I’m taking a break from focusing on racing this week to look at some of the recent deaths and other oddities occurring in the world the last week-plus. All I will say about racing this week is a hearty congratulations to Justin Wilson and Dale Coyne Racing for scoring the IndyCar win at Watkins Glen, Coyne earning a long-overdue first victory after 25 years in the sport (not to mention ending the Ganassi/Penske streak of 15 wins in the last 16 races).
I’m really only superstitious when it comes to sports. A commentator will suggest during a baseball game that a certain pitcher is having a phenomenal outing when he is tossing a no-hitter, and at the mere mention of it, that pitcher than proceeds to give up a series of hits that not only cost him the no-hitter, but the team’s lead as well. It happened once when my dad and I were at a San Diego Padres-Kansas City Royals game, my dad saying the Padres pitcher was doing great and the exact scenario played itself out.
That said, it is weird that since I turned 20 on June 23 there has been a myriad of random celebrity deaths, ranging from the “King of Pop” to the unofficial kings of late-night sidekicks and infomercials. Ed McMahon passed away first, then two days later it was the surreal passing of both Farrah Fawcett (expected because of her sad situation) and then Michael Jackson, one of the world's greatest entertainers, shockingly, suddenly, at age 50.
In the same time frame, since the 23rd, we've also lost Billy Mays (here for OXI-CLEAN!), actor Karl Malden (Streets of San Francisco), former U.S. defense secretary Robert McNamara (the architect of the Vietnam War) and former NFL quarterback Steve McNair in an apparent murder-suicide.
Jackson's death is obviously the biggest and most surreal news. I can't say I knew too much of MJ's music other than the obvious hits, "Thriller", "Billie Jean" and the like, and in his later years, he had been reduced to a caricature of himself thanks to allegations of child molesation and holding his baby over a hotel balcony ledge. It marked the sad demise of a truly tragic figure, a great entertainer and musician who really created the modern music video and whose appeal crossed over for decades.
That said, the media's coverage of Jackson's death has been nothing short of embarrassing and overkill. Jackson, for all his accolades, was an ENTERTAINER and in my humble opinion, should have only been covered in death by media outlets that pertain specifically to entertainment. I could understand Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood and shows of that nature going all out but when the NBC Nightly News is devoting consecutive days of 30-minute shows, not to mention all the wall-to-wall coverage on the 24-hour cable news networks, it is simply too much. Our culture enjoys being saturated by celebrities so it isn't the fault of the networks so much as it is a failure of the society to look at the serious issues going on.
For instance, within this time frame President Obama has taken steps to pass a climate bill, begin withdrawal of troops from Iraq and attempt the massive project that is overhauling the U.S. health care system. Few words have been spent on these most important of issues.
The Today Show sent Matt Lauer out to explore the Neverland ranch, Jackson's "sanctuary" away from the chaos of the outside world. Larry King Live is basically living there. Both shows gave extended interviews to Jermaine Jackson, one of Michael's remaining siblings (although they were not included in the will, only the family's mother was placed in charge of the children).
Thank goodness for The Daily Show's panning of the coverage with its tongue-in-cheek "RIPPY Awards" for how the media's general appetite for all-MJ, all the time verged on ridiculous. The NBC White House correspondent, Chuck Todd, attempted a 6-degrees of separation analysis of how NBC and Jackson are intertwined because a young Michael Douglas once met MJ and now dubs the introduction for the Nightly News. A general assignment reporter, Michael Okwu, went ahead and said "this is the only time Jackson will die" on air. Jon Stewart's usually quizzical look thereafter said all you needed to know there.
Everything has been universal in praise of Jackson's music and life, and that is admirable. I'm sure Jackson did a lot towards helping charities and children in his efforts as a global pop icon, and had mass appeal to other countries. But how he self-destructed in his later years severely tarnished his image. Sure, he was acquitted of child molestation charges and the woman got to release a dove - but then again so was O.J. Anyone of his age who would admit it is okay for young boys to be sleeping in the same bed as him is seriously delusional or from another planet. That's not how it works, 99% of the time, in the U.S.
I have nothing against Jackson as a person, despite all that just written. I have nothing against his music or his efforts to help others. He made his own decisions that were generally more questionable than accepted for a normal society.
Speaking of delusional, so is F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone who went ahead and made some rather stupefying comments this last week. F1 fans long acknowledge Ecclestone and Max Mosley are killing the sport, their hubris and greed the only things preventing them from being overthrown. Ecclestone told London's The Times paper that he embraced dictatorships, that Saddam Hussein was the only person who could control Iraq, and that Hitler "got things done."
All I will say about that is Bernie has obviously never spent a day in an internment camp or oppressed in any way shape or form. Those comments are not only incredibly offensive to anyone with a lick of common sense or even the slightest recognition of history, but simply unacceptable to make at any stage. But then again this is the same person who once compared Danica Patrick to a "common domestic appliance" and serves as chief with an arrogant selfish idiot who was accused of engaging in Nazi sado-masochistic orgies. I guess we shouldn't be too surprised.
It's doubtful whether the last topic of the blog has much recognition of history. Vaulted onto the national stage when she was hand-picked by the sometimes admirable, sometimes very confusing Arizona senator John McCain as running mate, Alaska governor Sarah Palin entered the general realm of society as a "folksy, maverick" committed to the "core values" of the Republican party. She got slaughtered throughout the 2008 presidential campaign, most of it deserved for her utter incompetence for the position she was nominated for.
Anyway, in a 7-minute incoherent assortment of words in phrases, Tina Fey's look-alike quit the governorship, 2.5 years into her first term, tossing out a series of reasons why. They ranged from not wanting to become a lame duck politician, to a unanimous vote of her kids of 4 yes's and 1 HELL YEAH! and finally, to a basketball analogy where she compared herself to a point guard needing to make a pass at the right time.
She probably grew too much, too fast, with her incredible rise from the small town of Wasilla, Alaska to being a potential vice president. She still has her supporters in the GOP base and her next direction could range anywhere from a presidential run (God help us) to a reality show with that other former governor, Illinois's finest, 'ol Rod Blagojevich. Either way, time out of the spotlight might be best for her because she certainly didn't fare very well in it.
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