Day Of Killers: Air Jordan and Columbine

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

It is a day of killers.

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

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

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

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

What did the rest of us learn?

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

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

Until the following season.

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

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

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

Wow.

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

And man, was it fun to watch!

The Amazing Journey Of Hugh Hefner

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

It's his birthday.

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

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

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

MLK's Final Stand Showed His Courage

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

But never forgotten.

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

That was incredible times a million.

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

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

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

Long live the King.

'Deante' Series Returns To Shock...Again

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

Welcome back.

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

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

28 Years Ago Today: The World Meets Jordan

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

Has it been that long?

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

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

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

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

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

And it was no surprise.

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

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

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

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

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

Long live Air Jordan.

Details Emerge In New 'Deante' Season

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

It's going to be a real doozy.

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

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

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

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

15 Years Ago Today: Jordan's Historical Decision

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

"I'm back."

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

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

Enter Jordan.

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

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

Michael was back.

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

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

Boy did he ever.

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

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

Coming back was without a doubt his best decision.

Woods' Return To Golf Will Supercharge His Legend

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

This isn't even the beginning.

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

Until yesterday.

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

All because of Woods.

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

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

And he just might own another green jacket.

Biggie's Complicated Place In Hip-Hop History

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

He was, however, unquestionably great.

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

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

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

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

Long live B.I.G.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hollywood needs more honesty.

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

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

What a shame.

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

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

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

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

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

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.