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Ric Flair explains his beef with Georgia football Head Coach Kirby Smart

On3 imageby: Wes Blankenship07/26/22
On3 image
ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 21: Retired professional wrestler Ric Flair at the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 21, 2019 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire)

Ric Flair has ties to the Georgia Bulldogs. Once upon a time, those ties used to be in favor of the Dawgs’ athletic efforts.

These days, the greatest wrestler of all time prefers to pull for pretty much anybody else.

But first, let’s backtrack to 2017 and 2018. Flair’s step-daughter, Sophia Kidder, ran track for Georgia. That was a big stretch for Kirby Smart and the Dawgs.

Georgia played for its first football National Championship in (at the time) 37 years in the 2017-18 season.

The Dawgs also hosted Flair Between the Hedges during a primetime game vs. non-conference opponent Notre Dame in 2019, coached by (at the time) Brian Kelly.

A lot can change in just five years, huh?

Well, one of those changes happened in the heart of America’s beloved Nature Boy.

One minute, he was supporting Georgia football’s title run.

Then, something flipped his ‘Heel’ switch.

At some point during Kirby Smart’s career, Ric Flair’s Bulldog heart grew colder than the ice bag under Uga’s slobbering jowls

If you’re on social media at all, you’ve probably seen Ric Flair pull for any number of teams.

Georgia. Florida. Michigan.

Former Carolina Panthers player and Georgia Bulldog Charles Johnson engaged Flair in a heated Twitter exchange for supporting the Atlanta Falcons…

…when he also apparently used to support their NFC South rival in Charlotte.

What gives? Is he a fair-weather NFL fan? Or is there a method to this mediocre football team madness? What about at the college level?

How does Naitch decide which team he likes any given season, month or week?

Well, much like his newfound rival, Kirby Smart, Ric Flair’s influence is all about one key dynamic: Relationships.

“I love relationships on a team,” Flair told me on Outsider‘s Marty Smith Podcast.

“I get accused of being a jumper like that, but if I don’t know the coach… I’ve been on the sidelines with Herschel Walker, everybody else at Georgia. Kirby Smart walked right by me three times. Screw him. I’m glad he got the $112 million.”

Ric Flair’s struggle with Kirby Smart continues… but the Nature Boy’s last fight in the ring awaits this weekend

Listen to this week’s Marty Smith Podcast to hear all about Ric Flair’s final fight.

He said the biggest concern is that his pacemaker comes unplugged, so it comes with plenty of intrigue and pre-match hype.

No matter which team you pull for, or coach, I don’t think anyone will be rooting against Naitch this week.

Maybe Kirby Smart can patch things up with the the Rolex-wearin’, diamond ring-wearin’, kiss-stealin’ wheelin’ dealin’, limousine-ridin’, jet-flyin’ son of a gun once he gets this bout out of the way.

They do have one thing in common:

They’re just tryin’ to keep the Gators down. Wooooo!

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