Shaq's 45 Points A Reminder Of His Place in History

CLEVELAND - Shaquille O'Neal's first game in the NBA was so long ago that the first George Bush was still U.S. president. Michael Jordan was still in his 20's, O.J. Simpson not only hadn't killed anyone yet, but he was beloved by most Americans. Heck, even the Internet was publicly unknown.

That must make O'Neal a senior citizen by now.

Judging by his performance last night, he's not quite ready for a rocking chair just yet. The 17-year pro dominated his way to an unexpected 45 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 133-113 dismantling of visiting Toronto. It was O'Neal's highest point total in six years, since back when he played for the L.A. Lakers.

He even made a scintillating 20-of-25 shots.

I was reminded of Shaq's heyday with this performance, back when he was completely indefensible in the painted area (basketball term) and a nightmare for the opposition. Back in 1995, O'Neal (paired with then-superstar Penny Hardaway) matched up with the great Hakeem Olajuwon in the NBA Finals and got outplayed badly. When he returned to that stage five years later as a Lakers superstar, he was coming off his only MVP season which saw him average close to 30 points and 14 rebounds per game (playing alongside a 21-year old Kobe Bryant).

He was larger than life, averaging 38 and 17 in the '00 Finals.

The man was nothing short of excellent in leading the Lakers to three straight championships from 2000 to 2002. Even Bryant's occasional insolence could not curtail the legacy that Shaq was building, which has been heavily criticized. True, he has never been the hardest worker or a good free throw shooter, but his immense size and agility combined to make him one of the biggest "game changers" in history.

And his sense of humor is a guilty pleasure.

Bottom line, I hope O'Neal continues his resurgence this season in Phoenix and treats us to a few more "Biggie and Tupac Era" performances. Back when 40 and 20 was always a possibility and Suge Knight was making snide remarks about Sean Combs at awards shows. Okay, maybe not that last part but you get the picture.

Next week Shaq turns a ripe 37 years old. The rest of us are celebrating a week early.

Love Him Or Hate Him, Obama Is A Man For The People

CLEVELAND - President Barack Obama addressed Congress last night with a hopeful, more optimistic tone than he's had recently.

It always strikes me how much he "gets it."

I watched Obama closely during his election campaign and I was highly impressed with his focus and obvious intellect. But the thing that blew me away was his knack for understanding the average individual and being a voice for America's working class. He was so great at inspiring and instilling hope in all of us because it took a great deal of hope and faith to fuel his ascension to the pinnacle of our nation's government.

We really need that type of leadership.

Last night, Obama echoed Ronald Reagan's decades-old rhetoric while constantly reassuring us that "we will rebuild, we will recover" from the profound downturn the economy has taken. It was classic Obama, but what really resonates with me (and I'm sure the common man) is when he shoots down the perks that big businesses get and plans to only raise taxes for folks making in excess of $250,000 a year.

When the "rich get richer" is something that angers the 44th U.S. president, something that bothers us average Joes as well. He's in tune with us and not just a privileged member of government that "pretends" to care about the little guy. Being a community organizer undoubtedly gave him that ability to empathize with us and not simply look down his nose at the Americans who live paycheck-to-paycheck.

Bottom line, you can hate the man or love him. But unless you're wealthy and all about greed, you should admire his championing our "cause" regardless to disagreeing with his policies.

He's MLK in the White House.

10 Years Ago Today: Eminem Makes History

CLEVELAND - Marshall Mathers wanted to be a huge hip-hop star, a dream so preposterous, he probably should have seriously considered checking himself into a mental institution.

Except one thing; it actually happened above and beyond his wildest dreams.

Mathers, the uber talented, lyrical juggernaut known popularly as Eminem changed the face of rap and hip-hop music forever. 10 years ago today, his major label debut album The Slim Shady LP was released, signaling a significant shift in the genre's history and catapulting Mathers himself to international superstardom.

Talk about a pipe dream come true.

I was never a fan of rap music. Sure, I knew who 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. were as well as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Snoop Doggy Dogg, but I could not relate to the themes of violence, drug dealing and womanizing so therefore, I never purchased the music or listened to it of my own volition.

Eminem changed me.

His wildly popular single, "My Name Is..." caught my ear at the outset of 1999 as soon as I heard it. This guy was amazing and better yet, he was very funny with a very twisted sense of humor which made him instantly relatable to me. In many ways, I saw myself in him.

I even launched a rap career.

Eminem's demented mentality and humorous phraseology were the inspiration for my start in writing rap songs. I achieved an underground rap career and released 10 albums between 2002 and 2005, with another on the way this year. He came off as a smart alecky, bratty younger brother on his first album which went on to sell an impressive 4 million copies.

Eminem's obvious talent was what stood out. White rappers had long been considered a laughingstock and Vanilla Ice was the poster boy for White inferiority in this genre of music. Caucasians were seen as a joke not worthy of even mentioning unless it was for the purposes of garnering laughter. 

Wordsmith Mathers shocked us all, especially with his affiliation to mega producer Dr. Dre, who was a legend of West-Coast gangsta' rap and boasted a working resume full of the biggest (black) names in hip-hop history. Dre was a co-founder of the seminal rap group N.W.A. in the late 1980's and was the signature producer for Death Row Records in the early 1990's.

Now, Dre was extolling the virtues of a pale, blonde haired, blue-eyed Detroit amateur rapper with a whiny voice that talked incessantly about doing drugs, (not selling them) and spoke of deranged violent fantasies, instead of the more traditional gun toting, bust-a-cap-in-yo-butt lyrics that had become tautological and stale in rap.

Being himself was his true appeal to me.

The fact that Eminem never tried to "be black" or act like he actually was black really resonated with me. He never said the n-word in a song, nor did he endlessly recite lines typical of black artists. Instead, he talked about his life in stunning detail and incredibly personal levels. His disdain for both his mother and daughter's mother, his fondness for doing ecstacy, mushrooms and acid and how he was "tired of being white trash, broke and always poor" as he stated on "If I Had," a wistful single from that legendary debut album.

Bottom line, Eminem may not be the greatest rapper in the game or in its history. But his superb career and pioneering efforts will always place him amongst the icons of American popular music.

Guaranteed.

Malcolm X: A Gift and Curse For Black People

CLEVELAND - Malcolm X was one of the most controversial, polarizing figures of the 20th century. He was also endlessly complex, stunningly fascinating and enigmatic beyond belief.

I speak the truth.

Malcolm, a one-time high-profile member of the Nation of Islam was assassinated 44 years ago today in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom. His death sparked a multitude of conspiracy theories, but his life inspired a litany of books, plays and films, most notably Spike Lee's 1992 epic starring the great Denzel Washington.

As celebrated as Malcolm was amongst Blacks for his radical views on race, he was detested by Whites (and some in the Nation of Islam) even more. While it is true that a segment of the black population found fault with his views back then, he has been hailed as an inspiring, seminal figure during the past 20 years. In 1989, militant rap group Public Enemy celebrated him endlessly during their "Fight the Power" era as if he were the perfect role-model for Blacks.

He wasn't.

Malcolm was a man who often spoke disparagingly of White people. In many ways, he was the precursor to the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, even sparking public outrage with a shocking comment about President Kennedy's assassination a week after it took place. He encouraged Blacks to rise up by essentially pushing down the white man. These divisive views were even more glaring when compared to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

King was all about equality and peace. He wanted Whites and Blacks to have the same rights and occupy the same space in harmony. In his final years, King repudiated the burgeoning Black Power Movement largely because it furthered the divide already in place between the different races. Malcolm X not only condoned Black Power, he encouraged it. Now I'm no idiot, I fully understand any Black person's hostility towards Whites during the 1960's, but the way he unleashed his vitriol was counterproductive to any advance we as a people could have ever made. If we followed Malcolm's beliefs, we could never embrace or support President Barack Obama, who is a product of interracial love.

I'm just saying.

In spite of it all, Malcolm X was an intelligent and profound thinker. He just seemed a bit misguided and immature, things that may have turned around had he lived longer. He still deserves to be recognized as influential and key to the evolution of Black people in America.

But he was no MLK.

Barkley's Apology Was Genuine and Inspiring

CLEVELAND - Charles Barkley has always been a fascinating guy in my book. His legendary pro basketball career notwithstanding, I've long considered him to be amazing.

He took that to another level last night.

Barkley, who celebrates his 46th birthday today was arrested on New Year's Eve in Scottsdale, Arizona for driving under the influence (DUI). A subsequent test revealed his blood-alcohol level to be nearly twice the legal limit. The embarrassing incident led to his brief suspension from his studio analyst job on TNT. He returned to his chair last evening a very contrite man and issued an honest, somewhat emotional apology for his high-profile transgression.

"Clearly everybody knows I got a DUI," said Barkley at the top of TNT's pregame show. "That's 100% my fault ... I screwed up, I made a mistake, I'm sorry, I apologize." I was extremely impressed by his accountability and refusal to search for blame elsewhere like so many people do. He repeatedly made it clear that it was all on him, using words like "my screw-up" and thanking many of his friends who offered words of encouragement during his hiatus.

Barkley's candor was typical for him, but no less impressive. He acknowledged that many people drink and believe they're fine enough to drive but by drinking they could "clearly kill somebody else or [themselves]." "I could be a hypocrite and say I hope nobody drinks and drives, but, clearly, that's unrealistic."

Pure honesty.

I've been in Barkley's situation before and it is not pretty or fun. But just like myself, he extracted a huge positive from the situation and learned a critical lesson. He says he will never get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. He took full blame and put it in plain English that he made a huge mistake.

Even in the face of irresponsibility, Barkley is smart.

Bristol Palin: A Bigger Embarrassment Than Her Mom

CLEVELAND - Gov. Sarah Palin was maybe the second biggest reason that Sen. John McCain lost the 2008 Presidential election. Of course the biggest reason was the brilliance of then Sen. Barack Obama but in spite of that, Palin's ineptitude was still very painful at times.

Her oldest daughter is far worse.

That's right. Bristol Palin, the 18-year old offspring of the Alaska governor is fast becoming the poster child for naive, sexually active teenagers. With the recent birth of her first child, the young Palin entered into a galaxy of overwhelming responsibility. On top of her new status as a parent, she's trying to achieve a career by finishing her education.

I see.

Palin took to the airwaves earlier this week, appearing on Fox News for an interview with Greta Van Susteren. She discussed the challenges of young motherhood and admitted to wishing she had "waited 10 years" because it would have been "easier."

Ya don't say.

I admit, for most of the interview, the young woman came off as poised and more mature than her years would indicate. However, her few stumbles were significant. Most glaring was her remark about how abstinence is "not realistic at all" for teens. She had a point, but it made her look like a careless and promiscuous adolescent who was simply "following the crowd" and gettin' loose.

I'm just saying.

To further the train wreck that is the Palin family, the newborn's father, Levi Johnston always seems to be uncomfortable in the spotlight, especially during the RNC this past August. When he and Bristol are seen together, they are always holding hands in a manufactured way, almost as if he has been coached to be overly affectionate with her in public. I'm sure he's really the "hands-on dad" that Bristol says he is, but it all seems too scripted to be completely genuine.

How embarrassing.

Here's my take on the interview; based on what Bristol said (and what she didn't say) coupled with her body language, she is likely in denial about how ill-advised this entire pregnancy was. Johnston, a who-gives-a-damn high school hockey player seems like an obvious loser whom she was probably enamored with or simply thought was cute and couldn't control her 17-year old hormones. Condoms were an afterthought but that behavior would have been too irresponsible for her to admit which is probably why she said, "I don't wanna get into detail about [other reasons why abstinence isn't realistic].

I could be wrong, but I'm probably right on the money.

Gov. Palin has been a staunch supporter of sex-ed, and it reeked of defiance when her daughter said that it "didn't matter what [her] mom's views [on keeping the baby] are on it. It was my decision." It was also irritating hearing Bristol repeatedly say how much easier life would have been if this had come in a decade, rather than now.

She almost seemed like she is entitled to an easy life even though she's carelessly fornicating with high school hockey players and who knows who else.

Disturbing.

I understand that people make mistakes, especially in their teens. But this young woman did it (pardon the pun) on a huge stage. She also did more harm than good in this interview, including furthering several unflattering stereotypes about teens and white women and of course, the Palin family. 

That seems to be an epidemic now.

23 Times Two: Jordan Turns 46 Today

CLEVELAND - I've never made any secret of my insatiable admiration of Michael Jordan and I'm not about to start now, so here goes ...

Happy Birthday, MJ and I love you!

That's right. Call it a man-crush or an obsession, but what it truly is, quite honestly is a serious admiration for Jordan, the basketball giant who turns 46 years of age today and will be in the Hall of Fame by autumn. Thinking of all that he's accomplished in his profession and knowing that it was all as a result of his remarkable mindset and determination makes me smile.

And more driven myself.

Jordan was always the ultimate competitor and thrived on challenges real or perceived. I am very aware that the man has never been perfect, but he is one of a select few perfect examples of how far intensity and ambition can take a person.

Have a great birthday Michael, and may God Bless You with many more!

Blast From the Past: Bryant, O'Neal Dominate Victory

CLEVELAND - It's always a treat when people mature and bury the hatchet of past feuds. It's even more gratifying when those same folks do so after a ton of success together.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, this means you!

The two superstars played nice long enough to lead the West to a blow-out victory over the East, 146-119 in the 58th annual NBA All-Star game last night in Phoenix. When all was said and done, the former L.A. Lakers co-stars had earned co-MVP honors, Bryant scored 27 points while O'Neal was amazingly dominant and unstoppable with 17 points in just 11 minutes.

Shaq called he and Kobe "The Big Legendaries."

Cleveland's LeBron James led the East with 20 points, but the evening truly belonged to Bryant and O'Neal, two of the greatest NBA stars in history. They played together for eight seasons which produced three NBA titles from 2000 to 2002, but had an acrimonious and highly publicized feud for much of those championship years. Last night was their first game as teammates since the 2004 NBA Finals.

With 17-year veteran O'Neal in the sunset of a sterling career (he turns 37 next month), last night nearly felt like a last hurrah for him on the grandiose stage that is the NBA All-Star game. The entire evening was vintage Shaq though. During player introductions, he donned a mask and performed a dance routine with a rap group, then joked and played all game long whether on the bench or court. At one point, he tried to guard 6'1" Mo Williams, a hilarious sight given O'Neal's hulking, 7'1" 350 pound presence.

I will miss Shaq's excellent showmanship and low-post dominance when he does retire. But for one night, he and Bryant teamed up and put past disagreements aside to show the world that people are always better in tandem than as one.

Imagine that.

For Diminutive Robinson, Ain't No Mountain High Enough

CLEVELAND - The Slam Dunk contest used to be a wildly popular showcase for some of the NBA's elite to showcase their athletic prowess. Then it became a joke that most stars avoided.

Except for the past two years.

Last night, super small Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks won his second dunk title in a contest so riveting that it prompted Cavaliers superstar LeBron James to "preliminarily" declare himself a participant in next year's contest.

Sheeeesh!

Robinson, a solid player but certainly no star is only 5'9" in height. He defeated last year's winner, MVP candidate Dwight Howard by ironically and unbelievably jumping over his 6'11" rival to complete his miraculous, clinching dunk. Howard earned himself a place in dunk contest lore at the 2008 event by assuming Superman's identity, complete with cape and swagger. When Howard furthered the Superman theme last night by changing into his cape inside a courtside phone booth, Robinson later went as far as donning a green Knicks uniform and shoes while using a green basketball to act as kryptonite.

With Howard's cooperation, it worked brilliantly.

I was genuinely thrilled and impressed with the creative theatrics provided by the two finalists. They rendered the two other participants, J.R. Smith and Rudy Fernandez irrelevant and nearly unmemorable. Howard's selfless allowance of Robinson to use him as a prop was inspiring. Without it, he would've won his second straight title especially after his outstanding dunk on a 12-foot hoop that was wheeled out to the court.

The contest wasn't as legendary as the 1988 showdown between rival superstars Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins, but it may have done something just as important. It inspired James to take to the skies next year, which could also draw out other major superstars to join in.

For that, we owe Robinson and Howard a debt of gratitude.

Big Surprise: Jordan Among Hall of Fame Finalists

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan's professional basketball career was so legendary and remarkable, that nearly 11 years after he last won a championship and six years since he actually played a pro game...his impact, image and name continues to manifest themselves in today's NBA as if he were a current player.

Not surprising.

Jordan, 46 next week was selected today by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as one of 16 finalists for possible enshrinement into the vaunted Hall of Fame. Former point guard extraordinaire John Stockton and super center David Robinson were also a part of the elite group as were former stars Chris Mullin, Dennis Johnson and Bernard King. NBA coaches Jerry Sloan and Don Nelson and Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer also made the list out of 164 nominees.

But Jordan is the obvious headliner.

The basketball icon had an historic career with the Chicago Bulls from 1984 until his sudden retirement three and a half months after leading the team to their 3rd consecutive championship in the 1993 NBA Finals. He then returned in 1995 and spearheaded three more NBA titles in 1996, '97 and '98. When the NBA lockout ended in January 1999, he retired once more until an even more stunning return in late 2001 with the lowly Washington Wizards. After two tumultuous seasons, MJ retired for good in April 2003.

Jordan's glittering resume makes him a master lock for enshrinement later this year. He amassed a league record 10 scoring titles to go with 10 All-NBA First Team Selections, 9 All-Defensive First Team Selections, 6 NBA championships, 6 NBA Finals MVP's, 5 NBA MVP awards, 3 Steals Titles, 2 U.S. Olympic Gold Medals, was the 1985 NBA Rookie of the Year and helped lead the UNC Tarheels to the 1982 NCAA championship. He also has the highest scoring average in NBA history (30.1 ppg in 1,072 games) and in NBA Playoff History.

The election announcement will be made on April 6 and the official enshrinement will take place in September at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Talk about a sure thing.

Brown's Alleged Abusive Behavior Is Familiar To Many Men

CLEVELAND - I don't condone violence against anyone, least of all females. I do however, understand how sometimes, a person can be pushed to the breaking point.

Which brings me to Chris Brown.

Brown, the 19-year old mega popular teen idol/singer has been getting an enormous amount of negative media attention of late. Allegedly, Brown physically abused his girlfriend, fellow R&B singer Rihanna last weekend in Los Angeles. Exact details remain very sketchy, but a plethora of media reports have painted the famously easy going and "super nice guy" Brown as a raging maniac that abuses women.

Unfair.

Look, I don't know if he assaulted Rihanna or not. But if he did, I think people should at least try to see this incident from more than just the "no man should ever put his hands on a woman" perspective. I know from experience that sometimes, a woman will so skillfully push a man's buttons, that he often loses control and impulsively thrashes the female.

Take one of my experiences for example.

My first girlfriend was addicted to cigarettes. I had briefly gotten into a position of being able to get cartons of them for free, but sometimes I wouldn't give her any because she smoked them so excessively. She became enraged that I wouldn't cave and give her yet another pack. This led to a ridiculous level of stubbornness from her. One day, I had to run a few errands and our 1-year old child was going to stay home with her. The woman was so unreasonable that she threatened to just let the baby do whatever she wanted because she (the girlfriend) decided that she needed a nap without her cigarettes.

She told me that whatever the baby did or got into while I was gone was going to be my fault because I wouldn't give her cigarettes to "keep her awake." Of course, I felt she was just bluffing and wasn't really going to neglect her child for something so petty.

So, I left to run my errands.

When I returned home, the first thing I noticed was many things from inside of our apartment laying in the bushes below our balcony (we lived on the 3rd floor). I stepped into the door of our place and it was not only a mess, but the baby had the balcony door open and had many of her diapers, toys and other items on the balcony ready to be tossed down below with the other things.

My girl was asleep amidst all of this nonsense.

When I woke her up, she made excuses and blamed my leaving for what our child had done. As far as I was concerned, my thinking was; forget the things she ditched over the balcony. She could have slipped through the rails and fell to her death (or been severely injured), all because of her mother's spitefulness.

But I would have been wrong if I would've put my hands on the woman.

My point is, a situation as ridiculous as that can easily prompt a guy to lose his mind and beat the brakes off a chick. If it were reversed and I was the one that let the baby do all of that, she would have been within her rights to punch, kick, slap or back hand me. I would have deserved it.

Some guys abuse women for dumb reasons. Ego. Power. Sick thrill or fetish. Those are the type of guys that I would say are wrong. But believe me, there are legitimate reasons for hitting anyone. The trick is to avoid being in those situations and being with people that try to test you.

Bottom line, I don't know if Chris Brown did what they say he did. But if he did, there is a good possibility that maybe just maybe he had a good reason for doing it.

Or maybe he didn't.

Obama Firm and Urgent About Stimulus Plan

CLEVELAND - President Barack Obama took to the airwaves last night to garner support for his new economic stimulus package and came off as tenacious and determined.

Just as he always does.

Obama's first primetime press conference, televised all over the world, came at a very early time in his presidency; a mere 21 days. By contrast, former President Bush's first one took place nine months after he took office. President Obama spoke with a firm and focused tone and underlined the sense of urgency the nation faces in these unprecedented trying times.

"This is not your run-of-the-mill recession," said Obama who visited Elkhart, Indiana earlier in the day to test out his plan. Elkhart has suffered the most profound job losses of any city in the country. The plan, designed to jump start the economy out of its malaise is said to be close to $840 billion in measure. Obama continually stressed the fact that his administration inherited the $10 trillion deficit and that he isn't all "ginned up" to [spend money] but it is what's required given what he has to work with.

True story.

The president, with a steely disposition and an occasional feistiness in his voice spoke briefly on foreign policy and even made a comment on the steroids fiasco in Major League Baseball. But the horrific economy remained the central issue. He mentioned how his plans are "not perfect" but will create four million jobs.

I'm no genius when it comes to politics or the economy for that matter, but I love our president's sense of urgency and commitment to set the U.S. back on track financially. This recession has had a crippling effect on many Americans, and I have been inundated with stories of folks close to me losing their once rock solid jobs. Friends and family of mine have taken a hit of epic proportions and I feel blessed beyond belief that I'm not in a dumpster somewhere. Obama is a man that gives us real hope for a seemingly impossible situation.

God blessed us with this competent leader. He even labeled himself "an eternal optimist." Let's hope God continues to bless him with the faith of his convictions. We're all going to be better off for it.

With Bryant and James Quiet, Lakers Make Gigantic Statement

CLEVELAND - I've been extolling the virtues of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for months now.

Maybe I was a bit overzealous.

I use the term "maybe" very loosely. The Cavs had their franchise record 23-0 home winning streak snapped yesterday at the hands of the boys from Hollywood; but this was devoid of special effects or trick photography. The L.A. Lakers chewed up and spit out Cleveland, 101-91 in front of a rabid sell-out crowd at Quicken Loans Arena.

The most stunning thing about the Lakers' convincing victory was Kobe Bryant's irrelevance. The 30-year old basketball wizard was hampered all afternoon from what was being called "flu-like symptoms." In spite of his nonchalance and seemingly visible detachment, he managed a tepid 19 points in just 35 minutes of real labor. He grimaced several times as if he was ready to purge himself of an annoying hang over.

His megastar counterpart, Cleveland's James was downright trash on offense. The 6th year phenom misfired to the tune of a 5-of-20 shooting performance for a meager 16 points. As with all transcendent facilitators though, he managed to play an excellent floor game with 8 rebounds and 12 assists in 40 minutes that had to feel like a 40 hour work week to him. James labored mightily in a futile attempt to produce his customary brilliance, but with one missed jumper after another, he began to look uncharacteristically inept.

And then there was Lamar Odom.

Odom, the Lakers' much maligned, multi-talented swingman was the unlikely catalyst in this huge L.A. victory. With key starter Andrew Bynum out for possibly the rest of the season, the 6-10" Odom put on a clinic after halftime and spearheaded a scintillating 31-16 third quarter romp that converted a 10-point halftime deficit into a momentum swinging five point edge heading into the fourth.

Odom was unstoppable both offensively and off the glass. He amassed a staggering 15 points and 10 rebounds in the pivotal third alone and finished with a yeoman's 28 points and 17 rebounds. All of this in the Lakers' final game of their six-game road trip, which saw Bryant torch the Knicks for a record 61 points earlier in the week.

I was thoroughly impressed by what L.A. accomplished at Quicken Loans Arena yesterday. It's not that I believed the Cavs to be impervious on their home floor, I just didn't expect the Lakers or any team for that matter to handle them as well without their superstar being their superstar.

Bryant did have a remarkable moment where he drilled an impossible high-arching jumper over James' outstretched arm. It was one more example of his singular specialness in spite of his sickly countenance.

The Lakers looked tough and better equipped than I expected, but when they face Cleveland in the 2009 NBA Finals, it won't be smooth sailing for them the way it was yesterday.

But it won't be for the Cavs either.

Anna Nicole Was The Smartest 'Dumb Blonde' In History

CLEVELAND - Anna Nicole Smith was widely known and thought of as an opportunistic dumb blonde that slept her way to success and stardom.

I beg to differ.

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of her death from an accidental drug overdose. In the weeks following her death, the media dedicated wall-to-wall coverage and commentary to the event as if she were a major celebrity. She had long been thought of as a stereotypical "dumb blonde" with no discernible talent by the general public, but in my estimation, she was actually a genius.

Say what?

Yes, Anna Nicole, born Vickie Lynn Marshall was far more intelligent and shrewd than she was given credit for. After being picked by legendary publisher Hugh Hefner to appear in his popular Playboy magazine in 1992, Smith steamrolled her way to celebrity status. Using her bountiful curves and sex-symbol looks to her advantage, she wound up doing Hollywood films as well as ads for different companies, most notably Guess jeans. She cultivated her image as a modern day Marilyn Monroe and adopted the late actresses' trademark sex-kitten persona.

By 2002, Smith had earned herself a cable television series, named after her. This came years after her controversial marriage to billionaire industrialist J. Howard Marshall, who was 89 years old at the time he wed then 26-year old Anna. She was labeled a shameless gold-digger with no morality or integrity.

When she died suddenly and tragically in a Florida hotel on February 8, 2007, the world was beyond stunned. I for one felt a sense of real loss, for not only was I a fan of hers, I also recognized her hustle. She was a classic "give-'em-what-they-want" kind of woman. When a reporter told her that she was being exploited on her show, she replied, "I don't mind...as long as I'm gettin' paid."

Makes plenty of sense.

Anna often seemed woefully inept and clueless, but the truth is that no one ascends the Hollywood ladder of success without being brilliant, either outwardly or surreptitiously. Her entire image and "air-headed" demeanor was merely a ruse, and she used it to the nth degree. After an extensive court battle over her remains and inheritance, she was finally buried three long weeks after her death. She even received the red carpet treatment at her funeral in the Bahamas, something typically reserved for dignitaries and other VIP's.

Anna Nicole Smith achieved her dream of fame and riches. If nothing else, we need to tip our hats to her for that.

The Cipher: Originality For the Future

CiPheR

CLEVELAND - Rap and hip-hop music has, in my opinion become a stagnant, monotonous and repetitive genre. What was once a creative art form has degenerated into a vicious cycle of sameness.

And it's hurting the game.

The well worn themes of money, jewelery, cars, drugs, guns and women have made this once brilliant form of music lifeless, listless and uninspiring. But as long as the public eats it up, nothing will ever change.

Until now.

Enter Jermaine Perry, the founder and flagship artist of the Cleveland-based fledgling hip-hop group "The Cipher." Perry, my closest friend and colleague is a first-rate visionary with the requisite mentality to change the game. He, along with co-founder Jason Lacey plan to rewrite the now stale and hackneyed rules of hip-hop that places a premium on hubris and manufactured machismo and elitism. These men are actually talking about relevant topics that real people can relate to and appreciate.

The group's first CD debuts this Spring. Check out the breathtaking recording session above and be prepared to pick your jaw up off the floor.

Prelude To A Showdown

CLEVELAND - Three nights ago, Kobe Bryant assaulted the New York Knicks for 61 points. Last night, it was LeBron James that went buck wild on the same court, finishing with 52 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

New York hasn't been attacked this bad in years.

Bryant's scintillating performance broke both Bernard King's building record and Michael Jordan's opponent record. It was breathtaking for sure, resulting in a 126-117 Lakers victory. With the Cleveland Cavaliers coming to town, basketball fans salivated at what James might do to top Kobe.

Of course, LeBron has never played the game chasing stats.

When the dust settled last night, MSG had been sprinkled with a healthy dose of LeBron's magical "fairy dust." His game was so on target from the opening tip, that he was actually ahead of Bryant's pace, netting 20 first quarter points. 

Sheesh.

The Cavs won the game, 107-102 in front of a star-studded crowd. Jay-Z, Chris Rock, Whoopi Goldberg, Diddy and of course, Spike Lee were among the courtside giants to witness LeBron's latest historical feat. By scoring 50 or more, he tied Jordan's mark of being the only opponent in history to score multiple 50-plus point games in this building. MJ turned the trick on opening night in 1986 and again in 1995 in just his fifth game back from his first retirement.

The bigger storyline, in my opinion is the fact that the Lakers will fly to Cleveland for a Sunday matinee. Bryant and James will duke it out on the same court on national television. These two performances this week now seem like finely-tuned warmups for their likely majestic collision.

Of course, both the Lakers and Cavs are excelling at a high level this season, both on pace to eclipse 60 victories overall. It is entirely possible that neither megastar will perform as wondrously as they did on Broadway this week, but don't count on that. This will be a classic matchup however you slice it, whether team-wise or star v.s. star.

Bryant racked up 61 in N.Y., but had zero rebounds and just three assists. James of course, had the first 50 point triple double in 34 years. Expect some version of that trend to continue which should give a really good idea as to who the victor will be.

LeBron will trump Kobe. 

Killer DiMarco Turned Me Into A Nutjob...Temporarily

CLEVELAND - I have always been considered "weird" by most people's conventional standards and beliefs. Mark DiMarco probably confirmed everyone's suspicions.

He turned me into a bizarre nutjob for a while.

DiMarco was a murderer, abductor and alleged rapist, among other things before he committed suicide in a Youngstown prison. Today marks the 10th anniversary of his death, so I decided that it's a great time to bring up something that was um, sort of creepy that involved him and myself.

DiMarco became infamous in Cleveland lore because of his role in the 1996 murder of North Royalton nurse Mary Jo Pesho. He and Shannon Kidd acosted Pesho at Parmatown Mall on January 2, 1996, kidnapped her, supposedly raped her (although her autopsy seemed to contradict that) and then murdered her. Both young men, 17 at the time were able to avoid arrest for a long while. By the Spring of 1998, they had been sentenced to long prison terms. Kidd was helpful to the prosecution and received a "light" 40 years, which was almost nothing compared to what DiMarco got. The sinister mastermind of the entire crime was given 94 years to life.

For whatever reason, I became fascinated with the case as well as the smug DiMarco himself. Once he took his own life, he seemed like a martyr, if only to me. While the rest of the city detested him, I was busy writing on napkins stupefying things like, "DiMarco for President." I often touted him as being a role model and even lied to people saying that I attended his funeral.

Coincidentally, I just happened to have a friend that knew DiMarco personally. In fact, she was one of several individuals that did a very brief stint in prison for perjury in his case. She allowed me to hear recorded conversations between she and Kidd while he was incarcerated and even read me a letter he sent her. This girl also was friends with DiMarco's girlfriend Jennifer Ray, who was also jailed for perjury.

I felt like I was a part of history!

I went so far as to design a T-shirt with DiMarco's photo on it. I also replicated his suicide note in magic marker and affixed DIMARCO across the top back of the shirt as if it were a sports jersey. I wore the shirt to work under another shirt and when I revealed it, I sparked a lot of glares and hushed whispers. Everyone locally knew of the case and DiMarco well, so I became persona non grata very easily.

Weirdo.

The final straw may have been when my buddy, the girl that was DiMarco's friend surprised me by bringing his girlfriend to my 22nd birthday party. I was giddy with excitement and once they arrived, I asked Ray (his girlfriend) a plethora of questions pertaining to him. When I showed her the controversial shirt, she was flattered and overjoyed that I was such a "fan."

Everyone else wanted to have me committed.

My friend actually brought me a copy of his obituary, but redacted the info detailing the location of his burial. She actually felt that if I knew where he was buried, I might go and try to "dig him up!" I know it sounds crazy, but the way I behaved at the time ... it was a very smart thing to assume.

I even jokingly suggested inviting him (read: his corpse) to my party. One of my other female friends remarked at the time, "if you do that, people will be scared to sit by him." Talk about insanity.

Bottom line, I understood then as I do now the seriousness of DiMarco's transgressions.  I wasn't trying to make light of the horrific things he did, nor did I truly think he was a hero or role model. It was just another example of my sometimes over-the-top idiosyncrasies and all-out bizarre mentality. I believe it to be the remnants of my legendary shock tinged sense of humor.

In any event, I want to officially put the DiMarco debacle to bed. Let the man rest in peace.

Kobe Had Better Pray His Dream 61 Doesn't Turn Into A Nightmare

CLEVELAND - I'm reminded of the great Michael Jordan whenever one of today's top NBA superstars does something loaded with brilliance.

Last night, it was Kobe Bryant that did it. Again.

Bryant, 30 scored a sizzling 61 points in a 126-117 Los Angeles Lakers victory over the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. It broke Bernard King's 24-plus year old record at the "new" Garden as well as Jordan's 14-year old opponent's mark.

While Bryant drilled 19 baskets and all 20 of his foul shots in a dizzying display of basketball prowess, the singular performance may have been a very bad sign for the outstanding Lakers. With their victory last night, L.A. improved to 38-9 but their smooth sailing could be close to crashing down. Center Andrew Bynum, an integral cog in their machine this season suffered an injury over the weekend that could sideline him for three months.

Ouch.

Bynum's great productivity and presence wasn't missed in MSG last night, thanks to Bryant's virtuoso performance as well as Pau Gasol's overshadowed excellence (31 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists). But make no mistake, the Lakers will not be the same powerhouse they've been thus far. Bryant's mega scoring sprees will actually make the Lakers far easier to defend. Coach Phil Jackson already mentioned in recent days that the team isn't very physical and Bryant himself mentioned that they need to toughen up.

Bynum's absence will further compromise both things. Even though he will most likely return for the playoffs, the remaining 35 regular season games will be a challenge. If Bryant has to ramp up his offense, it will ultimately hurt their rhythm and reorder everyone's roles. I'm not trying to predict gloom and doom, but it could happen. When Bynum had a similar situation last season, it barely affected the team due to the shocking acquisition of Gasol shortly thereafter. 

Don't count on that this time.

Everything could end up smooth sailing for the team, but it's not likely. The Western Conference is still very formidable and if Kobe becomes a one-man show in spite of Gasol's talents, it will get very difficult.

But Kobe would still be a treat to watch.

5 Years Later: How Jackson's Big Reveal Was a Victim of Hypocrisy

CLEVELAND - I have always been frustrated at the double-standard that the American media and the general public at large places on censorship.

Janet Jackson probably feels the same way.

Today marks the 5th anniversary of Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" which took place during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXVIII. I remember the incident vividly as myself and my best friend were the only folks in a room of several to be paying attention to the stunning "mishap."

Jackson, 37 at the time, was performing a music set with singer/actor Justin Timberlake, complete with suggestive dance routines while Timberlake crooned his hit single, "Rock Your Body." Once the song wound down to its conclusion, Timberlake sang its final, prophetic line; "I bet I'll have you naked by the end of this song."

And just like that, Jackson's right breast was naked.

Timberlake yanked off a piece of her costume near her breast area, briefly revealing her bodacious "boob" which was adorned with a nipple shield. CBS, the network that broadcast the 2004 Super Bowl, immediately cut to an aerial shot of the stadium. According to both performers, the incident was a stunt that went awry. Apparently, Jackson's bra was supposed to be revealed, not any skin.

Um, okay.

At the time, the incident as well as Jackson and Timberlake's intent seemed very suspect. MTV, which produced the halftime show had featured a story in the days leading up to it that promised "shocking moments" during their performances. They both remarked in the aftermath that it was a "wardrobe malfunction," a term that has since taken on an iconic status. Record fines were levied against CBS and MTV by the venerable FCC and the story dominated the media for weeks.

Jackson was virtually crucified in the media as well as the court of public opinion. She received a disproportionate amount of blame and her record sales and overall career trajectory plummeted in the months and years since. Ironically, Timberlake has flourished and he's appeared in more than a half dozen films since the debacle and enjoyed excellent record sales.

Interesting.

Of course, I take exception to the FCC and their censorship policies. Obviously driven by public outrage, it bothers me that things such as sexually suggestive images or content and obscene rap and hip-hop lyrics take center stage when it's time to censor. But pervasive violence and disturbing imagery (such as certain scenes on CSI) are almost never repudiated or subject to heavy scrutiny or censorship. And let's not forget harsh and misogynistic lyrics in rock, heavy metal and country songs.

Pure hypocrisy.

Television has gotten very timid since the '04 incident. Tape delays are now the norm. Everyone is so concerned about offending anyone and incurring heavy fines and controversy. Since I am a supporter of controversy, this bothers me a bit more than others. My envelope pushing series, a Date with Deante is loaded with FCC infractions. In my mind though, I'm not being controversial just for the heck of it. I am doing a public service by bringing harsh reality to the world's attention. It's no different than the news, except it has an entertainment twist.

Though Jackson didn't have a moral basis for her unfortunate moment, it was still far too overblown. Yes, children were watching ... but believe me, nine sixteenths of a second of seeing a partially covered breast will never ruin a child. If that were the case, why did so many in the news media choose to show topless photos of transgendered male Thomas Beattie on national television? Beattie may be a guy now, but we were still looking at the nipples of a person born a female.

But the world is filled with hypocrites, so that was expected.