Regardless how repulsed you are with Michael Jacksons “off stage” life, he reveloutionized music and played a huge role in music video…The MTV GENERATION. I actually bought a ticket to see him during the Victory Tour in the early 80’s..I’ve bought few since. Over the last decade or more..he became a villian,a punchline and to some, a freak show! I guarantee, there’s a lot of people taking this ever bit as hard as when Elvis died. 1 down..2 to go. My bedroom ceiling was the reason my Mom stopped popping in unannounced. Farrah became the gold standard in teenage male frustration! By todays standards, Larry the Cable guy shows more skin. The pin-up was somewhat revealing but left so much more to the imagination. Unlike MJ, Farrah never tested the respect of the public. “The burning bed” forced us, not to, turn a blind eye to woman abuse.
2 down..1 to go. I never bought any Colonial Penn life insurance from Ed McMahon…but I loved his YESSSS! Phil Hartman played the best Ed and the Carsenio bit was very funny. 3 down 0 to go?…lets hope so. Is this an ol’ wives tale? One more day left. Maybe we do need that Colonial Penn Life insurance after all!

As I’m writing…I’m wearing a mask… so don’t worry. The Swine Flu microbe is IN the air they say. I’m more worried about whats ON the air. Close to the Brighton compound, one confirmed case of the virus has been confirmed…ONE! Yet, watching the TV news on this, is like watching the movie “Outbreak”. Stores are selling out of masks. What’s a couple to do if they have a sudden urge to play doctor…no masks!!! Fear sells…it controls our attention spans and that is exactly what the media, our local media is doing. Plague hyping is a sexy story to the media but it needs to be squashed faster than a grape at a square dance. I fret seeing good people, whom are already anxious, pushed to the point of pure panic. I’m phobic…but hour after hour of watching the talking heads broadcast from local emergency rooms, I read the fine print…treatable. Worry about things you can control like, that woman screwed up my highlights again…why is my kid not talking to me, or the popular…my sisters husband is a lazy-ass!!! I’m not even watching the news tonight. I’m gonna worry about whether Tommy Chong will be paroled in time to witness the “worlds largest mushroom cloud” hovering over Hart Plaza, at the Willie Nelson concert.  Before you go and destroy your VHS copy of “Babe”…wash your hands… of this!!!

I have always been a little anxious about meeting stars. My fear may not be rational(no one has ever accused me of being rational anyway!). Who want’s to be dissed by they’re favorite TV, movie or sports hero?Years ago,  I came face to face with hall of fame QB Roger Staubach at a Wings/Stars game. I said “you’re Roger Staubach…he replied “Yeah…I used to be”. See my point? Luckily, that was the exception and not the rule. In our biz, we have the chance to meet a lot of famous people. My sweatty hand has touched  the likes of Garth Brooks, Cindy Crawford and Larry the cable guy. These people, meet so many people…do they realize what one chance encounter can mean to a peon like me? It becomes a Make it or break it moment! My sweetest chance encounter happened twelve years ago. I am a golf fanatic…so was my daughter Amber. I took off work on a Friday to attend “The Coloniel” golf tournement. Amber wanted to see Tiger Woods in person. It was overcast that day but about one-hundred degree’s in the shade. We got there early and wormed our way next to the security rope on the practice green. In the midst of over two hundred others, Tiger suddenly stood twelve feet away. There was no talking, no whispering…just an occasional SHHHHH. As Tiger reached down to pick up his ball, my second eldest child, my respectfull, well mannered child, shattered golf ettiqiette that preceded her  over one hundered years. She opened her little, her mouth and whispered “Hi Tiger”!!! With hundered’s watching, listening and wittnessing…time stood still! This is just not done. As visions of being kicked out, no refund and ultimate golf shame raced through my mind, arguably the greatest golfer of all time, looked  straight at her…smiled and winked!!! The crowd was over-joyed, I felt like I had been pardoned from the electric chair and Amber experienced her first make it or break it moment. There were so many other things he could’ve done and didn’t.

Who would YOU like to meet?

Indecision grips us all at some point. But in Jason’s case…I’m damn glad that boy is not a AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLER!!! I loved Melissa from the start…what’s not to like? She’s cute, vivacious, has a heart of gold and is a former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader. However, when you peel back the layers on that onion…Houston (sorry Dallas) we have a problem. I’ll get back to that soon. Molly always seemed uncomfortably guarded to me…or maybe all that eye-liner made me uncomfortable. She wasn’t as natural around Ty as Melissa and I’m sure that played a part in his intial decision. Now enter exhibit A…The smoking gun. Melissa’s family freaked him out!!! She can talk all day in her charming Texas twang on how she was or is close to her parents but over the holidays, did Jason come face to face with the Conehead’s? These people were MIA during their daughter’s shining moment as a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader…never attended a game. OK…maybe they are Washington Redskin fan’s…but give me a break!!! I believe he was crazy about Melissa but he got weirded out about exposing his son and the rest of The Cleavers to Melissa’s family. With Molly’s family his biggest worry may be…can he pick his own hat?

What’s YOUR theory?

The great philosopher…Paisley…I believe it was, said it best..The more they run  my name down, the more my price goes up. I read a magazine piece today that said, hip-hop star and accused batterer, Chris Brown, will not likely, relinquish his fame, over this horrible act of violence, against pop-star Rihanna. I call it cowardly…some call it street cred. If I were a Chris Brown fan, I wouldn’t even use his CD’s as freakin’ costers. Rihanna’s face didn’t get that way by tripping over a mic stand. Wait and see…fan’s will stand by their man. How would country people handle this? You’re country, or you wouldn’t even be reading this. Let’s say…He was Tim…and she was…Faith(totally fictional by the way)…at first you’re shocked, then mad…all of a sudden…they kiss and make up, like nothing ever happened. Could you ever buy a CD, a ticket or ever look at him the same way again? Me…I couldn’t. Hitting a woman is a symptom of something that I, would just be forced to wash my hands of. Not everyone thinks like country people. Adios….reality!!!

We live in a “try it before we buy it”society……..Guilty!!! I say I am true to my convictions but challenged by conveinence. Sat Oct. 4th, my second oldest daughter Amber, will marry Dylan, in Dallas. Amber has been a model daughter, sister, student, friend and employee. Amber became a christian when she was a little girl. Her faith has never waned. She made a decision a long time ago……abstinence. It must have been tough for a teen-age girl to stick to her guns like Amber has. She’s only human! I can’t take credit for planting the seed, it was her choice. Dylan is a “mans man”. He comes from a good family, he’s a good son, brother, friend, student and employee. Plus, he makes Amber laugh! He made a decision a long time ago…..abstinence. They are not hero’s…..just young people, trying to make their way in this crazy world. I am proud of them for sticking to their convictions. The true glory is in that they waited for each other.

Do you wish you would have waited?

Detroiter’s by the number were thrown under the bus…ran over…..then backed over….and ran over again. The Mayors lies penetrated and demolished the lives of police officers and their families. I’ve heard it said “oh they got paid millions for it”. I say so what!!! Look at the toll it took! I also heard a woman on the elevator say “I felt sorry for Kwame in the courtroom today”. Did you see the look on Carlita’s face today? It’s the same one I’ve seen after car crashes. Do you feel sorry for Kwame and will Carlita stay with him?

Over a hundred thosand people filled the streets of downtown D for The Beach Bash and concert Aug 2nd weekend. Man, it was good to see smiling faces and folks forgetting their troubles for a few hours…we needed that…I needed that. Don’t even bother with last names “Kenny” say’s it all…and he was running for office in The Motor City. Not that we don’t already have a Mayor (insert joke here)Who would you vote for? Kenny or Keith? Some say…Keith stole the show, while Kenny loyalist say K-Chez was better than ever!!! Remember, it is an election year, so make your vote count.

When the Tiger’s signed Pudge, it had a cascade effect. Soon after Mag’s came, then Carlos, etc. It was a sign the Tigers mean’t buisness. His #7 jersey has clad more Detroit backs than Barry Sanders gear. While there is some debate as to whether Pudge would enter the Hall of Fame as a Ranger or Tiger, he helped put Comerica Park on the map. Did the Tiger’s just trade your favorite player?

Should we really be Celebrating over gas prices going down only a few cents? I talk to people everyday that are sacrificing,  just to have a quater tank to get to work and back. Meanwhile, oil companies are reporting record profits. We are being gouged, then lulled into believing were getting a deal when it drops a couple of nickels!!! What happens to the minimum wage worker, the single mother and YOU when we hit $6.00 a gallon? I want to know….  How are you managing this crisis?