Day Of Killers: Air Jordan and Columbine

CLEVELAND - Today is one of the most historical days in American history. As far as I'm concerned, one horrible tragedy and one incredible triumph will forever define this day of winners and losers, victims and assailants.

It is a day of killers.

It was 24 years ago today that a young NBA hotshot named Michael Jordan took the floor with his woefully overmatched Chicago Bulls to compete against the imposing Boston Celtics at their very best and put on a seminal, groundbreaking performance worthy of an Academy Award. Also, it was 11 years ago that two twisted teens went on a shooting spree at their own high school in Littleton, Colorado and killed more than a dozen people including themselves.

Jordan murdered the Celtics with a playoff record 63 points. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, the Columbine High School whack jobs, murdered innocent students and one teacher. Though the Bulls lost that Sunday afternoon classic in double OT, 135-131, it was clear that MJ was the assailant. Despite missing a whopping 64 games with a broken foot in his 2nd pro season, Jordan dazzled, slithered, soared and scored with impunity against the seemingly invincible Celtics in their nearly impervious building, who were 40-1 at home and boasted the iconic Larry Bird in his prime along with superstars Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.

For the Columbine killers, they were assailants as well...just far more ominous and sinister. They were cast as social mis-fits after the fact and information came to light about just how calculated the April 20, 1999 shootings really were. Going back to 1997 and 1998, Klebold and Harris (pictured at right) had studied how to make bombs at home and also acquired themselves an extensive collection of rifles and other high powered weaponry. Apparently upset with the way they were ridiculed and outcast in school, they ignored their otherwise privileged lives and masterminded an evil crime that still stings.

I joke when I put Michael Jordan into the same category as Klebold and Harris. But the sad part is, Jordan simply played a phenomenal game. The Columbine boys considered their heinous actions to be a game as well.

What did the rest of us learn?

14 Years Ago Today: Bulls Make Unlikely History With 70th Victory

CLEVELAND - When Michael Jordan returned to the NBA in the Spring of 1995, he faced enormous expectations as well as a ton of doubts. Then, his Chicago Bulls were eliminated in the playoffs by Orlando and suddenly, those doubts grew even bigger.

Until the following season.

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the most historic achievement of that following season. The Bulls set an NBA record with their 70th victory, an 86-80 win over the far inferior Milwaukee Bucks. Jordan wasn't his usual, spectacular self in the game as he scored "just" 22 points on a horrible 9-of-27 shooting. The victory wasn't even sealed until center Luc Longley (pictured above with Jordan) nailed a pair of foul shots in the closing moments.

Their record after that game on April 16, 1996 was an astonishing 70-9. They wound up winning 72 games and ran through the first three rounds of the playoffs. After winning the first three games of the NBA Finals, their record stood at an unreal 14-1. Then, their opponents, the Seattle Supersonics made life very difficult and won the next two straight games. When the dust settled, the Bulls won the series in six games to earn their 4th NBA title of the decade. Jordan was again named Finals MVP for the 4th time and his already overflowing legend somehow grew even larger.

But as much as the NBA title was the most important accomplishment that season, the 70th victory symbolized their historic greatness. It was an unlikely and highly astounding tally, especially since the team had been hastily assembled and had never played together prior to the season. Add to that the volatile Dennis Rodman and it becomes very easy to discern why Chicago's record winning was so unexpected. True, MJ was extra motivated to achieve success after the embarrassment of the '95 playoffs, but everything still had to flow just right in order for the team to do what it did.

Wow.

In the decade and a half since then, several NBA teams have seemed ready to challenge the 70 win plateau early in the season, only to fall of the pace sometime around mid-season. That happened to the '95-'96 Bulls too as their unbelievable 41-3 record was followed by two straight losses going into the All-Star break. Even still, they regrouped and made history.

And man, was it fun to watch!

The Amazing Journey Of Hugh Hefner

CLEVELAND - I will forever admire and respect the great Hugh M. Hefner for all that he's accomplished, the man that he is today and his relentless pursuit of living life on his own terms. That makes today something of a holiday to me, or at least an opportunity to celebrate the man.

It's his birthday.

That's right. Today is Hefner's 84th birthday and will without a doubt be celebrated to the fullest extent by the man himself. In fact, Hefner never waits for the actual day to begin the festivities. He and his travelling coterie of nubile young women usually party hardy days in advance at locales other than his iconic Playboy Mansion. What's so great about Hefner is that he continues to possess the same zest for life that he had 30 or 40 years ago, maybe even more so. His seminal publication, Playboy Magazine is not only what brought him to the public's attention in the early 1950's. It's also what made him a role model in the quest for open-mindedness and liberation. It was Hefner that stared down the barrel of numerous legal battles throughout the 1960's and '70's, all in favor of keeping his vision in the public's eye.

What's always endeared Hefner to me is his commitment to being happy and living life on his terms regardless of who complains. After all, it's his life and no one else's so if he wants to be an insatiable hedonist at 30, why shouldn't he be one at 80? It's not that Hefner doesn't understand the "laws of conformity," it's that he doesn't care about them.

From one controversial star to another, I send my truly heartfelt birthday wishes to one of my all-time heroes. Happy Birthday, Mr. Hefner. You will forever be the greatest male in Earth's history!

MLK's Final Stand Showed His Courage

CLEVELAND - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood at a podium in Memphis, TN on April 3, 1968 and, though drained and emotional, delivered arguably his most resonant and important speech. He held no fear for anyone, and he exuded remarkable confidence in an impossibly hostile climate. Less than 24 hours later, he was gone.

But never forgotten.

Today marks the 42nd anniversary of his stunning and tragic murder on a hotel balcony. Of course, the official version of events say that James Earl Ray was King's assailant. But for two generations now, conspiracy theories  have abounded over what actually took place that evening. It's been an infuriating thing to many Americans, particularly in the black community, especially since King was the voice of reason when most things related to racial equality in the U.S. were unreasonable. Since 1955, King had been the signature figure in the Civil Rights Movement and countless times risked his life and freedom for the amelioration of his country.

That was incredible times a million.

I love King's courage and defiance during his final speech. It was largely based on his reason for being in Memphis in the first place; the Memphis Sanitation Strike. But the historic aspect of his speech came when he  acknowledged the "threats" that were being issued against him by "sick white brothers." He said a million different things in just a few dozen words as he spoke of his desire to live a long life, but realization that he may not. He declared that he just wanted to "do God's will" and that he'd "been to the mountaintop."

He instilled hope in his listeners and followers when he declared that "we as a people will get to the promised land." When he punctuated his destined-to-be-iconic speech with "mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord," he nearly collapsed with raw exhaustion and emotion into his seat a few feet behind him. Jesse Jackson was there to catch King as he was heavily applauded for what came to be his final speech.

After MLK was gunned down the following day, everything about that speech grew in importance. His intonation was booming and emphatic. His words were prophetic and transformative. In other words, King sealed his legend just as his fate was being sealed. I am grateful for the courage he displayed that night, but the courage he displayed his entire life was the most amazing of his accomplishments.

Long live the King.

'Deante' Series Returns To Shock...Again

CLEVELAND - After more than four months away, Deante Young returns today with a brand new film to kick off the 3rd season of his see-it-to-believe-it reality web series.

Welcome back.

Young, who also turns 33 years of age today stars in the 15-minute short film, "Relapse," the 3rd season premiere of "a Date with Deante." According to sources at Dirty Truth Films, the clip will debut "sometime before noon on April 1."

Word is that the film picks up where last season's finale left off and will set up expectations for the rest of the season. Young has decided to air new episodes every Friday this season instead of on random days like in the past.