Jake Roberts Part Two

Note: This week's column is dedicated to the memory of Ruth Verhey, mother of my friend Bob Verhey of Denver, Colorado. She was in her 90's--Percival

When I left you last ... I was writing about the many feuds and the life of Jake "The Snake" Roberts. He was a second generation wrestler, following after his dad, Grizzly Smith. He trained guys like Diamond Dallas Page and Raven. He also gave wrestling psychology lessons to Steve Austin and The Undertaker, which helped their careers a lot.

Jake's career has lasted from 1975 because he is just the kind of person that can entice an audience to like him as well as hate him. It can also be attributed to the fact that Jake can wrestle. He had an amazing background in amateur wrestling.

He continues to amaze fans on the many independent circuits on a nightly basis. He still travels a lot by car but takes planes to faraway destinations like Canada. Recently, he was in Ohio and Indiana for a weekend and packed crowds into two high school gyms to see him. The autograph tables lit up as soon as he came out of the dressing room. Fans were sometimes 10 deep waiting to buy pictures of Jake.

His tactics were not changed very much from when he was in the WWF, but he seemed a little more direct with the choosing of holds and counter holds. He didn't spend much time in the ring with opponents.

The DDT sounded a firm but aggressive ending to each match, followed by a three-count by the referee. One thing that was missing was his snake that usually was sent slithering all over a defeated opponent.

A younger Jake Roberts
(Photo from the Danny Miller Collection)

Jake spends most of his free time now in Florida, not far from Daytona Beach. Most of his days are spent reading and going fishing, both salt water and fresh water. Jake also spends some time in front of the television watching sports and racing.

It's unfortunate for the fans that will be coming to the Cauliflower Alley Club reunion in Las Vegas in 10 days that Jake will be in Canada that weekend. I am sure that he would have been a great hit, along with his dad, if they could have made an appearance.

Please remember Grizzly in your prayers, as he is battling some big health issues.

Jake Roberts, thank you for giving me a part of my life that I can speak to my granddaughter about. Thanks for the small chats that we have had. Most of all, thanks for giving the surprise visit to my uncle Basil a few weeks ago at his estate outside of Silver Springs, Florida.

The wrestling world still loves you very much and shows it by the support that they give you everywhere that you appear. I hope to see you soon again in the future. Be safe in your travels.

Percival A. Friend, Retired
The Epitome of Wrestling Managers

2003 BWC Hall of Fame Inductee
2004 CAC Hall of Fame Inductee
2006 LWA Hall of Fame Inductee