UPDATE: Some visitors are wondering what is the point of “The Return of Sea Bass”. I might be a little late with an explanation, but I think I have one. And it’s not that bad. Take a look at the comments below for more. But the bottom line is that this event could become a fundraise for a charitable or non-profit organization. And Josh just might do it. But there would be a lot of work to do. And it’s going to take some time, support, and help. Show your support and sign the online petition.

Jay, here.

Last Friday, I got a call from Justin Myers, the Sports Idol on Eugene’s ESPN Radio 1320 “The Score”. I thought, “This is great! Justin wants me to come on his show next week.” Immediately, I tried to anticipate what Justin would want to talk about with me. Ducks’ basketball? Spring football? The Oscars? Whatever he wanted to talk about, I knew I needed to be prepared.

Well, I wasn’t prepared for the real reason he was calling: he wanted to talk Sea Bass.

I’ll let Justin show and tell.

The Sports Idol Justin Myers at the 1997 Sea Bass appearance in Roseburg.

Hello Duck Fans!

I am writing this letter to officially throw my support behind Joe Giansante and his campaign to bring “Sea Bass” back to the squared circle for one night only. As you can see, I was a fan of Sea Bass from day one. This picture is from the Douglas County Fairgrounds (I am the one in the blue hat) in 1997 (Oh, the good ol’ days!) when Sea Bass made his Northwest tour. I don’t know if I would be the man I am today if not for the lessons of Sea Bass.

Josh, your fans need you for one night only!

Please join the campaign. We must have Sea Bass back, if only for one night.

Justin Myers
1320 The Score
590 KUGN

Justin, it looks like it’s a campaign now. Head on over to ‘Sea Bass Should Return For One Night Only’ and sign the online petition calling for the return of Sea Bass.

Jay, here.

It’s too late to apologize. When you get Josh Wilcox going, it’s hard to slow him down.

Here’s Josh and a few of his random thoughts on a former Duck’s appearance in a Timbaland video to a very confused high school football non-recruit.

Wilcox on what it would take to bring back Sea Bass:

“Flounder” is in La-La Land because there is no way that a comeback is in the making!!!! He would need to give me a lot more money than I’m making now to even think about it. The whole purpose of the column was to give the myth and story a conclusion. Maybe I could sell the movie rights for big bucks and bag of cheese burgers from the old school Bob’s Burger Express. He should go back to working as Grimace in the McDonald’s commercial.

Wilcox on the Ducks at the NFL Scouting Combine:

Good luck to all of the Oregon guys at the Combine this weekend and in the up coming NFL Draft. It is a fun, exciting, and stressful experience and they all deserve it. I sure hope Mr. Stewart goes on to do big and great things. He seems to be like a class act and the kind of kid that a team would want to draft. The scary thing is, he will only get better. I just hope he goes to a team with some good coaches. Some of the worst coaches in the world that I ever saw, or experienced, were in the professional world. It will be interesting to see where Dixon gets an opportunity (that’s a wild card for sure) and fun to watch him take on this challenge. No matter what, my hat is off to the guy for the improvement he showed in one year, and for the toughness he displayed. Both will be missed on and off the field but.

Wilcox on the use of drugs:

I really want to make sure that some of you understand that I do not condone the use of anything unless under supervision from a doctor, or if you’re an adult and your legal enough to buy beer. Even then just be careful. Look, I have made mistakes before and am not one to talk or preach. And I do not want to be hypocritical. I have tried to learn from my mistakes and move on to do better next time.

Wilcox on Olympic Track & Field Trials:

Is any one else getting excited for the ghosts of “Pre” this summer at Hayward!

Wilcox on the NFL Draft:

A big line prospect I heard about for this year’s Draft is Fred Palowaksi. Tough. Good Stance. Long arms. Plays to the whistle. Adams College Head Football Coach Harris is a family friend and has told us he could be one of the big stories of the Draft.

Wilcox on Ducks in the music industry:

Congratulations to Chris Tetterton for his role in the “Apologize” video by Timbaland (featuring OneRepublic). Way to go! From former Kid Sports All-Star to Sheldon Gridiron Great to working- your-way-to-starting-your-senior-year-at-Oregon, while still driving some of the absolute worst, but at the same time awesome, cars of all time. Now you go and shine on MTV. Wow. Nice to see kids from Lane County representin’.

Chris Tetterton’s player profile on the old school GoDucks.com.

Good luck to Sonny Cook’s sister. I heard she is on some reality type show about singing.

Wilcox on the Kevin Hart saga:

Did any one else think, “WOW!”, about that story of the kid in Nevada. Sounds like the kid that everyone had at school, I even had some, that would tell you that they were getting letters, from big schools. Man this is on a whole different level. That is a made-for-TV-movie if I have ever seen one.

Wilcox’s last word on Sea Bass:

Again, Sea Bass is dead!

Not so fast, my friend. Not so fast.

Josh Wilcox, a Junction City, Oregon native was a four-year letterman with Ducks. In the Rose Bowl Season of 1994 against Arizona, Danny O’Neil threw 15 yards to Josh for the game’s only touchdown early in the fourth quarter as Oregon came from behind to win 10-9. Arizona was ranked No. 11 by The Associated Press and ranked 23d by The New York Times computer. Josh went on to catch 11 passes for 135 yards against Penn State in the 1995 Rose Bowl. After finishing his career at Oregon, Josh went on to play for the New Orleans Saints in the NFL.

Jay, here.

For every Rocky, there’s a Mickey. Rambo had Colonel Trautman. And The Bad News Bears tolerated Buttermaker.

As Josh Wilcox explained in his origin story of “Sea Bass”, he had Joe Giansante.

Ever the emotional leader, Joe wants to rally the troops one last time.

Sea Bass Comeback In The Making?
Joe Giansante
DSN Contributor

Memories. Water colored memories, of the way we were. Like Rocky, Rambo, The Bad News Bears and even the new Indiana Jones, once (or four times for that matter) was simply not enough. The story is never complete until the star figure closes the book, ends the speculation of what happened with a resounding statement of dominance, heart and desire.

Sea Bass must rise.

The greatest leaders and achievers in history were those who were propped up by an adoring public. It is now time we do the same. Josh Wilcox is one of the greatest football players in Oregon history. His falling down on his arse out of his stance on the winning drive against Oregon State ranks nearly equal to Kenny Wheaton’s scoring sprint to preserve the win over Washington. If you
close your eyes hard enough, you will see it in your memory.

That moment is only exceeded by Sea Bass taking the ring at the Lane County Fairgrounds, with thousands of sign toting, tooth missing, sleeve ripping, mullet styling, old Tennessee hat on the fishing guy wearing, jean holing, Dr. Pepper overdosing fans screaming one name in unison. As Sea Bass was carried out on the stretcher, one fan in tears, caught by a local news camera, hysterical and wondering if he’d ever walk again. He did. And now the chance exists for him to emerge again, a uniter in this divided community, bringing people from one segment of life together.

Sea Bass.

You can hear it now.

Sea BASS

Back at the fair grounds; ONE NIGHT ONLY!

SEA BASS!

Ravishing Rick Rude, Playboy Buddy Rose, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Super Fly Snuka and Cowboy Frankie Layne. Like the musical “The Producers”, a one night trip down memory lane that would turn into a never-close event that could change the entertainment landscape in the state of Oregon.

So join me now, oh Duck fans; Sea Bass, we need you. We want you back. The time has come for your triumphant return and we simply say in unison;

Kick His A$$ Sea Bass!

Very truly yours,

Joe Giansante

In case you missed Wilcox Over The Top: Jack Youngblood, Ric Flair, & The Dead, you can read it here.

Jay, here.

Every superhero has a beginning. In the comic book world, they’re called origin stories. And you’ve seen them play out on the big screen in “Superman: The Movie”, “Batman Begins”, and “Blankman”.

I don’t think “Sea Bass” was ever a superhero. Although, he did fly a couple of times. And I don’t know if he was ever in a comic. But I know Josh Wilcox has been accused of being a comic on several occasions.

This is Sea Bass’s origin story.

Wilcox Over The Top, Part Deux: Sea Bass Begins

By Josh Wilcox
DSN Contributor

Unlike many, my passion for Pro Wrestling never faded into the background. In fact, it actually got stronger once I got to college. I finally had cable, could buy the PPV’s, and I became more educated on the business without my mom thinking it was a phase. I would wager a case of Lucky Lager that she would still bet that I am not out of that phase.

Starting with my sophomore year, the Rose Bowl year, I started to get a little press. However, the thing that ended up coming up most in a lot of these interviews was my passion for Metallica and Pro Wrestling. I don’t know, but I guess it helped some guys write more than a paragraph about me, because really I am not that interesting. There was actually a WWF show down in L.A. during the Rose Bowl week, but we had some event we had to attend. Needless to say, that was a burr in my saddle. Maybe I took it out on Penn State.

My junior year I named Oregon’s tight ends Chris Anderson, Blake Spence, Jed Weaver, and myself, the “4 Horsemen”. We were a pack. If you messed with one of us, you got all of us, just like the original 4 Horsemen from the NWA (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, and Ole Anderson). Spence didn’t really get it, but the other three did. Then again, Blake was probably thinking about surfing or something else. Once during daily doubles the training staff took an ad from USA today promoting Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair and put my picture over Ric Flair and pasted it up around the treatment facility. So the poster was me vs. Hogan. It was a good rib. For the record, I would have beat the Hulkster, because I was saying my prayers and eating my vitamins.

After I wrapped up my playing career at the U of O and my Minnesota Vikings linebacker experiment did not work out, what was I to do? How about what I always wanted to do? What I told coaches at the NFL combine what I wanted to do. I was going to attempt wrestling. I was young and hungry. And why the hell not? I told everyone I wanted to do it. Now I had to back up my big mouth.

Before I signed with Minnesota in 1997, I met Matt Borne who was the first “Doink the Clown” in the WWF, now WWE. He is the son of Northwest Legend Tough Tony Borne and was helping with the revival of Portland Wrestling in the state of Oregon. So, we decided that it would get done. My debut match was on November 1, 1997 in a flea market in Portland. Luckily, or because of my planning, take your pick, there was no Oregon game on that day. That gave ample time for my friends and family to come watch. Over 800 people showed up and saw me defeat Bruiser Brian Cox with a Flying Body Press off of the top turnbuckle, for the 1-2-3! I recently saw a tape of this and in terms of wrestling standards, I would give this a rating of -1 on a 10 point scale. I did not really know what I was doing, but it ended up looking okay for what it was. Wrestling purists agreed and mentioned that for something that received so much press, it should have been better. But it put butts in the seats! And that equals a bigger paycheck!

But what name to use? Joshquatch? The NW Duck? The All-American? I needed a name. For that, I had help from the media. It seems this quest to name me struck a chord with a short round news caster who I happen to know, and had a good relationship with. So his suggestion of “Sea Bass”, based on the character in the movie ‘Dumb and Dumber”, a scruffy guy sitting in the back of a diner with a mesh hat took off like a wild fire in southern California. “The Duck Homer”, Joe Giansante, deserves credit for starting the “Sea Bass” name, which has stuck to me like groupies at a Molly Hatchet/Bad Company concert. I have yet to put it on my business cards though.

After the show in Portland, we had shows in Roseburg, La Pine, Bend, Coos Bay, and Eugene. The one in Eugene was great and so much fun. My outfit: bad acid wash jeans I stole from my dad’s work clothes pile, a yellow Oregon football belt, hiking boots, and cut-off sleeved Oregon t-shirt fit perfectly with the “Sea Bass” moniker. I ended up teaming with Brian Cox, the guy I defeated in my first match, and we won the Tag Team Titles. But then he turned on me, hit me with the belt, and power bombed me! They had to stretcher me out. I did not know if I would survive.

Due to my concussions and neck problems, I was scared I would need a neckeoctomy, a complex neck surgery which could have put me out for months. Luckily, ice and free beers cured it. Also, a fan entered the ring trying to help me from an attack early in the show, which I was grateful for. But one of the guys punted his skull with his size 13. So, I would suggest never trying to jump the rail and entering the ring. I won the heavyweight title in La Pine in a tournament, but lost it a few weeks later when I got hit with a trash-can behind the ref’s back in Roseburg. I can say now I do not have the fondest of memories of the Roseburg county fairgrounds, but mainly because I was staring at the lights flat on my back, not because of a bad experience at the Monster Truck Shows.

I can tell you that the people in this profession do not get the credit they deserve. If you like it, if you hate it, if you think it’s fake, whatever, just know these people are out there putting their bodies on the line for entertainment, and they do get hurt. If you do not like it, turn the channel; don’t comment on it. It would be like me commenting on American Idol. It is not my up of tea and I don’t watch it, but I won’t call it stupid or anything like that. I just turn the channel, or let the wife watch it. Enjoy things for what they are. And wrestling to me is fun and entertaining! I guess I still am a kid at heart.

In the end I was a Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion and the Heavyweight champion. Granted, I have never been in a Wrestlemaina. But I got to follow through on a dream and this helped pave the way for me to appear on ECW, train with Dory Funk Jr, and eventually get a WWE contract. I am pretty sure that the visions of me jumping off a turnbuckle in a flea market are not stuck in the minds of my parents like the Rose Bowl; they were always supportive unless I did something real stupid, and often times talked about not using the Wilcox name. Guess “Sea Bass” will have to do. I don’t know maybe I should be “Lucky”.

Hold on I have to go, somebody just bought “Sea Bass” and the fellas a round of boiler makers…

Jay, here.

Well, I think I’ve learned a lesson: don’t mention “Sea Bass” and not expect a response from “Sea Bass”.

Here’s Josh.

Wilcox Over The Top: Jack Youngblood, Ric Flair, & The Dead

By Josh Wilcox
DSN Contributor

While spending some relaxing time down in Phoenix, taking in all of the Super Bowl activities and the PGA, I was going to update you on the entire goings on down there. But it would have made no sense and I can not remember that much of it, anyway. Damn Budweiser family. I guess I had too much fun. Is that possible?

However, one morning I was lucky enough to accompany, more like taxi, my father and Jack Youngblood to a Gridiron Greats golf tournament. There I sat down and ate some breakfast with those two and Dick Butkus. Here I am sitting with three of the toughest people ever to play the game, and all I can do is sit back and realize that is why I played the game. Not very easy when your hung over by the way. All the stories they were telling, laughing about other players, and more. Those three guys are not only Hall of Fame football players, but guys you want on your side in life; they are Hall of Fame people. Someday some people will realize it is not about stats and contracts but about the relationships and memories.

Another reason there were no updates, was due to the fact my media credentials did not get to me on time. I worked diligently with Duck Sports News on getting media passes, but at the end of the day a Hooters napkin with DSN written in lipstick did not get me through the final gate. And I thought I was a journalist.

Last week there was an article about a smackdown at the U of O on DSN. Finally, I thought, a real journalistic website writing about a sport which does not get the credit it deserves (Frankly, my favorite sport behind football, and maybe beer pong.):Pro Wrestling!

I was duped; it was all about the current athletic department versus faculty debate. Crap! Got all excited for nothing. But then a 10 watt light bulb went off in my head and I decided to use my journalistic expertise and my past experiences to touch on the subject.

I have always been a fan of Pro Wrestling. Why? The athleticism, the story telling, the characters. It was cool. Those guys were bad, tough, and mean. They were beating the crap out of each other. Wrestling Superstars, Portland Wrestling, Saturday Night’s Main Events, and Jim Crockett on TBS. I can vividly remember going to friend’s houses to watch those, and staying up late trying to make sure I could see my heroes triumph.

These are examples of memories that just wont leave me no matter how many brain cells I have killed through out my life playing football: living in Amsterdam, New Orleans, San Diego, LA, going to a few Metallica concerts, a Grateful Dead show at Autzen, and attending the U of O. Going to the Lane County Fair Grounds and watching Buddy Rose vs. Billy Jack Haynes, driving to Portland to see the big Don Owen mega event when the Road Warriors beat the Russians, Nikita and Ivan Koloff in a cage match. Going to Fred Meyer and getting Pro Wrestling Illustrated, begging my parents to let me go to Wrestlemaina 2 closed circuit TV, the scaffold match between the Road Warriors and Midnight Express on TBS, Magnum TA and Baby Doll, the AWA on ESPN, and Ric Flair telling everyone “to be the man you have to beat the man”. And this is just the start.

In fact the night Rich Brooks made his home visit to our house when I was getting recruited, I was watching wrestling until he showed up. I found it on the old KEVU UHF channel from the Eugene area. Not bad with rabbit ears, tin foil, and no cable.

Check back tomorrow for Wilcox Over The Top: Part Deux.