Freebird Buddy Roberts R.I.P.

[Robstar]

Sad news, the world has lost another Freebird.

According to WWE.com, Buddy Roberts, one-third of the legendary Fabulous Freebirds, has passed away at the age 65.

On behalf of all of us, I would like to extend our condolences to the family, friends and fans of Mr. Roberts.

The following is from WWE.com:

Buddy Roberts, one-third of the legendary Fabulous Freebirds, passed away at age 65.

Roberts first made an impact on wrestling in the 1970s, working his way through the territories as one-half of a tag team called The Hollywood Blonds with Jerry Brown. The duo racked up championships across the United States before parting ways late in the decade.

As the 1980s began, so did The Fabulous Freebirds. The technically sound Roberts joined forces with the charismatic Michael “P.S.” Hayes and the hard-hitting Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy, and Southern wrestling was never the same. The trio ran roughshod over the South before landing in Dallas and World Class Championship Wrestling.

On Christmas night 1982, The Freebirds made history — not only for becoming the first WCCW Six-Man Tag Team Champions, but also more notoriously for turning against Kerry Von Erich, setting off a rivalry that is remembered as one of the greatest in history. The battles between The Freebirds and The Von Erich family are legendary for their sheer brutality and the passion they inspired in Texans.

In the midst of the Freebirds–Von Erichs war, Roberts developed a rivalry with Iceman King Parsons. It began when Roberts cut off Iceman’s signature braids, ultimately culminating with a Hair vs. Hair Match at Reunion Arena in June 1983. Leading into the bout, Roberts taunted Parsons with a Nair-like substance he called “Freebird Hair Cream,” claiming he would take the rest of Parsons’ hair with it.

Roberts used nefarious tactics to win the match, only for the official to restart the bout, during which Parsons smeared the cream over his cranium. The Freebird writhed around the mat, clutching what was left of his once-luxurious blond hair, to the fans’ delight. (WATCH) Over the next few weeks, fans giggled as Buddy Roberts appeared on television wearing a blond wig held in place by boxing headgear, claiming his hair had grown back immediately. (WATCH)

After stints in WWE, AWA and Cowboy Bill Watts’ UWF, Roberts returned to WCCW, this time as the manager for the animalistic Samoan Swat Team. Buddy Roberts left the industry shortly after WCCW’s closing in the late 1980s.

[Darkside Ron Garvin]

RIP

[Robstar]

RIP

I was just reading in Joe Laurinaitis' book how they painted themselves like this before a match with The Road Warriors.

[Darkside Ron Garvin]

I was just reading in Joe Laurinaitis' book how they painted themselves like this before a match with The Road Warriors.

Different time I suppose... After all, we remember the Southern Boys, right?

[Robstar]

Different time I suppose... After all, we remember the Southern Boys, right?

I assume that pic is from that event (Freebirds)

You mean when you could be a proud redneck?

[Darkside Ron Garvin]

I assume that pic is from that event (Freebirds)

You mean when you could be a proud redneck?

Not sure if they are the same event. However, the Southern Boys were known to have the confederate flag on their ring attire.

And not the "proud to be a redneck" as much as "Proud of Southern Heritage". There's a High School in my home town that is call "Lee High School". Yes, that's General Lee. The school name is the Rebels. They have been well known in Texas for their football team. Cedric Benson (current Running Back on the Green Bay Packers) graduated from this school. I remember the "uproar" that was brought up when he was seen riding in the back of a buddy of his pickup truck, waving a Confederate Flag, the week they were set to face their inner city rivals, the Midland High Bulldogs. The "uproar" came not from the "black" members of the community, but rather the "Liberal" members of the city. They said that it was a symbol of "hate" and a "travesty" that he was holding that flag... You know what Cedric thought of it? It was a symbol of his school pride. Anything that flag had associated with hatred died when the Civil War ended and neither he, nor anyone in his family ever experienced that era in time. The "symbolism" of the Confederate Flag is what you make it out to be... Just like the Pentagram, Enron Symbol, or Iranian flag are only relative to your life experiences associated with them.


Of course, this view is that of my own person so I am sure that others will disagree... But to me (as well as other black people in my community), the "Confederate Flag" doesn't have the same negative connotation behind it that other people in a different part of the world give it.

[Robstar]

Haha, didn't mean redneck as a slur there. But I get what you are saying.

[Sweet Pea]

Of course, this view is that of my own person so I am sure that others will disagree... But to me (as well as other black people in my community), the "Confederate Flag" doesn't have the same negative connotation behind it that other people in a different part of the world give it.

I went to Robert E Lee elementary in the 6th grade in Florida and then in 7th, went to Booker T Washington not more than 5 miles away. Isn't that ironic?

[Darkside Ron Garvin]

I went to Robert E Lee elementary in the 6th grade in Florida and then in 7th, went to Booker T Washington not more than 5 miles away. Isn't that ironic?

That's about right since we have Lee High which isn't too far from Martin Luther King Elementary to the South and George Washington Carver to the West. It's all about perspective I guess.

[PrimusSucks]

I don't associate the rebel flag with racism anymore, but as a symbol of Southern pride. I never consider Lynyrd Skynyrd racist but they always flew that flag high.