Freddie Hubbard 1938-2008

Jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, one of the most brilliant players of the post-bop era, died in a Sherman Oaks, California hospital from complications stemming from a heart attack suffered on November 26th.

Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion at a time when being black was sufficient to get you killed as evidenced by the lynchings which were in vogue in America in the early 1900s. His impact continues to resonate into the 21st century as evidenced by Trevor Von Eeden's serialized comic strip:

The legend of Jack Johnson, who became the first black heavyweight champion 100 years ago Friday, keeps growing. His story was already inspiration for a stage play and a feature film. Now he has inspired an online comic-book biography, “The Original Johnson.”

The comic, which is being serialized in weekly installments at www.comicmix.com, is written and illustrated by Trevor Von Eeden, and is unflinching in its depiction of racism in America, the brutality of the boxing ring and the tragedies and triumphs of Johnson’s life, including his sexual conquests. New chapters are scheduled to be posted every Wednesday.

It's a Wonderful Life

Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, it seemed to me, was emblematic of the sappiness and sentimentality associated with Christmas. But after reading Wendell Jamieson's essay in the New York Times, perhaps I need to take a second look. He writes:

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a terrifying, asphyxiating story about growing up and relinquishing your dreams, of seeing your father driven to the grave before his time, of living among bitter, small-minded people. It is a story of being trapped, of compromising, of watching others move ahead and away, of becoming so filled with rage that you verbally abuse your children, their teacher and your oppressively perfect wife. It is also a nightmare account of an endless home renovation.

Bernie's Hustle

Given the length and enormity of the alleged Ponzi scheme - more than two decades and by most accounts $50 billion - Bernard Madoff has earned the right of having this hustle renamed in his dishonor. Henceforth, it should be referred to as the Madoff Scheme, or, more informally, Bernie's Hustle.

Drama Queen

In a league with more than its share of self-obsessed egomanical simpletons, Terrell Owens reigns supreme. Regardless of whether it is the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and now the Dallas Cowboys, there is invariably drama and whining from this self-centered, insecure idiot.

Governor Blagojevich

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's defense to the charges of bribery and corruption would seem to be obvious: plea insanity. For either he is profoundly stupid or certifiably insane to engage in the lunacy of trying to sell Obama's vacated Senate seat when he was already under federal investigation for pay for play and other crimes.

Juiced

There was something terribly pathetic in watching O.J. Simpson's plea for leniency during his sentencing for kidnapping and armed robbery. Through his rambling presentation, he couldn't quite shake the sense of entitlement that has been so much a part of his life since he demonstrated prowess on the football field, so much so that somehow the usual rules simply didn't apply to him. The Goldmans were understandably in a self-congratulatory mood for attributing Simpson's imminent incarceration to their unrelenting pursuit since Simpson was declared not guilty in the double murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Undoubtedly, the Goldmans' single-mindedness was a factor in O.J. going over their edge but given Simpson's attraction to the public limelight - like a moth to a flame - it was only a matter of time before this simpleton would do something stupid to get locked up.

Plaxico Burress' Toxicity

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress' remarkable skills as a player between the white lines is only exceeded by his toxic combination of arrogance and stupidity, which unfortunately isn't limited to him (witness the asininity of fellow diva wide receivers Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens). As is well-documented at this point, Mr. Burress managed to shoot himself in the leg in a swank New York City nightclub while being declared inactive to play against the Washington Redskins because of a hamstring injury. His actions left the New York Giants organization with few viable options other than to suspend him for the remainder of the 2008 season.

Odetta 1930-2008

Odetta is dead at 77 years of age from heart disease. Her gift of song was an integral part of the United States civil rights movement in particular and the worldwide struggle for freedom and human rights in general.

Obama's Change

I find Obama's selections for financial and national security advisers rather troubling because they don't seem to square with the campaign rhetoric of "change we can believe in." Folks like Larry Summers and Timothy Geither are proteges of Clinton's former secretary of the treasury Robert Rubin. These people are partly responsible for the development of many of the exotic financial instruments and deregulation at the center of the current financial crisis. It is difficult to believe they represent the fresh thinking needed to extricate ourselves from this mess. As for national security, the main three - Hillary Clinton, James Jones, and Robert Gates - are interesting to say the least. Clinton's selection for state is easily the most problematical. I still believe that her foreign policy experience is vastly overblown, and with her you get Bill, which means a lot of drama. Jones is a close friend of John McCain and even appeared with the latter on the campaign trail. Gates is obviously a Bush holdover and the best thing that can be said for him is that he isn't Donald Rumsfeld. Now Obama claims that he values strong personalities and strong opinions, and he obviously thinks that his vision will dominate this motley crew. I say only time will tell.