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

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

Especially on the anniversary of his birth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

20 Years Later, 1992 Dream Team Still Gold Standard

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

That group remains the greatest team ever assembled.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sherman Hemsley Was True Television Pioneer

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

And it was all because of George Jefferson.

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

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

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

Colorado Tragedy and History Prove Motive Not Always Necessary

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

Maybe, he had no motive.

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

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

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

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

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

No motive required.

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

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

Michael Jackson was dead.

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

At least, that was the plan.

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

Then, there was Bad.

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

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

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

He will always be with us.

Despite Recent Past, LeBron Now Worthy of High Acclaim

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

Mind-blowing greatness should be appreciated, period.

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

The negative whispers grew louder.

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

Fast forward to this season.

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

Boy did it ever.

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

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

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

And he did it the hard way.

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

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

True story.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jordan was always in a class by himself.

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

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

Long distance shooting.

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

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

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

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

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

Until Jordan laid down his rules.

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

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

For Jordan, his transcendence was never questioned again.

10 Years Later: Revisiting Eminem's Dominant Peak

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

But he did just that.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What a show!

At 86, Hefner Still Transcends And Inspires

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

Happy birthday, Hugh Hefner.

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

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

The legacy of Hefner.

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

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

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

'American Reunion' Both Depressing and Entertaining

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Growing up isn't necessarily a good thing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1,000 Days Gone: Remembering Michael

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

Michael Jackson.

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

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

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

Michael, we will forever admire and love you.

Murray's Sentence Both Gratifying and Frustrating

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

Very deceiving.

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

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

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

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

Desperate people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It remains very impressive even today.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michael, I salute you once again!

Murray's Conviction: Just What The Doctor Ordered

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

Talk about gratifying.

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

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

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

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

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

Idiots.

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

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

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

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

Now he's got it.

20 Years Ago Today: Johnson's Shocking Moment

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 Years Ago Today: Michael Jackson's Final Release

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

It is now Michael Jackson's turn.

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

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

He was always his own biggest competition.

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

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

Jobs' Legacy Of Incredible Singularity

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

Steve Jobs.

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

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

That's part of his brilliance.

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

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

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

Thanks, Steve.

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

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

Utterly hilarious.

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

The new dynamic worked brilliantly.

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

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

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

Impressive.

How I Overcame The Scary Horror of September 11th

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

September 11, 2001.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A reason to smile.

Michael Jackson: Respect Deserved

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

Happy Birthday, Michael.

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

How rude.

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

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

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

He instilled love in every way.

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

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

Two Years Later, Loss of Michael Still Stings

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

Forever.

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

I miss Michael so much.

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

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

I want him back.

LeBron James Doesn't Deserve His Own Talent

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

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

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

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

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

It's just not fair.

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

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

Seriously.

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

Um, yeah.

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

Failure is all his.

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

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

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

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

Unless he finally gets a clue and grows up.