Gil Scott-Heron 1949-2011

Poet, writer, and singer Gil Scott-Heron is dead. He was 62 years old.

MJ or LeBron

Appearing on the ESPN radio show Friday, "Mike and Mike in the Morning," hall-of-famer Scottie Pippen, who played Robin to Michael Jordan's Batman, expressed the heretical view that while Jordan is the greatest scorer of all-time, LeBron James might yet be the greatest player of all-time. As is customary in situations of this sort, Pippen has subsequently modified his comments, having been subjected to a barrage of criticism for his outlandish opinion. True, James is an immensely talented player and among the best of his generation, but he is also the recipient of excessive hype that he has failed to fulfill. And it goes without saying that it is somewhat presumptuous to mention James in the same breath with Jordan, the latter having won 6 NBA championships while the former none. 

The Long Goodbye

Oprah Winfrey's interminable farewell tour reminds me of that relative who overstays and long since wore out his welcome while promising to leave soon; all the while getting your hopes up for the much anticipated moment of departure. Count me part of a minority of folks who never cared much for the narcissistic Miss O or figured out what all the fuss has been about for these past twenty-five or so years.

Miscalculation

Harold Camping, the Christian huckster and charlatan who predicted the end of the world on May 21st, says he miscalculated by five months and that the much anticipated end will be October 21st. How this dude remains credible is beyond me.

What's Goin On at 40

Today marks the fortieth anniversary of Marvin Gaye's timeless masterpiece What's Goin On, timeless not only for its musical artistry but also for what it says about the human condition.

Durant Thunders

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant delivers a thunderous dunk over Dallas Mavericks center Brendan Heywood.

Newt's Rocky Start

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich has incurred the wrath of the right and thereby done incalculable damage to his presidential aspirations by characterizing Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposals as "right wing social engineering" and by endorsing some form of health care mandates.

Sideshow Silent

This sideshow freak has been awfully quiet since the birther nonsense was laid to rest with the White House releasing Obama's long form birth certificate, the roasting the Donald suffered courtesy of the president at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, and the killing of Osama bin Laden. He has even been replaced by A.J. Foyt as pace car driver for the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500. That said, I suspect that the silence is at best only temporary.

Channel Surfing

There is something at once terribly banal and absurdly comical about Osama bin Laden, the world renown terrorist, bedecked in a cap, wrapped in a blanket, sitting hunched over with clicker in hand, reveling in the images of the glory of bygone days, as if he's a tired, washed up actor desperately and futilely clinging to what he once was (and thankfully what he will never be again).

Willie Mays at 80

It is hard to believe that Willie Mays, the fabled "Say Hey" kid and perhaps the greatest baseball player extant, turns 80 years old today. Happy birthday, Willie.

Nominal Resistance

Press secretary Jim Carney's revision that Osama bin Laden was unarmed when Navy SEALs shot him to death isn't surprising because capturing the terrorist mastermind to stand trial would have led to a messy, protracted situation. The United States government never intended bin Laden to be tried in a court of law, military or otherwise, which is why all the talk about bin Laden putting up resistance as justication for the shooting is just nonsense.

The Turnaround

This is brutal.

Bin Laden Killed

In a raid on a fortified compound in Pakistan by US special forces, Osama bin Laden, the intellectual mastermind behind 9/11, was killed by a gunshot to the head. Thus the world has rid itself of one less deluded terrorist and religious fanatic.

The Saint

The late Pope John Paul II is on the fast track to sainthood. Having presided over one of the worst sex scandals in the history of the Catholic Church - more than 10,000 victims worldwide involving 4,500 priests - apparently is not a militating factor and presumably of little value in determining such heavenly matters.