Merry Christmas

Well, the day is almost here, Christmas that is. I have never been a big fan of this holiday, so much so that both friends and family are moved to draw unflattering comparisons between me and Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch who stole Christmas. So be it. But it is hard to argue with Ambrose Bierce who viewed Christmas as, "A day consecrated to gluttony, drunkenness, maudlin sentiment, gift-taking public dullness and domestic misbehavior." Merry Christmas everyone.

Moody's Mood for Love

James Moody 1925-2010

The legendary saxophonist James Moody died last Thursday in a San Diego hospice. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

Elizabeth Edwards 1949-2010

Elizabeth Edwards died after battling cancer. With uncommon grace and fortitude, she showed us how to continue living in spite of dealing with a deadly disease.

The Queen

Sad news out of Detroit that Aretha Franklin, the legendary Queen of Soul, is battling pancreatic cancer.

Don Meredith 1938-2010

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and broadcaster Don Meredith died Sunday from a brain hemorrhage. Meredith along with Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford constituted the first foray of the National Football League into prime time television in what became known as Monday Night Football and a fixture in popular culture. Meredith's folksy humor was the perfect foil for the bombastic Cosell and the reserved Gifford.

Flush with Cash

Former congressman Bill Jefferson (D-New Orleans) famously gave added meaning to the term "cold cash" after $80,000 was found stuffed in his freezer. Now comes Prince George's county executive Jack B. Johnson and wife Leslie to give a fresh perspective to "flush with cash." Yesterday afternoon the Johnsons were arrested by FBI agents for bribery and tampering with evidence. According to the Washington Post, the following exchange took place as Leslie Johnson frantically scampered to dispose of evidence:

Two FBI agents were at the front door of their two-story brick colonial in Mitchellville.

"Don't answer it," the county executive said, unaware that more agents were listening in.

Johnson ordered his wife to find and destroy a $100,000 check from a real estate developer that was hidden in a box of liquor.

"Do you want me to put it down the toilet?" Leslie Johnson asked.

"Yes, flush that," the county executive said.

The Big Three

Miami Heat's so-called "big three" - DeWayne Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh - is a misnomer. True, Wade and James should be mentioned among the NBA's elite players but Bosh is little more than a nice little complimentary player with an unimpressive resume and, as such, undeserving of what amounts to greatness by association.

Novice Dissemblers

Notwithstanding the shellacking congressional Democrats suffered in the midterm elections, the nation's capital has been abuzz over the bizarre benching of Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb during the Detroit Lions game. And the explanations for the move proved even more bizarre. First, head coach Mike Shanahan suggested that McNabb had not mastered the niceties of the two-minute drill and that backup Rex Grossman, who had spent a year in Kyle Shanahan's offense, gave the team "the best chance to win." Of course, the remarkably immobile Grossman entered the game and promptly fumbled the ball. Then in a press conference two days later, the elder Shanahan amended his explanation, noting that McNabb "cardiovascular endurance" was insufficient execute the rigors of the two-minute drill. Apparently that McNabb was under center for every snap before the benching did not matter. Finally, Shanahan the younger clarified that McNabb's ability to execute the two-minute drill was compromised by the assorted injuries resulting from playing behind a porous offensive line. In a city known for its dissemblers, the Shanahans would do well to refine their approach.

Perry's Colored Girls

Washington Post columnist Courtland Milloy, who could never be mistaken for a fan of director Tyler Perry's oeuvre, dismisses For Colored Girls with the delightful phrase "For Black Men Who Have Considered Homicide After Watching Another Perry Movie."

Marion Brown 1931-2010

Alto saxophonist Marion Brown died in a Hollywood, Florida assisted living facility after many years of ill-health.

Ginni's Olive Branch

Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas' wife, Virginia, left her husband's accuser Anita Hill a voicemail message requesting apology and explanation for allegations of sexual harassment leveled nineteen years ago in Senate confirmation hearings. I get it that a wife would want to protect her husband but what's the point after damn near twenty years? Viewed in the most charitable way, Mrs. Thomas's actions come off as nothing short of bizarre.

Solomon Burke 1940-2010

The singer Solomon Burke died yesterday on a plane in Amsterdam, reportedly en route to a gig. The cause of death is unknown.

Columbus Day

On the occasion of Columbus Day, the observations of the late Hans Konig come to mind. Konig, then writing of the 500th anniversary of the explorer's arrival in the Americas, stated:

The miserable truth is that those first encounters on the Indian side quickly led to last encounters. The Indians of the Caribbean were destroyed within two generations by the Spanish discoverers. Not one of them was converted to the Catholic faith, which was supposedly a prime motive of those voyages. They died when they were hanged, in rows of 13, ''in honor of the Redeemer and His twelve Apostles,'' according to the original Spanish documents.

They had their hands cut off when they did not bring in their quarterly quota of gold dust. Their chiefs were roasted on fires of green wood. When their cries kept the Spaniards awake, they were silenced with wooden slats put over their tongues. Ten years after the first landing, the miserable native survivors started killing themselves by eating poisoned roots.

Yes, Christopher Columbus was the first European to sail to America in recorded history. But Columbus set into motion a sequence of greed, cruelty, slavery and genocide that, even in the bloody history of mankind, has few parallels. He organized an extermination of native Americans. He was also as mean, cruel and greedy in small matters as he was in vast ones.

Fashionable Idiocy

Admittedly, I know next to nothing about fashion, particularly women's fashion, but it strikes me as an exercise in idiocy that the red sari worn by the emaciated Michaele Salahi, she of the publicity crazed couple that crashed a White House dinner, would fetch $7,000 at auction. Given their gate-crashing escapade, the Salahis deserved to be outfitted in prison jumpsuits.

Unspoken Kinship

Tom Joyner, the self-described "Fly Jock" and indefatigable worker for all things African American, observed in a recent blog post on the travails of Bishop Eddie Long and Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.: "You all know what I'm talking about - an incident that no matter what your politics, your economic status or your religious affiliation, you hurt, despair and even a tinge of betrayal because even though you may have had no personal connection, there was an unspoken kinship between you and person or people being accused."

With all due respect to Mr. Joyner, this is nonsense. I feel no kinship, spoken or otherwise, with Bishop Long, who allegedly sexually exploited four young men,or Rep. Jackson, who is implicated in political and sexual scandals. If these two gentlemen have disappointed or embarrassed anyone, it is the 25,000 congregants who comprise the New Birth megachurch and the constituents of Rep. Jackson's district.

Tony Curtis 1925 - 2010

Actor Tony Curtis died Wednesday night from cardiac arrest. He was 85 years old. I was first exposed to Curtis in his roles playing opposite Sidney Poitier in The Defiant Ones and opposite Kirk Douglas in Spartacus. Curtis was one of the last leading men produced by Hollywood's studio system.

Sweet Daddy

Must admit upfront that I despise televangelists of all stripes. I think they are nothing more than religious hucksters, charlatans, and hypocrites. The latest case in point is the unbelievably narcissistic Bishop Eddie Long who finds himself in the indelicate position of being on the wrong end of lawsuits brought by three young men accusing him of sexual improprieties, no doubt all in the name of the Lord. Among Long's crusades is his unwavering opposition to homosexuality and same-sex marriage. It is almost a given that those who protest too much a certain behavior have the most to hide.

Buddy Collette 1921 - 2010

Buddy Collette, jazz multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, and educator has died.

Sonny at 80

Belated happy birthday to the tenor saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins who celebrated his eightieth on September 7th.

The Very Rev. Jones

Absolutely amazing that this jackleg preacher, the Rev. Terry Jones, managed to dominate the 24-hour news cycle and elicit almost universal condemnation for his threat to burn Korans on September 11th. As of this writing, this numbnut has decided to forgo the book burning exercise.

Gov. Brewer at the Abyss

Watching Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's awkward pause in the middle of rattling off her list of accomplishments reminded me of how Paula Abdul would occasionally blank out on American Idol. Of course a chief executive experiencing brain lock is a matter of much greater concern.

King's Dream

Today is the 47th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech delivered during the historic March on Washington. In 2010, we are improbably presented with a shock jock turned conservative cable television commentator, the doofus Glenn Beck using the occasion as a call to action in restoring America's honor. I personally despise everything that Beck stands for and, whenever possible, deliberately ignore the pronouncements made by this numbnut. That said, I wonder how many folks have taken the trouble to read what King said in 1963 and how far it is removed from what Beck is saying today.

Losing It

This chef did not take too kindly to termination of employment and decided before leaving to go on a little rampage. Little did he know that he would eventually take another hit.

Harold Dow 1947 - 2010

Harold Dow, who died suddenly Saturday of adult-onset asthma, was a veteran award winning correspondent for CBS News.

Much Ado About Nothing

Michelle Obama recently has come under a barrage of criticism for, among other things, going on an extravagant vacation while so many Americans are experiencing economic hardship. Byron York, a conservative columnist, gloated over the First Lady's dip in popularity. This is brief unpublished reply to his piece.

Re: "For Michelle Obama, extravagance dents popularity" Aug. 13th.

Byron York must be hard-pressed to make deadline because opining on Mrs. Obama's decline in popularity is much ado about nothing. The fortunes of a White House or political party have never rested on what voters thought about the president's wife at any point in time.

Herman Leonard 1923 - 2010

Herman Leonard, famed jazz photographer, is dead at age 87 (above Leonard's photograph of the great Charlie Parker).

Abbey Lincoln 1930 - 2010

Abbey Lincoln, who died today, was an actress, jazz vocalist, songwriter, and fighter for social justice of uncompromising integrity and independence

Happy 50th Anniversary - Green Eggs and Ham

Bobby Hebb 1938 - 2010

Singer-songwriter Bobby Hebb, who died Tuesday of lung cancer, was noted for the 1966 hit Sunny.

Still Waters

First it was former Ways and Means chairman Charlie Rangel facing charges of violations of House Ethics rules and federal statues. Now California Rep. Maxine Waters finds herself facing a similar trial for violation of conflict of interest rules.

Fat Albert

Day 5 of training camp for the Washington Redskins and their grossly overpaid, egocentric defensive linemen Albert Haynesworth has failed in several attempts to pass a mandatory conditioning test that would allow him to join his teammates in preparation for the upcoming season. Haynesworth famously avoided off-season team activities earlier in the year, electing to work out with a personal trainer.

Minstrels of the Gridiron

The coupling of the NFL's most prominent megalomaniacs - Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco - is a monumentally stupid idea. And quarterback Carson Palmer, who reportedly pushed for the Bengals to sign Owens, has nobody to blame but himself. The question is, which of them will go off on Palmer when they don't get the ball thrown their way. As for Marvin Lewis, he must be asking himself whether he was hired to coach a football team or run an insane asylum.

The Sherrod Affair

The Shirley Sherrod affair is sorry commentary on the Obama White House's manner in handling racially charged situations. What is particularly galling is how they allowed themselves to be punked by right wingers determined to bring them down. So hypersensitive to charges of preferential treatment for black folks that they never bothered to get all the facts before rushing to judgement. And the mea culpas by Administration spokesmen, including Obama himself and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, are too little, too late.

The Passion of Mad Mel

The seemingly endless revelations about Mel Gibson imploding over girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva has been a delightful source of summer entertainment, with the former A-lister finding himself twisting in the wind.

Vonetta McGee 1945 - 2010

Vonetta McGee, who died from cardiac arrest July 9th, was an actress who starred in several blaxploitation films, including Blacula and Shaft in Africa.

The Not So Iron Mike

As an example of brutal honesty in self-analysis, Iron Mike Tyson's reflections stand alone. There isn't another public figure who would even dream of describing his life as "a fucking waste." Then again, there was always a tinge of vulnerability that sometimes bordered on self-loathing in Tyson, even during the halcyon days when he was the self-described "baddest man on the planet."

Compared to What

From 1969, pianist Les McCann and saxophonist Eddie Harris performing Gene McDaniel's Compared to What with the lyric that continues to resonate to this day:

The President, he's got his war
Folks don't know just what it's for
Nobody gives us rhyme or reason
Have one doubt, they call it treason
We're chicken-feathers, all without one nut. God damn it!
Tryin' to make it real — compared to what? (Sock it to me)

Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Mayfield, one of my favorite musicians, is often spoken of as providing the soundtrack for the civil rights movement of the sixties. But in my opinion, he was that and so much more, as evidenced by these socially conscious and relevant tunes.

A Childish Response

The Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert's childish response to LeBron James's departure is, by any measure, somewhat over the top not to mention hypocritical, because loyalty never prevented Gilbert from firing two coaches, Paul Silas and Mike Brown, chasing away general manager Danny Ferry, and trading players. As the expression goes, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. In the final analysis, it was all about business:

A transcript of an open letter from Cleveland Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert:
Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....

Dan Gilbert

Majority Owner

Cleveland Cavaliers

Friends

From left to right: Chris Bosh, the Narcissist, and Dwyane Wade. Only time will tell whether the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Crying Time, Again

Unless something radically happens for her to change course, this pathetic child is irreversibly on the path toward self-destruction; and an insatiable tabloid press will fall all over itself in serving it up to a celebrity-crazed public that delights in such bullshit.

Harvey Fuqua 1929 - 2010

Harvey Fuqua, who died yesterday, was the founding member of the doo-wop group the Moonglows but will be long remembered for launching the career of Marvin Gaye.

The Annointed Great White Hope

Besides marking the 234th birthday of the Republic, today also marks the 100th anniversary of the thrashing of former heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries, who was coaxed out of retirement to restore the honor of the white race by defeating the uppity and arrogant Jack Johnson. It was Jeffries who was first anointed with the rather dubious sobriquet "The Great White Hope." As the fight unfolded, it became clear that Mr. Jeffries was neither great nor hopeful.

Standing on Shakey Ground

Republican Party Committe National Chairman Michael Steele again finds himself in trouble for diarrhea of the mouth, an apparently chronic condition. This time several people are calling for his ouster for statements about Obama's prosecution of the war in Afghanistan.

Political Theater

The Senate Judiciary Committee today began the tiresome process better known as confirmation hearings, ostensibly to determine whether Obama nominee Elena Kagan possesses the necessary qualifications to succeed the retiring Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. As expected, the Republicans, armed with their talking points, marched lockstep and attacked the nominee for lack of judicial experience, suspected liberal judicial activism, and association with such unsavory folks as Abner Mikva and Thurgood Marshall. Of course, the Democrats, not to be outdone, fell all over themselves, lavishly praising Ms. Kagan for her record of service in the Clinton White House and as dean of Harvard Law School. As usual in these matters, the truth lies somewhere in the middle but it matters little to the partisans because they are busy playing to their respective bases.

Robert Byrd 1917 -2010

The Lion of the Senate is dead. The West Virginian served longer in the US Congress - 6 years in the House of Representatives, 51 years in the Senate - than anyone else in the history of the Republic. During his tenure, he did much that was admirable but I personally find it difficult to forget that he was a member of the Ku Klux Klan and that he opposed the landmark Civil Rights legislation of the 1960s.

Manute Bol 1962-2010

Manute Bol, who died June 19th from kidney failure resulting from a skin disease, was originally drafted by the Washington Bullets, more as something of a sideshow than basketball ability - he stood nearly 7'7" and was reed thin. But surprisingly, he proved he possessed the strength, endurance and stamina to compete in the NBA, playing 10 seasons with various teams. Uniquely, he's the only player in the league to tally more blocked shots than points scored, a record that will probably stand the test of time. However, it was his humanitarian efforts for which Bol will be remembered. He worked tirelessly on behalf of those displaced in the long, civil war in his native Sudan.

It's Your Anniversary

On the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the infamous car chase involving O.J. Simpson and his dutiful and faithful sidekick Al Cowlings, their contributions to the enrichment of the language courtesy the Urban Dictionary:

al cowlings Verb. To drive somebody around town; be someone's chauffeur. It's usually a close friend without a car who always bums rides off friends in order to run HIS errands or make HIS appointments. Al Cowlings was a former football teammate and best friend of O.J. Simpson. He drove the white Bronco for O.J. in the infamous police chase in 1994 while Simpson was a suspect for murder. First used in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting by Ben Affleck's character.

"I can't make it tonight. I gotta al cowlings John's ass all the way to Medford for some job interview."

O J Simpson 1. An star top-notch football athlete. 2. A man who was like "man, I'm black, don't be racist" and sticks guns to his head while racing down highways with the police in pursuit all for sporting entertainment.

"O J Simpson likes gloves that don't fit, because the jury must acquit football athlete black racist gloves."

2. O J Simpson
when you use the argument that the condom doesnt fit,so you can get a raw fuck,always leave the condom by the bed.

"Bob took a viagra and told sally the condom didnt fit,a classic o j simpson defence to where he didn't have to wear a condom."

Parental Irresponsibility

Abby Sunderland's parents should be arrested and charged with child endangerment or parental neglect for allowing the 16-year-old to attempt to sail solo around the world. They should also be compelled to bear the reportedly $300,000 expenses incurred by Australia in its search and rescue effort.

The Mystery Candidate

Alvin Greene, the unemployed Army veteran who improbably won the South Carolina Democratic Senate primary, has gotten a lot of ink as being nothing more than a Republican party plant. But the real issue is, how did he manage to convince over 100,000 voters that he was the right man for the job? And what does that say about the caliber of voters in South Carolina?

Monk's "Crespuscule with Nellie"

Anything I might care to add would be superfluous. Monk said it all and said it economically.

Marvin Isley 1953 - 2010

(Marvin Isley is on the far left.)
Bassist Marvin Isley, who died Sunday in Chicago, was an important part of the Isley Brothers band of the seventies and eighties.

John Wooden 1910 - 2010

John Wooden, who died yesterday, was the legendary basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins, amassing a phenomenal record of 10 NCAA championships in 11 tournament appearances.

We Two Kings

Larry King's over-hyped interview of LeBron James is scheduled to air Friday night, coincidentally, roughly the same time the NBA Championship Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics gets underway. King, a vastly overrated interviewer, asked the Chosen One whether the Cleveland Cavaliers had the edge in re-signing him as a free agent. Quite predictably, James responded affirmatively, noting that the city of Cleveland and its fans had been good to him. But the truth of the matter, as any NBA fan knows, is that a free agent's current team has vastly more money at its disposal than its competitors. However, with James who aspires to be a global icon, it is more than simply being about money.

Obama's Buck

Obama is in a tough situation. In his press conference, he tried to reassure the nation that his administration was in charge and that, as president, the buck stopped with him. But the reality is, he isn't in charge because it is British Petroleum, not the federal government, that possesses the expertise and technology to tackle the massive oil leak. So those folks calling for him to do more and step in and replace BP, they are delusional. Hell, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said as much: "Replace (BP) with what?" That said, it is clear that BP is damn near clueless about what will work.

Gary Coleman 1968 - 2010

Gary Coleman, who died earlier today from a brain hemorrhage, rose to fame in the eighties television situation comedy Diff'rent Strokes. In the years since television success, Coleman was plagued with health and personal problems that often became fodder for the tabloid press. By his own admission, his famous line - "What you talkin' bout, Willis?" - was burdensome and inescapable, making it difficult for him to be taken seriously.

Kwame's Fall

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's demise is the all too familiar tale of a politician afflicted with a toxic combination of unbridled arrogance and gross stupidity. That he betrayed the trust of the people of Detroit, a city beset with extraordinary problems that threaten its very existence, makes the situation even more depressing and the sentence meted out by the court justified.

Oh Venus

Commenting on the sartorial choices of others, especially women, is a dicey proposition. That said perhaps I am being prudish in my advancing years but it seems Venus Williams has crossed the line in her latest fashion statement, which was on display yesterday at the French Open.

Rand Paul

Rand Paul is the tea bagger and wingnut who defied the Republican Party establishment by upsetting the Minority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell's endorsed candidate in the Kentucky primary. Paul also proves the adage that an apple does not fall too far from the tree because he is as much a crackpot and numbnut as his father Rep. Ron Paul, the erstwhile Republican presidential candidate, who has a penchant for nuttiness. Last week the younger Paul caused a firestorm by proclaiming that the 1964 Civil Rights Act violated his sacred libertarian principles and therefore owners of private businesses should be free to discriminate against black folks. He also castigated President Obama for unfairly criticizing British Petroleum BP for producing one of the most significant ecological disasters in the history of the country. According to Paul, such a reaction is un-American because, after all, accidents do happen.

A Line of Attack

This is an unpublished letter to the editor responding to a conservative columnist's attack on Obama's Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan for having clerked for the late Justice Thurgood Marshall, who for many on the right is the embodiment of the liberal judicial activist:

Gregory Kane, in an oped ostensibly about Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, writes: "I'm not one of those black Americans who has fawning admiration for [Thurgood] Marshall merely because he was the first African American justice. Most black Americans all but genuflect when Marshall's name is mentioned. I practically cringe." For even the most casual reader of the Examiner, Kane's bona fides as a black conservative are well-established, which make his attack on the late Justice Marshall pointlessly gratuitous and irrelevant on the immediate issue, namely, Kagan's fitness to serve on the Supreme Court. Kane's resort to guilt by association - Kagan clerked for Marshall - bespeaks an intellectually laziness and paucity of ideas not normally associated with someone described as "a Pulitzer-nominated news and opinion journalist."

Hank Jones 1918-2010

Hank Jones, who died Sunday at age 91, was one of the most elegant and versatile jazz pianists of the post World War II era. He was the oldest and surviving brother of Detroit's famous Jones family - trumpeter Thad died in 1986; drummer Elvin, in 2004.

Law and Order

The television series Law and Order comes to an end after a twenty year, 456 episodes run. But as the cliche goes, all good things eventually come to an end. It was great while it lasted and, of course, it will hang no doubt around indefinitely in syndication.

King James

The avalanche of negative criticism to LeBron James' no-show in game 5 of the series with the Boston Celtics reflects two tendencies. First, both media and fans as usual tend to overstate the importance of what happened in the last game played. You may recall that during the Thunder-Lakers series, some folks, most prominently Charles Barkely, had written Kobe Bryant off an old and washed up. Last time I checked, he was instrumental in closing out Oklahoma City and sweeping Utah. Second, James has nobody to blame but himself in raising expectations. If you're considered the best player of your generation, you had better deliver in the playoffs. In professional team sports, individual talent is trumped by championships. Look no further than Dominique Wilkins, the human highlight film, whose resume conspicuously does not contain a title.

Lena Horne 1917 - 2010

The legendary Lena Horne, who died Sunday in a New York City hospital, was a singer, actress, and fierce fighter for social justice who broke down countless racial barriers that paved the way for others.