28 Years Ago Today: The World Meets Jordan

CLEVELAND - His family had known him for 19 years. His North Carolina community knew him well and college hoops fans knew a little about the guy, too. But with the flick of a wrist and the swish of a net, Michael Jordan became a national superstar 28 years ago today.

Has it been that long?

Jordan, as a highly skilled freshman for the University of North Carolina drilled a 16-foot jumper in the deciding game of the 1982 NCAA tournament, giving the Tarheels the national championship over Big East power Georgetown. Since Carolina coach Dean Smith disallowed his players to dominate, especially freshmen, the MJ of '82 wasn't the MJ that the NBA would come to know and idolize. He wasn't even UNC's top star. That honor went to James Worthy, who played his final collegiate game that night in the New Orleans Superdome; a symbolic passing of the torch to Michael of sorts.

After Jordan's historic shot, his profile immediately became elevated. Suddenly, he was the crowd favorite and he used that greater visibility to become College Player of the Year in both 1983 and 1984. Looking back from the vantage point of today, it seems to be a marvelous beginning for Michael given the fact that he became not only the most iconic and perhaps greatest figure in basketball history, but also a crunchtime mastermind.

We all have that great night in 1982 to thank for that.

20 Years Ago Today: Jordan Was 'Star 69' Against Cavs

CLEVELAND - For all of his wondrous scoring feats over the years, Michael Jordan seemed to always save his best for the Cleveland Cavs. 20 years ago today, he unleashed his very best on them.

And it was no surprise.

Jordan was "in the zone" that night at the now-defunct Richfield Coliseum in Ohio. Just 27 years old at the time, his ethereal basketball talents were on full display as he registered career-highs with 69 points and 18 rebounds. His brilliance was second to none as he repeatedly hit pull-up jumpers and attacked the basket with searing impunity. For good measure, he dished off 6 assists and had 4 steals.

And his Chicago Bulls won, 117-113 in overtime.

MJ's ire had been drawn after he was fouled hard by the Cavs' John "Hot Rod" Williams in the first quarter. That is when Cleveland fans cheered the nasty takedown of Jordan, to which he took exception because he could have been seriously hurt. He responded by netting 31 points by halftime and continued to dominate all over the court as the game progressed. With the Cavs and Bulls being not only Eastern Conference rivals, but also Central Division ones, the game had added significance.

The phenomenal outburst was anything but a surprise given the fact that Jordan was always extra special when facing the Cavs. He led the Bulls to playoff series victories over them in both 1988 and 1989 and the '89 defeat featured the legendary "The Shot" game, which took place just 10 months prior to the 69-point game. Furthermore, Michael laid a giant 54-point statement on the Cavs to open the 1989-90 season and had several more high-scoring games against them leading up to 69. Add all that up, and it was anything but surprising that he did what he did on March 28, 1990.

He was in his prime, but still in his pre-championship days that season. But Jordan was always a marvel to behold and that game will forever stand as perhaps his grandest statement as an individual juggernaut.

Long live Air Jordan.

Details Emerge In New 'Deante' Season

CLEVELAND - After months of speculation and anticipation, new details have finally surfaced on the forthcoming 3rd season of the controversial web series, a Date with Deante.

It's going to be a real doozy.

The series, which concluded its 2nd season in mid-November with a very explicit, cliffhanger film will return on April 1st with yet another movie-style episode to kick off what promises to be a wild new season. An 88 second sneak preview debuted yesterday that confirmed that. The April Fool's Day premiere date coincides with the 33rd birthday of its creator and host, Deante Young.

According to Dirty Truth Films, the season premiere will be a short film entitled, "Relapse," which picks up where last season's finale left off. In the film, Young appears to undergo a life changing transformation, but eventually comes to his senses. No other word on specific plot details.

As for the season overall, Keith Mason of Dirty Truth Films says to expect changes. "Mr. Young is very proud of the huge success of last season, but he intends on making the show sexy as opposed to the pornographic sexual-ness that enveloped season 2." Mason went on to reveal other modifications to the series: "There will be comedy sketches this season as well as satirical ads for sometimes fictional products," says Mason. "We're also giving the show a set time slot for the first time, so every Friday morning, a new episode will be available."

Just 10 days remain until the master of shock entertainment returns.

15 Years Ago Today: Jordan's Historical Decision

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan held a press conference yesterday to formally announce his new ownership of the Charlotte Bobcats. 15 years ago today, he eschewed such a public appearance and simply issued a fax to the media and the world with two indelible words.

"I'm back."

After a questionable and highly criticized stint in minor league baseball, Jordan decided to return suddenly to the NBA after a 17-month hiatus. It had been 21 months since he last played a pro game, and that was the finale to the 1993 NBA Finals in which MJ's Chicago Bulls won their 3rd straight championship. He stunningly retired 3 1/2 months later saying he had "nothing else to prove" on the basketball court. As a result, the sports world mourned heavily and his former opponents salivated at the prospects of an NBA without his unassailable dominance.

Predictably, the three-time defending champion Bulls went from being favorites to capture a 4th straight title to heavy underdogs. But unpredictably, they played very well led by Scottie Pippen's all-around brilliance and actually finished with only two fewer losses than they had the previous season with Michael. They lost in seven games to Eastern conference rival New York in round two, then went into the following season with far more uncertainty than before. As the 1994-95 season played out, the Bulls floundered more and more and it seemed as though the team would implode.

Enter Jordan.

With Major League Baseball on strike since the summer of '94, it eventually affected the minor leagues as well. Jordan wanted no part of being in the middle of that and made the very wise decision to un-retire and rejoin the Bulls. He'd been seen practicing for weeks, but on March 19, 1995, he stepped onto the court at Market Square Arena wearing his familiar red and black Bulls warm-up and ready to do battle with the Indiana Pacers. He kept his popular #23 retired and now wore #45 which sent parents all over the world into a frenzy to buy the new attire for their children.

Jordan was incredibly out of sync and struggled his way to a 7-of-28 shooting performance, which produced 19 points. He did add six rebounds, six assists and three steals in 43 grueling minutes. The Pacers won in overtime led by Reggie Miller's 28 points but it seemed that Chicago had won in the long run.

Michael was back.

MJ would struggle for the rest of the season, but had two stand out gems along the way. He had 18 of his 32 points in the 3rd quarter of a game in Atlanta that ended with him drilling a game-winning jumper at the buzzer. On March 28, he authored his famous "double-nickel" game in Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. In addition to his 55 points, he delivered the game winning assist to Bill Wennington.

The Bulls went 13-4 in the 17 games Jordan played, but got bounced from the playoffs in round 2 by upstart Orlando. Once the season had ended for the Bulls, the media began questioning if MJ was washed up at age 32. Fans also had their doubts. Jordan, full of pride but very humbled by the litany of mistakes and bad plays he'd made during his return vowed to show up the following season back to his old dominant self.

Boy did he ever.

Beginning on opening night of the 1995-96 season, Michael Jordan went overboard in bolstering his already superlative legend in hoops. He'd returned to his accustomed heights and dominated the NBA like he'd never left. When the dust settled, the Bulls had marched to the most successful season in the history of the game; a 72-10 record and a 4th NBA title in June. Jordan led the NBA in scoring for a record 8th time at 30.4 points per game and earned his 4th NBA MVP.

The Bulls continued their mastery of the entire league for two more seasons as did Michael, who'd returned to wearing #23 during the Orlando playoff series in '95. By the time he knocked down that controversial jumper to conclude the 1998 NBA Finals in Utah, he'd grown his legend ten-fold, which previously seemed impossible. In his three full seasons back, he earned two more MVP awards, three more Finals MVP's, three more scoring titles and of course, three more NBA championships!

Coming back was without a doubt his best decision.

Woods' Return To Golf Will Supercharge His Legend

CLEVELAND - With the announcement yesterday that Tiger Woods will make his return to pro golf next month at the Masters, predictions of his possible performance and the expected media circus that will ensue began in earnest.

This isn't even the beginning.

Woods, 34 has been absent from the sport that he almost single-handedly popularized since a mysterious and minor car accident in November ignited a stunning unraveling of his previously squeaky clean image. With endless revelations of his harem of mistresses made public, the legendary Woods vanished from public view and didn't resurface until he gave a questionable press conference last month to "apologize." Even then, he never definitively stated when he'd return to golf.

Until yesterday.

There has been a very mixed reaction to Woods' intention to return to competitive golf at the Masters. Some are thrilled that he'll grace the hallowed tournament with his presence, while others think that his timing is lousy. Some think he'll win, others say it's impossible to return from such a lay-off and win something as challenging and competitive as the Masters. Either way, Woods is guaranteed to infuse loads of enthusiasm and a coat of sparkle to Augusta and the Masters. If he wins, it will be a huge sports story tantamount to a miracle given his inactivity for months. If he loses, he will do so under an umbrella of a global audience and media that will scrutinize his every move and word. The hurricane of questions regarding his personal life will persist and interest for the nationally televised event will be off the charts.

All because of Woods.

Given Tiger's laser-like focus and apparent ego, I expect him to at least deliver a dramatic and excellent showing. Sure there may be rust, but Woods has always been amazing at overcoming challenges on the course. Moving forward, the Masters tournament will be only the first step in another glorious rise for Woods.

He may have been disgraced by the sordid tales of insatiable and seemingly random sex, but soon he'll be bigger than ever.

And he just might own another green jacket.

Biggie's Complicated Place In Hip-Hop History

CLEVELAND - Hard to believe that it's been a full 13 years since the awful drive-by murder of rap superstar The Notorious B.I.G. It's also hard to evaluate his place in hip-hop history given his massive talent and groundbreaking accomplishments coupled with a very brief career and zero longevity.

He was, however, unquestionably great.

That fateful night in Los Angeles 13 years ago today still perplexes and frustrates B.I.G.'s loyal fans and the hip-hop community at large. It also hurts that the very public crime remains unsolved nearly 5,000 days after the fact. But one thought that today has caused me to have is this: where does Biggie rank in rap history?

On the plus side, Biggie was unassailable as an MC. His lyrical aptitude was beyond reproach and resulted in wide praise from fans and critics alike. His 1994 debut album Ready To Die is considered a touchstone in the genre's history. It was also lauded as being one of the most brilliant debut albums ever. His 1997 double album Life After Death has been endlessly acclaimed as a polished masterpiece; a veritable cinematic-style opus that deftly showcased B.I.G.'s ascension as a true icon in his field.

On the negative side, Biggie was only in the game for three years. Obviously, it wasn't his fault that his career was cut short by gunmen, but the fact still remains. So, with only two albums to his credit in such an abbreviated career, B.I.G.'s ranking seems to be lower than one might expect. Making matters more frustrating is the realization that he wasn't even in his prime yet. Once Life After Death was released 16 days after his death, it became evident that his already incredible skills had dramatically improved. The concepts were more ambitious and the variety in topics were excellent. Where Ready To Die was was raw and gritty, Life After Death was refined and stylish. Biggie was brought to our attention as an obese street hustler who dealt drugs and overcame his "black and ugly as ever" appearance with endless charm and confidence. By the time 1997 began, he had evolved into a believable Don Juan of the ladies as well as a mafioso-style gangster.

In the final analysis, I feel that because of Biggie's game changing music and his unforgettable style, he will forever be a giant in hip-hop. His time may have been very brief, but that actually makes his epic achievements that much more impressive.

Long live B.I.G.

Mo'Nique's Oscar Moment: As Real As It Gets

CLEVELAND - After months of speculation and anticipation, comedienne/actress Mo'Nique earned an Oscar for best supporting actress last night at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.

Boy, did she "keep it real" in her acceptance speech.

Mo'Nique had been considered a strong favorite to win the award for months due to her searing portrayal of an abusive mother in the film Precious, which had been adapted from a book called "Push" by Sapphire. When her name was announced as the winner last night, she took to the stage wearing an emotional expression and immediately conveyed her gratitude.

She gave thanks to the Oscar voters for "showing that [winning] can be about the performance and not the politics." I was instantly thrilled with her saying that because the academy has a long history for overlooking incredible performances by actors (especially Blacks) in order to award trophies to films that are less deserving, but are a good "Oscar fit."

Mo'Nique also thanked her husband for his unconditional support to her and issued a special thanks to Hattie McDaniel, who won the same award in 1939 during a time of great racial discord and inequality for Blacks. McDaniel was the first ever African-American to win an Academy Award which prompted Mo'Nique to pay an homage to her, both verbally and by wearing a gardenia in her hair just as McDaniel did 70 years ago during her speech.

Rounding out her speech, Mo'Nique thanked Tyler Perry (who was in attendance) and Oprah Winfrey, both of whom served as producers on the film. Because of Perry and Winfrey's larger-than-life status and influence in the entertainment industry, Precious was given a distribution deal. Mo'Nique said it succinctly; "Because you touched it, the whole world saw it."

I loved Mo'Nique's speech because it was raw, uncompromised and without the coat of sugar that is typically sprinkled upon any formal Hollywood event.

Hollywood needs more honesty.

One Year Later: Michael Jackson's Eerie Final Public Appearance

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson took to the podium amid a rabid group of fans chanting and yelling their affection for him and proceeded to say almost nothing relevant. One year later, those seemingly empty words have taken on a sad and unintentional irony and significance because it was the last time he truly spoke to us.

What a shame.

Today marks the one year anniversary of Michael's press conference announcing his planned comeback concerts in London. The spectacle took place in the famous 02 arena where MJ's stage shows were to play out from July 2009 until March 2010. Within hours of the tickets going on sale, every date sold out in very short order which caused AEG Live to add many more dates to the originally planned 10. Michael, during his short speech seemed a bit unsure of what to say as he repeatedly stated, "this is it...these are my final shows....and when I say 'this is it' I mean 'this is it.'" He told the howling crowd that he'd be "performing the songs that [his] fans want to hear."

The way I felt about the concert announcement at the time was bittersweet. Of course I was excited, but a little subdued. Michael was almost never seen in public since his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges, so it was a treat to see him back in the limelight. However, I had grown frustrated at the long delay in him releasing any new material after so many rumors of pending releases ended up being empty in fact. Therefore, I felt that he may not even perform the shows and even if he did, they wouldn't take place in the U.S.

When the horror of June 25, 2009 arrived, it was overwhelming for many around the world and specifically for me. Michael's sudden and unbelievably shocking death that day obviously made the concerts a lost cause and caused millions upon millions of people a ton of grief. Looking back from the vantage point of today, that press conference was very eerie and ominous. It seemed joyous at the time since it represented Michael returning to the elements of his life that made us fall madly in love with him in the first place; his great artistry. But knowing that his death was just 112 days in the future from that point takes the air out of the entire thing. MJ ended his announcement by saying, "I love you all so much. I really do. See you in July."

As he strode away from the podium and disappeared behind the red curtains, no one knew that we'd seen the last of him being alive as we were seeing him. Sure, we got treated to the hastily assembled film, Michael Jackson's This Is It nearly eight months later, but as we watched Michael unleash his raw magic on screen, we knew that he was no longer with us in real life. That makes the whole awful situation even more unbearable.

Today is yet another day for us to cherish life and the awesome memory of Michael Joseph Jackson.