Recently, I read an article on this website that made reference to the fact that the phrase "Icon" is literally thrown around in this ongoing saga called "Sports-Entertainment" that we know and love. Many of the statements expressed by the writer I found myself agreeing with, with the exception of ONE. In fact, I speak for millions of fans when I say this, so here goes: In 1976, a wrestler debuted for the then-WWF. It may not have been known then, but his trademark blond hair, cocky personality, and quick-witted catchphrases would span this sport for nearly 30 years after that moment. AND NO, I'M NOT REFERRING TO HULK HOGAN. I'm referring to "THE MAN," "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.

Of course, Some pundits will argue me down (to no end) about this, stating obvious facts like, "Oh, Buddy Rogers was the first Nature Boy," blah, blah, etc. But hey, Julius Erving came before Michael Jordan too........... and who is better remembered" Just like M.J. perfected what the "Doctor" innovated, Flair took Rogers' gimmick, and for that matter wrestling, to a new height. He was the only performer of his time, first of all, who could make you love him and hate his guts all in the same promo (sometimes even sentence). In the "kayfabe era," although he was definitely at his best being a heel, he was the one wrestler who made it cool to be bad, and this was around the time when hearing the name Steve Austin made people think of Lee Majors. I can't count the number of times where Flair could be getting major heat from the audience, then one comment he quickly made generated an enormous roar of cheers from the audience, a chorus of laughter, or even catcalls from the female fans present. Ric Flair had (or has, even to this day) a command over the audience that the "major players of nowaday wrestling" are still trying both to figure out and emulate. I ask any wrestling expert to name one wrestler of that era (or even this one with the exception of The Rock, who has also admitted to borrowing from the Nature Boy), face or heel, who had mastery over the microphone that could even rival "Slick Ric." Then when you fail, understand their reason why he is "THE MAN." FLAIR, 1 (wooooo!), Pundits, 0.

In this business where people are constantly trying to find their place in it by cycling through various personas, Ric Flair is the only wrestler who has never, EVER, had to change his character in the slightest bit. Come on, without going back to the times where names and gimmicks didn't matter, in other words, before the word "entertainment" was put behind the word "sport," name one wrestler that never "fine-tuned" his gimmick for changing times except Ric Flair" And I mean GIMMICKS, not names, so bringing up wrestlers who didn't change names will only give me another article to write. I'll name some to further dissuade some of you. Hogan became "Hollywood" when the yellow and red became stale. Some might argue Andre The Giant, but like I said, his personality changed. He became a heel in the twilight of his career. Bret "Hitman" Hart also kept his name, but he went from a stoic guy to a cocky braggart, Jake Roberts wasn't always "The Snake," etc. I mean, the list goes on and on, But at the end or beginning of that list, there is one constant. FLAIR, 2 (woooo), Pundits, 0.

Lastly, there is the issue of the 16 title reigns. What is much more significant than those title reigns, since this IS sports-entertainment, is the multitude of wrestlers that Slick Ric made "overnight celebrities" and/or legends in their own right. During that time, wrestlers like Sting, Barry Windham, Ricky Steamboat, Lex Luger, and Brian Pillman (whose matches against Flair were similar to Shawn Michaels' matches against Flair in WWF) benefited from being an adversary to Slick Ric. Then you have to think about the "already over" wrestlers like Dusty Rhodes, Randy Savage, Curt Hennig, Kerry Von Erich, Roddy Piper, and Nikita Koloff to name a few. Even present day, where Vince McMahon and the current WWE staff place enough faith in Flair to have him run as Intercontinental Champion in the near-end of his career (maybe), he is still helping establish the younger talent like Carly Colon (A.K.A. Carlito), Rob Conway, Chris Masters, and others. Hogan has to show up occasionally like an eclipse for the fans not to be bored with him, and even HBK has highs and lows like a tide and can lose the interest of the fans in a "heartbeat" (pardon the pun). FLAIR 3 (WOOOO!), Pundits 0. There's the "Hat Trick." There should be no doubt on whom "THE MAN" is, past or present in this business. And for those who still don't get it, next time you're either at or watching a WWE event, listen closely to the crowd when some wrestler (doesn't matter who) gives another a knife-edged chop.

"Whether you like it, or don't like it, learn to LOVE it."

by John Austin ..