Columnist John Katsilometes: Barrier says he won’t be buffaloed

Monday, May 15, 2000 | 10:14 a.m.

John Katsilometes is the Sun assistant features editor. His column appears Mondays. Reach him at kats@lasvegassun.com or 259-2327.

When "Buffalo Jim" answers his office phone it's usually, "Hello! What can I do for you, my bru-THA!"

When Jim Barrier answers his office phone it's with a straightforward "Allstate Auto and Marine."

"Buffalo Jim" is an ageless, even baseless, caricature. He seems without a family, devoid of a distinguishable biography, and with no apparent objectives other than to be recognized as a grade-B local celebrity.

Jim Barrier is a tireless 47-year-old father of four young daughters. He's a 22-year business owner who adopts his alter ego to operate and promote the Buffalo Wrestling Federation, a Las Vegas professional wrestling outfit that holds occasional local matches and offers on-the-mat training twice a week.

"Buffalo Jim" is always happy to talk wrestling, crowing about relationships with World Wrestling Federation figures such as Vince McMahon, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Godfather. "Buffalo Jim's" wrestling cards -- featuring local grapplers of assorted skills and sizes -- are full of camp and charisma and played out in front of deranged audiences.

"Buffalo Jim" is also to be featured on a weekly show airing Fridays at 11 p.m. on Cox cable channel 48. Expect a lot of bad grammar, melodramatic acting and spirited "preconceived" matches.

No, "Buffalo Jim" is not serious.

Jim Barrier is serious.

And it is he, as "Buffalo Jim's" caretaker, who has been answering the phone lately.

Barrier is climbing in the ring again, but this time the opponent is a veritable Andre the Giant. Barrier is being asked -- no, told -- to vacate his business on Industrial Road, Allstate Auto & Marine. In April his landlord, Schiff Properties, filed a cease and desist notice against Barrier in an attempt to force eviction.

Schiff pointed to unregistered, semi-disabled cars littering the parking lot, boxes blocking outdoor walkways and "Buffalo Jim's" famed lifesize buffalo, his favorite pet, which blows smoke through its nostrils and can be viewed at any "Buffalo Jim" appearance.

"They say I'm a nuisance," Barrier says. "That's their charge. I'm blocking traffic. Well, who's blocking traffic around here?"

He's referring to the Crazy Horse Too topless nightclub right next door. Barrier shares the stretch of property with the Crazy Horse and has since it opened in the late '80s. It's Barrier's claim that the Crazy Horse is orchestrating the legal maneuver through Schiff Properties (owner of the Crazy Horse building as well) to add valuable territory for expansion on Industrial.

Both Schiff and Crazy Horse management have denied the claim, but Barrier is convinced he's being forced out by the girls next door.

"That's the truth. I'm not (BS-ing) you," he said. "I'm not the only one this has happened to."

The adult novelty shop L.A. Hot gave way to Crazy Horse expansion just two years ago after being charged with violations similar to allegations leveled against Barrier.

The relationship with Crazy Horse and Barrier has been tenuous since the club opened.

"At first it was just beer bottles everywhere, that was the first problem but it wasn't too serious," Barrier said. "But in the past five years or so we've had soiled condoms found on the property. ... I'm being accused of causing these problems in the parking lot, but if you come here on a Friday night I'm not causing a problem. I'm not blocking anything."

(It should be noted that no limousines bearing Dennis Rodman and his heavily populated entourage have ever descended on Allstate Auto & Marine during business hours. The same cannot be said of the business' neighbor.)

Barrier plans to fight on every front, instilling the services of "Buffalo Jim," naturally. On Friday morning he had a few of his henchman tow the rolling buffalo down to the Clark County Courthouse and ordered them to buy rolls of quarters to fill three parking meters and keep the beast legally parked.

A sign reading "Buffalo Jim's Wrestling School & Auto Repairs Being Buffaloed By Crazy Horse Strip Club" was affixed to the roving eyesore.

"We wanted everyone at the Binion trial to see it," "Buffalo Jim" said. "And we wanted to give some money back to the city, because they need it."

A Keystone Kops episode unfolded, involving a quartet of angry meter patrol officials and a trio of Metro officers. After a lengthy argument it was determined that the buffalo could remain parked on the street as long as none of the three meters expired.

"Buffalo Jim," won that battle. But the real fight begins in court later this month, and it could take years if Barrier follows through on his biting rhetoric.

"I'll take this all the way to the state Supreme Court," he said solemnly.

He sounded serious.