Murray's Sentence Both Gratifying and Frustrating

CLEVELAND - Yesterday at 9:53 am Pacific Time, a firm and no-nonsense Los Angeles judge sentenced Conrad Murray to a maximum prison sentence of four years for his role in the death of legendary entertainer Michael Jackson.

Very deceiving.

Murray, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Nov. 7 received the maximum sentence possible, which is what MJ's family and global fan base wanted. However, we all gasped at the paltry term of just four years and almost went into a rage at the possibility that the convicted cardiologist will actually serve little to none of the time imposed upon him. Due to a new provision in the L.A. legal system, non violent felons are allowed lighter punishments such as community service and house arrest. Judge Michael Pastor made it a point to emphatically reject Murray's request for leniency while chastising him for his arrogant and unrepentant  behavior regarding this case.

I was very happy with the judge's candor in explaining to Murray his displeasure with the doctor portraying himself as something of a victim. Indeed, in a documentary that he both commissioned and starred in early this month, the disgraced doctor makes several declarations of his innocence and blames Jackson for what he sees as deception by the musician. Murray had been hired to serve as Michael's personal physician from April to June 2009 as the star prepared for a planned series of concert tours. The arrangement came to a tragic end when Jackson died June 25, 2009 of  "Propofol intoxication." The deadly dosage was administered by Murray who also left Jackson's bedside during a critical time at which the entertainer stopped breathing. According to the testimony of experts, Murray's actions during that time were so reckless that they caused MJ's demise.

Many people have opined that Michael was a relentless drug addict who would've gotten his fix from a different source had it not been from Murray. Those people who feel that way are probably correct, but they are also missing the point. Murray, as a doctor had an obligation to his patient to care for him and make sound medical choices for him. Placating an addict or any patient for that matter at the expense of proper medical care completely violates the principles of the Hippocratic Oath. Many people have also said that "no one could turn down" the $150,000 per month Murray was being paid to care for MJ, but the truth is, many doctors did. And if Murray had any integrity as a doctor, he would've turned it down as well. There is no place for selfish greed in the medical field. If that keeps up, we're all in danger.

I also took offense to Murray's defense team; most notably Michael Flannigan, who expressed anger that Judge Pastor didn't allow them to bring up MJ's dire financial status at the time of Murray's hiring. According to Flannigan, the fact that Jackson was, as he put it "$400 million in debt" and living in a rented mansion had relevance to this case. It didn't. No matter how much in debt or how drug addled MJ was, none of that matters when debating Murray's guilt. Even the defense's contention that Murray was an esteemed physician whom his patients adored holds no weight. His sterling reputation prior to the MJ situation has nothing to do with his behavior and incompetence in this case.

Desperate people.

I also enjoyed Judge Pastor bringing up the surreptitious recording that Murray made of a seemingly heavily drugged and slurring MJ a month and a half before his death. Pastor seemed to insinuate that Murray had sinister motives for doing such a thing which just added to his unworthiness of leniency.

Michael's family and estate have asked that Murray be ordered to pay restitution in the astounding amount of $100 million, a figure which represents the projected earnings of Michael had he completed the 50 concert tours he had been planning in the Spring of 2009. While everyone acknowledges that Murray could never afford that amount, it is still more than fair when everything is fairly considered.

After all, Michael was worth a lot more than that to this planet.

20 Years Later, Jackson's 'Dangerous' LP Remains Underrated Masterpiece

CLEVELAND - When it comes to the music of Michael Jackson, many people seem to place his 1982 album Thriller as his single greatest phenomenon, his 1979 album Off the Wall as a true classic and his 1987 LP Bad as a strong but lacking follow-up to the Thriller juggernaut. But there is one huge problem with that thinking.

It totally ignores the immense brilliance of another of his gems.

Saturday (Nov. 26) marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Jackson's change-of-direction album, 1991's Dangerous, which actually sold more and faster than Bad. It baffles me as to why the album didn't receive more acclaim, especially with its cutting-edge music videos and expansive world tour. Jackson had arrived at a place in his artistic life where he was heavily experimenting with unusual styles and concepts in his music and he infused those ideals into this truly classic work.

For those three iconic albums that preceded Dangerous, MJ had been a steady collaborator with the great Quincy Jones. For Dangerous, he sought a hipper style and enlisted then-innovative producer Teddy Riley to handle extensive production on the album. The result is a very eclectic blend of catchy dance tracks and moving ballads that highlight Michael's ethereal vocal presence.

It remains very impressive even today.

Kicking off with a furious marketing push with the lead single, "Black or White," Michael seemed to be on the fast track towards taking the world by storm again. He hadn't released an album in four years and after the "Bad World Tour" ended in January 1989, he had barely been seen publicly in more than two years. When promotion of Dangerous commenced in late autumn '91, his style and appearance had changed but his once-in-a-lifetime talent and imagination were still in top form. "Black or White," a hybrid hard rock/pop song was supported with a controversial music video that premiered simultaneously on several television channels. It was at this time that MJ began being referred to in the media as "The King of Pop" and after viewing his work, the honorific title made perfect sense.

MJ's clout and influence proved to be larger than life with the Dangerous album. The music video for "Jam" featured Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and then-teen sensation Kriss Kross. "In the Closet" co-starred model Naomi Campbell and the infectious R&B tune "Remember the Time" was promoted with a short film featuring comic actor Eddie Murphy, basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson and model Iman. It was clear to me that Michael had stepped up his game in terms of scope and diversity, opting to feature exotic locales in the short films as well as craft universally designed songs which augmented his already enormous global fan base.

The sprawling, anthemic song "Heal the World" is one of Michael's greatest works in spite of the litany of critics that deem the track too "self-indulgent." It is a beautiful tune that showcases MJ's humanitarian side and concern for the welfare of others across the planet. The song "Gone Too Soon" is another such effort, written in tribute to teen AIDS victim Ryan White, whom Jackson befriended prior to his death a year earlier.

Personally, "Give In To Me" and "Who Is It?" are two of my absolute favorite tracks. Michael has always been the master at vacillating between strength and vulnerability on his records, especially when he varies his vocal range several times in one line to convey the powerful dichotomy of those emotions.

The title track is another keeper. When Michael performed that song in the years to come (most notably at the 1995 MTV VMAs), he performed it with the same super cool gangster flair of which he used for his performances of "Smooth Criminal" from 1987's Bad album.

The "Dangerous World Tour" spanned 1992 and 1993 and took the legendary entertainer to packed stadiums on seemingly every corner of the planet, even the most obscure and remote locales around. In between shows, Michael performed the songs in a number of high profile appearances including his explosive appearance at the Halftime Show of the Super Bowl in January '93. It was there that Michael starred in a frenetic medley of his past classics (as well as tracks from Dangerous). He even sang at one of President Clinton's Inaugural Balls and in a nationally televised interview sang for Oprah Winfrey when she visited his Neverland estate.

Looking back with 20 years of perspective, Dangerous remains one of Michael Jackson's overlooked and underrated crowning achievements and, along with its global sales of over 30 million copies sold, should start getting recognized as the true work of art that it is.

Michael, I salute you once again!

Murray's Conviction: Just What The Doctor Ordered

CLEVELAND - Yesterday at 1:17PM PST, a stone faced Conrad Murray sat in a Los Angeles courtroom as his criminal trial reached its conclusion with a guilty verdict in the death of Michael Jackson.

Talk about gratifying.

Murray, a West coast-based cardiologist was hired in the Spring of 2009 to serve as MJ's personal physician at an astounding $150,000 a month. The legendary entertainer hand picked Murray as he prepped for a highly anticipated London concert tour, but that decision proved horrible. It was under Murray's careless care that Jackson died on June 25, 2009 of a lethal mix of prescription drugs. Once his death was ruled a homicide, Murray became the obvious focus of the crime.

Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, which is considered to be a minor felony. Indeed, he faces only a max sentence of four years in prison but experts expect him to serve far less time than that, maybe even without actual jail time. That of course would be monumentally disappointing to Michael's international fan base as well as his family.

The jury deliberated for 10 hours before reaching their verdict in a case that proved to be divisive among Murray's dedicated former patients, medical experts and MJ's millions of fans and supporters. On one side, people have declared Murray to simply be a fall guy for the iconic performer's death in light of Jackson's own relentless pursuit of the dangerous drugs that ultimately killed him. It's that line of thinking that fueled the defense theory that Michael may have self administered the fatal dose of Propofol in a desperate attempt to treat his extreme insomnia. The milky substance is said to be a highly effective anesthetic, but should only be administered in a highly monitored medical setting such as a hospital.

During the critical moments when Jackson stopped breathing, the so-called Dr. Murray made numerous bad choices in handling the dire situation. Experts testified that he made 17 deviations from the standard of care which, in the world of law amounts to "criminal negligence" which is what is known as causation. That is essentially what made Murray's actions criminal since they led to the death of a human being.

It frustrates me to hear people trying to cut Murray some slack. These are the "intelligent" people that say Michael Jackson was too rich and well connected to be turned down on his supposedly frequent requests for these drugs. Their reasoning is that if Murray hadn't given him the drugs, MJ would have ditched him and found someone who would give them to him. Furthermore, many people say that "drug dealers" give their "customers" drugs all the time, but no one is trying to imprison the dealer if the customer dies.

Idiots.

First off, a "street dealer" of drugs is not at all comparable to a medical doctor. A street dealer is simply trying to make a fast buck at the expense of others. That dealer has no recourse, conscience or obligation to act responsibly. A doctor takes an oath to do right by his patients, act in their best interest and treat their life and health with great care. Whether Michael Jackson asked or begged for harmful drugs, it was up to Murray to be "the adult in the room" and flatly tell him 'no.' If MJ went to another doctor, it then becomes that doctor's responsibility to turn him down as well. If MJ in fact did miraculously dose himself with the fatal amount, it still falls to Murray to take blame because he was the "professional" in charge. Patients, even legendary ones should never be counted on to know what's best for themselves. That's the reason the doctors are the doctors  and the patients are not.

But too many people are too dumb to understand this simple thing.

I was overjoyed when Judge Pastor agreed with lead prosecutor David Walgren's suggestion that Murray be remanded and jailed without bail pending sentencing (on Nov. 29). There was a certain poetic justice seeing the "good doctor" handcuffed in his chair as bailiffs moved quickly to take him into custody. And even though I know he has a good chance at successfully getting some relief in the appeals process, this serves a temporary sliver of justice. Because even if Murray could be given a 100 year sentence, it wouldn't bring Michael back to us.

In the end, Murray behaved on that morning as an incompetent doctor preoccupied with taking to his coterie of women on the phone instead of tending to his dying patient. In that respect, he was just asking for trouble.

Now he's got it.

20 Years Ago Today: Johnson's Shocking Moment

CLEVELAND - Going into the 1991-92 NBA season, all I cared about was getting thrilled and wowed by the great Michael Jordan, who entered his 8th pro season set to lead the Chicago Bulls to a repeat of their first ever NBA championship. That title, won just four and a half months earlier, came at the expense of the L.A. Lakers.

As it turned out, it wasn't the Lakers' worst defeat of the year by a long shot.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson's press conference announcing he was HIV positive and as a result, was retiring from pro basketball. It was a seminal day in the world of sports as well as the epidemic known as AIDS, which results from the contraction of HIV. Needless to say, Johnson's fellow hoopsters were stunned as were his countless fans all over the planet. For a man as skilled, accomplished, charismatic and beloved as he was, the news was almost too much to process. His shocking disclosure, made worse by the fact that Johnson's illness stemmed from unprotected sex with women other than his wife, brought forth national debates and widespread education of this serious disease. It would soon transform him into the most high profile spokesman in its short history as he developed a foundation to help others gain treatment and education.

The several months after Johnson's announcement were filled with ups and downs. There was a pall of unhappiness cast upon the NBA during the early stages of the '91-'92 season and loads of sorrow for Johnson, who many expected to die in just a couple years. Just 32 years old at the time, no one expected him to make it to age 40. Right now, he is 52 years of age. That's a supreme miracle, but it's also evidence of a very wealthy man with unlimited access to the best medical care on the planet.

He was voted to participate in the 1992 NBA All-Star game even though he was no longer a player, then famously dominated the game with 25 points and 9 assists and authored several highlight moments. He also won the game MVP while leading the West to a blowout victory. In the summer of '92, he was a member of the vaunted Dream Team that won the gold medal at the Olympics in Barcelona. In between all of this fun, he was constantly faced with whispers from fellow players who expressed reluctance and resistance to playing on the same court with him out of fear for themselves. It seems odd now, but back then it seemed at least fair to be afraid.

In the 20 long years since that unbelievable day, Magic has re-defined himself and made a nation hopeful and wiser about that deadly illness. Proof that good things come from bad events.

10 Years Ago Today: Michael Jackson's Final Release

CLEVELAND - Truly great innovators have a habit of crafting pioneering masterpieces in their life and career that receive critical acclaim. Those same geniuses also suffer creative slumps and their resulting work gets slammed in the media. But often, those so-called failures gain a reappraisal years later that changes the original thinking.

It is now Michael Jackson's turn.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Invincible, Jackson's first solo album of all new material since 1991's Dangerous. It was met with loads of negative reviews and its sales figures fell far below what his previous albums sold. With MJ's shocking death in 2009, the Invincible LP became his final album (that he totally created), though released nearly 8 years in the past.

In spite of the negative reviews, Invincible is still a great R&B/Pop album. MJ had become a prisoner of his own lofty standards which is part of why his 2001 effort was seen as a disappointment by many. In the 12 years between 1979 and 1991, MJ crafted 4 nearly flawless albums that rank among the greatest in pop history; Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous. In the case of Thriller, he authored the biggest single phenomenon in history in record sales, awards, critical praise and popularity. Anything he did after that album would always be seen as something of a let down.

He was always his own biggest competition.

Also, Michael's public reputation began spiraling downward rapidly following the child molestation charges he faced in 1993. This greatly affected his sales and public sentiment in the U.S. towards him. By '01, he was widely considered a creepy has-been but still possessed an enormous global fanbase of multi millions. I, for one felt that he never lost any of his magic and I considered Invincible to be excellent in spite of its shortcomings. Years of listening to it has caused me to appreciate the man's artistry even more than I already did.

The true greats deliver even when they're not at the top of their game.

Jobs' Legacy Of Incredible Singularity

CLEVELAND - I never owned a Mac computer, nor have I ever owned an iPad or iPhone. I do own an iPod Nano, which someone else purchased for me 5 years ago. But in spite of my limited experience with Apple Inc.'s legendary electronic products, I have long been an admirer and fan of the genius behind the magic.

Steve Jobs.

With his semi-surprising death yesterday at just 56 years of age, the tech and business worlds raced to issue the most gushing of platitudes for the man who co-founded Apple Inc. in 1976, then eventually used it to create groundbreaking gadgets that are now as ubiquitous to consumers as stethoscopes are to doctors.

What I most admire about Jobs is his think-outside-the-box sensibilities and relentless drive to live the life he wanted. During a famous commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005, he eloquently articulated the importance of living life to the fullest and doing things on one's own terms to the graduating class that year. He was always that maverick who didn't conform, but who ultimately made others conform.

That's part of his brilliance.

It speaks to his phenomenal resilience that he was able to rebound from the depths of supposed failure in the mid-1980's (when he was ousted from his own company) to return a decade later as an even more impressive technological mastermind and a peerless innovator. He began his re-ascension as one of the creative forces behind Pixar animation. Then, beginning in 1998, he began redefining the personal computer landscape with a new design philosophy for his Mac computers. The iPod arrived in 2001 and completely dominated the portable music landscape. From there, Jobs helmed one brilliant product or service after another; iTunes, the iPhone and last year, the iPad. Suddenly, owning an Apple product carried a serious status as hip, cool and very stylish.

He made Microsoft and its leader, Bill Gates look antiquated by comparison.

I rank Steve Jobs high on the list of great entrepreneurs who changed the world forever for the better. From Thomas Edison and Henry Ford to John Rockefeller and Sam Walton, the man's legacy of achievement can never be overstated. He was truly one of a kind.

Thanks, Steve.

Sheen's "Character" Killed Twice...On Television

CLEVELAND - As great as it's been watching Charlie Sheen's film and television performances during the past 25 years, it was immeasurably more gratifying watching the man get verbally dismantled by a series of low budget comics, then return the favor in grand fashion during a heavily hyped roast on Comedy Central last night.

Utterly hilarious.

Sheen, 46 spent the weeks leading up to Spring this year as the mastermind of a very disturbing, yet insanely popular media meltdown that both resonated and resulted in his firing from the top rated comedy on television, "Two and a Half Men." And speaking of that show, which starred Sheen as the hedonistic and womanizing Charlie Harper for eight seasons, it premiered its even more heavily hyped ninth season last night an hour before the roast aired. With Sheen's character killed off camera to start the episode, it gave his replacement Ashton Kutcher an opening to implement himself into the cast as well-endowed billionaire Walden Schmidt.

The new dynamic worked brilliantly.

"Two and a Half Men" played well mostly because they didn't allow the tragedy of Charlie Harper's demise to drag the always silly show into seriousness. The actors played the scenes with very little genuine sadness which made it seem as though Sheen was still in the saddle. CBS has issued preliminary figures that suggest that nearly 28 million viewers tuned in last night, by far a record for the series.

During Sheen's roast, the man himself sat in the hot seat as minor celebrities such as Kate Walsh and Anthony Jezelnik and washed up icons such as William Shatner and Mike Tyson hurled brutally scathing remarks in his direction. They often hit far below the belt, riffing on such sensitive topics as Sheen's domestic abuse history, insatiable appetite for heavy narcotics as well as his child custody issues. They even threw wheelchair bound porn publisher Larry Flynt under the bus as well as the Parkinson's stricken Michael J. Fox, both as analogies to Sheen's less than stellar moments.

When Sheen took to the podium to issue his own witty and brutal rebuttal, his rejoinders were calm and smooth while also fierce and cocky. Much more laid back and humble these days, he still let it be known that even though he's made many bad choices, once again, he came out [of a trying situation] "unscathed." All in all, it was a great comedy night and a truly entertaining look at a very accountable star in the wake of his darkest hour.

Impressive.

How I Overcame The Scary Horror of September 11th

CLEVELAND - With today being the 10th anniversary of arguably the most seminal catastrophe in U.S. history, I feel it's the perfect time for me to re-live the great things that diverted my attention from that epic tragedy.

September 11, 2001.

That fateful morning, which began very peacefully but ended in calamity was one of great anticipation for me. I went to sleep the previous night with three major things on my mind; the new Jay-Z album that was set for release that day, the pending return to pro hoops of Michael Jordan and the forthcoming, new Michael Jackson album.

Those things delighted me during an otherwise nerve-wrecking day and beyond.

By noon on 9/11, the U.S. was in full panic mode. The terrorist attacks and the cowardly masterminds behind them had successfully shattered the nation's collective morale and feeling of safety. The 8-month old Bush Administration did its best to assuage any lingering fears us civilians may have had, but it was still a very tension-filled day, mostly because none of us knew what would happen next. Seeing two seemingly unassailable giants like the World Trade Center destroyed by hijacked airliners was enough to frighten anyone into thinking that the terror could soon reach all parts of the country.

But that morning, I had the new LP, The Blueprint, the aforementioned sixth album from Jay-Z. I took the bus to a record store to purchase the highly anticipated opus and couldn't wait to hear a track on the album that I'd heard was on it. "Renegade" featuring Eminem, who was nearing the apex of his colossal popularity and as a meticulous lyricist, he was never better during the three year period from 2000 to 2002. Of course, any fan of that genre of music now knows that The Blueprint went on to attain legendary status. Some even consider it to be Jay-Z's master work.

Also on my mind that day and in the healing months after was Jordan, who just the day before announced that he would be returning to pro basketball as a player (for the lowly Washington Wizards) after being retired for the past 3 years. With me being the biggest of MJ fans, I was totally enthralled and excited, even as questions of his potential effectiveness floated around the media and the general public. With him being 38-years old (ancient in pro sports), there was major questions and doubts that he'd be able to dominate the basketball court the way he had during 13 brilliant seasons for the Chicago Bulls. When news of the terrorist attacks filled television and newspapers the following day, Jordan decided to postpone his official press conference announcing his return for a couple weeks out of respect for the thousands of lives lost that day.

Of course, Jordan's rock star status in basketball gave the country a much needed diversion, even though he struggled often to play up to the glittering heights of his Bulls days. I was a kid in a candy store having him back in the game, and 9/11 felt less depressing (though still quite tragic) to me because of him.

Finally, the other MJ, the man I admired since the age of 5 dominated my September 11th thoughts too. The great Michael Jackson had given two concerts, one on Sept. 7 and the other on Sept. 10. Both were held, ironically in New York City, site of the most destructive attacks. He was celebrating 30 years as a solo artist with those concerts, which were not shown live, but were instead filmed for televised broadcast two months later. Jackson, 43 at the time was also just several weeks away from releasing his first album of all new material in 10 years, and my eagerness was heavy.

Invincible, Jackson's new LP was released on Oct. 30, 2001 while the nation was still shell-shocked with grief and disbelief. As a double delight to me, Jordan made his regular season debut that day as well...a double MJ return that prompted me to label that day "National Michael Day." Unfortunately, both MJ returns fell far below critical and fans' expectations. For me personally, I was just excited to have my heroes back in the saddle. The ethereal nature of both men's historic careers was unprecedented. And it's safe to say that their impact on sports, entertainment and culture will forever influence and inspire.

On an impossible day and during an impossible time, these men gave me and millions of people something rare in a time of evil.

A reason to smile.

Michael Jackson: Respect Deserved

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson, the most successful entertainer in history as well as a record breaking humanitarian would have turned 53 years of age today. That makes August 29th a seminal day in history for the many millions he inspired through his artistry and generosity.

Happy Birthday, Michael.

One thing that has forever troubled me about people's treatment of the man is the high level of disrespect he has received over the past 20 years. For a man that reshaped and transformed the music industry and donated multi millions of dollars of his own money and endless amounts of his time to charitable causes, he has never been as celebrated and respected as he deserves to be.

How rude.

I have said many times that the colossal apex of his career, a.k.a. The Thriller Era of the early 1980's was responsible for the best of what happened to him as well as the worst of what happened. He gained the most immense fame and status that any person could ever have. On the flip side, his life became a cocoon of impossibly high standards and salacious tabloid stories, which clearly led him into a life of extreme stress.

While it is very true that Michael was far from perfect and purposely led an eccentric life, he still never deserved to be repudiated so extensively at the expense of giving him the credit and the acclamation that was due him. He perfected pop music as a child superstar in the late '60s and early '70s, then pioneered and mastered the short film as music video with the cultural touchstone that was the Thriller album in 1983. Everything that resulted from that LP changed the rules of music, entertainment and the business that anchors both fields. As a live performer, his showmanship and innovation raised the bar for every other popular artist of any genre of music, and that continues to this day.

Fashion-wise, MJ's style inspired countless trends and sartorial concepts and cultivated his reputation as the ultimate show business megastar top to bottom. The way he embraced philanthropy and giving to those in need was, unfortunately not something that many of his wealthy peers emulated. However, he tirelessly spoke of making the world a better place and took the actions to do it.

He instilled love in every way.

So, today is something of a holiday. Of course, there will always be legions of haters, naysayers and critics of Michael Jackson who will forever hold up the many accusations against him as unquestioned fact that he did anything criminal, and that is grossly unfair.

For the great man he was, he deserves better than that.

Two Years Later, Loss of Michael Still Stings

CLEVELAND - Horrible memories of that devastatingly dark Thursday two years ago still haunt and harass me. Michael Jackson, the wondrous and eminently gifted genius left this planet and in the process, forced me and his many millions of fans to love him without his physical presence.

Forever.

Naturally, today represents tears, sadness and a hopelessly depressing reminder to his most devoted fans and family of that shocking day when Michael ceased to exist. Yes, his artistry and groundbreaking impact will forever delight and influence the world, but the man himself can no longer bless the world with innovation and relentless generosity. That is a tragedy in and of itself. I see the iconic costumes he wore during milestones in his career being sold, auctioned and exhibited. Those items are indeed historic, but without him continuing to walk this earth, they seem so...empty.

I miss Michael so much.

It's still a treat to watch the legendary "Thriller" short film, or his epochal solo performance on "Motown 25." But having the painful knowledge that MJ himself will no longer create magic in music and dance is a cruel and infuriating burden to bear.

Michael Jackson served as the foundation and inspiration for my own style and creative sensibilities. That part of him, as well as his 40 year career of showstopping excellence will live forever. But that one, heartbreaking fact remains no matter what.

I want him back.

LeBron James Doesn't Deserve His Own Talent

CLEVELAND - When LeBron James was drafted straight out of high school in the summer of 2003, I was asked by several people if I believed he would live up to the unprecedented hype he was receiving once he turned pro. I said constantly, "if he never believes the hype and instead works on his game as if he were a constant work in progress, he will indeed meet expectations and even exceed them."

Eight years later, he continues to do just the opposite. He believes his own hype.

James, 26 is at the most heavily criticized crossroads a pro sports superstar has ever experienced. Two days ago, his Miami Heat lost the NBA championship to the Dallas Mavericks on their own court. The loss was stunning in the way it took place. First, the Heat dominated Game 1 at home leading many to label Dallas as severely overmatched. Secondly, after the Mavs tied up the series, they immediately surrendered their momentum by losing the first game in Dallas, allowing Miami a 2-1 series lead. Over the ensuing three games, Dallas used poise, savvy, and brilliant crunch time execution to emerge victorious in each game to win the series, 4-2. But in spite of it all, LeBron's stunning vanishing act in each of the last three games stands as the single biggest shocker of the series' outcome.

The world's most talented basketball player played like an overwhelmed role player.

In all my years of watching pro basketball, I have NEVER...EVER seen a superstar, in his prime play as uninspired, listless and cowardly as LeBron James played in this series. I don't believe it is a stretch to say it, but LeBron disgraced the sacred club of superstardom. His performance was flagrant, empty and utterly embarrassing. Making it all the worse, LeBron is in the unusual position of being both an experienced veteran as well as a young-but-in-his-prime force of nature physically. Arguably, no one has ever been as gifted physically as him. Being 6'8," 265 pounds and breathtakingly strong, quick, agile and athletic as well as being a dominant scorer and expert playmaker is a little like a person being wise, good looking, charming and rich while still just 18 years old.

It's just not fair.

Yet in spite of those colossal attributes at his constant disposal, LeBron is flawed beyond belief. He spent seven seasons as the Cleveland Cavaliers' homegrown legend-in-the-making. Then in a selfish and classless act of arrogance, he humiliated the team and city by announcing his plans on national television to bolt the team in favor of joining Miami and its megastar, Dwyane Wade and new addition, all-star Chris Bosh. That was the start of the figurative evisceration of the previously fawned over James. Ever since he joined the Heat, he has displayed a stunning amount of immaturity and self-centeredness.

Just prior to the start of the 2011 NBA Finals, Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen ignited what amounted to sports blasphemy when he suggested that James is a greater player than Pippen's legendary former teammate Michael Jordan. He pointed to LeBron's playmaking style of basketball and seemed to insinuate that it was preferable to MJ's score-first mentality. If nothing else, Pippen's assessment proves that a person doesn't have to be a senior citizen to become senile. Before LeBron's watered down Finals performance ever happened, it was a ridiculous comment. After the dismantling by the Mavs and James' refusal to step up, the comment deserves to go into the comedy hall of fame and earn Pippen a one-way ticket into the most remote crazy farm on Earth.

Seriously.

Again, LeBron might be the most talented player in NBA history. But talent is just a fraction of what makes a player great, especially Jordan. The way MJ made teams bend to his will, even while his Chicago Bulls were losing in the playoffs before their 1990s dominance puts him on another plateau altogether from James. Jordan owned crunch-time, even if he was having a bad game--he never shrunk from high stakes or pressure; he embraced it and cultivated a gigantic reputation of tenacity and relentlessness. LeBron played in these Finals as if he forgot who he is. During the 2010 NBA playoffs, he did the same thing playing for the Cavs but forever denied widespread opinion that he "gave up." He often blamed the Cavs' postseason failures on the lack of formidable talent around him and when he submitted a shockingly uninspired and nonchalant effort in the infamous Game 5 of the 2010 Celtics series, he refused to take blame. Instead, he claimed that people had gotten "spoiled" by his repeatedly great play so they never gave him the right to have "one bad game in a seven year career."

Um, yeah.

With LeBron taking the easy road to a championship (or so he seemed to think it would be easy) by joining with super mega-star Wade and all-star Bosh in Miami, formidable talent was no longer going to be an issue, according to the way his mind works. In effect, LeBron put himself in a position where he couldn't win no matter what. He's the man who encourages people to call him "King James." He's the one that got "Chosen 1" tattooed across his back. He's the one that declared he'd be "taking [his] talents to South Beach." And with years of breathtaking, often superhuman highlights on the court, he set an enormously high standard for himself. And when he and Bosh, along with Wade were introduced together last July at that over-the-top celebration of their new partnership, LeBron famously declared that the Heat would now win more than half a dozen league titles.

Failure is all his.

Wade was brilliant many times in the 2011 NBA Finals. Bosh hit countless jumpers to frustrate Dallas. Even non-star Mario Chalmers had several huge moments. In other words, no one on Miami underperformed with the exception of James; the guy who is supposed to be using his unguardable abilities to dominate. When he drives hard to the basket, he is so unstoppable that it should almost be illegal. Yet in spite of this, he chooses all too often to shoot long jumpers which is a relief for whomever is defending him. When LeBron ignores his own dominant abilities, it's like a person having a Ferrari and a Ford Focus in their garage, but choosing to drive the Focus in a drag race.

LeBron averaged a putrid 17.8 points per game in the championship series. He averaged 3.0 points per game in the 4th quarter. Again, he's a super charged, springy-legged 26 year old at the outset of his prime. Meanwhile, Jordan in the 1997 NBA Finals averaged over 32 points per game at the far more physically disadvantaged age of 34. In that series, he had a game winning shot at the buzzer, another game of 38 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists, another game where he dominated the 4th quarter with 15 points and the game changing 3-pointer with less than a minute to play. Lastly, he made the game winning assist to Steve Kerr in the finale en route to 39 points and 11 assists. The following year at age 35, he scored 16 of his 45 points in the 4th quarter and made his famous, title winning jumper in the Bulls' 6th championship clincher. What's more impressive than MJ leading the Bulls to six titles was the fact that the Bulls were a perfect 6-0 in the league title series. And remember, a superstar at the past prime age of 35 is in decline, whereas a superstar nearly a decade younger is at the peak of his youthful athleticism. Yet MJ reigned supreme and Lebron stunk up the joint.

How can LeBron be declared as ANYWHERE NEAR Jordan's level?

I'm very happy Dallas won the title. Dirk Nowitzki has been an awesome player for over a decade and with his performance in the entire 2011 playoffs, he proved that he was great enough to deserve it. The Mavs as a team totally impressed me with their resilience above all else as they repeatedly rallied from huge deficits to win pivotal games in every series. That was almost unprecedented. But I won't deny that I'm most happy with the Finals outcome because of the way it denied and then humiliated LeBron James. His talent is undeniable, but so is his immaturity and yes, his unmitigated arrogance. This man needs discipline and polish in the worst way, because until he gets those things--IF he gets those things, he'll be the most unimpressive and underachieving figure in basketball history. He already doesn't deserve the talent that he has, and with his misguided and annoying sense of entitlement, he won't deserve any championship he wins either.

Unless he finally gets a clue and grows up.

20 Years Ago Today: Jordan Clears 'Final' Challenge

CLEVELAND - Funny to see LeBron James in a position to win the first ever NBA title of his career, provided his Miami Heat win the final two games over the Dallas Mavericks (they better not). It's funny because the greatest basketball player in history won his very first championship 20 years ago today.

The one and only Michael Jordan.

Hard to believe but the young Chicago Bulls put the heavily experienced L.A. Lakers to rest on the Lakers' home court with a stirring 108-101 victory in Game 5 of the 1991 NBA Finals. Jordan, just 28 years of age at the time dominated the series in the most amazing of ways. He averaged his usual unstoppable high number of points; 31.2 ppg in the series, but his astounding 11.4 assists per game was unreal. For good measure, he also chipped in huge with 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 steals and shot a searing 55% from the floor.

Easy choice for his first ever Finals MVP award.

The game will forever be remembered for sharpshooting role player John Paxson's dead-eye shooting in the closing minutes of the game. But what I delightfully remember is how Jordan, the ultimate crunch time player and finisher continually drove into the lane, drew heavy defensive attention and kicked the ball out to Paxson for those huge 4th quarter baskets. MJ finished with 30 points, 10 assists and 5 steals.

Equally memorable was Jordan's post-game showing in the locker room. Flanked by his father and wife, the iconic hoopster was overcome with the emotion of his greatest professional moment. Through persistent tears, he remarked that it had been a "seven year struggle" and was very happy to be over the "stigma of not winning a title." What many forget now is that Michael had been a stupefyingly brilliant basketball maestro his entire career to that point. Illustrious accomplishments abounded, but he could never manage to lead his Bulls to a league title. He seemed destined to end his career someday with gigantic stats and breathtaking highlights, but no titles.

That never happened.

Instead, Jordan's immense mastery of the '91 NBA Finals became a springboard for a total of six NBA titles he would lead Chicago to by the summer of 1998. Though Earvin "Magic" Johnson submitted an awesome series performance (16 points, 20 assists in the final loss), Jordan proved that he was not only heads and shoulders above the rest of the game's stars, but he was also a winner.

20 years later, LeBron has yet to prove that.

O'Neal Leaves A Giant Legacy Of Dominance and Influence

CLEVELAND - Shaquille O'Neal officially retired yesterday during a brief, often hilarious and very effusive press conference at his Florida home.

I hate to see him go.

O'Neal, 39 leaves a basketball legacy that few ever have. A 19 season NBA career that spanned four different U.S. presidents, began during Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls dominance and ended in the midst of LeBron James' evolution, has ended. More importantly, O'Neal will forever remain one-of-a-kind; a true original in size, skill and personality and the NBA has lost one of its most significant figures.

I remember so vividly the Spring of 1992 when the Bulls were dominating the league, led by the 29-year old Jordan. They were shooting for their 2nd straight NBA title while incessant talk of Shaq's soon-to-be pro career permeated the hoops landscape. The '92 NBA Draft was dubbed "The Shaq Sweepstakes" because the man was a 20-year old mountain of force blended stunningly with agility, athleticism and skill. So, whichever team earned the good fortune of winning the draft lottery would be immeasurably blessed with endless basketball success for years.

In theory.

As it were, Shaq was drafted by the three year old franchise, the Orlando Magic and immediately made headlines for his contract ($39.9 million/7 years), sheer size (7'1" 315 pounds) and nightly dominance on the court. He was unstoppable in the paint and was a consistently active presence off the ball which would often lead to a lob pass from a teammate and a monstrous slam dunk from him. Twice during his rookie season, O'Neal "ridiculed" a basketball hoop. He dunked so hard one time, it shattered the backboard. Another time, on a follow dunk, the entire basket support folded to the ground from his impact.

Ah, his impact.

O'Neal was joined in his second season by Penny Hardaway, a multi-talented guard from Memphis State. Together as a tandem, Shaq and Penny were a seemingly demoralizing pair for opponents. Even though they were very young and inexperienced, they made the Magic very intimidating. By O'Neal's 3rd season, the team advanced to the NBA Finals but were overwhelmed in a sweep by Hakeem Olajuwon and the eventual two-time champion Houston Rockets. This served as a sobering lesson for Shaq, but it wasn't enough to avert his departure from the team after the 1995-96 season. During the summer of 1996, there had been plenty of talk about O'Neal possibly going to the L.A. Lakers, something that didn't seem plausible to me. Soon, it had become a stunning reality and O'Neal was now part of another interesting dynamic; teaming with just drafted prep star Kobe Bryant.

Though Bryant needed about three seasons of pro ball to evolve into a true star player, he was always at odds with Shaq. Both men were naturally gifted and possessed gigantic egos, but nothing could derail the Lakers' ascension to NBA champions in 2000. That was Shaq's tour-de-force season; he turned in a 61 point, 22 rebound masterpiece on his 28th birthday that season and was an easy choice for league MVP with a nearly 30 point, 14 rebound per game average.

Of course, L.A. won the title again in 2001 and 2002 but when they went for an almost never heard of "four-peat" in the '02-'03 season, Bryant had become too singularly great a player. In other words, the team was no longer able to function the way it needed to in order to win titles. O'Neal always should've been the featured player on offense, not Kobe. That disconnect with coach Phil Jackson's philosophy contributed greatly to their '03 Conference semifinals meltdown to the Spurs and to their flame-out in the 2004 NBA Finals.

I was surprised to see Shaq leave L.A. in the summer of '04 for the Miami Heat. I understand that Bryant was a younger superstar with a much more tenacious work ethic. But I can't help wondering if better communication would have fixed the dissension between the two stars.

Who knows?

By the time Shaq joined the Heat, he was on the downside of his career. He turned 33 years old during the season, but still managed some great numbers. Even still, his truly transcendent days were over and he soon ceded the spotlight to yet another megastar upstart; Dwyane Wade. It was Wade that dominated the 2006 NBA Finals while Shaq could no longer dominate the lane on his usual myriad of high percentage shots. From then on, O'Neal became less and less effective until he was no longer a star. He ended his career by playing for three more teams in a very marginalized role, with the exception of the '08-'09 season in Phoenix when he experienced a rebirth of sorts.

All in all, O'Neal is a true all-time great. He is certainly top 5 amongst centers and dare I say, maybe even top 3. Yes, he focused too much on doing rap albums and bad movies in his early years and his free throw shooting was insanely awful. He missed many games to injury and often didn't keep himself in proper shape. But in spite of all that, Shaq changed the game and revolutionalized it. His incredible showmanship, outrageous wit and one-of-a-kind sense of humor enhanced his status and uniqueness. He was unassailable on the court for about 13 or 14 years, and that is huge. He was giving and humble, all while being tough and at times impossible. But more than anything else, Shaquille O'Neal was a true legend.

And that's for all time.

20 Years Ago Today: Jordan Finally Defeats Pistons

CLEVELAND - The Chicago Bulls were eliminated last night by the Miami Heat, denying them their first trip to the NBA Finals in 13 years. But there was a time when the Bulls couldn't be kept out of the championship series no matter who they were playing.

That was when Michael Jordan roamed the skies.

It was 20 years ago today that Jordan, at age 28 led his Bulls to a 115-94 victory, and a 4-0 Eastern Conference Finals series sweep over the Detroit Pistons (on Detroit's home court), who were the two-time defending NBA champions. The Pistons had eliminated the Bulls in each of the previous three seasons, but were no match for the upstart Windy City boys in this series. Jordan, who had a smooth 29 points in the clincher was particularly overjoyed because he was headed to his first ever championship series after years of dominating the league with his offense and defense. Now, he was headed to the one place where his singular brilliance could be validated as being among the best hoopsters in history.

The league finals.

The Pistons displayed defiance, immaturity and cowardice in the closing minute of the rout. Led by Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer, the team walked off the court in anger, unwilling to congratulate the new Conference champions. It was behavior that seemed in-line with their own unsportsmanlike reputation across the league. For the past few years, they used a litany of cheap shot tactics to defend teams and star players, Jordan in particular and thusly, were given the moniker The Bad Boys.

In this series, the Bulls were badder.

The victory served as a coming of age for Chicago and MJ, as they were finally playing phenomenal basketball on both ends of the floor. I remember vividly watching every game in this series, knowing full well that Detroit served as the Bulls' Achilles' Heel, and praying that Chicago could finally rise up and oust the Motor City knuckleheads. Towards the end of Game 3 in Detroit, I remember seeing Jordan at the foul line, knocking down a free throw with a huge look of gratification and satisfaction at the realization that his team was headed for a virtually insurmountable 3-0 series stranglehold. Some folks predicted the Bulls would beat the Pistons, but no one ever dreamed it would be done in a dominating sweep.

Within days, Chicago was back on their home court playing the vaunted L.A. Lakers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. It was a dream matchup of Jordan and Magic Johnson and was heavily hyped. But that historic series became possible because of the Detroit demon that Michael and the guys slayed so thoroughly.

Great memories, even 20 years later.

Oprah Winfrey: The Ultimate Teacher...The Ultimate Legacy

CLEVELAND - Oprah Winfrey is an international celebrity with a net worth that reaches into the billions. She also developed and hosted the most successful daytime talk-show in television history. But the most remarkable thing about her is the fact that none of her above accomplishments qualify as her most remarkable feat.

Seriously.

Winfrey, 57 ended her iconic The Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday on a stage in Chicago, Ill. in front of a studio audience of hundreds of history witnessing individuals and a global audience of well into the millions. Many elements of what makes her so endlessly remarkable was on full display as she brought to a close the show that brought her to the world's attention way back in 1986.

She explained to us what makes her tick and encouraged us to capitalize on the powers that we all hold inside us. It's what she has done from Day One, and it's that preoccupation with constant self-improvement that has enabled her to possess the gigantic influence that she does.

Looking at Oprah now, after she has accomplished so much and enlightened so many people, I can't help but to think back to when she was a newcomer to our consciousness. That was in the late 1980's, the waning years of the Reagan administration and for her, the early years of her 30's. My family, especially my grandmother were always interested in what Oprah had to say each and every weekday at 4PM EST. I remember vividly watching her show on television back then during the "tabloid era" of her show. That is when its subject matter didn't seem too different from the sensationalistic Geraldo Rivera or later, Jerry Springer.

But Oprah really was different. Even back then when her show was still in that tabloid mode, she always had an inspiring aura about her. When she famously wheeled that wagon of fat onto her stage while sporting size 10 jeans in the fall of 1988, it was clear that she was on to something enormous. She was cathartic for many people across the U.S., first and foremost women, but eventually and certainly for men and children as well. She was still mostly unknown at the time she co-starred in The Color Purple in 1985. But by the time she developed, produced and starred in the uplifting television miniseries The Women of Brewster Place in 1989, her ascension was clearly on the fast track. The higher she rose in the entertainment industry, the more she became a valuable role model and a stunning representation of what anyone can accomplish with the proper amount of discipline and drive.

Pure inspiration.

Something great has been said many times over the years and especially during the past few days about Oprah's meteoric rise, but it bears repeating again. For Oprah to have come from the time, place and circumstance that she comes from, her legendary achievements become even more incredible. Born in the racist South in the mid-1950s (during widespread discrimination and hatred towards Blacks), she was instantly thrust into a seemingly impossible and closed off world, especially with her being a Black female. Her first 15 years of life were filled with an endless array of bad luck, tragic situations and general hopelessness. From poverty and low self-esteem to sexual assault and drug use and an adolescent pregnancy, Oprah knew adversity all too well and actually more than most people would ever know. When she excelled at journalism in school and soon earned a media position in Baltimore, MD, it was a testament to her courage and relentless ambition. Even back then, close to 40 years ago, Oprah was using the tools and principles that she eventually gave all of us to overcome the odds and create our own happily ever after.

That is just one reason why she is so special.

When Oprah, at age 39 traveled to California in early 1993 for an historic interview with the iconic yet extremely reclusive Michael Jackson, I was beside myself with anticipation and joy. I couldn't wait to see Michael on television again, especially in an interview situation which was a very rare occurrence. During the famous broadcast (which took place at his Neverland Ranch), the entire planet learned details of the megastar that we had not previously known; he publicly disclosed for the first time ever the skin condition he suffered from called vitiligo which, when combined with treatment creams and makeup made him appear ghostly white. He also revealed his fear of his father as well as details of the childhood beatings that he endured. He sang and danced for Oprah and gave the world a new angle from which to look at him. That amazing Oprah episode perfectly encapsulated Winfrey's ability to be a friendly ear of empathy for anyone-- even a guarded and legendary entertainer like Jackson.

America fell in love with her for that trait from the beginning.

By the mid-1990s, Oprah transitioned from talk-show host to motivational speaker with an enormous platform. Her episodes became more positive and uplifting, as opposed to controversial and gossipy. She started the "Oprah Book Club" and "O The Magazine" and ventured more into film production with her Harpo Productions at the helm and continued her financial generosity to many charitable causes. By 2003, she had become the first Black women in history to amass a net worth of at least $1 billion. She built a girls school in Africa, funded hundreds of college tuitions for people and most of all, appeared on her daily show as always, dispensing hope and lending a helping hand and an attentive ear to millions who desperately needed it.

Wow.

This past Monday and Tuesday, a grandiose celebrity-filled tribute to Oprah aired on television as a build-up to the finale of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her show producers, without her prior knowledge arranged for a diverse collection of A-list stars of television, film and music to salute Oprah with glittering words of praise or modified musical numbers and dance steps. Oprah's mentor, the amazing Maya Angelou even recited a touching poem she had written specifically for Winfrey. The illustrious affair took place at Chicago's United Center arena and also included a heavily cheered appearance from the great Michael Jordan, who of course starred for the Chicago Bulls for 13 seasons and led them to six NBA titles. Jordan, like Oprah arrived in Chicago in 1984 and he made it clear to her just how deeply she has inspired him over the years.

That's saying a ton coming from Jordan.

That affair, with all of its sparkling star power was highly impressive, yet still pales in comparison to the scores of regular people whom Oprah has helped or influenced. Without question, she will go down in history as a very important and transcendent figure who educated and inspired hope, courage, confidence and love. The world is a trillion times better because she lived in it and used her gifts and platform in the most tremendous and selfless of ways.

We all owe her a debt of gratitude.

The Complicated Legacies Of Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson

CLEVELAND - After the supposedly mighty L.A. Lakers went down in embarrassing fashion yesterday to the suddenly amazing Dallas Mavericks, a pressing but unspoken question begged to be answered. What now are the legacies of Kobe Bryant and retiring coach Phil Jackson?

The short answer: they're both quite complicated.

Yes, the Mavs swept away the 2-time defending NBA champions, 4-0 in the Western Conference Semifinals. It goes without saying that no one expected a sweep and most people expected the boys from Hollywood to at least advance to the championship series. Instead, the uber successful Jackson ends a 20 season coaching career in the most unexpected of ways; indeed, his teams have never before been swept. For a man coaching since 1989 (except for two seasons), that is an astonishing accomplishment. In Bryant's case, he ends his 15th NBA season in the worst of ways; a humiliating and uninspired end to a chase for the sixth league title of his career while scoring just 34 points combined in the final two games of the Dallas series. Given his historical stature in the game, those are damning realities that need to be considered when the inevitable (and annual) comparisons to Michael Jordan are made.

But, this is not an epitaph or condemnation. Instead, it is an appraisal of both men.

For Jackson, he has often been accused of being the beneficiary of superior talent on the teams he has coached to numerous championships. From 1991 to 1998, he coached Jordan and Scottie Pippen to six NBA titles. Then, he took a year off and returned to coach Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant to a trifecta of titles from 2000 to 2002. A long drought followed before Jackson again coached Bryant (as the team's top star) to two more titles in 2009 and 2010. Each of those superstars were either the best player in the league at the time or in the top 5. In Jordan's case, he was (and still is) considered to be the best in history. So Jackson's unbelievable 11 coaching championship rings have been said to be the result of a sizable talent advantage on his teams. There's a lot of truth to that, but he also deserves extensive credit for his esoteric coaching philosophies and knack for turning clashing and sometimes difficult stars into a cohesive, flourishing unit.

Everyone knows about the complex "triangle offense" that he used with the Bulls and then Lakers. But it was also his insistence on elite and dedicated defense that produced such endless amounts of success. As much as the 1995-96 Bulls dominated because of Jordan's killer ability and drive, Pippen's stunning versatility and Dennis Rodman's mammoth rebounding, they also marched to a league record 72-10 mark because of Jackson's intricate system and guiding hand.

For Bryant, he has long been regarded as the heir to Jordan's status as the most gifted, competitive megastar in the game. With eerily similar skill sets and demeanor, he has come closer than anyone ever has of embodying MJ in both style and substance. What has dogged him in the comparisons is the fact that he played as the second star to a still-in-his-prime O'Neal for eight NBA seasons and won three of his five titles with the 7'1 giant leading the way. The story has always been that Jordan may have had Pippen, but never a low post force of nature like Shaq to rely on like Kobe had.

It's a fair caveat.

Even still, Kobe's legacy is impressive and sizable without being equal to MJ's. He's been a great offensive and defensive player for a decade and is, at least since his game matured after the '05-'06 season, a dependable leader. He also has a long standing reputation as a crunch time master, though in the Mavs series that proved not to be the case. Now at an advanced pro sports age, Bryant isn't the same high-flying, boundless energy player he was even three seasons ago, let alone seven. But, much like Jordan, he has a lot of details in his game and is intelligent and savvy as a player. Those attributes continue to make him a still-elite player in spite of his obvious fade.

Let's acknowledge Jackson's good fortune of having the best players in the league to coach while also crediting him with simply being a brilliant and legendary coach as well. After all, the man managed to make talented misfits Rodman and Ron Artest submerge their menacing ways in favor of delivering their special talents to title winning teams. Also, let's acknowledge Bryant's deficiencies when evaluated against the epic career of Jordan while also commending him on evolving tremendously from a talented high school project to become one of the top 10 players in basketball history.

Even as the Lakers lost, Jackson and Bryant reign forever victorious.

25 Years Later, Jordan's Playoff Feat Still A Marvel

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan went down in NBA history as the greatest basketball star ever. Fueled by an iconic career of stunning milestones and groundbreaking impact, Jordan's status in the pantheon of great hoopsters remains mythological.

And his epic display of brilliance 25 years ago today truly began his legend.

That's right. A quarter century ago today, Jordan put on the most searing exhibition of indomitable will mixed with unmatched talent and athleticism the game had ever known. He scored a still unsurpassed postseason record of 63 points in Game 2 of the Chicago Bulls' first round match-up with the Boston Celtics.

What was truly special about MJ's effort were three key facts; one, he was just a 23-year old 2nd year player. Two, he'd missed 64 games that regular season due to a stress fracture in his foot and three, he laid this dominant offensive assault on the vaunted 1985-86 Boston Celtics. That team not only finished 37 games better than Chicago, but they also notched a record 40-1 mark on their homecourt. The location of this Sunday afternoon game?

Boston Garden.

Jordan played as if he were possessed by some weird hyperactive basketball potion. He whirled and spun for spectacular drives and layups. He threw down emphatic slam dunks in traffic. He hit feathery jumpers and crunchtime free throws and almost always scored in, through and around a crowd of defenders. This would've been impressive against any pro team, but against these Celtics (the eventual league champions), it was tantamount to an earth shattering flash point in sports history. And with the legendary status that Celtics team has attained to this day, MJ's feat stands as even more unbelievable.

Of course, the Celtics won the game in double OT and swept the series 3-0. But Jordan's burgeoning legacy was immeasurably augmented with this superlative performance, which also happened to be broadcast on national TV. He had been a superstar player in his rookie season, but with this showing in the '86 NBA Playoffs, he had the look of an icon in the making.

Which he became.

I'll always be fascinated by that young man's dominance that afternoon. No NBA player since then has managed to be so stupefyingly brilliant and determined against a more gigantic foe as those Larry Bird-in-his-prime Celtics. It's just one of many Michael masterpieces that he (and we) can forever look back on and say "Wow...I (he) did that!"

Happy anniversary, MJ.

15 Years Ago Today: Bulls Win 70

CLEVELAND - The Chicago Bulls enter today's NBA Playoffs as major contenders for the title for the first time in 13 years. That fact was more than enough to remind me of the days when they truly were the most unstoppable force in sports.

That is, when Michael Jordan roamed the skies in a red uniform.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Bulls' record breaking 70th victory. The grind-it-out ugly win came in Milwaukee at the expense of the Bucks with megastar Jordan knocking in a sub-par 22 points on a horrid 9-of-27 shooting. That was an example of just how unassailable the team was during the 1995-96 NBA season; MJ could struggle, but the team could still emerge victorious.

Mostly.

The Bulls went on to finish with a stunning 72-10 record and capture the 4th of their 6 NBA titles in a match-up with the Seattle Supersonics. Michael, at age 33 earned his 4th league MVP award not just because he was once again incandescent (30.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg and his record 8th scoring title). But the man had also successfully returned to the legendary form that was his trademark prior to his 17 month retirement.

Today's Bulls team is led by a fantastic guard named Derrick Rose. But as wonderful as he is and as impressive as the 2010-11 Bulls may be, they will always have a gigantic mountain to climb to even approach those Bulls of the 1990s.

After all, Jordan doesn't wear red uniforms anymore.

27 Years Ago Today: Michael Jackson Goes Up In Flames

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson stood at the top of a staircase in front of around 5,000 fans surrounded by television lights, cameras and very dangerous pyrotechnics. As he descended the steps to a stage occupied by his brothers, sparks from the setup landed in his hair and set his scalp ablaze.

The next several moments were spent frantically extinguishing the flames by almost everyone close enough to do it.

This dramatic scene took place 27 years ago today in the Shrine Auditorium in L.A. on the set of a pioneering Pepsi commercial starring Jackson and his brothers. MJ, just 25 years of age at the time was rushed to the hospital where it was revealed that he'd suffered second and third degree burns to his scalp. Once news of his very dangerous accident spread across the world, the music industry and millions of fans held their collective breaths as tears fell and prayers flowed.

What made the event particularly horrific was Jackson's status in the entertainment industry at the time. He was less than two months removed from the release of his iconic "Thriller" music video and two weeks past his grand showing at the 1984 American Music Awards. That was the ceremony that garnered Michael a record 8 trophies for the Thriller album including a special Award of Merit and a host of gushing, fawning accolades and superlatives from his music industry brethren.

In other words, Michael was at the very apex of his historic career and was the planet's most popular, celebrated and omnipotent  megastar by a wide margin at the time. It was a classic tragedy in the making to almost everyone in the U.S. Thankfully, he recovered, donated the $1.5 million he settled with Pepsi for to burn victims, then dominated the Grammy Awards just a month later.

That part was NO accident.