Today is the 68th birthday of Richard Roundtree, best known for his portrayal of John Shaft in Shaft, Shaft’s Big Score, and Shaft In Africa.  What more can be said?  If you’re dropping by here, you know the score.  With the character of John Shaft, Roundtree set a new standard for Black leading men:  Smooth, dangerous, and not inclined to take shit off anyone. 

- JEP

Today is the eleventh birthday of my nephew, Ryan.  I’m very proud of him.  He’s a bright, clever, talented, respectful kid and a great big brother to his sister, Taylor.  Another thing I love about him is that at such a young age, he’s already found a niche in life and he’s pursuing it with all the passion and energy that youth allows. 

At the tender age of 11, Ryan is already building his own multi-media empire.  He loves to create his own movies, which he posts on his own YouTube channel.  (He successfully lobbied his father for a second YouTube channel which will have a different focus, so he already understands the value of branding!)  Ryan’s filmed his own talkshow, with a studio audience of neighborhood kids, then sold the DVDs of the show.  However, the crown jewel of the nascent empire is his pro-wrestling blog, RPD’s ArmBAR Pro Wrestling Review.  Since he started the blog in March 2010, Ryan has been updating it religiously with reviews of WWE and TNA’s weekly programs and even conducts his own original interviews.  He’s like a modern day “Mean” Gene Okerlund!  I’m a big wrestling fan, but Ryan came by his appreciation for it independently.  (Although I did help him name the site, from my own love of technical, submission wrestling and Chris Jericho’s famous “Man of 1004 Holds” promo.)  On weeks when I might miss the shows, I’ll go to the ArmBAR to catch up on what happened.

Ryan is thoroughly enjoys the “sports” aspect of “sports entertainment,” but also gets that it is “entertainment.”  This is who pro-wrestling was made for.  He IS their intended audience, so for a unique, fun, non-jaded perspective on the world of pro-wrestling from the eyes of a 10 an eleven-year old, you can’t go wrong with the ArmBAR Pro Wrestling Review.  When you do, tell him that “Uncle” sent you.  Whattya think about that, Ryan?

Thought so.  Happy birthday!

- JEP