Jessica Simpson: Well-Rounded and More Beautiful

CLEVELAND - One of the problems with America is its superficial attitude. If a person, especially a woman isn't a size one (or zero), they will be taken to task and ridiculed.

That goes triple for us celebrities.

Singer/actress Jessica Simpson, 28 is only the latest female celeb to face this ridiculous "punishment." The once svelte starlet recently debuted a much more curvy, fuller figure at a Florida concert clad in a pair of high-waist jeans and drew jeers from many in the media.

In the 2005 film, The Dukes of Hazzard, a virtual remake of the 1980's television series of the same name, Simpson was slim and trim enough to easily sport the iconic super short shorts popularized by the Daisy Duke character from the series. She turned many heads then, just as she is turning stomachs now with her new body. A few national publications referred to her as "porky" and "chunky" while calling photos of her "unflattering."

Trust me, she looks better than ever.

Maybe it's because I'm a fellow celebrity and know the pressures of the industry first-hand. Or maybe I'm just like many black guys...in love with 'dem hips, thighs and booty. Either way, Simpson is beyond sexy. I think her figure is still incredible and is just one of the things that make her quite striking. Of course, her face is still radiant, her blonde, flowing locks are devoid of frizz and has great body. In short, she looks like a real treat.

Slim isn't a prerequisite for beauty.

Kudos to both Mrs. Simpson for her courage and confidence under fire and to the celebrity women that have come to her defense. I hope she keeps this mentality and new body and doesn't someday resort to becoming yet another Hollywood "stick-figure." Slim gals can be pretty, but they also tend to be one-dimensional.

Jessica is both hot and um...well-rounded.

Accidents Happen Sometimes For The Best

 CLEVELAND - Most people don't realize that tragedy is sometimes essential in order for us to improve our understanding or facilitate positive change in the world.

Take the Challenger Disaster for example.

The Challenger was a NASA operated space shuttle that embarked on an historic voyage into space, sending the first ever school teacher, Christina McAuliffe, into space. But on January 28, 1986, 23 years ago today, the shuttle exploded into a million pieces just 73 seconds into its ascent, sending all seven passengers aboard to their deaths. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the central coast of Florida on national television.

It was very depressing and sad.

The world mourned heavily and the Reagan Administration launched an investigation of the tragedy and what caused it. The space program went on a 32-month hiatus to essentially regroup and gain a greater understanding of the potential flaws in space shuttle launches. I was one of many children across America that viewed footage of the event in school (I was a nearly nine year old third grader), and will never forget it.

Exactly 20 years later, I had a personal disaster.

On January 27, 2006, I did one of the dumbest things ever. As I watched a basketball game on television, I drank an entire six pack of beer. I also had about three or four mixed drinks before hopping into my girl's vehicle and driving myself to a bar, approximately 10 miles away. While at the bar, I met up with my cousin, who lived only a few blocks from the place.

I drank even more at the bar.

By the time the bar closed at a few minutes past 2am, I was three sheets to the wind times a hundred. I was dizzy and had little use of my motor skills. This was as a result of my drinking at home, plus four more beers and three more mixed drinks at the bar.

It was now January 28, 2006.

Long story short, I drove my cousin the couple blocks back to his house, while he repeatedly offered me the opportunity to "sleep off my liquor" there. I declined his offer because I wanted to drive another 12 miles west to get food from one of my favorite chicken and rib joints.

No other place would suffice.

I ordered my food ahead of time, picked it up and got back into the car to drive the 20-plus miles back home. Problem is, I don't remember anything past getting on the freeway until I was on an entirely out-of-the way and different highway, going in a drastically off course direction.

Then the police pulled me over.

I felt as though I had just regained consciousness while driving on the highway, but my surroundings were very unfamiliar. I saw the flashing lights in the rear view mirror and then pulled over.

The cops told me that they stopped me because i was driving only 35 mph on the 65 mph highway which was odd. They asked me to submit to a couple roadside sobriety tests which I did and failed miserably. They asked if I had been drinking and I responded by saying that I'd only had one beer.

Yeah, okay.

I ended up being hauled off in the cop car while my girl's vehicle sat abandoned roadside with my delicious and untouched food in the passenger seat. I phoned my girl and left her a voice message (it was nearly 4am by now), was given a voluntary breathalyzer test (which confirmed my legally drunk status), then put in the slammer and fell into a drunken sleep.

When I awoke, it dawned on me how bad I'd messed up and how selfish it was of me to put my life in jeopardy that way. I was both contrite and grateful that I wasn't killed or even in an accident and killed someone else. My girl bailed me out and I couldn't apologize enough. All told, this stupid transgression cost us thousands of dollars, but actually could have been worse.

I got my first ever DUI and ended up spending 72 hours in a confined hotel Drunk Driving program, which taught me a great deal. I also attended another similar program and both were incredibly sobering. I learned a lot about how tragic drunk driving can really be.

The moral of both these stories is simple. The families of the Challenger disaster undoubtedly wishes that it never happened. I often wished my DUI never happened. But considering the great lessons (and improvements in the space program) learned as a result of these awful events, they actually had to happen. It may be only a coincidence that my scenario occurred exactly 20 years after the Challenger, but the correlation is clear, at least to me.

Thank God for the troubled times, for they are designed to strengthen the future.

25 Years Ago Today: Michael Jackson Fired

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson may be viewed as an eccentric nutjob by many people these days, but there was a time when he was the biggest, most successful and beloved person on the planet.

But at the peak of his fame, he was nearly killed.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of Jackson's near fatal accident on the set of a Pepsi commercial in Los Angeles. It was a horrific, panic-filled moment for not only the entertainer, but his legion of fans worldwide. 

A pyrotechnic special-effect went awry during the sixth take of the shoot, and a fire spark shot into his then trademark Jheri curl and ignited a small fire in it. As he crumpled to the floor, his brothers and a few crew members (including director Bob Giraldi who also helmed Jackson's "Beat It" clip) ran to his aide and helped to smother the flames. When news of the stunning event spread to the public, many held vigils (including radio stations nationwide) for the fallen megastar.

I was nearly seven years old, but I shed many tears as well.

Jackson, 25 at the time, was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where he was treated for second and third degree burns to his scalp. Before being wheeled into an ambulance, Jackson famously waved to the camera while sporting his signature single sequined glove.

What made the event so devastating was Jackson's global status at the time. His phenomenal album Thriller had been released over a year prior to this, but had been a runaway freight train since then, already having become the biggest selling album in music history with close to 30 million records sold (today it has sold more than 104 million copies worldwide).

Jackson's music videos had also transcended the music industry and raised the bar on what was considered the norm. Less than two months prior to the Pepsi accident, his iconic "Thriller" short film debuted to rave reviews and sparked the album to even greater heights. He'd also garnered a record eight American Music Awards for the album less than three weeks before this mishap.

Of course, Jackson's popularity was at an all-time high. Everyone wanted to be him, it seemed, and many purchased and wore replicas of his trademark jackets, sunglasses and "glitter glove," not to mention the famous Jheri curl that almost spelled his doom on that January 27, 1984 afternoon.

MJ would eventually recover and a month later, he dominated the Grammy Awards, winning another eight trophies (seven for Thriller). That summer, he and his brothers embarked on a cross country tour called "The Victory Tour."

For that night in January, 25 years ago, Jackson scared us all. I'm just grateful that it wasn't worse.

We would have been robbed of a true legend in his prime.

Young's Racy Show Near Its Return

CLEVELAND - Deante Young was consistently criticized in the court of public opinion when his landmark series, a Date with Deante hit the Internet with a bang last Spring.

It didn't faze him one bit.

Young was embroiled in a firestorm of controversy during the show's 20-episode first season, which was heavily scrutinized by media watchdogs and the conservative general public. On the same day the entertainer released the season finale (last October 31), he was threatened by a young girl's brother and her mother with a lawsuit. The girl had been featured in an episode and supposedly portrayed in an unfavorable light.

Young subsequently pulled the episode from the airwaves. 

Due to its misogynistic and sometimes sexist portrayal of its female guests, a Date with Deante is often vilified and panned as "exploitation." Young himself disagrees. "If it is exploitation, then it is of the fair variety because these are coherent and consenting adults," he said during last week's inauguration of President Barack Obama. " The public is just blinded to the harsh realities of how people live. It ain't always pretty."

The show is scheduled to begin airing season 2 in the coming days.

LeBron Is Without Question League MVP Right Now

CLEVELAND - LeBron James is indisputably the best basketball player of the 21st century, so far.

He's also just 24 years old.

As James has improved on an already lethal skill set, he has elevated his Cleveland Cavaliers into the stratosphere. They went 3-1 on their just completed west coast road trip minus starters Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Delonte West, but with the indefensible James as the catalyst.

The team is a jaw-dropping 34-8.

As far as talent goes, the NBA is choke full of that. Superstars like Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul are remarkable. But James is something more; power, grace, speed, desire, tough. On Friday, he deflated the Golden State Warriors with a step-back 20-foot jumper at the buzzer, dealing the home team a one-point loss. He came back the next night and delivered 33 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists to the Utah Jazz in yet another Cavs win.

And oh, that defense.

LeBron had been notoriously awful on defense during his first three or four seasons. But within the past couple years, he's shown flashes of brilliance and now, he's a nightmare. He chases opponents down as if his life depends on it, swatting away seemingly sure-fire layups or dunks on breakaways.

His passing is near-flawless.

No other player sees the floor better than the 6'9," 274 pound James, not even point guard stars like Paul and Steve Nash. His playmaking has always been his biggest asset, he just happens to be a volume scorer as well.

With their glittering record, the Cavs are tied with Bryant's Lakers for the best mark in the league. Kobe though has Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum... not to mention coaching legend Phil Jackson. James has a steady and talented group as well, but he still does more than any other star and is more indispensable.

Just wait until the playoffs.

McCain Speaks Glowingly Of Obama and Palin

CLEVELAND - Sen. John McCain came off as an outdated and desperate fogey during his presidential campaign against Barack Obama. But in the nearly three months since he lost the election, he's become a totally different man.

Take last night for example.

McCain, 72 made yet another appearance on CNN's Larry King Live and spoke of now President Obama in glittering superlatives while still articulating the very difficult challenges his former rival faces as Commander-in-Chief.

McCain called Obama's inauguration an "historic moment" and called the new president's speech "excellent." In mentioning President Obama's tough road ahead, McCain compared the nation's present condition to the world during FDR's presidency, which saw The Great Depression, the threat of Adolph Hitler and other domestic issues.

FDR occupied the White House during the 1930's and '40's.

McCain also discussed his former running mate Gov. Sarah Palin, who has become quite the motormouth since her ticket's defeat at the hands of the Democrats. Palin, seen by many as a hindrance to McCain's candidacy has gone on the defensive, doing a truck load of interviews in the past couple months to "tell her side of the story" which has led to her being critical of the McCain camp.

But he remains fiercely loyal to the two-faced broad.

The problem with McCain though, is he insists that Palin is one of his favorite people. "I think the world of Gov. Palin and her husband Todd and their family," says the disillusioned Republican. "She has my respect and my affection and it's undying."

My feeling on McCain is two-fold. First, seeing him with distance from the election has proven insightful. As I've stated in the past, he's a surprisingly down-to-Earth and stand up guy who is capable of admitting his mistakes and making nice with former rivals. On the other hand, his blind loyalty towards the undeserving Palin is just plain embarrassing.

But I guess it's a fact of life that you take the good with the bad.

In The Driver's Seat

CLEVELAND - President Obama had a very eventful January 21, his first full day in office as the 44th U.S. president.

Obama arrived at the White House at about 8:35 AM and immediately began tackling the cornucopia of issues and difficult tasks that await him. After a whirlwind evening of dancing and celebrating (he and First Lady Michelle attended 10 different inaugural balls), Obama was sharp and ready to go, in spite of being out until 2:30 AM the previous night.

Among his top priorities, President Obama is planning on reversing former President George W. Bush's foreign policies, as well as sign an order to shut down Gitmo. He also plans to meet with new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the State Department as well as naming George Mitchell the new Mideast Envoy.

And then there's that oath.

President Obama re-took the oath of office last night at the White House, after Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr. botched the one at the inauguration. The highly unprecedented re-take was done out of "an abundance of caution" according to White House counsel Greg Craig. No worries, though; Obama had still been America's Commander-in-Chief since noon the previous day.

Above all, President Obama continues to develop and prepare his stimulus package in just one of many efforts to jump start the treacherous economy. Unlike racist and hot headed conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, I don't hope Obama fails.

That would only hurt the rest of us.

With The Raise of A Hand, Obama Lifts An Entire Nation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Barack Obama raised his right hand, placed his left hand on a bible, and just like that, achieved a feat of epic proportions today as he was officially sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.

This will go down as the most important day in U.S. history.

Obama, the nation's first ever African-American president officially earned that title at noon EST, even though he hadn't actually taken the oath of office, according to The Constitution. Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., who botched the words of the oath swore in the former Illinois Senator at 12:05PM EST. Once Obama finished the oath, the enormous crowd of possibly a couple million people cheered and teared wildly in the freezing cold at Washington D.C.'s National Mall on Capitol Hill. 

Then Obama delivered his 20-minute inaugural address.

"I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors," said the new president. His speech seemed to be a confluence of hope and a sobering reality of where this nation stands. "Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America -- they will be met."

Flawlessly said.

Obama has always been a man that tells it like it is, and no matter how harsh that reality is, he still manages to engender hope. On this day, he called for all of us as Americans to bond together and get this nation moving again. He ever so slightly denounced many policies of the outgoing Bush Administration and the overall shortcomings of the politics in Washington, and even issued a warning to terrorists.

"We say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us; and we will defeat you," said Obama with an air of defiance and his trademark self-assurance. He also touched on several of the darkest occasions in recent memory such as the terrorist attacks in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and vowed to end the divisiveness and partisanship that's so pervasive in Washington.

Soul-singing legend Aretha Franklin sang a beautiful and stirring rendition of "My Country 'Tis of Thee" just prior to Joe Biden's swearing in as Vice President, then a splendid violin composition preceded Obama's seminal moment.

Every living former president was present, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and of course, the just departed George W. Bush, whom Obama, wife Michelle and Joe and Jill Biden escorted to Executive One, the helicopter that flew him back home to Crawford, Texas and presumably, a life of normalcy.

Without question, this was a stunning and legendary moment; a flash point if you will, in the history of America. I am endlessly proud of Obama for this extraordinary achievement. It inspires us all in ways that we've never known before or even thought possible.

God Bless America.

Obama Gears Up For History With His Star Peers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Barack Obama is far more than just our next president. He is also a certified icon and not surprisingly, a global superstar.

And he's about to pull off a miraculous historical feat.

Obama and his wife Michelle, along with Vice-President-elect Joe Biden and his wife sat for a star studded concert yesterday at the Lincoln Memorial less than 48 hours before the most celebrated inauguration in history.

With superstars and legends performing, Obama sat bobbing his head to the upbeat music. From Mary J. Blige and U2 to Garth Brooks and Stevie Wonder, this concert was a who's who of glittering star power. Actor Denzel Washington was just one of many to read popular passages prior to the performances.

But no one was bigger than Obama as he stands on the precipice of one of the most transcendent events in American history. He stepped up to the microphone against the backdrop of the iconic Lincoln Memorial and paid tribute to his role model, Abraham Lincoln as well as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Directly in front of us is a pool that still reflects the dream of a King and the glory of a people who marched and bled so that their children might be judged by their character's content," said Obama to thunderous applause.

Though he was quick to point out the difficulty of the days ahead and stressed the importance of all of us to do our part to repair the suffering economy, Obama remains a seminal figure whom is capable of instilling hope in anyone that is blessed enough to hear him speak. His convictions and faith are stunning, and I believe that the American people see that.

I was deeply moved by his powerful, yet terse speech and nearly teared up when he said, "anything is possible."

If he hasn't already proven that, just wait until tomorrow.

The Carberry Brand: The Future of Cinema

CLEVELAND - I have been a fan of motion pictures for a good twenty-five years and I have admired the art of filmmaking for nearly as long.

Michael and Daniel Carberry have expanded my admiration.

For those of you that don't know them, the Carberry brothers are Los Angeles filmmakers originally from Northeastern Ohio. They also happen to be identical twins, though their talent is anything but identical to anyone in the U.S. film industry. They were prodigies from the start(think Doogie Howser with an Arriflex) and by age ten they were already embroiled in filming their own short movies. By 14, they'd founded their own production company called MDC Films.

Their work is breathtaking.

Since I am a creative genius myself, I greatly admire the cutting-edge, think-outside-the-box nature of their work. Their prolific output (over 100 projects completed and counting) coupled with a unique imagination, unparalleled focus and relentless drive convinces me that they are indeed the future of cinematic excellence.

And they're only 18 years old!

I was hooked on these highly talented wunderkinds from the moment I saw their award winning film, A Day Trip. The pacing, sound design, acting and direction were all outstanding, but the story itself, though very simple was somehow addicting. I watched this flick countless times and screened it for many others. 

In speaking with Michael, it becomes instantly clear why they are destined for greatness. "We work really hard, but I still regret the things we don't do or don't get time to do," he says. "But I think if we stay on the path we are [2009] will feel like a successful year."

In spite of my own iconic status in the field of creativity(check out www.adatewithdeante.com), I am a student when I speak with these guys. Michael is whom I converse with primarily and his insight is often priceless. The Carberrys' latest flick, a short with actor David Lehre is a dark, eerie piece that compels its audience to the edge of its seat with lump firmly in throat. It's the Carberry trademark, and no one in film uses tragic irony better than these guys.

With my formidable talents and myriad of fans, I don't often get to be a fan myself. But where Michael and Daniel Carberry are concerned, I am undeniably a true fan.

Hollywood's about to be blessed!

Grissom's Exit Won't Destroy CSI

CLEVELAND - CBS' long-running hit procedural CSI: Crime Scene Investigation reached a very pivotal moment in its history last night.

Its lead character left the show for good.

William Petersen, who has portrayed eccentric lead investigator Gil Grissom since the show's 2000 debut took his highly publicized final stroll through the show's lab and into retirement. This led him immediately to a Costa Rican rainforest where he reunited with former lover (and ex-fellow CSI Sara Sidle) played by Jorja Fox.

Petersen's exit, much bandied about for months coincides with the arrival of Laurence Fishburne to the series. Fishburne will essentially take the spot that Petersen's Grissom occupied, although he won't actually "replace" the irreplaceable character.

I felt that last night's episode was a well done, fitting send-off. The conclusion with the recently departed Fox in the rainforest was excellent and quite satisfying to us long-time viewers of the show. And despite Grissom's popularity and significance, I believe the show will go on and do very well.

I didn't always feel that way.

With Fox, Gary Dourdan and now Petersen's departure, I thought this show would crash and burn, especially with the horrific nature of Dourdan's exit in the season premiere. It has since dawned on me that this show has an incredible writing team and the producers are first-rate, not to mention the great cast that remain.

CSI never really relied on Grissom the way that its sister show, CSI: Miami relies on David Caruso's Horatio Cane. In this way, I believe that CSI is more like CSI: NY, more plot-driven. Grissom's oft-repeated mantra, "follow the evidence" always seems to get each week's crimes solved. It has held true for nine seasons thus far.

Somehow, I think it applies to the show's future as well.

I'll definitely miss Grissom, even though Petersen claims he'll make the occasional guest appearance. All in all though, I am convinced this outstanding show will continue its reputation for excellence.

In other words, I'm "following the evidence" of its brilliant track record.

As Dr. King Turns 80, Obama Represents His Dream Come True...Sort Of

CLEVELAND - Today is the 80th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth and Monday is the federal holiday bearing his name.

Add Barack Obama to this MLK mix.

President-elect Obama, elected in November as the nation's first ever African-American president will take the oath of office on January 20 during his historic inauguration, merely one day after King's holiday and five days after his birthday.

My, the symbolism.

King was a relentless advocate for change and equality amongst races. As the most visible Civil Rights activist in history, MLK was a constant target for the bitter racists that pervaded this country, especially during the segregated 1960's. As a result, he was gunned down in 1968.

Obama has been something of a "knight in shining armor" to Blacks during the past year. Blessed with obvious intellect and brilliant oratory skills, the former Illinois senator represents King's dream of an inclusive United States, where a person's race doesn't define or deny him.

But, all is not peachy keen.

Racism is still very much alive in this country. Many idiots spewed horrible epithets at Obama and hung stuffed monkeys from trees etc. during his campaign in an effort to mimic the horrifying lynchings of the past. Many folks will never accept him as our leader simply because of his race.

Nonetheless, Obama's current position is nothing short of amazing. It was unthinkable in King's day to even fathom a Black president. Now Obama is not only our President (elect), he actually appeals to many Whites!

Wow.

On this great day when Dr. King came into this world, I want to once again congratulate my friend Barack Obama. He's already done America a public service.

He's proven that there is hope for us after all!

Not Many Of Us Could Have Done Better Than Bush

CLEVELAND - With the weight of the world on his shoulders, George W. Bush had to make constant high-profile decisions, which most folks hated.

How many of us could have actually done better?

Bush, our often criticized 43rd U.S. president ends his eight-year run as Commander-in-Chief next week. He and his wife appeared on CNN's Larry King Live last night and the man actually showed a side of himself that one might be able to sympathize with.

I said might.

President Bush reflected back on the three most watershed moments of his presidency: the September 11, 2001 attacks, the war on terror and Hurricane Katrina. He was occasionally defiant, often defensive and always compelling when answering King's often probing questions. Regarding the 9/11 attacks, he said the moment changed him and made him realize that his most important responsibility was protecting the country from [another] attack.

First Lady Laura defended her husband and admitted to being "sort of" angry at President-elect Barack Obama's heavy criticism of the Bush Administration during his 2008 campaign. Bush simply said, "what else is new?" in response to the pervasive name calling of anyone called on to make huge decisions. He also claimed to not care about his spiraling popularity in polls and maintained that the only poll that matters is the one on Election Day.

Bush also feels that going into Iraq was the right choice and that the national perception that he failed to respond in a timely fashion to the Katrina disaster is inaccurate. 

Said Bush:

"The truth of the matter is the response was pretty darn quick, if you think about the fact that the Coast Guard and a lot of brave kids were pulling 30,000 people off of roofs as soon as the storm passed, as soon as they found people on those roofs." He mentioned that being called a racist because of his handling of Katrina was a "low point."

Bush says that he looks forward to the upcoming inauguration of Obama and calls it a "historic moment for our country."

All in all, I found Bush to be quite human and actually thoughtful in contrast to the buffoonish caricature that we've been fed by the media. Don't get me wrong though, I still feel that the guy is a joke and should be held responsible for the mess he's leaving for Obama to deal with.

I just now realize that most of us couldn't have done much better.

10 Years Ago Today: Air Jordan Flies Into Retirement...Again

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan was very important to me, and still is. I cried my eyes out when he suddenly retired from pro basketball in the Fall of 1993, and cried my eyes out again when he returned 17 months later.

10 years ago today, Jordan retired yet again.

That's right. On January 13, 1999, the most indelible player in basketball history left the game on the heels of the conclusion to the controversial NBA lockout. He once again held a lavish press conference, this time clad in a black suit and again flanked by wife Juanita.

Jordan had led the Chicago Bulls to their 6th NBA championship just seven months prior and hit his legendary jumper over Bryon Russell in the closing seconds of that championship finale. With this retirement, that landmark moment was seen as the final punctuation to a truly storybook career.

I still blame that stupid lockout.

The 1998-99 season was delayed due to the aforementioned player lockout. The sports world had been abuzz wondering if MJ would return for a 15th season, since the 1997-98 campaign was constantly touted as his swan song. The lockout lingered into the new year, then finally ended a week into January. Jordan had been vacationing in the Bahamas and since that last championship had suffered a severed tendon in his thumb as a result of accidentally slicing himself with a cigar cutter.

The somber, dark tone and mood of the press conference coupled with the poignant memories of his illustrious career brought tears to my face as I watched on television. I was aware of the fact that Jordan prepared us for over a year for this moment, whereas we never saw it coming in '93. In spite of this, I was crushed. I remember being a bit stronger than the first time, but understand this: Jordan meant the world to me. So much joy he brought me and so many of my emotions went to him during games.

I was hurt.

The Bulls were dismantled as a result of this move by Michael. Coach Phil Jackson, rebound-robot Dennis Rodman and all-star Scottie Pippen departed, leaving Toni Kukoc to be the star of the weak defending champions who would finish the (lock-out shortened) 50-game season at a putrid 13-37.

Of course, Jordan stunningly resurfaced almost three years later playing for the Washington Wizards, but this 1999 retirement ended his historic Bulls run which is ultimately the true conclusion to his legacy.

Not to downgrade his time as a Wizard, though.

Nowadays, I look back on Jordan's breathtaking achievements with pride and nostalgia. I am also heavily anticipating his Hall of Fame nomination and induction this year, both of which have yet to be announced but he is a guaranteed unanimous, first ballot selection.

I love you, MJ.

Spielberg's Lifetime of Hollywood Excellence Honored

CLEVELAND - Filmmaker Steven Spielberg was honored in Los Angeles last night at the 66th annual Golden Globes for a groundbreaking and legendary career that has spanned four decades.

He is the epitome of greatness.

Spielberg, 62 was given the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award and introduced on stage by fellow filmmaking legend Martin Scorsese (pictured above with Spielberg) after a long montage of his most memorable and iconic films. From the creepy but seminal hit Jaws in 1975 through the Indiana Jones franchise, 1982's wildly popular E.T. : The Extra Terrestrial, all the way to Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan and a host of other major hits, Spielberg has been a Hollywood heavyweight and a cinematic legend to the nth degree.

Seriously.

Once Spielberg took the stage, he began his acceptance speech by giving much credit for his own successful career to DeMille himself, whose 1952 film The Greatest Show on Earth greatly inspired him as a child and in many ways was the catalyst in him creating his first short film using a model train.

In addition to his stellar record as a director, Spielberg has an equally impressive resume as a film producer. He served as producer on Poltergeist, The Goonies and The Back to the Future trilogy, both Men in Black films and Letters From Iwo Jima just to name a select few. He is a multiple Academy Award winner and has been bestowed with a host of lifetime achievement awards over the years. In short, he is Hollywood.

I want to personally congratulate Spielberg for his timeless brilliance and vast imagination. His epic career has been nothing short of revolutionary and has served as a flash point in the history of entertainment.

He's one of my role models.

LeBron's Presence Will Spell Doom For NBA Contenders

CLEVELAND - I've said it time and time again. LeBron James is professional basketball's version of the big bad wolf.

The rest of the league are the three little pigs.

With James dominating every aspect of the game, the host Cleveland Cavaliers demolished the defending champion Boston Celtics last night 98-83 to send the once-invincible squad to their fourth straight loss. It was Boston's 10th consecutive loss in Cleveland including last Spring's playoff series, where the Celtics won the set 4-3 despite dropping all three games at Quicken Loans Arena.

James was transcendent with 38 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 3 blocked shots which only underlined the flaws of Boston, in particular star Paul Pierce. With James' relentless defense on him, the Boston swing man struggled mightily and was ineffective, and irrelevant all evening.

This James dominance made me realize just how dangerous this Cavs team is. Their baffling efficiency and highly unexpected 29-6 record are both great. But LeBron's jaw dropping ability, size and strength coupled with a new relentless resolve is going to give headaches to the NBA's other top teams.

Just watch.

Sure, the team has improved overall, and Mo Williams has been a God-send, but James is the reason that the Celtics will, in spite of their "big three" players (Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Pierce) fall victim to Cleveland in the playoffs (if they meet). He is the reason that Orlando, in spite of the awesome Dwight Howard will come up short in a match-up with the Cavs.

All of the West's best teams don't have a real chance either. The Spurs clobbered Cleveland in the 2007 NBA Finals, but times are very different now. Kobe Bryant, for all of his super attributes as well as the rest of the Hollywood Lakers wouldn't even be able to hang with this Lebron kid ... that is, if they meet in the '09 Finals.

I know I'm thinking way ahead, and there are many things that could happen between now and then, but I'm just trying to drive home the point that LeBron James has officially become "an unscalable mountain." Teams used to struggle to beat the Cavs back when LeBron was only good.

What will they do now that he's 10 steps past being only good? Last night was the answer.

Swayze's Amazing Will Should Inspire Us All

CLEVELAND - There are moments in life that can bring endless joy to anyone. We celebrate those occasions heartily, but often take them for granted. The awful times in life are the main reasons that we need to appreciate our every blessing.

Take Patrick Swayze for example.

Swayze, 56 is one of the most beloved big-screen actors of the past 20-plus years. As the star of such popular hits as 1987's Dirty Dancing and 1990's Ghost, Swayze developed a huge and loyal following. When word got out last year that he is battling pancreatic cancer, his fans all over the globe were shocked and saddened.

Barbara Walters interviewed Swayze and Lisa (pictured above), his wife of 33 years last night on one of her legendary television specials. He was brutally honest, tough, emotional but most of all...inspiring. The form of cancer that he has is the most dangerous and deadly. It usually claims its victims within a few months of its onset. Swayze has lived with it for over a year thus far.

"I'm going through hell and I've only seen the beginning of it," said the brave actor. He added, "One thing I'm not going to do is chase life." I was touched immensely by his frank discussions about how difficult it has been to live with this "silent killer." He described the grueling side effects of his chemotherapy and how the cancer ravages and inflames his bowels to the point of causing searing pain and blood.

Wow.

In spite of his grim prognosis, Swayze spent five months filming 13 episodes of his new cable television series, "The Beast." He claims to have an endless stream of energy and only missed a day and a half of filming due to a case of "the sniffles."

The Walters interview took place at Swayze's California Ranch where he enjoys riding his horses and tending to his 200-year old forest that only took 15 years to "build." His wife teared up a few times as a result of Walters' probing and emotional questions, including asking her if she's thought about a life without her husband.

I was nearly moved to tears myself. Watching this interview and seeing how deep and unconditional their love is for one another and how brave and relentless Swayze is in spite of his situation was profound. "You can either get busy living or get busy dying," said Swayze, the self-proclaimed cowboy.

Great advice for each and every one of us. God Bless You, Mr. Swayze.

With Each Celtics Loss, Jordan's Legacy Expands

CLEVELAND - Many people would be baffled as to how I can connect the current Boston Celtics and each of their defeats to the already overflowing legacy of the great Michael Jordan.

Just keep reading.

The Celtics of 2008-09 came out this season on a mission. As the defending NBA champions, they answered all doubters of their 2008 NBA title by rolling to a sizzling 27-2 record through their first 29 games. Just like all teams of the past dozen years that have gotten off to outstanding starts, their chances of possibly equaling Jordan's 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' historic record of 72-10 became a viable topic.

Just six games later, the talk is all but dead.

Boston, with their super triumvirate of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen has suddenly began a downward spiral of losing. Since the 27-2 start, they have lost four of their past six games to currently stand at 29-6. The '95-'96 Bulls were 32-3 after the same number of games.

The 2005-06 Detroit Pistons were stockpiled with talent. They seemed to threaten the 70-win plateau until settling for a 64-18 record. Same with the 2006-07 Dallas Mavericks, who dominated the season only to finish at 67-15 and a stunning first round playoff loss to supposedly inferior Golden State.

So where does Jordan fit into all this?

It's quite simple. The basketball icon retired in 1993 after leading Chicago to their third consecutive NBA title. When he surprisingly returned with 17 games left in the 1994-95 season, he was noticeably sluggish and out of sync. His high octane, high flying game had been grounded by the 21-month layoff. His struggles proved very costly in the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals against the upstart Orlando Magic.

With a 23-year old super dominant Shaquille O'Neal and 22-year old sensational Penny Hardaway, Orlando overwhelmed the once invinci-Bulls and ousted them from the playoffs, 4-2. For the first time in MJ's storied career, he was highly responsible for a playoff series loss with his untimely turnovers and ton of missed shots.

He wanted retribution in a huge way.

Buoyed by the controversial acquisition of Dennis Rodman prior to training camp of the following season, the Bulls were relentless all season long, amassing winning streaks of 18 and 13 in the first 44 games. They were an eye-popping 41-3 at one point and steamrolled the league en route to the unimaginable 72-10 mark. Though Rodman's arrival proved integral, it was the embarrassment that the hyper competitive Jordan felt after the '95 Playoffs that spurred him to retool, rework and refine his game during that summer while filming Space Jam.

MJ's workout regimen that summer was otherworldly and obsessive. He invited the best hoopsters in the country to ball with him and sharpen his game. Then during the historic season, he kept his teammates focused on reclaiming their place atop the NBA mountain by his own remarkable work ethic and persistent prodding. He even punched teammate Steve Kerr out of frustration that Kerr wasn't showing enough intensity for his taste.

Wow.

Maybe the most amazing things about the Bulls that season was the fact that the team was assembled in just a matter of months. There was no time for gelling or developing a team continuity. Plus, Jordan's return drastically altered the chemistry and dynamic of the team which normally sends teams into tailspins. Not these Bulls. Jordan wouldn't allow it.

Another amazing feat: The last three losses were by a single point each, including two one-point defeats at home, the first one snapped their perfect 37-0 home record. That means that Chicago was only three lousy points (or six) away from going 75-7 for the season! They were only two lousy points (or four) from a 41-0 home record.

Unbelievable.

Now, last year's Celtics were amazing. They finished at 66-16 and of course, won the title. This year will end up being another great run. Cleveland and the L.A. Lakers have been amazing too thus far. But in Boston's case, the East is supposed to be this awful, thin-on-talent conference and the Celtics as a team are far more talented than those Bulls were. Garnett is one of the most driven and highly talented players in the game. Pierce is also one of the league's best and Allen is not only a sharpshooter, but a volume scorer.

With a more watered down league and better players, the Celtics should easily match Chicago '96, but they won't. The other teams won't either. One can only conclude then, that Jordan's indescribable drive that season as well as his relentless leadership and overall competitive obsession were the difference makers. It's what separates that Bulls team from any other team, really in history.

That is just one reason Jordan will be a first ballot, unanimous Hall of Fame selection this year!

20 Years Ago Today: Arsenio Makes History

CLEVELAND - I have always had a propensity for staying up well past a normal bedtime. When Arsenio Hall came to television with his own late night talk show, my habit got even worse.

Arsenio was must-see TV.

Hall, a stand-up comic from Cleveland, Ohio was a guest host for The Tonight Show in the late 1980's. He even had a brief stint on a Joan Rivers talk show. But his appearance in the 1988 Eddie Murphy film Coming to America gave him real visibility and opened the door for the popularity he would gain with his seminal talk show, The Arsenio Hall Show.

The show premiered 20 years ago today, on Jan. 3, 1989 and was a stunning success. It catered to the so-called MTV generation and featured a wide variety of hip-hop artists, including icons such as N.W.A., Snoop Doggy Dogg and Tupac Shakur, long before they became historical figures, forever immortalized in their genre's history.

Mariah Carey made her public debut on the show in 1990, and every "hot" or noteworthy figure of the time appeared on the show, whether in music, film, politics, sports or ...you name it. Mike Tyson and Don King came on. M.C. Hammer, at the height of his perplexing greatness was on. There was Tone Loc, Vanilla Ice, Pee-Wee Herman, and many others. Filmmaker Spike Lee came on in 1991 and criticized Hall's close pal Murphy for not using his enormous leverage at the time in Hollywood to open more doors for Blacks. He and Hall had it out on the air.

Bill Clinton came on in 1992 while running for president of the United States and played the saxophone. Shakur came and discussed his serious legal problems and pending trial on sexual assault, nearly three years before his murder. Michael Jordan gave Hall a pair of the then-brand new Air Jordan V's and talked about coaching teammate Scottie Pippen for the 1990 Slam Dunk contest. Arsenio's good pal Earvin "Magic" Johnson came on the show on Nov. 7, 1991, the night he disclosed to the world that he was HIV-positive.

The show will forever be an enormous piece of pop culture history.

Arsenio wasn't the best interviewer, but he spoke to a segment of America that was becoming more relevant. The legendary Johnny Carson retired in 1992, giving way to Jay Leno and on another network, David Letterman. But Hall was exciting and hip. He was fresh and cutting edge and often had controversial figures on as well. The Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakahn appeared on the show. Suge Knight came on and revealed that he was in the process of forming Death Row Records, possibly with drug money as his start-up funding.

The show lasted for over 1,200 episodes and ended in May 1994. Just two weeks later, O.J. Simpson got tangled up in his historic drama, being accused of murdering two people. I only wish Hall's show would have been around for that. His monologues were often uproarious and Simpson's situation would have been perfect fodder.

Since the show aired at 1AM locally, I was often banned from watching it on school nights. I used to sneak and watch it before my mother eventually gave in and allowed me access.

As Arsenio would say, "yessss!"

Hard to believe it's been 20 full years since the show's inception. I will forever remember it as a being, not only a pivotal piece of television history, but my own history as well.

That's kinda why I have my own talk show nowadays!

Pesho's Murder Sent Killer DiMarco's Family Into Destruction

CLEVELAND - One of the most bizarre murder twists in Ohio history shattered one family and literally destroyed another.

It all started on this date in 1996.

Mary Jo Pesho, a 46-year old North Royalton nurse was returning Christmas gifts with her teen aged children at suburban Parmatown mall on Jan. 2, 1996. When they were about to leave the mall, Pesho told her children to wait near the mall's entrance while she went to retrieve the brand new family van from the parking lot.

That's the last time her family saw her alive.

Amazingly, Pesho stepped into the van and was accosted by two teens without anyone in the lot noticing. The teens, Mark DiMarco and Shannon Kidd, both 17 held her at gunpoint and forced her to drive away from the mall. Over the next several hours, DiMarco and Kidd repeatedly raped and taunted Pesho, eventually burning her with the vehicle's cigarette lighter. She was found dead at a rapid station, the victim of a gunshot wound.

The two young men were eventually sought out and arrested for the crime. They both were found guilty in 1998. DiMarco, the apparent shooter was sentenced to 94 years to life in prison.

DiMarco seemed on the verge of winning an appeal for a new trial in late '98, and by the early weeks of 1999 was said to be in good spirits while locked up. But on February 4, 1999, he "supposedly" committed suicide in his cell while leaving behind a cryptic note hailing himself as a soldier while labelling police as "crooked."

In the fall of 2001, DiMarco's mother Joyce Stewart, who served 90 days in jail for trying to block her son's prosecution was found murdered. Her dismembered body had been stuffed in five trash bags by her husband, William Stewart who was pulled over while driving erratically. Police noticed an arm protruding from one of the bags, to which Mr. Stewart responded, "that's my wife."

What a nut job.

When Stewart was arrested, he was placed in a cell and on suicide watch. It didn't matter. He was found hanging by a bed sheet but barely alive. He died a few weeks later.

This entire horrific saga was more chilling than any Hollywood film could ever be. It was all real life and no doubt took root in DiMarco's childhood if not long before that. With today being the 13th anniversary of the crime that started it all, I want to extend my sympathies to Pesho's children as well as her husband Raymond, who had initially been a suspect in her murder. I spoke with him not long after the murder of his wife, and again after DiMarco's suicide. By then, he had remarried and seemed happy.

Here's hoping that all of us can overcome such a tragedy the way he did, and avoid nut jobs like the DiMarcos and Stewarts.

Shannon Kidd actually seems normal in all of this.

The Importance of Positive Thinking in 2009

CLEVELAND - We live in a very challenging world and often face circumstances that could bring us crashing down.

That's why we need to stay positive.

The year 2009 has finally arrived and it offers us a clean slate to make right things that we're able to change. Most people don't realize it, but the number one thing that we should change is our perspective and thinking. Sure, sometimes very bad things happen to us that we think are unfair. The truth is, we need to take ownership of more things than we do and trust me, our lives will change for the better because we stopped looking for folks to blame other than ourselves.

President-elect Barack Obama could have used a ton of excuses as to why it would have made perfect sense to NOT run for president. If he would have lost the election to John McCain, he stated months before election day that "it wouldn't have been because of [my] race. It would be because [I] didn't do [my] job."

No excuses.

Our economy is in an embarrassing free fall and is adversely affecting us all. But with faith comes strength and with strength comes resilience, and with resilience... well, let's just say that if we take care of business, I mean TRULY take care of business, we'll be alright.

Life is what you make it.