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

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

What a shame.

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

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

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

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

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

Jordan Must Really Have A Plan

CLEVELAND - When word came down yesterday that Michael Jordan successfully outbid everyone to purchase controlling interest in the awful Charlotte Bobcats, I couldn't figure out why he'd want that headache.

So, he MUST have a trick up his sleeve.

Jordan, author of the most iconic and critically acclaimed pro basketball career in history is obsessed with competition, excelling and flat out getting his way. This has been fact for almost 30 years, so him wanting to own an NBA team fits right into his personality. But the Bobcats have been perennial losers since they joined the league six years ago and in spite of a few talented players, are still boring and unprofitable.

So Jordan MUST have a plan.

Bob Johnson, the founder of BET and the man who has owned the Bobcats so far, wanted to unload the team largely because it has proven to be unpopular and unsuccessful and is costing him tens of millions of dollars. They are seemingly light years from being truly competitive and no one really cares about them. It makes me wonder what MJ sees in this team that made him so desperately want to own it. Is it just a toy to him? Is it his ego that's driving him? Given his history of front office decision making, it seems like he will hurt the team with poor choices. On the other hand, winning is always his top mantra so this may be just what the team needs to ascend to respectability.

Of course, MJ will need to be more hands on than he has been in Charlotte and several years ago when he was VP of basketball operations in Washington. But if anyone can defy the odds or conventional wisdom, it is certainly Michael Jordan.

Never count him out.

'Captain EO' Showed Michael Jackson in Transition

CLEVELAND - With the return of Captain EO to Disney theme parks nationwide this week, I felt that it was a perfect time to dissect the life of its star during that time. That star of course, was Michael Jackson.

My biggest inspiration.

Jackson's life was in great transition during the time that the 17-minute, space fantasy film was created and ultimately released. It was shot in great secrecy during the second half of 1985 and edited during the first half of 1986. It premiered at Disney parks nationwide in September and became an instant hit, wildly popular particularly because it was filmed in 3-D. Michael had dominated music and pop culture during 1983 and 1984 with the historic success of his Thriller album and accompanying music videos and trademark costumes. But after he and his brothers finished the critically panned Victory tour in December 1984, the national love affair with MJ began to fade.

Michael surfaced in early 1985 to co-write and feature in the charity single "We Are the World," but then he disappeared for more than a year and a half. When he resurfaced in the Captain EO flick, his facial appearance had changed subtly and his music and dance style became more combative, though only for reasons of "doing good." When EO premiered, Michael had just turned 28-years old and his face had become a shade lighter than it had been. His lips even somehow looked different, and his chin had more definition. Everyone else criticized MJ for the changes, but I was still excited about his creativity and his look.

At the time of EO's release, Michael had been absorbing negative press for over a year for the first time in his iconic career. Tales of him sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber and buying the Elephant Man's bones had surfaced in the print and news media and caused people to brand him weird. The music industry was changing as well and Jackson was experiencing strong competition from many directions, including from his 20-year old sister Janet, who released her first brilliant album, Control in '86.

Michael's next solo album, Bad was released a year after Captain EO. His lyrics, style of dress and thematic elements of the short films from the album continued what began in the Disney film. He was tough, aggressive and eager to send in-your-face messages. Thus, Captain EO should be considered the bridge between the calm and tame Michael that could do no wrong and the brash and "street" MJ that was more controversial and possessed a "me against the world" sensibility.

Whatever edition of Michael that the world got, I was very pleased with. He was always an evolving genius and will forever be.

Bravo, Michael.

Woods Was Forced Into Fake Apology

CLEVELAND - With yesterday's nationally televised apology from golf icon Tiger Woods, he became more like an actual human being and less like a symbol of great capitalist success and corporate polish.

He's a real man now.

Woods, 34 took to the podium wearing a sullen and contrite expression and offered a very belated mea culpa to the world for his litany of extramarital affairs. This all started in late November after a minor, yet very mysterious car wreck which led to the first whispers of Woods' infidelity. Within days, more than a dozen women came forward with salacious accusations against the legendary golfer which greatly tarnished his previously squeaky clean reputation. Since then, Woods has been absent from the public eye, even taking a leave from golf to try and redeem himself to his family.

Watching him apologize brought several thoughts to my mind. First, it's very obvious that getting caught was about the only thing he was sorry for. Had he not been outed, he would have continued on and wouldn't have felt enough guilt to stop or apologize. He knew that he had a wife and two children while he was doing it, yet he persisted. Furthermore, he is a product of his father who was a shameless womanizer himself and obviously rubbed off on his son. I believe that Woods' most honest moment came when he admitted that he felt "entitled" to this behavior, due to his extreme wealth and celebrity.

The apology felt fake like so many other public figures mostly because it came so late after the initial reports. Why did he wait nearly three months? For his apology to have seemed sincere, he would have had to come out with it long before the media found out about his "transgressions." That way, the apology would have been the product of a guilty conscience rather than a PR ploy or damage control.

Still, he had no choice but to give it.

With the billions of dollars riding on Woods' career and marketability, not to mention the historical significance of the man himself, he was obligated to face the planet and hold himself accountable. If he didn't, the backlash would have been immeasurable.

I still say that he deserves our understanding. He is, after all, just a person.

Jordan Turns 47 Still Full Of Drive and Confidence

CLEVELAND - Basketball icon Michael Jordan celebrates his 47th birthday today in the midst of relentlessly trying to purchase an NBA team. This is par for the course when it comes to being a man with an incomparable drive and insatiable will to win.

Happy Birthday, MJ.

Looking back at Jordan's searing, yet brutally honest Hall of Fame speech five months ago, it becomes very obvious that he remains the ultimate competitor. All of the elements that made him a basketball genius were on full display that night and with his current goal of trying to buy the Charlotte Bobcats from owner Bob Johnson, he continues to use his remarkable self-confidence to bend the world in his favor.

I love it.

Last Saturday, Michael's venerable Air Jordan basketball sneakers celebrated their 25th anniversary. Though he was just an NBA rookie with the Chicago Bulls when they debuted in 1985, the footwear helped catapult him to the forefront of American pop culture. Even now, a quarter century later, they remain a major identifier and symbol of MJ's superlative excellence in hoops. Given the fact that he's 7 years removed from playing and 11 years removed from his last NBA championship, that is an awesome accomplishment.

Happy Birthday, Michael.

'We Are The World' Remix: Well-Intended Garbage

CLEVELAND - Thanks to the presence of Michael Jackson and a catchy track, I was a huge fan of the hit single "We Are The World" when it debuted in early 1985. With the brand new "re-imagining" of the altruistic tune being released last Friday, I took on a natural curiosity.

It's nice, but pales next to the original.

Inspired by the devastating earthquake in Haiti last month, approximately 85 of the planet's most popular musicians assembled in a Los Angeles recording studio a couple weeks ago to recreate the legendary original. Of course, the new version is highly updated and features a hip-hop flavor, something that the original lacked due to the nascent status of the genre at the time.

While the effort and the idea are well intended, the project calls attention to itself in a negative way. The original anthem felt historic from the get-go and now, 25 years later, has grown in scope. It was a cultural touchstone of legendary talent and boasted a litany of A-list icons. Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan and Ray Charles were seminal forces in the music industry with each having had or was having a groundbreaking career. Lionel Richie, Bruce Springsteen, Smokey Robinson and Harry Belafonte were nearly as accomplished and revered and producer/composer Quincy Jones was the genius behind it all.

Of course, Jackson and Richie wrote the song and were almost without question the biggest stars in the music industry at the time. The 40-plus musicians were dubbed "USA for Africa" and the charity single was meant to raise money and bring awareness to the widespread famine in Ethiopia. It become a wildly profitable and popular song and gained a reputation of being a magical moment in time with the convergence of such talent unified for a great cause.

The "new" song, "We are the World-25 for Haiti" boasts the same arrangement as the original and is once again overseen by Quincy Jones. Richie and Haitian native and musician Wyclef Jean also serve as producers. A new music video debuted in tandem with the song, and features a similar aesthetic to the original. Dozens of recording artists are grouped together while singing the anthem and images of Haiti play on screens behind them.

Looking at the new group of stars, it is hard not to laugh at the obscure nature of some of them. Sure, there are still a few legends such as Tony Bennett,Gladys Knight and Barbara Streisand, but nobodies like Justin Bieber and Josh Groban is a taint to the song's legacy. Even the super popular Jonas Brothers seem like a ridiculous choice. I can live with certain choices like Pink and Akon, but Miley Cyrus and Bizzy Bone? The huge number of rap artists are gratuitous and misplaced. In spite of it all, the song plays surprisingly well because it's so close to the original, but the rap parts stick out like a sore thumb, except Kanye West's part which I felt was excellent and fit well.

T-Pain's participation made the entire thing feel like a bad practical joke.

I applaud choices like Jennifer Hudson and Adam Levine, and I appreciate the splicing together of footage of Michael Jackson's singing parts from '85 and assembling them with sister Janet's new vocals. Believe me, if MJ were alive, he'd be the first person to lend his artistry and money to this cause.

I can't help but scratch my head at a few glaring absences from the song. While I'm okay with flavor-of-the-moment Taylor Swift not being there, I would like to have seen some of the true stars of today involved. Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z and even legends like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.

They would have been far better choices than unproven newcomers like Drake and Kid Cudi.

At the end of the day, I hope the new song raises a lot of money for the Haitian victims. But in the meantime, the folks in charge of our entertainment should actually do better research.

Plenty of real superstars would have been included if they had.

The Air Jordan Legacy: Epic and Unprecedented

CLEVELAND - With the 25th anniversary edition of the Air Jordan basketball shoe hitting store shelves yesterday, I figured this is the perfect time to reflect on its legacy. The peerless footwear have emphatically and dramatically carved out a gigantic place in pop culture history, thanks in no small part to its namesake.

Michael Jordan.

I continue to marvel at the mega sensational popularity that the sneakers have enjoyed for decades. In their prime, the Air Jordan was a major force of fashion that its potential owners just had to have. They debuted in the Spring of 1985, just months into Jordan's rookie season in the NBA and days prior to his 22nd birthday. From the start, the red and black kicks created a commotion. Due to their color scheme, the NBA banned them for not having enough white in them. Jordan, who was garnering constant headlines of praise for his brilliant and stylish play on the basketball court defiantly continued wearing the shoes in games. The NBA fined him, and Nike Inc. gladly paid the $5000 per game fine since the controversy gave the epochal footwear oodles of priceless publicity that resulted in a huge spark in public interest and sales.

The Air Jordan was the first sneaker to successfully become a major fashion accessory. Until the release of the first shoe, sneakers were regarded as an afterthought; something worn leisurely or to perform chores in. The look of the shoe didn't matter as much as its comfort. Even as NBA superstars Larry Bird, Dr. J and Magic Johnson starred in ads for Converse in the early 1980's, athletic shoes continued having a low profile. By 1990, the Air Jordan was a certified icon which matched Michael himself, who by then had been the most dominant and dazzling hoopster in the game for six seasons.

This is when I became fascinated by the shoes.

In 1988, 25-year old Michael Jordan won his 2nd straight NBA Slam Dunk title. His quickness, creativity and phenomenal skills gave him an even higher profile and popularity than he already had. This resulted in higher sales of the high-priced sneakers and augmented their reputation. The Air Jordan III introduced visible air, colloquially known to urban America as "air pockets." The shoes also featured a new Jordan logo to replace the initial basketball-sprouting-wings insignia. The new design was simple yet dramatic; a silhouette of MJ jumping into the air, legs spread and his left arm extended with a basketball in his hand.

The golden age of Air Jordan was 1988 to 1998. During that time, Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to 6 NBA championships and he personally won NBA Finals MVP all six times. He also won 9 of his record 10 NBA scoring championships and became an international icon. The Air Jordan IV was famously given a scene in the 1989 Spike Lee film, Do the Right Thing and the design of the Air Jordan V was inspired by the "bat boot" in Batman.

It remains an indelible memory of mine watching dozens of guys (and girls) discuss the "new Jordans" back in junior high-school and high-school. Guys used to deal drugs just to be able to afford the controversial and outlandish price tag of the shoes. They'd cut school or come late just to be at the mall to drop $125 for the "new J's" as they were popularly called. I wanted a pair so bad, but my mother couldn't afford them. Even still, I found ways to get a few pair...legally, and I always felt awesome wearing them which remains true to this day. That was an interesting quality of the shoes: they had the power to boost a person's morale or self confidence...and they were always gawked at and fawned over. People wanted to know what the bottom of the shoes looked like! That's mostly because of the 1990 edition, which featured a clear rubber outsole with the ubiquitous Air Jordan logo encased inside, which acted as sort of a window. Will Smith famously wore that edition in the opening credits of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and throughout the series' first season. He also wore ensuing editions of Jordans as the show progressed.

Nike revolutionized the athletic footwear industry in a way that its rivals could not. Because of their ingenious advertising strategies coupled with Michael's stunning accomplishments in pro basketball, the Air Jordan possessed an awesome aura. The shoes had style and personality. They were brash and intimidating. They were mythical and elite. Since Michael wore them all the time, they became co-stars in all of his historic sports moments. "The Shot" in 1989 over the Cavs' Craig Ehlo featured Jordan knocking in a double-pump jumper at the buzzer, but on his feet are the black and gray Air Jordan IV. He's wearing the Air Jordan V 10 months later in the same building against the same team when he flew for a career best 69 points and 18 rebounds.

It's the Air Jordan VI that MJ rocked while leading the Bulls to their 1st NBA title in 1991. In the 1992 U.S. Summer Olympics, Jordan sported a special edition, white, red, blue and gold version of the Air Jordan VII. It was during his comeback from a brief retirement in 1995 that Michael first unveiled the instantly fawned over Air Jordan XI six months before their official release. That model was a simple, white sneaker trimmed in black patent leather. Nearly 15 years later, that edition is considered to be the best ever installment. When the Bulls capped off their historic 72-10 season with their 4th NBA title of the decade in 1996, Jordan collapsed to the floor of the United Center in unbridled jubilation, mobbed by teammate Randy Brown and clutching the historic basketball. Very prominent in the scene is the snazzy black with polished black patent leather Air Jordan XI's with a clean white and red midsole on his feet.

They look...beautiful!

The Air Jordan XII was on Michael's feet a year later during the famous "flu game" on June 11, 1997. A year after that, Michael sported a pair of J's from the future when he knocked down the title winning jumper over Utah's Byron Russell. From the future in this case means he was wearing the Air Jordan XIV a year early, possibly because he knew he'd never get to wear them in an actual game due to his expected retirement. Indeed, Michael hit the winning shot in those 1999 edition shoes, then retired before the start of the lockout-shortened '98-'99 season.

Jordan's immense popularity and the financial windfall it created for both he and Nike was enough to convince the athletic footwear company to give MJ his own division. In 1997, the Jordan Brand debuted and made its presence even more prominent in the NBA and other sports. Its signature sneaker remained the Air Jordan and admittedly, the designed and popularity of them waned as the 2000's commenced. I attribute much of that to Jordan's absence from the court and mostly to a major drop off in "sexy design." Early on, the Jordan's had a very edgy and stylish aesthetic. In the past decade, they have flopped consistently in the design department even as their inner technology has become more sophisticated.

Even when Michael returned to the league in the autumn of 2001, the shoes appeared uninspired and washed up. The Air Jordan XVII debuted in February 2002 in all white and trimmed in blue and black. They were based on the team colors of the lowly Washington Wizards, whom MJ returned to play for. They also came in an aluminum brief case and retailed for an astounding $200. The 20th edition, released in 2005 seemed to "try too hard" and it ended up being a laugher. I actually liked the XXI's and XXII's and I even own a pair of each. They both amaze me at the ambitious and intricate craftsmanship that they possess. I wanted a pair of the XX3's, but I never got them. They wound up being the final, numbered pair of Air Jordan's since "23" was his uniform number. Beginning with the 24th edition in 2009, the iconic sneakers would be identified by year. The '09's were by far the worst edition in history and looked nothing like an Air Jordan shoe.

Now the 2010 model.

From the beginning, I loved the look of the 2010 Air Jordan. I even had to drive 100 miles round trip to get mine yesterday because nowhere local had any in stock. Michael and his team have decided to use a current NBA star to wear the shoe in games just as Michael himself would do if he were still playing. Currently, Miami Heat star guard Dwyane Wade is the designated "wearer." Jordan, who turns 47 this week remains closely involved with the shoe's design and development and continues to embody greatness, even a dozen years removed from his last championship.

Over 25 amazing years, the Air Jordan has personified elegance and ambition in the subtlest of ways. They long ago became a cultural phenomenon, which is just one more touchstone of Michael Jordan's legend that will never go away as long as people continue to have feet.

And I'll always treasure them.

The Destruction of the Indestructible Mike Tyson

CLEVELAND - I never cared about the sport of boxing, nor did I watch it growing up. But Mike Tyson was awesome enough, dominant enough and wildly popular enough in the late 1980's that I paid close attention to his career and personal life.

On February 11, 1990, Tyson dropped my jaw.

Yes, it has been exactly 20 years since the monumental upset that took place thousands of miles away in Tokyo, Japan. The indestructible Tyson, then 23 was pummeled by a non-descript nobody named James "Buster" Douglas. For me to not give a hoot about professional boxing, the colossal impact of this historic event was apparent to me from the moment I got word. Every man that I was around reacted as though the moon had fallen out of the sky when Douglas leveled Tyson in the 10th round.

Because Tyson was that unstoppable.

Ever since Tyson became the youngest man to earn the heavyweight title in 1986, he was one of the most celebrated and acclaimed figures in sports. He was by far boxing's most intimidating force and his superlative excellence and pervasive popularity made him a pop culture icon early on. There was even a Nintendo video game created for him called "Mike Tyson's Punch Out." He was more than just the man of steel as his "Iron" nicknamed indicated. He was an absolute force of nature. I'll never forget how he famously vanquished Michael Spinks in the summer of 1988 in just 91 seconds, which actually ended Spinks' pro career. This was Tyson at the absolute apex of his fame and skill and his aura just seemed mythical.

Add all that up, plus the fact that he'd unified all three title belts to become "the undisputed champion of the world," and the magnitude of the Douglas upset comes into plain focus. And let's not forget the fact that Tyson was a searing 37-0 (33 knockouts) going into the 1990 contest with Douglas and a 42-1 favorite.

Sheesh.

I was just 12 years old at the time of that legendary fight, but it remains indelible. After the epic upset, Tyson was never the same personally or professionally. A year and a half later, he was charged with rape and sent to prison in 1992. Once he was released in 1995, he fought a series of journeymen and predictably dominated. Just when it seemed as if he was ascending back to his glory days, he ran into Evander Holyfield who was older but for years had been considered the one superstar fighter who could realistically challenge Tyson. In their November 1996 match, Holyfield clobbered him and came close to repeating the feat in June 1997 before Tyson infamously and savagely bit his ears while in the ring. After that, Tyson became vilified and was largely ostracized from the sport for a short time. Then his career became one sideshow after another until he unceremoniously bowed out in 2005 in defeat.

The odyssey of Mike Tyson is a fascinating one, but its most pivotal turning point will forever be the stunning night 20 years ago that forever changed the face of boxing.

And turned Tyson into a mortal.

25 Years Ago Today: All-Star Vets Put Rookie Jordan On Ice

CLEVELAND - It seems unbelievable now, but in his first ever NBA All-Star game, Michael Jordan was nervous, unable to get into a rhythm offensively and finished with just 7 points.

Ah, once upon a time.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of what has become popularly known as "the freeze-out game" in NBA lore. It was the 35th annual mid-season classic that also happened to serve as Jordan's inaugural NBA All-Star game and took place at the venerable Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, IN. The West squad defeated the East, 140-129 but in spite of the presence of such future legends as Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the true story of the afternoon was the soon to be 22-year old Michael Jordan.

Many veteran stars were angry about the unrivaled popularity and press that the newcomer was receiving. His flashy, high-flying style was tailor made for engendering jealousy as was his dominant offensive abilities. Compounding matters was the fact that, during the Slam Dunk contest the previous day, Jordan eschewed his Bulls practice gear in favor of a Nike warm-up suit and wore gold chains in addition to the controversial, inaugural edition of his Air Jordan sneakers.

At the time, the first year Chicago Bulls megastar was giddy just being there and was very gracious in evaluating the experience. It wasn't until after the fact that whispers of an agenda against him by his fellow stars surfaced. Legend has it that Jordan's East teammate Isiah Thomas orchestrated a freeze-out of Jordan by instructing the other players to avoid giving him the ball. He also told West stars Earvin "Magic" Johnson and George Gervin to play much tougher defense against Michael than a usual exhibition game like this would require.

As it were, Jordan played the fewest minutes of any starter and shot only nine times. In the quarter century since then, the allegations of a freeze out have taken on an enormous mythology. Last summer, during his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Jordan kindly sneered at the notion and participants of the freeze out and essentially declared that in spite of it, he became a cultural icon en route to winning everything anyway.

At the end of the day, I'm glad that Michael Jordan was treated that way as a rookie. It not only made him better and stronger, but it gave him even more incentive to inflict his will on the entire game of basketball for the next decade and a half.

Boy, was that awesome to watch.

Fall Guy Or Not, Conrad Murray Should Be Executed

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson was murdered by his physician, Dr. Conrad Murray. Whether it was premeditated or accidental, Jackson died at the hands of Murray. No amount of spin or explanation changes that, and that's why the doctor from hell needs to be executed.

I'm beyond angry.

Murray was formally charged yesterday in the June 25, 2009 death of Michael, an event so enormous that the entire planet went into a literal freeze frame of shock, disbelief and epic sadness. I, of course was more grief-stricken than I'd ever been. MJ was who I lived vicariously through, as did millions of his dedicated fans the world over. Murray, bastard that he is, killed an Earth Angel. Yes, Michael was very flawed, but he was still an angel.

After Murray surrendered to law enforcement in Los Angeles yesterday, he plead not guilty after being charged with involuntary manslaughter. The coward should have done the honorable thing and admitted what we already know as fact; he killed Michael Jackson through irresponsible negligence in the administering of major tranquilizers.

Joe Jackson, Michael's father publicly declared Murray to be a "fall guy." Both Joe and his daughter LaToya opined that Murray was essentially a small cog in a huge conspiracy to murder Michael. Even though I usually despise Joe, I agree with him on this. Murray posted his $75,000 bail and left for his hometown of Houston after the charges were issued. Many believe him to be a flight risk and the Jackson family have stated that the involuntary manslaughter charge is not enough. I agree with that assessment as well.

Murray faces a maximum four years in prison if convicted. Ask any one of Michael's hundreds of millions of fans and they will all say the same thing.

Conrad Murray should be executed.

Jordan Expanded Popular Legend With 1988 All-Star Weekend

CLEVELAND - It was 22 years ago today that Michael Jordan capped off a whirlwind weekend of basketball brilliance with his first All-Star MVP. After that weekend, he became the number one most glamorized, popularized figure in basketball.

And it was just the beginning.

MJ, less than two weeks prior to his 25th birthday stood head and shoulders above the litany of superstars and legends-in-the-making during the 38th annual event. Not surprisingly, the weekend of exhibitions were held in Chicago Stadium which was of course the home arena of the 4th year megastar shooting guard. The evening prior to the game saw Jordan successfully defend his slam dunk title with a stunning series of acrobatic flourishes and throwdowns at the basket.

This was the contest that ended in controversy as Michael faced off with star forward Dominique Wilkins, who defeated Jordan during MJ's rookie season three years before. Many felt that Wilkins should have won the '88 contest based on his equally amazing dunks, but as it were, Michael Jordan dribbled full court just as he'd done the year before in Seattle and jumped from the foul line. As he sailed towards the basket with the basketball in his right hand, he assumed an aerodynamic pose that would become one of the most iconic images in sports. When he completed the dunk, the arena went crazy and the judges gave him a perfect score of 50, which narrowly edged out Wilkins for the title.

Maybe it was home court bias, maybe it wasn't. But Jordan was awesome either way.

As amazing as the battle was, the true treat was the following day when the actual game took place. The East marched to a 138-133 victory behind a mega-sensational performance from both Jordan and Wilkins. MJ missed only six shots and scored 40 points in just 29 minutes, including 16 in an offensive flurry during the final six minutes anchored by teammate Isiah Thomas, who finished with 15 assists. Wilkins poured in 29 points to support Michael.

While being presented with the foregone conclusion of All-Star MVP, Jordan stood at center court with Commissioner David Stern. "In a league of stars, in a game of stars, you were the star of stars," said Stern as he handed the trophy to Jordan. It was a fitting moment not just because of his performance in that game or during that weekend. It signaled something far greater -- it was the beginning of Michael's uber popularity with young kids, teens and adults everywhere. Nike and Gatorade (who sponsored the dunk contest) were aligned with MJ and his expensive, namesake sneakers became enormous must-haves for urban youths all across America.

It was also a sign that the great Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would soon take a back seat to the young and blazingly talented Michael, who wound up leading the NBA in scoring, steals and minutes played while also winning the Defensive Player of the Year award and his first ever league MVP.

After his historic showing during the Slam Dunk contest, MJ was known more prominently as Air Jordan and with his high-wire, super acrobatic style of play, it was a very fitting moniker. Jordan had already been a super popular and endlessly gifted basketball player. But this weekend heightened America's awareness even more and launched his tenure as "the NBA's signature player."

If only the world knew what Michael would do over the next decade. Oh my.

Grammy Awards: Awesome, Sad and Interesting

CLEVELAND - I decided to watch the Grammy Awards start to finish for the first time in many years last night due to my interest in the show's planned Michael Jackson tribute. When it was all said and done, I felt highly entertained and hopelessly sad.

But it was certainly time well spent.

As always, I was delighted at the outrageous and high eccentricities of Lady Gaga. Her costumes are intricate creations which epitomize her singularity. Of course, the get-ups make many people label her a whack job, but I love the fact that she marches to the beat of her own drum.

Just like Pink, only far more out of the box.

Pink has been impressing me a lot for the past couple years. Last night, she performed a trademark hanging-from-the-ceiling routine while singing her songs...but since she was clad in what appeared to be strategically placed white belts all over her otherwise "nude" body, the visual was far more enticing to me. Especially as she hung dripping wet upside down.

The Black Eyed Peas performed two great songs that really caught my ear, which was enough to give me a new appreciation of another out of the box star, will.i.am. Fergie was awesome as well.

Taylor Swift, the delightful young megastar was a big winner also, something that has become something of a habit for the singing sensation. What I always enjoy most about Swift is her genuine enthusiasm and appreciation for winning awards. She's humble and very grounded...in spite of the huge success she's been having.

Beyonce was another enormous winner and her costumes were very enticing as always. She's another humble superstar and exudes a very likeable charm.

The anticipated Michael Jackson tribute went off flawlessly as several elite musicians took to the stage and performed his environmentally conscious "Earth Song" while recorded MJ vocals assisted them. Smokey Robinson, Usher, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson and Carrie Underwood did an awesome job worthy of his iconic legacy. It was also grand seeing Lionel Richie announce the group and talk briefly of he and Michael's friendship. After the tribute, which featured an MJ short film broadcast in 3-D, his two oldest children took to the stage and accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award for him. Their words, so moving, mature and ultimately depressing earned a standing ovation and more than a few tears.

Especially from me.

I loved Bon Jovi performing as well as Green Day. Guitarist Slash tore it up as did Jamie Foxx and T-Pain in their "Blame it on the Alcohol" rendition. I also enjoyed a performance by the underappreciated Mary J. Blige.

In spite of major sound censoring, the evening's final performance was excellent. Eminem and Lil Wayne were joined onstage by Travis Barker for "Drop the World", then Drake for the hit "Forever." It was a rousing and tenacious effort that punctuated an evening filled with mixed emotions.

Maybe I'll watch next year too.

Young Prepares For Grammy 3-D Tribute For MJ

CLEVELAND - A lifelong admirer of Michael Jackson and one of his most dedicated fans ever, entertainer Deante Young is gearing up for a televised tribute to the man.

Oh my.

Young donned a pair of special edition 3-D glasses to view a star-studded Grammy Awards tribute to Michael, which is scheduled for sometime during the telecast. Jackson is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously for a legendary and highly groundbreaking career that spanned 45 years. His two oldest children will accept the award on his behalf.

And Young will be glued to his television with his trusty glasses waiting.

Michael Jackson's Grammy Legacy: Pure Legend

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson will be posthumously honored with a lifetime achievement award during tonight's Grammy Awards. But in spite of his 13 career victories, his musical genius was deserving of many more.

Even still, his Grammy legacy is the stuff icons are made of.

It all started in 1980 when a 21-year old Michael won his first Grammy for best male R&B vocal for "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough," the hit single from 1979's Off the Wall. Jackson was disappointed that he didn't win more and that developed into the fire that spurred him to craft music's seminal juggernaut; Thriller.

Of course, Thriller became eligible for inclusion at the 1984 ceremony which took place at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium. To understand why Jackson dominated the '84 Grammys, it's worth mentioning that Thriller was selling about one million copies per week at the time -- a full 15 months after it was released! The Grammys that night felt less like an awards show and more like a coronation...a deification if you will, for the superlative Michael Jackson and the epic popularity he possessed. It seemed as though the phenomenal sales of Thriller were almost an afterthought...he loomed so large over the event that each time he trekked to the stage to accept an award, it felt like his own personal showcase (read: love affair).

Jackson was the ultimate showman that night without even performing. He showed up with actress Brooke Shields and diminutive child star Emmanuel Lewis and wore a sparkly, blue military-style jacket complete with epaulets and a gold hued sash adorned with sequins. A white, collared shirt was underneath and black Aviator shades matched his black trousers. His signature, single Rhinestone glove was accessorized with a matching bracelet. At one point, Michael briefly removed his shades while accepting an award with his three sisters on stage with him and the crowd screeched their approval.

When the dust settled, Michael galvanized the entire music industry at its most prestigious event. The feeling that went through my household that night, 26 years ago was unbridled joy and jubilation. The great Michael Jackson got his just due and even though I was just six years old, I felt the enormity of the event.

Michael also won Grammys in 1985 and 1986 but his next transcendent Grammy moment took place at the 30th annual ceremony in March 1988. The event was held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and Michael was in town to perform at Madison Square Garden two nights later as part of the second leg of his historic Bad World Tour. His Grammy performance included two songs off the Bad album: a slower tempo version of "The Way You Make Me Feel" and a stirring rendition of "Man in the Mirror" complete with a full choir. Michael's energy and defy-the-laws-of physics dancing meshed with the soaring emotion in his vocals to bring the house down.

It's all we talked about the next day in my 5th grade class.

MJ won a Grammy the following year for another in his long list of pioneering music videos, "Leave me Alone," but his next awesome moment took place at the 1993 ceremony. That's when Michael, at age 34 was honored with the Grammy Legend Award during a very publicly visible time for him. In the past month alone, Michael had performed an historic and eye-catching show at halftime of Super Bowl XXVII, sat down with television maven Oprah Winfrey for a 90-minute interview broadcast to a record audience globally and prepped for the summer debut of the second leg of his Dangerous World Tour.

Before Jackson was given his Legend Award, his youngest sister Janet took to the stage and payed a glowing tribute to him with a short video entitled, "How to Become a Legend." After the clip, Michael stepped onstage to a standing ovation and hugged his sister before grabbing the microphone. He exhibited a genuine humility in his acceptance speech and said it was great to finally be "thought of as a person rather than a personality." He expressed his love for children, thanked many family, friends and colleagues and responded to the public's opinion of him being "weird" by declaring that "when you grow up in front of 100 million people, you're automatically different."

Absolutely agree.

When Michael and Janet left the stage, it was touching seeing two American icons simply being brother and sister and nothing else. Their closeness and strong affinity for each other was quite evident. This moment, more than any of his other legendary moments on the Grammy stage was the best of Michael. He was playful and reflective. He was intelligent and aware. He was a giant and quite humble. It was the final time he would be viewed with more positivity than negativity by the general public. During his next television appearance, which would come 10 months later via satellite, a very shaken and crestfallen MJ was suddenly defending himself against awful allegations of child molestation. From then on, his seismic legend was forced to share space with the nastiness that came from such accusations and similar ones that surfaced a decade later.

One thing is for certain, though. Michael Jackson's massively amazing career deserves only the highest of praise and celebration. That is why he's deserved the Lifetime Achievement Award for about 20 years now.

I just wish he could be there to accept it.

26 Years Ago Today: Pepsi Turns Sour For Michael Jackson

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson is said to have died from an overdose of prescription medications given to him by his doctor. The legendary entertainer had also become dependent on several painkillers, an addiction that was birthed after an awful fire in 1984 that nearly claimed his life.

Damn you, Pepsi.

It was 26 years ago today that Michael's scalp was severely burned while filming a Pepsi commercial. The event was horrible enough at the time given the fact that Jackson was at the very peak of his popularity and success. On top of that, the near fatal incident wound up having much worse lasting effects that didn't become apparent until last summer. That's when Michael suddenly died at age 50 from the aforementioned overdose. Those close to him revealed that because of the immense pain that resulted from the second degree burns he suffered on the Pepsi set, he began taking painkillers. That led to an addiction, which brought him into the world of other meds that would help him sleep or cope with the stress of his high-profile career and personal life.

Talk about a chain reaction.

It was baffling to me that, in mid-July 2009, video footage from that infamous Pepsi ad surfaced after 25 years and showed in very graphic detail exactly how Michael's hair caught fire. It shows him, at age 25 clad in a sparkly jacket and standing at the top of a flight of stairs. In front of him is an audience of people placed there to simulate a concert. Michael descended the staircase several times, but on the sixth take, a tiny spark from a pyrotechnics effect shot into his very flammable Jheri-curled hair. Oblivious to what has happened, the megastar struts down the steps while his head becomes engulfed in flames. He does one of his trademark quicksilver spins, and suddenly realizes his hair is ablaze, then drops to the floor. At this point, Miko Brando and several others frantically rush to him and smother the flames out. Seconds later, Jackson is helped to his feet with a now gaping patch of missing hair in the back of his head. He looks a bit shaken and groggy as he is whisked away to an ambulance.

Michael wound up recovering and Pepsi settled with him for $1.5 million. Naturally, MJ donated the money to a hospital which now houses The Michael Jackson Burn Center as a result. Needless to say, the entertainment industry held its collective breath when news of this accident spread. At the time, Michael's status within the United States and abroad was excellent. He was the most invincible, unassailable and mindlessly talented figure in the business who was less than two months past the release of the groundbreaking "Thriller" music video. He'd just won an amazing eight American Music Awards less than two weeks prior to the fire and was a month away from dominating the Grammys with another eight awards. In other words, Michael was the biggest thing on planet Earth at the time outside of water.

Looking back, I have fond memories of that Pepsi commercial as well as another he did in tandem. But I still remember my six year old self being horrified and very scared at what happened to MJ that night. In light of his demise last summer and its loose connection to the '84 fire, I have some contempt for Pepsi, rightly or wrongly.

Because of what happened to Michael on their watch, Pepsi will always leave a bad taste in my mouth.

The Frustration of 'Michael Jackson's This Is It'

CLEVELAND - The final creative work of Michael Jackson's lifetime surfaces on DVD today and once again reminds the world of the colossal genius that the universe lost last summer.

I'll never be over it.

This Is It, the quasi documentary/concert film assembled from candid footage of Jackson's rehearsals for his planned comeback tour is bittersweet. When it hit movie theaters worldwide last fall, I was delighted to see it. Once it was over, I was both awestruck and upset. Michael's attention to detail and innovation was peerless. But since I was armed with knowledge of his sudden death before those destined-to-be-amazing concerts ever happened, I vacillated between joy and despair.

Watching the DVD will do the same thing to me.

This film does one thing extremely well. It reminds those who may have forgotten of Jackson's breathtaking abilities as a performer. Indeed, even though he only gives half-speed effort during the rehearsals, it's still enough to astonish. His dancing, even at nearly 51 years of age seemed to redefine the limits and laws of physics and gravity. His singing soars through the mostly empty arena and his voiced concepts of how the show was to play out was precise and ambitious.

Given the fact that Michael's public reputation had been on a steep decline for at least 15 years, this film is perfect because it strips away the controversy, scandal and criticism. All it shows is a master in his element, filled with focus and drive and eager to rekindle his status as the greatest entertainer in history. After seeing the epic scope and magnitude of what Michael had planned for those London concerts, it becomes an absolute certainty that he would have crafted the greatest live show ever. But instead of the finished product, us fans are left with a skeletal blueprint of what could've and would've been.

But with Michael Jackson front and center, it's still an awesome treat.

Leno-O'Brien Rivalry Has No Winners

CLEVELAND - With the entangled mess that has been going on in late night television the past few weeks, I decided to wait until some sort of conclusion was reached in the Jay Leno-Conan O'Brien rivalry. Sad to say, us fans of late-night comedy are the ones who ultimately lose.

And that bites.

Leno, who hosted the venerable The Tonight Show for 17 years, was essentially given the ax last year in favor of O'Brien, who became the show's new host in May. Leno was inactive for a few months, until he re-emerged with The Jay Leno Show, a low-budget ripoff of The Tonight Show in an earlier time slot; the kiss-of-death 10PM position. Putting Leno in primetime was a disaster almost from the beginning, as he's had to face-off with popular crime dramas on other networks. As a result, his ratings have been awful.

O'Brien, meanwhile didn't necessarily set the world on fire in the 11:35PM slot. He consistently trailed David Letterman in the same slot, especially after Letterman's controversial extortion scandal hit in early October. Earlier this month, NBC admitted that Leno's variety show wasn't working at 10PM and that it was cancelling the show. This left Leno in limbo, and ignited the chain reaction with O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon, whose show airs at 12:35AM.

Clearly, there is loyalty to both Leno and O'Brien and both men enjoyed major support from fans and celebrities. O'Brien declared that he wouldn't stand for being bumped to 12:05AM in favor of Leno having a half-hour show at 11:35PM. That opened the door for NBC to essentially eliminate him and reinstate Leno as the host of The Tonight Show. O'Brien (who hosted his final episode of Tonight last Friday) was reportedly bought out of his contract for around $45 million, and can't sign with another network until September. Leno will return to his former perch on March 1, but in spite of that and the fact that O'Brien will likely land on his feet with his pick of suitors, the entire mess will hurt those of us who admire both men. I, for one think that Leno is often funny and occasionally hilarious, and O'Brien's frequent self-deprecation endears him and augments his stunningly brilliant comedic talents.

With months to wait for things to return to "normal" in late night, we are being robbed. Letterman has enjoyed the confusion, since he was famously involved in a similar situation in the early 1990's. I hope Leno returns to his standard of quality during his forthcoming return. I also hope that O'Brien comes back with a vengeance in the fall on his new network--whichever one that may be. Yes, in the long term, us fans of both men will probably win out. But for the in between time, we will suffer.

And that's a shame.

The Importance of Kobe v.s. LeBron

CLEVELAND -  Forget for a moment what last night's 93-87 Cleveland Cavaliers victory over the L.A. Lakers means for the rest of this season. Instead, consider what it means to have Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on the same court facing off as the iconic leaders of their contending teams.

In other words, be awestruck.

I was mesmerized watching these two basketball giants inflict their massive talents upon the game, which took place here in Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs built on their Christmas Day victory, in which they trounced the Hollywood boys on their homecourt. Last night, Cleveland was without their number two star Mo Williams, whose injury will keep him sidelined for over a month. In spite of all that, the game never became a rout in either direction.

As Kobe came out firing -- and hitting, I shook my head because it's what the man has been doing for many years. His footwork was impeccable, and his focus was clearly evident. In contrast, LeBron seemed detached from the game and stayed essentially on the perimeter as he failed to capture a shooting rhythm early. By halftime, both Bryant and James had risen to the challenge and tallied 20 and 18 points, respectively.

Bryant, who became the youngest person in league history to score 25,000 points after hitting a foul shot in the 2nd quarter, has been heavily compared to NBA legend Michael Jordan his entire career. James has been compared to both Jordan and Magic Johnson ever since he joined the NBA in the fall of 2003. In both cases, the comparisons are actually spot on, which is astonishing but also pays tribute to the level of brilliance these young men possess.

Bryant v.s. James is destined to be a historical fascination. With such superlative reputations on the court, the matchup demands sky high ticket prices, hordes of media attention and transfixed eyes. Imagine an early 1980's era Michael Jackson on stage with a mid-1950's era Elvis Presley facing off. Imagine Muhammad Ali in the ring with Mike Tyson with both men in top form. Bryant is 31. James is 25. Their proficiency and relentlessness are powered by their surreal drive and focus, so watching them do battle should be treated as a magical occurrence. No other superstar in the game has that level of magnetism and talent. So when Bryant took the challenge of defending the much bigger James last night, it was a moment filled with drama. When LeBron revved his engines into fifth gear in the 4th quarter, it became must-see TV.

Bryant has four NBA championships. James has none, but will almost certainly win at least one in the next year or two. LeBron finished with 37 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds last night. Kobe ended with 31 points. Let's pray that this matchup isn't finished for the year.

Kobe v.s. LeBron in the 2010 NBA Finals? Have mercy!

Dr. King Turned Hopeless Into Hopeful

CLEVELAND - Given the blatantly racist climate of the 1960's, it's a wonder that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn't destroyed long before he was. But his uncompromised drive to bring together a segregated nation continues improving our society, if only in small and imperceptible doses.

But, because of him, we have hope.

Today is the annual celebration of King's legacy. For the past 24 years, he has been honored with a national holiday that was initially rejected by "the powers that be." Knowing how much resistance that he received when he tried to bring us all together during his lifetime, the difficulty of making a King holiday a reality was apparent long before it was proposed. But I believe that every one of us Americans owe him a debt of gratitude. King wasn't about championing Blacks to the exclusion of everyone else. He was in fact, very inclusive. He wanted civil and equal rights for everyone. It just so happened that Blacks were the most disrespected in this country during the Civil Rights Movement.

At a time when mainstream acceptance for Blacks seemed like a pipe dream of fantastical proportions, Dr. King, with his stubborn determination and convictions gave us hope. With his legendary public crusades and powerful oration, we suddenly had a shot at equal rights comparable to Whites. Or so it seemed. It has now been nearly 42 years since his tragic death, but racism is still quite strong, though not as upfront and prohibitive as it was then.

Whatever progress this nation has made as a racially unified land, us Blacks owe it to King for giving us a shot in the dark. And everyone else owes it to him for bringing a small measure of peace and civility to the U.S.

Think about it.

McGwire's Confession Both Honorable and Despicable

CLEVELAND - Mark McGwire made a huge NBA fan (me) interested in major league baseball in the summer of 1998. With his high-profile and epic pursuit of a hallowed home run record, I was transfixed by the sheer power and drama of what turned out to be an illusionary competition between he and Sammy Sosa.

What a shame.

Yesterday, McGwire finally confirmed what had long been suspected by the media and general public. He was an avid user of steroids during a pro career that was adorned with monstrous home runs for which he became very popular. His admission wasn't exactly altruistic; he is slated to become the new hitting coach for his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals this coming season. It has been reported that he needed to "clear his conscience" before undertaking this long-held goal.

While it is amazing that McGwire admitted such a disgraceful and damning thing, it also speaks to the despicable nature of his willingness to engage in steroid use in the first place. The steroid issue has been a major problem in the big leagues for many years now, but since I openly rooted for McGwire in '98, I feel a bit betrayed as does many of his fans. He was a peerless home run hitter of unlimited power and embodied athletic machismo as well as any pro in his prime. But I do understand that all of us are humans wrought with flaws. For those reasons, I will forgive McGwire for his ill-advised decision.

Funny thing is, it was most likely because of what his steroid use enabled him to do on the field that I became enamored with him in the first place.

Weird.

The Hypocrisy of Elvis Presley's Legend

CLEVELAND - In recognition of Elvis Presley's 75th birthday, I have been thinking a lot about the seismic scope of his everlasting legacy. Without question, the man was a true American institution and well deserving of the rabid fan base that he still possesses more than 32 years after his sudden death. But one thing troubles me.

His negative side is rarely discussed.

I'm not saying Presley's legacy should be tarnished because of the character flaws and inner demons that he battled. I'm simply saying that most of what gets celebrated is his iconic career as The King of Rock and Roll, with barely a mention of his flip side. In contrast, an equally iconic yet troubled star named Michael Jackson gets wide praise for his legend, but almost equal disdain, criticism and vilification for his shortcomings.

Unfair.

Presley first became super popular because of his highly controversial gyrations on stage during television performances. He was criticized and panned by the media and his fellow singers. Even the great Frank Sinatra offered a scathing review of the man at his mid-1950's beginning as a pop culture giant. When Elvis appeared on the Steve Allen and Ed Sullivan shows, he appalled the hosts with his brazen and sexualized dance movements. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1960, only a few months after meeting a 14-year old girl named Priscilla Beaulieu, whom he dated and ultimately married. His legacy amazingly omits the fact that he had a romantic relationship with a girl barely into puberty and thus, he remains deified.

People speak of Michael Jackson's long stretches of inactivity musically, but Presley spent nearly the entire 1960's focusing, not on his music, but on making horrible Hollywood films. When he made his much ballyhooed return in a famous 1968 television special, the music industry had practically passed him by. Sure, he still had major appeal to his fans and he still made a few hits, but he was at the time, pretty ordinary as a musician.

During his final several years, Presley became an erratic, unfocused shell of his former self. He committed adultery on his wife, even impregnated another woman while married. He became grossly overweight and heavily dependent on drugs, mostly prescription meds. He upped his touring schedule greatly early in the 1970's, and began to act as though he were a God-like figure during his performances. His life had become wildly out of control and his excessive indulgences expedited his downfall.

What a King.

When he tragically died late in the summer of 1977, his popularity and acclaim were based more on his past than anything he'd done or stood for recently. In the three decades since, he has been canonized as a cultural treasure with nary a flaw or blemish. Yes, there is some talk of his flaws, but those aspects of his life have never been put front and center like Michael's has. To legions of Elvis Presley fans, he is and always will be just perfect.

And that's a damn lie.

2010 Has Arrived...Use Your Past To Create Your Future

CLEVELAND - The 1st year of the 2nd decade of the 21st century is now our current and present time. This is the proverbial "clean slate" that gets talked about whenever a new year arrives. Just like the first day of school, every one of us starts out with an "A." Will we maintain that grade, or will we flunk out?

Only time will tell.

Happy New Year, everyone. Today is Friday, January 1, 2010. Where in the world did the time fly to? In any event, each one of us at one time or another has experienced highs and lows, made smart decisions and stupid ones and been filled with flaws and talents. I will use all of those things to dictate the course of my every day life for this year and this decade. I encourage all of you guys out there to do the same.

Use your past to create your future.

I feel as though all of us experience things and are put in certain situations for specific reasons. We may not know or understand why, but I believe that reasons always exist. God wants us to learn or be influenced by a particular person, so he places that person in our life. He wants us to hear something that he knows we need to hear, so he lets us hear or pay attention to a snippet of a television commercial or conversation. That's how I think the world works. So please, use what you see, hear and experience to fuel your mind, wisdom and perspective.

We're all guaranteed to be become better people by doing that!

2009 Person of the Year: Michael Jackson

CLEVELAND - With just a few hours left in 2009, it's time to remember and analyze the people and events that defined it. For me personally, it was an absolute no-brainer. Michael Jackson owned this year simply because his stunning departure made his superlative legacy blindingly obvious to many who'd disowned him.

He was and will forever be a treasure.

That tragic and nearly unspeakable early summer day in June took Michael from us physically, but his soul is heavily attached to each and every one of his artistic endeavors. So many idiots in the media questioned why a pop star received such massive attention on television and in print. The reason why these "intellects" didn't understand is because Michael wasn't simply a "pop star" to begin with. Justin Timberlake is a pop star. So are Usher and Chris Brown. Michael Jackson is a seminal figure in history who's responsible for redefining music, dance, showmanship, entertainment and fashion. By being the first African-American in history with epic levels of crossover mainstream popularity and success, he was the ultimate game changer. Rev. Al Sharpton wasn't just throwing inane hyperbole out there when he said that Michael paved the way for Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Barack Obama to become as widely accepted across all races and creeds as they are.

Michael Jackson made the black megastar "safe to adulate."

Michael Jackson wasn't just a record-breaking musician with scintillating dance moves and mind blowing creativity. He was a gentle soul that genuinely cared about making this world a better place. With the litany of charities he supported and donated untold multi-millions of dollars to, his selflessness was nothing short of legendary. He didn't just entertain, he used his art and colossal talent to heal, influence and bring people together. In short, he was the ultimate humanitarian and gave countless hours of his own time to those less fortunate than he.

Michael was far beyond being a "pop star."

Of course Michael's personal demons are a part of his legacy. The frightening allegations and human imperfections that dogged him for decades certainly came with the package. But as I have asked before, who among us isn't incredibly flawed? And anyone that made fun of him for his ever-changing face, they should be ashamed. Not one of us knows what wars he waged within himself about his look. We already know that he was hopelessly self-conscious, so why should he just accept his given face when he didn't have to? Mocking someone for their face is no different than mocking a person with Down's Syndrome. They can't help their condition, but neither could Michael.

Think about it.

When I attended a theatrical showing of the film Michael Jackson's This Is It, I was awestruck and astonished. I've always known of Michael's dazzling talent, but I never actually witness the intricate process that he used to refine and polish the final product that we all saw. It was a symphony of sacredness to see such a master construct his art precisely and brilliantly. As a result, the documentary/musical is a very worthy and final representation of Michael Jackson's genius.

So there he is, my 2009 Person of the Year. He can teach us all how to try a little harder, love a little more and use our gifts to bring happiness and improvement to the world and everyone in it.

Thank God for creating Michael Jackson.

LeBron at 25: The World In His Palm

CLEVELAND - He went from being a national unknown when the decade began in 2000 to being a national phenomenon in 2002. A year later, he was one of the most amazing NBA rookies ever. And now? Well, let's just say that LeBron James is a man with such an amazing present, that his future is a guaranteed success.

No joke.

Today is LeBron's 25th birthday and also serves as sort of a benchmark in his meteoric rise to global icon. In his 7 years in the national spotlight, he has defied all expectations placed upon him as a prep school wunderkind. Then, he redefined the small forward position in pro basketball and created another layer to what a hoops megastar could be capable of. He's the first player in history to combine brute strength and bulldozing power with dizzying balance, athleticism and scintillating speed. He's also the first NBA player to possess the skill of scoring 30 points per game effortlessly without scoring being his number one talent. Indeed, what truly makes James a maestro on the hardwood is his indigenous and pinpoint playmaking. His command of the entire court is stunning when taken in tandem with his unstoppable offense.

And he's just 25!

LeBron's legend may have begun on the basketball court, but it certainly doesn't end there. He's positioned himself as a revolutionary businessman with several risky-but-informed decisions that have ultimately worked like a charm. As a product endorser, he insists on forming partnerships with corporations that he can immerse himself in and not just be a face selling a product. He wants a significant stake in these companies because it's his image that will augment profits, so why shouldn't he be more entrenched?

Undoubtedly, LeBron's affiliation and friendship with hip-hop legend cum tycoon Jay-Z has helped his business acumen and decision making. So too has his "friendship" with financial expert and billionaire Warren Buffet. Under the tutelage of such esteemed and savvy power brokers, how can one go wrong?

Especially when your own name is worth at least a billion dollars.

LeBron shares a birthday with golf legend Tiger Woods. But even though Woods is said to be the first athlete to amass a billion dollar fortune, James still has an edge. Not only is his reputation untainted (unlike Woods, who has experienced an enormous plunge in popularity in the past month after a salacious sex scandal broke), but basketball is a far more universally adored sport than golf. That means that LeBron will resonate with more people globally and bring them into his capitalistic world, fan or no fan. Woods has brought legions of people to golf, but at the end of the day...golf remains more hobby than sport for everyday people.

LeBron's much discussed free agency next summer will be yet another pivotal time in his awesome career. But whether he chooses to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers or bolt to another team, LeBron James Inc. will continue to flourish with an unprecedented ferocity.

Happy Birthday, Mr. James.

2009 In Review: The Day Michael Stopped Earth

CLEVELAND - I had written an article on June 24 about the death of Ed McMahon, who'd died the previous day at age 86. A day later on Thursday, June 25, there was news of another pending celebrity death.

Farrah Fawcett.

It seemed inevitable that Fawcett was near death, she had been seriously ill for quite some time. But when I watched "The View" that morning, I was a bit saddened to hear Barbara Walters announce that the iconic Charlie's Angels alumni would be dying any minute now. This was early in the 11AM EST hour, and just before 12:30PM EST, news came down that Fawcett had indeed died. It was sobering to hear the finality and was a major blow to her many admirers, including myself. I began thinking of an article idea celebrating her legacy that I would write and publish at www.deanteyoung.com the following day. I was never a Farrah follower or even an actual fan. However, I was aware of and understood her celebrity as well as her contribution to pop culture. Plus, I felt that she was a knockout and that's always a good thing.

Anyways, I knew that my June 25 article was going to be about the Cleveland Cavaliers, who came to contract terms with ancient-but-still-useful center Shaquille O'Neal, and word had come down the previous evening. They had scheduled a press conference for that afternoon to formally announce the move, but I had started writing my article before that.

Sometime around 2:30PM EST, a power outage suddenly knocked out the electricity on my street and of course, in my home. I continued trying to get my thoughts together to finish the article on Shaq, but I had to get ready to do a little shopping with my girl for my daughter's 6th birthday party, which was two weeks away. Her parties are never "just" parties. They are the de facto bash of the summer for my family, friends and colleagues. The power stayed out for a little over an hour, but came back on before we left. On the drive to Sam's Club, I mentioned Farrah's death and tried to convey her impact on culture to my girl, since she amazingly didn't know who Farrah was.

Once we got to Sam's Club, we scouted different items that could potentially be put on the party menu. A few we bought. Once we went through the checkout line, my daughter asked if we could go over to the snack counter and get some food there. It has become something of a tradition to get a Sam's Club hotdog when we go there. We got food and sat down to eat. Shortly before we finished, I received a phone call from a female friend of mine. Normally, I would've just ignored the call in that situation, but for whatever reason, I answered.

It was the worst phone call ever.

Essentially what she said to me was "I just wanted to call you and tell you I'm sorry about Michael Jackson." Of course, I had no idea what the heck she was talking about, so I sought out an explanation. "What 'chu mean," I asked. She was surprised that I hadn't heard the news.

"They said on the news that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest and he might not make it," she said.

My immediate thought was "yeah right, whatever." But there was also an instant nervousness and uneasiness inside me at that moment. Somehow, I rushed her off the phone because I had to somehow get verification on this from a more reputable source. It's worth mentioning that it was this same friend that informed me of rap legend Tupac Shakur's death in 1996. In other words, she's the bearer of bad news.

I hung up the phone with a sheepish and uneasy smirk on my face and mumbled something to my girl who was, of course sitting with me and my daughter at the food court. The weird smirk and half smile that I had on my face was an example of me not really knowing how to act or what to think. I said to my girl that my friend just told me that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital and he might not make it. Since I didn't have a sophisticated, Internet-style phone, I couldn't find out any info on it so I knew I had to get home.

We had a couple more stops to make before going home, but my girl knew me all too well. She knew that my participation in any and all plans were put on hold until I could find out what was going on with Michael. I refused to actually call anyone to find out, I would have felt too vulnerable. Instead, as my legs shook and wobbled while walking out of the store and to the car, I felt numb, terrified and very detached. We got in the car and headed home.

Once we were on the freeway, my phone rang again and it was my friend that broke the awful (rumor) news to me. She wanted to know why I hung up on her and I immediately rushed her off the phone again. I did not want to talk to anyone, until I could find out what was going on with Michael.

The drive home was very short in distance, but in my mind at that time, it felt like it took forever. Once we got off the freeway, there was an unusual amount of traffic semi backed up on the road leading to my house. I was growing impatient and more nervous every moment. I didn't want the car radio to be on because I didn't want to hear anything awful on this topic. My best friend texted me as we were in the scrum of traffic. His message read, "they just said Michael Jackson just died." I nearly choked on my own breath, but I still refused to believe something so...cruel.

Thank God I wasn't driving.

We finally pulled into the driveway of our house and before the car came to a stop, I had my door open and my leg about ready to step out and run into the house. There was food and other items in the trunk that we'd just bought, but I was in no shape to stop and get any of it out. I felt like I was about to collapse, but somehow I managed to limp up the steps to the door. My girl knew not to say much to me...I soon got another text, this one from my mother saying, "He's going to be okay. Just pray."

Already was.

I got into the house and immediately marched to the living room. I turned on the television, terrified at what I might see or hear once it came on. I flipped to CNN where Wolf Blitzer was talking about Michael being rushed to the hospital. Indeed, the caption across the bottom of the screen read, "MICHAEL JACKSON HOSPITALIZED." Amazingly, I felt a little relief because my best friend told me that he'd died. I wasn't going to accept that at all. I got on my computer and browsed every website I could think of...and they all had conflicting reports. TMZ was reporting that MJ died, while many others simply said he had been taken to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after suffering cardiac arrest in his rented mansion.

By now, my girl unloaded the trunk, grabbed my daughter and left to finish up the errands. She messaged me several minutes after leaving to inform me that traffic was at a standstill. She also wanted to know what else I'd heard about Michael. Minutes later, she messaged me with this strangely hopeful text; "the radio says coma." I was relentlessly perusing the Internet and flipping through TV channels to compare stories and hopefully hear someone say that Michael was okay. I crossed all of my fingers.

I paced.

I sat.

I stood.

Butterflies were in my stomach by the truckload. I was shaking and breathing very erratically. I got another text from my best friend simply saying, "I'm sorry. I know you're hurting." I was so worried and scared that I didn't know what to do. I was stunned and baffled. I couldn't understand how we went from the Farrah tragedy to this in just a few hours. Soon, word came down from the L.A. Times that Michael had officially died. CNN was hesitant to report that since they didn't have any way of confirming it. They were my saving grace. Other news channels reported it though with the horrible awful caption "Michael Jackson 1958-2009."

That was unacceptable.

My mom had continued to text me with words of encouragement, insisting that he was going to be okay. Countless people called me, texted me, e-mailed me. Understand something, ever since I was 5 years old, any and everyone who has ever met me has know without a doubt that I was and always have been a gigantic Michael Jackson fanatic. In fact, that fanaticism actually made the man a member of my family. I cared about him and loved him just as one would a relative. And that's even an understatement. Some people even told me that anytime they think of Michael, it reminds them of me.

Too high an honor.

Confirmation finally came down that he had in fact died. I was crushed. Destroyed. I cried. I began to despise and detest the world. I wanted revenge. I didn't want to continue on. My heart began racing and I felt as though I was going to be sick. I knew myself well enough to know that I was headed towards major internal harm...not to mention psychological. I knew that if I didn't get some kind of a grip that I would be in the hospital myself. I was sooo hurt. Motionless...then fidgety. Texts and calls kept pouring in and I ignored every one of them. I was incapable of speaking to anyone.

Massive tributes began immediately on television, online and radio for Michael. But I didn't care. It was even reported that the sudden and stunning nature of the story caused much of the Internet to "collapse" for a short time. People all over the world were beyond grief-stricken and millions wept uncontrollably in the streets. Some even committed suicide.

Once my girl and daughter returned home, my daughter came to check on me as gingerly as she could. She tiptoed into the living room where I sat, deflated and without expression. She went back into the kitchen and whispered to her mother that I was "okay."

I was not.

She asked if I needed anything. She asked if I was going to be okay. Messages continued coming in. I asked her for a couple of dollars so I could go to the store. She tried to give me a ten dollar bill, which annoyed me fiercely. I almost took it and tore it into a trillion pieces!  

Hate was strong.

I went to the store, first shutting off my car radio. I grabbed a couple beers and came back. A girl whom I had been friends with for 14 years tried to talk to me, but I kept walking to my porch and ignored her. I felt like I would literally choke her if I spoke.

For the next several hours, I sat alone in front of the television watching the terrible and depressing images on the screen. Life was sure to be different for me forever. I cried and reflected on my lost loved one.

Michael, I miss you so much.

2000's In Review: 5 Celebrity Stories That Demanded Attention

CLEVELAND - We are just 5 days away from a brand new decade, so now is a perfect time to recap 5 major events in pop culture that demanded widespread attention during the 2000's. Of course, this is just according to me.

As always.

1. The Death of Anna Nicole Smith/February 8, 2007: I had been an Anna Nicole fan in one form or another for years. First in the 1990's, I admired her beauty and delicious curves. Then in 2002, her preposterously irrelevant E! television series tickled my fancy. But when she stunningly died at just 39 years of age, still blonde and beautiful, I was baffled. She had become increasingly strange and loopy in the last few years of her life, but she never seemed to be at risk of dying. The wall-to-wall media coverage of her mysterious death was both surprising given the fact that she wasn't a legend, and expected given the fact that the details of her final months and death had a tabloid salaciousness to them.
2. Aaliyah Dies In Bahamas Plane Crash/August 25, 2001: I fell in love with her singing voice as soon as I heard her 1994 hit "At Your Best" on the radio. And by the summer of 2001, singer Aaliyah seemed to be rapidly ascending towards her "best" work. She was so talented, so seemingly sweet and stunningly beautiful that her shocking and tragic demise at just 22 years old seemed unfair and cruel on those reasons alone. The news was beyond comprehension, and the music video that she was in the Bahamas to film that fateful weekend ended up being one sad and final reminder of what we lost.
3. O.J. Simpson Found Guilty/October 3, 2008: I was so emotionally invested in Simpson's historic 1994-95 murder trial that even when the fascination faded, he still was able to catch my attention. O.J.'s epic arrogance and idiocy reached a new low in 2007. That's when he masterminded an armed robbery and kidnapping plot to retrieve, by force, many of his belongings stripped of him by the courts to help satisfy the infamous civil judgments against him. This reckless event eventually led to his arrest and another criminal trial. After the way he shockingly evaded prison in 1995 on double murder charges, one would think that O.J. would've lived like a saint for the rest of his life. It never happened. On the 13th anniversary of his legendary acquittal, O.J. was sentenced to prison for between nine and 33 years. I was once again hoping for the man to beat the charges, but his luck finally ran out.
4. Janet Jackson Super Bowl Debacle/February 1, 2004: Just two weeks after her iconic brother Michael was arraigned on charges of child molestation, Janet stole his negative media press. Performing with singer Justin Timberlake during a Super Bowl halftime show, Jackson crooned and sauntered her way back and forth across the stage as she and Timberlake sang. Towards the end of "Rock Your Body," Timberlake snatched away part of her shirt which was allegedly supposed to reveal something other than what it did. As it were, Jackson's right breast was briefly exposed on national television which set off a firestorm of controversy. Janet was investigated. The FCC handed down heavy fines and censorship hasn't been the same since. Inescapable was the noticeable difference in public sentiment towards Timberlake as opposed to Jackson.
5. Kobe Bryant Charged With Rape/June 30, 2003: It seems silly now, but it was a major shock in the summer of '03 that a star pro athlete with a squeaky clean reputation could commit a major misstep. Such was the case with Bryant, who at the time was viewed as a wholesome and happily married young man and basketball superstar. When he had an ill-fated sexual encounter with a Colorado hotel clerk, his image soon absorbed a catastrophic blow. Days later, the woman went to the media and claimed that Bryant raped her. Within weeks, the Lakers star was forced to publicly admit that he committed adultery, but he maintained that the sex was totally consensual. Court proceedings ensued, but Bryant ultimately escaped with his freedom. Nowadays, the dark episode is little more than a blip on his still ascending legacy.