be seen only at select house shows, and later PPV's, are now standard fare for the T.V. audience.

Yes, times are changing, and one day those of you who decry us dinosaurs as being "out of touch" will bemoan the direction that the feds have taken. And it will happen. How do I know? Because 30 years ago I was telling people the same thing when they would talk about the "good old days".

It's all in your perspective.

Jerry Root
[slash] wrestling

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