The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Hollywood Jimmy Blaylock, the Webmaster, or anyone else connected with this site. They are mine, and mine alone. If you agree with me, OK, and if you don’t agree, oh well....
Greetings, friends. I have just returned from a week's vacation, spending time with my daughters and my grandson in St. Louis. Shortly after I returned home, I received a phone call from one of the fans at TFW. He told me to check out Dustin Starr's blog and read his comments about TFW. Now, I have deliberately avoided Dustin's blog, and all things related to Dustin Starr, for a long time. The reason I have paid little or no attention to Dustin is that he is a first class, egotistical, little jerk, who thinks he is God's gift to the wrestling world. But I did check out Dustin's comments about TFW. And now, my friends, I am both amused and pissed. So, before I continue, let me say that this column will be solely to respond to Dustin Starr's comments about TFW both on his blog and on the hollywoodjimmy.com message board. My comments here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the owners, management, workers, or anyone connected with TFW, but I think we all feel pretty much the same about Dustin Starr.
First, a little history about Dustin Starr and TFW. Dustin showed up at a TFW show last year. To the best of my knowledge, he was not booked on the show, he just showed up with Neil Taylor, and Neil got him on the card. He worked that night and the next week, then he was gone. After he had finished up his two weeks, he had some negative things to say about the organization, and the facilities at the TFW Arena. Apparently, things were not up to Dustin's standards, and the little twerp who thinks he is God's gift to the wrestling world expressed his opinion loudly and clearly.
OK, back to the current situation.
Dustin said in a post on his blog dated December 28, 2008: "First of all, to repeat what I said in the other post - the dressing room was actually an old broke-down school bus. The bus was parked behind the building. I’m not lying - I couldn’t make this stuff up. It gets better, I promise. Not only did they dress in a school bus… err… locker room (as they called it) but there was a huge gas tank in the middle of the isleway. This tank looked like a gas tank you’d see on a grill in your backyard (see photo). The only difference between the one in your backyard and this one was, well, this one was lit up… and had no grill attached to it. I’m not sure exactly how it worked… but they apparently turned the gas on, lit it up and used it for heat. How that tank didn’t explode, I’ll never know. What I do know is this - it was scary and I thought I might die of explosion in there."
Yes, the old building had no dressing room, so yes, the guys did get dressed in an old school bus out back, or in a small shed. Yes, the bus was heated in the winter with a propane heater, but it was not the fire hazard Dustin claims it was. This dangerous "fire hazard" Dustin speaks of was a propane heater. A tank top propane heater, to be exact. You can buy one at just about any hardware store, sporting goods store, home center, or outdoors shop. They have safety devices on them that turn them off if they get knocked over. They meet all safety requirements, as far as I know. It wouldn't have exploded. It's amusing to note that Dustin did not seem to mind the bus or the heater while he was there. He didn't seem to fear for his safety then. Only after he left did he have anything negative to say. Maybe Dustin should have done a little research on such heaters before making negative comments, or fearing that he "might die of explosion in there."
Dustin said on the post on his blog: "Anyway, I always thought that company would be shut down because that’s definitely a fire code violation. I’m one hundred percent sure that wouldn’t pass inspection and I said as much in the previous post. Now - SURPRISE, SURPRISE!! It might’ve taken a year but it finally happened."
Maybe Dustin should have done a little homework, you know, just to make sure he knew what he was talking about, because if Dustin had done some homework or at least made a phone call or two, he would have known that a few weeks ago TFW MOVED OUT OF THE BUILDING THAT DUSTIN WORKED IN. They moved out of the building that Dustin is still talking about. They moved to a much nicer and bigger building in Skyline, just outside the Tupelo City limits. Gone were the days of getting dressed in the bus. There was an adequate dressing room inside. The old bus was retired. In fact, all of the "hazards" that so stressed Mr. Starr no longer existed.
TFW rented space in a building that, as far as they knew, met all fire and building codes. It had proper HVAC, proper exits, proper lighting at all exits, decent restrooms with handicap access, etc. As I said in my recent post on wrestlingnewscenter.com, it was the other parts of the building, which TFW had no access to, no control over, and were vacant, that contained the code violations. So, the Fire Marshall closed the entire building, and TFW had to leave. Through no fault of theirs, TFW lost the use of the building.
So now Dustin Starr starts his crap all over again. Talking about the bus, the heater on the bus, and things that are in the PAST. Things that should never have been an issue in the first place. But that's Dustin, always trying to start something.
Dustin posted on his blog: "Couldn’t have happened to a nicer group of folks, either. (I hope you feel the sarcasm in that last sentence.)"
So, now Dustin has decided to make his comments about TFW personal. I did not think even Dustin Starr would stoop so low. Now he has decided to make his attack personal against the Blaylock family. That's his choice.
Not only is one of the TFW owners, Denise Blaylock, currently fighting to keep her wrestling organization going... she is also battling cancer and is currently taking chemotherapy, which has been very hard on her and made her very sick.
So throw your little darts at the Blaylock family, Dustin. Kick 'em while Denise is down. Just remember, boy, that for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. In other words, what you sow, you will one day reap.
Wayne & Denise Blaylock, as well as the TFW organization, will be back. When TFW does return, I can guarantee that I will do everything I can to help them. I have not always agreed with their business decisions. I have not always agreed with the way they run things. However, let me point out that I know of nobody who works for any organization who agrees with 100% of what goes on. What I do know is that while working as an announcer at TFW for several years I have had a blast. I would not trade one minute of it. I have had a good time. Through all the organization has gone through, good and bad, I have been happy to be a small part of the team. That's why I decided to put the TFW logo at the top of this column. I guess it's just my way of making a statement.
Oh, and happy New Year, Dustin.
Axeman has spoken.
