Thriller Album Took Jackson From Superstar To Pioneering Legend

CLEVELAND - For an album to sell more than 100 million copies worldwide, capture record numbers of Grammy awards and American music awards, and catapult a superstar recording artist into the stratosphere of mythical legends, that album would need to have more going for it than just great music.

One brilliant album had far more than that.

It was 30 years ago today that Epic Records released what is now the crown jewel of their catalogue; Michael Jackson's sixth solo LP, Thriller. Its lead single, a syrupy ballad called "The Girl Is Mine" had been released in mid-October and featured legendary ex-Beatle Paul McCartney in a lyrical back-and-forth with the 24-year old Jackson, with both men professing their undying love for a woman that they both feel is their "girl."

Upon its debut, Thriller received fairly pedestrian reviews, even though some critics hailed it as an outstanding effort. However, within six months of its release, the record had attained a stunning and universal status as a seminal masterpiece which elevated MJ's popularity to staggering heights.

How did it all happen?

First off, in order to truly understand why Thriller became the dominant force of nature that it did, careful attention must be paid to what the music industry was like at the time. Also, everything Jackson did to supplement the album ended up becoming a very key element of the Thriller era. Lastly, the force that was driving MJ at the time may have been the single biggest reason for the performance of Thriller.

Jackson had been upset that his classic, 1979 album Off the Wall did not receive the type of critical admiration that he felt it deserved. The album was all but ignored at all of the awards ceremonies which gave the normally shy and soft-spoken star a big chip to carry on his shoulder. He vowed to create the biggest album in history with his next project.

Alas, Thriller spent its first two months of release as anything but an album destined for the record books. Then, in the weeks leading up to spring 1983, Walter Yetnikoff, then-president of CBS records tried to get the 18-month old MTV network to play a brand new music video by Jackson for his just released single, "Billie Jean." MTV refused initially, a decision that was felt to be racist by many involved, especially since MTV barely played videos by black artists at the time. After Yetnikoff threatened to withdraw videos of all CBS artists from the video channel's reach, MTV gave in and allowed "Billie Jean" to go on the air, and soon  put the hugely popular clip into "heavy rotation."

This is when the magic happened.

In the sleek clip, Jackson sings and dances his way through a mostly deserted cityscape at night, dressed head to toe in black leather. Along the way, he is being followed by a P.I.-style paparazzo who seems determined to catch the elusive star in a compromising position, but fails repeatedly. Jackson is full of mystique and magic in the short film; every step he takes illuminates the ground he walks on, the street pole he leans on and the bed he lays in. At one point, Jackson even transforms a dirty vagrant into a man of style clad in a white tuxedo.

With stunning visuals, plus fancy and eye-catching dance moves set to an irresistible beat, the video dominated the airwaves, set MJ's public profile ablaze and sent the Thriller album flying off shelves. A few weeks later, Jackson's brand new "Beat It" video took it all to another level.

"Beat It" was another brilliant step in Michael Jackson's creative evolution. Not only was the song itself historic (it merged rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen with a pop and R&B star), but the gang versus gang storyline and choreographed dance conclusion made the short film another imitable and pioneering work of genius. It was in this clip that MJ unveiled his unique fashion sensibilities to a very noticeable level. He wore a red leather jacket adorned with 27 zippers, sleeves rolled up and a pair of black high-water pants, which showcased pearly white socks and black loafers.

America had become mesmerized with Michael Jackson. Handsome--pretty even, with a slightly modified face from his original appearance, carefully coiffed Jheri-curled hair, feather-soft voice and an endless repertoire of talent, style and innovation had made him the toast of the globe.

Then, he got even bigger.

Seven weeks after performing the super hit song "Billie Jean" in front of a live audience, the full range of Jackson's showmanship and heavily evolved star power became public knowledge and resulted in, arguably the most important moment of his illustrious career. It took seven weeks for NBC to broadcast MJ's solo performance on a television special celebrating the 25th anniversary of Motown Records, the company that gave Jackson and his brothers their first big break as the Jackson 5 in 1969.

All reports had been glowing about his performance, but no amount of words could effectively sum up what 24-year old Michael Joseph Jackson did on that stage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on the night of March 25, 1983. The world saw it on May 16, and when the dust settled, Thriller began another steamrolling assault on the music charts, then turned its attention to the record books.

Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean" was a blindingly brilliant expression of intense precision, focus, craftsmanship and world class talent. Executing a breathtaking series of dance moves, stylistic flourishes and classic Hollywood theatrics, MJ endeared himself to the greats of the entertainment industry, especially ones whom the budding icon personally admired. He also revealed two new signature elements of his public presentation; the single, sparkly glove and the moonwalk dance step.

From that point, Michaelmania enveloped the U.S. and abroad as scores of children, teens and even adults purchased replicas of his costumes, curled their hair like his, wore his pins on their clothing, hung his posters on their walls and snatched up the tons of magazines that featured his internationally coveted face on the cover.

All of this consumed the summer of '83, a time when MJ kept a fairly low profile. A few more singles were released from Thriller, but there were no music videos to go along with the songs.

Just as it seemed that Michael Jackson had disappeared from the limelight, he re-appeared in a blaze of glory just in time for Christmas 1983. On December 2, the highly anticipated music video for the title track made its world premiere on MTV and completely changed the world of entertainment and music.

Jackson, now 25, had filmed the ambitious 13-minute film "Thriller" during a week in early October. He treated the video as if it were a major motion picture and it even played in a Los Angeles area theater nearly three weeks before its official release date.

The horror-tinged flick, complete with storyline, plot twists and a still iconic synchronized dance number, won Jackson endless critical acclaim, loads of money and universal respect from fans and fellow artists. What was truly amazing is that, at the time of the "Thriller" film's release, the album had already been out for over a year, yet was still selling at an astounding rate of one million copies per week! It was the perfect way for Michael to end 1983, on the highest of notes, which led to a phenomenal first few months of 1984.

On January 16, 1984, the American Music Awards played more like a lengthy tribute to Michael Jackson than an actual awards show. From the opening moments of the telecast, host Lionel Richie made it clear that this show was going to be heavily about Michael. Richie, a major star himself at the time, addressed Jackson (who was seated in the first row with Brooke Shields and Emmanuel Lewis) from the stage and even tried to mimic MJ's signature moonwalk, which he executed with a wild and awkward clumsiness. Thriller captured a record eight awards that evening, and Michael received a special award of merit. Six weeks later, MJ was the center of attention once again as Thriller swept the Grammy awards, sending Jackson home with another eight trophies.

The one chink in the armor for Michael occurred between those two awards shows. On January 27, the legendary entertainer suffered second and third degree burns to his scalp while filming a commercial for Pepsi. Fans around the world held their collective breath, but Jackson recovered in time to dominate the Grammys a month later. Michaelmania continued throughout the rest of 1984, especially with Michael performing a music tour across the U.S. with his brothers, which began that summer.

The Thriller album wound up being the top selling album of 1983 and 1984 and earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Its legacy endures to this day, three decades later and has inspired an endless array of contemporary musicians. For Jackson, the album's historic success proved to be the greatest of gifts as well as the worst of all curses. He held himself to such lofty standards as a result of this record's achievements that he could not possibly outdo. Even still, all future work from MJ made history in a variety of ways; that is the mark of a once in a lifetime artist.

Long live Thriller.

'Bad' Era Featured New and Improved Michael Jackson

CLEVELAND - It was 25 years ago today that the great Michael Jackson revealed a brand new album, style, music video...and most of all, ambition.

It was the start of a new era.

Jackson's 7th solo album, Bad was the catalyst in his remarkable transformation. As the highly anticipated (and long awaited) follow-up to the Thriller album, the LP, and Jackson himself had an enormous standard to live up to.

First, the 29-year old icon debuted a brand new physical appearance. The last time the world saw him, he was fighting off evil forces in outer space in the made-for-Disney short film "Captain EO." That had been a year in the past when MJ still (mostly) resembled his Thriller-era self, with the exception of slightly lighter skin. Now with the release of Bad, his skin had taken on an even lighter hue, his curled hair was now shoulder length and of course, he now sported a much talked about cleft in his chin. Personally, I was very enthusiastic about Michael's new appearance when I first saw it back then and I now see it as another inventive aspect of his singular style.

The best part of MJ's new look was his hip, street-styled attire. Gone were the sparkly glove and jackets that was his signature style during "Era Thriller," and "in" was multiple belts, buckles and boots. Fitting in with the theme of the new album's title track, Jackson certainly took on a pseudo-"bad" persona.

The lead single from the LP, a syrupy duet with Siedah Garrett called, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," had been released nearly two months prior to the full release and built on the public's thirst for a new MJ offering. Since it had been almost five full years since his last album, interest was sky high.

Naturally, Michael delivered.

The music videos for this album built on the innovation that Jackson used to groundbreaking success during the Thriller years. He entered into a creative phase in his career that saw him take far more control in the conceptualization and production of his work. Tracks such as "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Dirty Diana" were dynamic in their style and brilliantly infused pop music with R&B and hard-rock to form a masterpiece of sonic diversity. "Man in the Mirror" ended up becoming Jackson's signature anthem as a significant humanitarian and "Smooth Criminal" re-enforced his cinematic storytelling skills and old Hollywood sensibilities.

Massive support for Bad was achieved with the outrageously successful "Bad World Tour" which began in September '87 and continued all the way until January '89. This is when Michael truly became a global figure of reverence as it was his first tour as a solo artist. Crowds all around the planet were mesmerized by his dancing, singing and overall showmanship and the gigantic press it garnered expanded his popularity to even more unthinkable heights. Pepsi Co., who sponsored the tour and had enjoyed a very successful partnership with Jackson since 1983, even produced a series of television ads complete with special effects, story-line and cliffhangers. This was yet another example of the legendary creativity that was a hallmark of Michael Jackson's special qualities as an entertainer.

Jackson, in addition to the 10-track album (11 tracks on the CD), released 7 highly memorable short films for their respective songs as well as an autobiography in spring 1988 called, "Moonwalk." He later released a VHS anthology film entitled, "Moonwalker" which featured an extended version of the short film for "Smooth Criminal." He was certainly the most ambitious, imaginative entertainer in the world at this time and I gained a new level of admiration for his work.

Of course, the seismic achievements of Bad's predecessor Thriller could never be topped, not even by Jackson himself, at least in terms of sheer numbers. But in terms of scope and substance, nearly everything about the Bad era at least challenged (and in some cases surpassed) the Thriller era. No, the album didn't sell 100 million copies worldwide like Michael had hoped. No, it didn't dominate the awards shows the way Thriller did (and with the enormous surge in public interest in hip-hop at that time, how could it?). What it did do, however, was take the evolution of a classic entertainer to even greater heights of artistic craftsmanship. It also raised the bar in the industry and proved once again that Michael Jackson was a peerless visionary of the highest order.

What a legacy.

Michael Jackson's 54th Birthday Anniversary: A Celebration of Greatness

CLEVELAND - For a man who made such an enormous impact on our planet during his lifetime, Michael Jackson will forever deserve to be honored for the amazing individual that he was.

Especially on the anniversary of his birth.

Today marks what would have been MJ's 54th birthday and his still-rabid global fan-base is celebrating the incredible and highly publicized life of the greatest entertainer in history.

In spite of Michael's very tragic, far too premature death three years ago, his indelible artistry retains a very prominent place in pop culture. This year alone has seen his career and style celebrated in many different forms from an acclaimed Cirque du Soleil stage show to a worldwide Pepsi campaign commemorating the 25th anniversary of Jackson's smash hit album, Bad.

November 30th marks the 30th anniversary of his historic Thriller album, and there are sure to be massive tributes for that landmark LP as well.

What should be remembered and celebrated most about the career of Michael Jackson is the remarkable level of originality that it possessed. His imitable style choices went hand-in-hand with his magical aura of musical proficiency and mesmerizing dance moves. Furthermore, he took elements from old Hollywood and merged them with contemporary street culture, then added his own inventive flourishes. This is what the singers and dancers of today are missing; Michael possessed the total package and was the seminal leader of a music generation that followed him religiously and industry peers who focused on trying to outdo him.

He never surrendered the throne. Though his sparkling reputation took major hits due to his sensationalized personal life, Michael Jackson was always the man who set the standard.

Myself and the multi-millions of his fans around the world will never forget that. Happy birthday, Michael.

20 Years Later, 1992 Dream Team Still Gold Standard

CLEVELAND - During the past several months, much has been made about the 1992 U.S. Olympic Men's basketball team and the historic confluence of talent which it was comprised of. Since today marks the 20th anniversary of their gold medal victory over Croatia, I will simply add to the discussion.

That group remains the greatest team ever assembled.

When I make that statement, I am not necessarily suggesting that the iconic team could "mop the floor" with any hypothetical opponent it could face. However, I'm not exactly saying they couldn't, either. Since this year's Olympic Men's basketball team is populated by the likes of such present day megastars as Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, the current debate has centered heavily on whether or not the '92 team could maintain its legendary reputation against the new guys, or if the '12 team could outdo them.

The opinions are divided, predictably, along generational lines. Bryant, the new millennium's version of Michael Jordan in both competitiveness and hoops skill, stirred the pot a few weeks ago when he opined that he and his mates could "beat [the Dream Team] one time." Newly crowned NBA champion James echoed those sentiments days later. Naturally, Jordan scoffed at the very concept of such a thing when he was asked his opinion. Fellow Dream Teamers Charles Barkley and Earvin "Magic" Johnson also articulated their support for their 1992 selves in a fictional match-up with this year's squad.

Far as I'm concerned, the 1992 team was one of absolute royalty; it doesn't matter that both Johnson and Bird were beyond their prime. What matters is that Jordan was 29 and clearly the most dominant and devastating player on the planet. Pippen was 25 and was at his best as an all-around defensive stopper/versatile athlete and triple-double threat. Barkley was 29 and in full "beast mode" in the low-post. Clyde Drexler was coming off the best season of his career and was a 30-year old "poor man's version" of MJ. David Robinson was a 25-year old, 7'1 center who was quick, athletic and highly skilled on both offense and defense. Patrick Ewing was still in the midst of his best NBA years as was the incomparable scoring/rebounding/passing/defending duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone. Chris Mullin was about as good as it gets as a sharpshooter and the team's curious choice, Christian Laettner, had just come off one of the most celebrated college careers in recent memory.

I bring all that up to extol the awesomeness of those players and their then-current resumes. A collection of stars as accomplished and highly skilled as those men hasn't been seen since, not even with this current team. Bryant, as outstanding as his 16 years and counting NBA career has been, still isn't as historically significant as Jordan was in half as long (MJ had just completed his 8th NBA season prior to the '92 Olympics), nor has his game ever been as dynamic and brazen. Johnson and Bird, though past their prime still possessed an aura and reputation that trumps anything any other later team possessed. In other words, it was about more than just great skill and talent on that '92 team. It was also about the privilege of watching these indelible, mythical hardwood heroes join forces and witness their transcendence and artistry take over.

I know I sound a little too magnanimous in my praise of those guys, but they left an impression on me, one of reality and fantasy, that I won't soon forget.

And they remain the "gold standard" in the history of team basketball.

Sherman Hemsley Was True Television Pioneer

CLEVELAND - With the death of actor Sherman Hemsley yesterday at age 74, a groundbreaking member of television history left an indelible, irrefutable legacy that few have ever achieved.

And it was all because of George Jefferson.

Hemsley's signature acting role came in the 1970's when the Norman Lear-created Jefferson character made its controversial debut on All in the Family. Jefferson was the perfect counterpart to Family's Archie Bunker as both men were endlessly pig-headed, bigoted and narrow minded. It was Hemsley's nuanced portrayal of the character on the now iconic spin-off, The Jeffersons, which showcased his comedic (and dramatic) brilliance for 11 seasons.

He had other memorable roles before and after George Jefferson, but none were even remotely as impactful as the snarky, sassy dry-cleaning entrepreneur who "moved on up" with his wife Weezy.

Thanks to a wealth of television memories, I will always remember his genius. 

Colorado Tragedy and History Prove Motive Not Always Necessary

CLEVELAND - Ever since James Eagan Holmes went on a deranged shooting spree during a midnight showing of a Batman film in a Colorado movie theater on July 20th, both the news media and law enforcement have consistently worked overtime dissecting his actions that fateful night in search of a possible motive. Without question, we desperately want to understand what drove this unassuming (according to numerous reports) Ph.D student to author the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, which injured 58 people and killed 12.

Maybe, he had no motive.

Holmes, 24, made his first court appearance today (July 23) and looked dazed, disturbed and...like the last place winner of a Ronald McDonald look-a-like contest. With red-orange dye in his hair and a sometimes blinking, sometimes bug-eyed demeanor, Holmes almost seemed to be making a desperate effort to appear insane. According to receipts and various other sources, he spent several weeks leading up to the massacre purchasing and obviously calculating his tour-de-force murderous rampage. Despite everyone's assumption that something triggered him to carry out this despicable blood bath, it seems at least possible that Holmes did what he did simply because he wanted to. Upon his arrest, he reportedly told authorities that he was "The Joker," a reference to the villainous character from the Batman comics. That bizarre declaration seems to indicate that the shooter may have suffered from a mental illness when he launched his deadly plan. However, he was stable enough to meticulously design this elaborate scheme and execute it with precision, so mental deficiency is highly unlikely.

Holmes seems to be just another in a long, historical line of amateur terrorists who have committed brazen, criminal acts on a large-scale, then blame their actions on something ridiculous. Charles Manson is one of the most popular examples of this as he ordered the savage murders of actress Sharon Tate and others in 1969, hoping an "apocalyptic race war" would ensue.

Serial killer Ted Bundy is another iconic criminal of the past 50 years. His senseless killings (which also included sexual assault) were often highly methodical and extremely gruesome, and ultimately led to his death by electric chair in 1989.

The huge spike in school shootings during the past 15 years have also featured this disheartening trend. The 1999 Columbine shootings, arguably the most high-profile of this group, was masterminded by two misfits who apparently were driven to kill their classmates as a result of being bullied. They also had a strange fascination with Adolf Hitler, according to news reports at the time. However, the Columbine killers were said to be anything but outcast or bullied and their extreme methods seem to suggest a disjointed mindset that turned deadly as opposed to an actual motive.

Now, James Holmes is in the same spotlight that his criminal predecessors cultivated. If history is any sort of guide, then he is just another ordinary person who did what he did just because he wanted to.

No motive required.

Three Years After His Death, Jackson's Legend Continues To Grow

CLEVELAND - It was one of the worst days in music history; a tragedy on a global scale that hit with such impact, that even the stability of the Internet was challenged. The event held such weight and generated such pervasive interest, that every major newspaper around the world featured the story as front page news the following morning.

Michael Jackson was dead.

Today marks the three year anniversary of that shocking Thursday that robbed the planet of, arguably its most accomplished and imaginative entertainer. Jackson was just two months from his 51st birthday when he suddenly died at the hands of his now incarcerated personal physician. More importantly to his legion of fans around the world, he was also less than two weeks away from embarking upon his first tour in a dozen years. That ill-fated, already sold out concert series was going to remind the world of MJ's significant brilliance as a stage performer and musician.

At least, that was the plan.

This year, two of Jackson's greatest accomplishments will be celebrated and re-appraised for the groundbreaking strokes of pure genius that they are; his Thriller and Bad albums reach important milestones in 2012. In the case of Thriller, November 30th marks the 30th anniversary of that iconic LP's release. For all intents and purposes, it was that album and its cutting edge trifecta of music videos that transformed Michael Jackson from star musician to one of the seminal entertainers in history. The worldwide obsession with Jackson reached a fever pitch in the spring of 1983 and persisted intensely until the end of 1984. That era, known as Michaelmania, was anchored by the chart domination of Thriller, which resulted in the then 25-year old megastar's unprecedented popularity and universal critical acclaim. MJ amassed dozens of awards and accolades during this period, and stood firmly at the pinnacle of not only his own career, but the music industry as a whole. When the dust settled on that album's performance, it had gone far beyond the realm of being just a great album; it became and remains a cultural touchstone of unfettered brilliance.

Then, there was Bad.

As the much ballyhooed follow-up to the Thriller freight train, Bad was destined to pale in comparison to its predecessor, if not in quality, then certainly in acclaim and cultural ubiquity. Released just two days after Jackson's 29th birthday on August 31st, the album has already kicked off a marketing push in recent weeks to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Since both records hold prominent status as two of the most revered in the annals of pop music, Jackson's singular talents and astounding achievements are just a fraction of the multitude of reasons that his stature and body of work continue to expand in his absence. Of all the musicians and entertainers in today's world, none of them even approach his resonance, significance and influence--not to mention his artistic craftsmanship.

June 25th will forever stand as a day of horror and grief for myself as well as Michael's millions of fans in every corner of the globe. In spite of that, the timelessness, innovation and breathtaking quality of his work will immortalize the man as a true giant in the world of music, dance and live performance.

He will always be with us.

Despite Recent Past, LeBron Now Worthy of High Acclaim

CLEVELAND - Ever since LeBron James bolted Cleveland for the sunny shores of Florida two years ago, my admiration and rooting interest for the man vanished quickly. But after he led the Miami Heat to a convincing 4-1 series victory and NBA championship over the Oklahoma City Thunder Thursday night, I realized that my disdain for him needed to be placed on hold for awhile. In other words, I decided to salute James for his total mastery of this NBA postseason.

Mind-blowing greatness should be appreciated, period.

Heavily worshipped in the media as a super spectacular basketball whiz since the final two seasons of his high school career, LeBron joined the pro ranks in the fall of 2003, just six months after the great Michael Jordan ended his career forever in a ghastly blue and white uniform. James immediately garnered immense praise for his singular brilliance; he was a breathtaking playmaker for the team that drafted him, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and a stunningly proficient scorer. As the years added up and his across the board statistical feats increased, he began to come under heavy scrutiny for not leading his team to a league title. He authored shockingly great games both in the regular season and postseason, but always fell short in leading his team to a championship.

The negative whispers grew louder.

LeBron's callously executed departure from the Cavs following another postseason loss in 2010 transformed him from beloved hoops hero to basketball outcast and villain. Instantly, he was the subject of enormous bitterness across the NBA and especially in Cleveland, where his exit quickly returned the Cavs to their pre-LeBron irrelevance. Once he joined forces with Heat megastar Dwyane Wade and the newly acquired star Chris Bosh, James was seen as a shameless opportunist who tried to short cut success. He was derided by the general public as well as former NBA greats, all of which added to his new villainous reputation. When Miami loss the 2011 NBA finals to the Dallas Mavericks, many people across the country cheered and celebrated LeBron's failure, especially since he was a non-factor in the fourth quarter of multiple games.

Fast forward to this season.

Several times during the 2012 NBA playoffs, the Miami Heat looked like they were on the verge of collapse and elimination. Many people seemed ready to cheer again for James to tumble further down the ladder of public perception. However, the 27-year old superstar found another gear and enormous inner strength and focus to rescue his team from disaster. Beginning in their second round series against Indiana, LeBron turned in historically dominant performances, something that carried over to the showdown with Boston in the conference finals. His resolve, resiliency and flat-out superiority proved to be at an all-time high and sent the message that this season, his 9th as a pro, was going to end differently.

Boy did it ever.

The delicious NBA finals match-up with the Thunder afforded basketball fans the chance to witness a marvelous rivalry-in-the-making between the league's two pre-eminent players; James and Kevin Durant. OKC was favored to win the series based on their dominance of three straight Western conference powerhouses as well as their young and awesome star-laden team. Durant and star guard Russell Westbrook were outstanding in the series, but James was in another galaxy with his all-around play. He dominated the rebounding, made countless pinpoint passes to teammates for easy baskets, hit huge shots and free throws himself in crunch time and repeatedly scored in the lane. All of that brilliance came as a result of LeBron operating from the low post, something he rarely did in the past, but was always capable of.

The result? LeBron's first title and the second in seven seasons for Miami.

Without question, another factor in the Heat's 2012 breakthrough was the bitter pain they endured collectively (and James in particular) after last season's meltdown. LeBron's historic dominance of these playoffs is worthy of extensive praise, no matter how much he screwed up his own reputation by being such an arrogant brat after leaving Cleveland. He reformed that aspect of his persona this season, at least publicly, and took an all business approach from Day one of this lockout shortened campaign. These are all contributing elements as to why he now sits as a once-in-a-lifetime player who is also an NBA champion.

And he did it the hard way.

15 Years Later, Jordan's Drive Still Standard of Excellence

CLEVELAND - More than ever, it seems, questions get raised about NBA superstars and their "performance in the clutch." This past season alone, ESPN.com launched a comprehensive analysis of both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and assessed their reliability in crunch time. The studies revealed Bryant to be a horrible crunch-time shooter, despite his reputation to the contrary. As for James, he has long been the subject of ridicule for his passivity and non-attacking style of play in the final minutes of close games. All of this can be blamed on Michael Jordan.

True story.

It was 15 years ago today that the basketball legend authored arguably the gutsiest performance of his illustrious career. It was Game 5 of the 1997 NBA finals, a tough match up between Jordan's Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz, who were still in their John Stockton-to-Karl Malone glory days. As a matter of fact, the Jazz had spent the previous two games squaring a series that had threatened to turn into a Bulls cakewalk. Stockton himself highlighted his team's Game 4 victory with a steal from Jordan on a spin move into the lane, then threw a long outlet pass to Malone for a dunk on the other end. That play energized Utah the previous game and deadlocked the Finals at 2-2.

Game 5 of any series is usually seen as the pivotal game, especially if that series is tied at two going in. The Bulls were looking to get back on track and regain control of the series, and the Jazz were aiming to put the Bulls in a hole that seemed all but impossible just a few days prior. Raising the degree of difficulty for Chicago was Jordan's health status prior to the game. It was first disclosed on the NBC pregame telecast that the legendary hoopster had taken ill; the victim of a violent stomach flu (though initially reported as a case of food poisoning) and had been vomiting consistently since the early morning hours. Even still, Jordan's insatiable competitiveness and unmatched will to win guaranteed that he would be in the starting line-up for this ultra-important game.

Utah got off to a roaring start in the game, running up a 29-16 lead after one quarter. Jordan, meanwhile, had a very sickly tint to his skin and looked miserable. During timeouts, his body language was very slouchy while he wore agony on his face and often covered his head with a towel. However, with the Jazz off to such a great start and threatening to put the game out of reach in the second period, MJ shook off the debilitating effects of his illness and rallied the Bulls by scoring 17 audacious points to pull Chicago to within just four points at halftime.

The uneventful third quarter gave way to another offensive burst from Jordan in the fourth. Pulling loads of energy and resilience from the most distant areas of his inner soul, the 34-year old headliner poured in another 15 points in the final frame. Included in Michael's closing flourish was a backbreaking three point jumper that put the Bulls ahead with just 25 seconds left in the game. Even though they were only up by the slimmest of margins, the cold-blooded shot infused Chicago with a psychological edge over the pesky Jazz. Utah's precise execution and ever increasing confidence needed to be curtailed if the Bulls were going to win this game, and with the reality of MJ's pivotal basket, the tables had turned Chicago's way once again.

When the buzzer sounded and the scoreboard publicized a Bulls 90-88 triumph, Michael Jordan was near collapse and famously crumpled into teammate Scottie Pippen's arms from utter exhaustion. A simple and brief on-court interview with Ahmad Rashad was about all MJ had to say about this game in its immediate aftermath, but none of that mattered. He'd already said it all during his excruciating 44 minutes in battle; his transcendence was never more obvious, especially when Jazz star Karl Malone's lackluster performance is taken into account. Malone had just 19 points and 7 rebounds--pitiful numbers for a superstar (and that season's joke of an MVP) of his caliber in a home game of this magnitude. In spite of Malone's marginal numbers, there is no need for an excoriation of the man. Instead, we should salute the heroic and phenomenal excellence of Jordan, who once again proved himself to be the master of the crunch-time moment. Just a week and a half prior to this game, MJ knocked down the game-winning, buzzer beating jumper to lead Chicago to a Game 1 victory. Two days after this Herculean effort in Game 5, he drew a double-team from John Stockton in the closing seconds of Game 6 and passed to sharpshooting specialist Steve Kerr for the championship clinching jumper.

Defending champion Chicago won the 5th of their eventual six NBA titles after that shot.

Looking back on Michael Jordan's classic Game 5 effort against all odds in the '97 finals, we all have the benefit of 15 years worth of perspective. However, nothing changes the fact that MJ epitomized basketball genius to the highest degree; he was a singularly gifted megastar with the white hot confidence of a rising sun. Not to mention the fact that he also possessed the indelible leadership qualities that augmented each of his teammates' contributions. Can Kobe and LeBron lay claim to those attributes? So, far they haven't...but that's fine.

Jordan was always in a class by himself.

Three Points To Prove: Jordan's '92 Finals Opener, 20 Years Later

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan first crafted his astounding hoops reputation from his breathtaking ability to expertly penetrate defenses and finish spectacularly at the rim. It's what earned him the nickname "Air Jordan," since his forays to the basket were of the high altitude variety. But on a single evening in the final weeks of spring in 1992, the then 29-year old basketball demigod dramatically added another chapter to his iconography.

Long distance shooting.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Game One of the 1992 NBA Finals, the indelible game that showcased Jordan at his brazen and coolly electrifying best. MJ drilled six consecutive three-point baskets in a 9:22 span of the first half which ended with the MVP having scored 35 mind-boggling points. When taken at face value, the game, a match-up between the Chicago Bulls and Portland Trailblazers, was incredible enough as it were. But when context is added to the discussion, it immediately becomes clear that Jordan authored a singularly historic moment in the annals of basketball history that proved definitively his unassailability as a basketball mind-game master.

Going into the ballyhooed series, the media relentlessly played up the aerial match-up between MJ and his Western conference counterpart, Portland's Clyde Drexler. During the 1991-92 NBA regular season, Drexler's brilliance led some in the media to label him as the possible league MVP. He certainly enjoyed a spectacular season as he averaged 25.0 points per game along with 6.6 rpg and 6.7 apg. He was a high-scoring, high-flying shooting guard with highlight reel ability and outstanding defensive prowess. Because all of these attributes defined Chicago's Jordan as well, the match-up was seen as an eye-popping showdown between the two best all-around players in the game.

It had become a popular opinion in some NBA circles to label Drexler as "the best player outside of Chicago." There was also the famous opinion that Jordan was better at everything than Drexler, except three point shooting. For the hyper-competitive Jordan, this was seen as a subtle indictment of his perimeter shooting ability. Statistical evidence proved that neither player was a great three-point shooter; Drexler shot about 34% from the arc that season and Jordan stood at a meager 27%. Perception may have been inspired by the huge difference in makes that Drexler had over Jordan. The Portland star made 87 more threes than MJ that season, largely because he shot 4.4 per game to Jordan's 1.3.

"[Drexler's] a better three-point shooter than I choose to be," said a calculating and quietly seething Jordan, prior to the series opener. Since the Bulls were the defending NBA champions, and the prohibitive favorites to repeat in this series (after a dominant 67-15 season), and Jordan was the recently crowned league MVP for the second consecutive season, Chicago and its megastar were loaded with swagger and devoid of humility.

Anyone that knew what Jordan's offense game entailed immediately noticed that the man was clearly on a mission as the first quarter of Game One got underway. He uncharacteristically spotted up behind the three-point line as either Scottie Pippen or John Paxson brought the ball upcourt. He fired off two attempts from long range in the first few minutes and missed them both. Portland though, ran up a 15-5 lead and seemed poised to extend it further.

Until Jordan laid down his rules.

Soon, MJ's masterful offense was firing on all cylinders. Pull up mid-range j's and post up fadeaways were all falling for the 6-time NBA scoring champion when he suddenly rose up from the arc and nailed his first trey in three attempts. This was at a point in his career where he was still young, energetic and athletic enough to physically overpower other teams and bend them to his will psychologically. As Jordan's offense went into overdrive, so did the Bulls' trademark suffocating defense. Soon, the Blazers had lost all poise and focus and ended the first half staring at a 15-point deficit. Jordan had rang up a transcendent half, nailing 14 of his 21 attempts for his silky smooth 35 points. The second half was a mere formality, but featured two jaw dropping plays from the legendary MJ. He mostly dished off to teammates in that half and wound up with a 39 point, 11 assist slice of excellence to add to his overflowing basketball resume. The Bulls won in a rout, 122-89 and Drexler never looked as inferior to MJ as he did on this night. He wound up with a pedestrian 16 points on 5 of 14 shooting.

By time the 1992 finals ended 11 days later in a 4-2 series victory and a 2nd straight Bulls championship, MJ had proven without any doubt the level of superiority he possessed over Clyde the Glide. He would later reveal that he wanted people to understand the difference between him and Drexler and he felt that he accomplished it in that series. "Coming into this series, I thought [Jordan] had 2,000 moves," said Drexler. "I was wrong. He has 3,000."

For Jordan, his transcendence was never questioned again.

10 Years Later: Revisiting Eminem's Dominant Peak

CLEVELAND - Based on a breathtaking skill set that featured precise and ingenious lyrical proficiency, a searing wit and an alliance with Dr. Dre, many people could have predicted the meteoric rise of Eminem in the controversial, early days of his historic career. But it is safe to say that no one could have predicted that the man would become, in just three short years, a cultural icon and one of hip-hop music's most groundbreaking artists ever.

But he did just that.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the release of The Eminem Show, a 20-track masterpiece authored by a then 29-year old Marshall Mathers, the man behind the Eminem/Slim Shady monikers. The LP was the third solo effort of his career and it immediately began its dominance on the music charts, selling an unreal 1.8 million copies its first week, en route to a 2012 worldwide total of more than 10 million sold and diamond certification. And while it is true that the album benefited from a pre-iTunes world (and before pervasive bootlegging), it was and remains a tour-de-force in the genre's history.

Partially obscured in the greatness of the record is the status it afforded Eminem himself. At the time, he was largely considered to be on-par with the great Jay-Z lyrically, but in his own league in terms of sheer popularity and creativity. Due to his superb resume and artistic reputation (he had authored three consecutive LP's since 1999 that were massive hits both critically and commercially and praised for their content and inventiveness), this album was highly anticipated. Add in the fact that he turned in a masterful performance on the "Renegade" track the previous summer on Jay-Z's opus, The Blueprint, and it becomes clear why Em was such a phenomenon.

The Eminem Show built on the maniacal witticsms and deranged wordplay of the brilliant The Marshall Mathers LP and actually added more substance to Em's backstory and perspective. It was an undeniably heavyweight hip-hop record with the sheen and sensibilities of well crafted pop music. Artistically and intellectually, Eminem was never sharper than he was on this album. He delivered loads of self-deprecating introspection and even exposed his political side. All of this nuanced versatility was expertly packaged with his signature "rebel with a cause" rhetoric firmly in place. Much to my surprise, many 20-something black men, who usually listen to hardcore rap music, were blasting The Eminem Show on their car speakers constantly when it first debuted. What makes that surprising is Eminem's unique style of hip-hop. His signature subject matter eschews typical hip-hop themes in favor of trailer park-style tales of popping pills and murdering his child's mother in graphic detail in addition to bashing easy target pop stars and disparaging his own mother.

As it stands, the summer of 2002 ended up being the time when Eminem's popularity reached a fever pitch; he was at the apex of a career wrought with acclaim and controversy, but built on mind-bending talent and relentless dedication. No one knew it then, but nothing would ever be the same in both hip-hop and Em's career. Sure, he enjoyed great success several months later with the release of his first film, "8 Mile," and his Academy Award winning song "Lose Yourself." However, whispers began to surface about an incredible new talent on the horizon named 50 Cent. Ironically, Eminem and Dr. Dre served as 50's mentor and unleashed him upon the music world in early 2003, leading to a thorough genre domination with his first official album, Get Rich or Die Tryin. His popularity, coupled with Eminem's conscious decision to step away from the white hot spotlight, signaled a new phase in hip-hop.

Eminem stayed mostly invisible as a solo artist for the two and a half years after The Eminem Show, before deciding to resurface with his first artistic misstep; 2004's Encore. That album, though still a multi-platinum success, seemed like a half-hearted effort from the megastar. It would be almost five more years until he returned with Relapse, and by then, the world of rap music had undergone the equivalent of fifty years worth of changes. As for the man himself, his personal life descended into extreme turmoil and tragedy and nearly resulted in his own drug-induced death. Thankfully, he recovered from that extensive dark period and was a much changed man.

No matter what happened next, nothing can take away from what Eminem accomplished with that classic 2002 album, The Eminem Show. It represents a cultural flash point and remains a superlative effort from a seminal artist at the peak of his powers.

What a show!

At 86, Hefner Still Transcends And Inspires

CLEVELAND - For males all across the planet, today is a very important "holiday," even if they don't realize it. For wanna-be ladies men everywhere, the leader of free wheeling sex with a multitude of women celebrates his 86th birthday today.

Happy birthday, Hugh Hefner.

Hefner, the founder of Playboy magazine, remains a legendary figure for a variety of reasons. It's not simply his past that shines bright, it is also his present. The man inspires me partly because he had a goal and an ambition while in his teens and 20's and he accomplished it in spite of heavy criticism. He wanted to live his life on his own terms, not other people's terms, while creating an eye-catching men's magazine. That desire became a reality when, in 1953, the inaugural issue of "Playboy" was published.

Hefner spent the second half of the 1950's both growing exponentially richer and tirelessly defending his controversial vision (a publication that featured nude young women). He prospered even more in the 1960's and grew his company to include nightclubs and a host of merchandising deals. The famous magazine feature, the Playmates, brought him untold controversy when tragedy repeatedly struck some of the centerfolds over the next couple decades. In the middle of all the hoopla surrounding Hefner's magazine, the man himself made it a point to stand up for others as an advocate and activist. Without his dedication and influence, many people would be devoid of many civil liberties that they have greatly benefited from.

The legacy of Hefner.

During the past two decades, Hefner's fame and iconography have taken on even higher levels. With the emergence of the television series, "The Girls Next Door," Hefner has become a familiar figure to the teens and twentysomethings of today. Without him, the world may very well never know names like Holly, Bridget and Kendra, the three female stars of the TV series as well as his former girlfriends.

I hate when people dismiss Hefner as an old fogey who is as outdated as leisure suits. Similarly, it is frustrating when people minimize his brilliance and castigate him for still having an active sex life at his age with women in their 20's. It is that dedication to living his life the way he wants to in spite of the naysayers and critics that really amaze me. Between that and his pioneering career as the creator of one of the most ubiquitous brands on Earth, Hugh M. Hefner reigns as a major inspiration and a peerless figure of transcendence, even now in 2012.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Hefner. And may God bless you with many more.

'American Reunion' Both Depressing and Entertaining

CLEVELAND - Time, people and circumstance change, but everyone stays fundamentally the same. That seems to be one of the enduring messages that American Reunion tries to deliver. The film, the third theatrical sequel to 1999's American Pie, hit theaters Friday, a full 13 years after the premiere of the original and nine years after its last installment.

I found the new movie to be both depressing and entertaining.

American Pie was released at the turn of the century, at a time when the Internet was just becoming a household necessity. It also took the teen sex comedy to another level after its 1980's counterparts (Porky's, Fast Times At Ridgemont High come to mind) had popularized the genre many years earlier. The collection of largely unknown young actors and actresses that starred in the first three films have returned for this latest offering, which has been mostly panned by critics. Although I admit that the film is weak in some spots, it is also a great tribute to the series as well as serving as a nice continuation of it.

The old gang from East Great Falls, MI reunite for their 13 year high school reunion and find that their early 30's has wrought a mixed bag of problems. Jim and Michelle (played by Jason Biggs and Alyson Hannigan) are still married and are now mired in a sexless marriage since becoming parents. For Oz (Chris Klein), the jock turned celebrity sportscaster, his wild and hedonistic girlfriend just doesn't hold his heart the way that his high school flame Heather (Mena Suvari) used to. This is made evident as soon as the two reunite during the reunion weekend and discover that they still have deep feelings for one another.

Paul Finch and Kevin Myers are both leading nondescript lives and the ever annoying Steve Stifler (Seann William Scott), now employed as a temp, continues his constant quest for sex with practically anyone that will have him. Adding to the fun, at least for me, are cameos from Natasha Lyonne, Tara Reid and Shannon Elizabeth, who reprises her role as Nadia, the masturbating foreign exchange student from the first two films. Of course, the film would be incomplete without a John Cho appearance. Cho, you may remember, was the young man who popularized the term M.I.L.F. in American Pie.

This film follows closely on the template of the first three films and showcases once again the scene-stealing talents of Eugene Levy, who portrays Jim's father. Now a widower, he surprisingly "hooks up" with Stifler's erstwhile cougar of a mom (played again by Jennifer Coolidge). The comedy hi-jinks are still very prevalent throughout the narrative and the sexual shock value established with the famous "sex with a pie" scene is alive and well as Biggs' character unwittingly displays his actual genitals.

I have no problem with the fact that American Reunion so blatantly references the first film early and often. But its constant dialogue about current American culture and popular gadgets became distracting. Mentions of the Twilight film series as well as Facebook, iPhones, Justin Bieber and YouTube made me feel like saying, "'Ok guys, we get it. Those things didn't exist in 1999 (and Bieber was 5) and now they rule the world.'"

Through all of the comedy, sex and gross out scenarios, the American Pie series has always had a very strong emotional core. American Reunion is no different. It shows heart and has a sweet integrity, and it at least tries to give viewers a reason to care for or root for the characters. On the one hand, we want Jim to have sex with his just-turned-18 and nubile as ever neighbor who keeps throwing herself at him. On the other hand, we are so relieved that he refuses to cheat on his wife Michelle, in spite of their sexual drought. That love and class, in my opinion, makes this film special and a worthy addition to the series.

The depressing part of the film is the reality of how our life changes once the teens and early 20s are over. Being an adult is hard, especially when a person is still emotionally immature. Here, the characters have grown older, but not all of them have exactly grown up. And since life can be so fleeting, I don't mind one bit that these thirtysomethings still have that youthful tenancy to them.

Growing up isn't necessarily a good thing.

30 Years Later: Recalling Jordan's First Big Hoops Moment

CLEVELAND - Nearly six weeks after his 19th birthday, Michael Jordan caught a basketball pass and without hesitation, rose up and shot the ball towards the hoop as effortlessly as if it were merely a shot in practice. In actuality, he and his North Carolina Tarheels were knee deep in a pressure cooker; the 1982 NCAA championship game v.s. the Georgetown Hoyas in the New Orleans Superdome.

Of course, the wunderkind made the shot with about 15 seconds remaining.

Jordan's shot erased a Carolina deficit and ended up being the final points in the Tarheels' 63-62 victory over Georgetown. Today (March 29) marks the 30th anniversary of that shot, that game and of course, that moment that the lanky freshman from Wilmington, NC became a household name. The magnitude wasn't known at the time, but that shot from MJ would be the first national moment of basketball glory for the man who would eventually author the most iconic pro basketball career in history. The incredible confidence and remarkable ability to deliver under the bright lights of the biggest game were all elements of excellence for Michael that night. He took all of those attributes and expanded on them in the NBA where he amassed 10 league scoring titles, 5 MVPs and led the Chicago Bulls to 6 NBA championships.

But that game in the Spring of 1982 was the birth of a legend.

Carolina's coach Dean Smith had taken the unusual step that season of allowing Jordan to be a starter. Up until then, Smith's policy was that no freshman player would start for the Tarheels. Jordan had joined the team in late 1981 as he started his collegiate career and was an immediate sensation. By the time the championship game came around that Spring, Michael had turned many heads with his dazzling athletic prowess. His big game proficiency, however, was less known but would eventually become a hallmark of his reputation on the court.

North Carolina won their first title in 25 years that night and Jordan went on to win the College Player of the Year award in both 1983 and 1984 before skipping his senior season to join the NBA. Of course, the world knows very well what he accomplished there en route to becoming the greatest player in league history.

But the beginning remains a major thrill and a cultural flash point in the history of basketball. Salute MJ!

1,000 Days Gone: Remembering Michael

CLEVELAND - That sorrowful, tear soaked Thursday remains a sadly indelible moment in time for me. The man that I most identified with and admired, who was famous a billion times over and possibly the most polarizing figure in history had met a stunningly early end.

Michael Jackson.

It was exactly 1,000 days ago today--June 25, 2009 that MJ died at the hands of a now incarcerated and hopelessly incompetent so-called physician in the master bedroom of his rented mansion in the Holby Hills section of Los Angeles. For a man so revered, reviled and accomplished during an entertainment career that commenced in the 1960s, the shock waves across the planet were substantial and highly expected.

I was instantly struck with bitterness and emotional agony. Michael Jackson was a truly magnificent being and one of the world's most important citizens. Aside from the luminosity of his iconic accomplishments as a musician and performer, he had an enormous sense of compassion for the world in general and children in particular.

In spite of the loads of negative press he received during the final 16 years of his life, MJ was a treasure for what he absolutely stood for as opposed to what was speculated about him. This coming June 25th will mark three years since his horrific departure, but his beautiful spirit and seminal artistry reign forever in the annals of world history as well as in the minds of his global fan base.

Michael, we will forever admire and love you.