Michael Still Had It!

This footage was released to CNN yesterday and shows Michael Jackson performing "They Don't Care About Us." Watching the footage gives me chills, and MJ obviously still had it. Watching this footage lends further credence to the reports that drugs were probably involved in his death.

Is Quincy Jones Being To Rough On MJ?

Quincy Jones gave an interview to Men Style in which he was blatantly honest about the loss of his good friend Michael Jackson. Quincy talks openly about some of the issues that Michael obviously had regarding his appearance, and he surmises that pressure and debt may have ultimately taken out the "King of Pop."

Q: You were there to witness the strange evolution in Michael's appearance. Did you ever step in and saying anything about it?
A: Oh, we talked about it all the time. But he'd come up with, "Man, I promise you I have this disease," and so forth, and "I have a blister on my lungs," and all that kind of b.s. It's hard, because Michael's a Virgo, man—he's very set in his ways. You can't talk him out of it. Chemical peels and all that stuff.

Q: Did you believe him about the disease?
A: I don't believe in any of that bullshit, no. No. Never. I've been around junkies and stuff all my life. I've heard every excuse. It's like smokers—"I only smoke when I drink" and all that stuff. But it's bullshit. You're justifying something that's destructive to your existence. It's crazy. I mean, I came up with Ray Charles, man. You know, nobody gonna pull no wool over my eyes. He did heroin 20 years! Come on. And black coffee and gin for 40 years. But when he called me to come over to see him when he was in the hospital on his way out, man, he had emphysema, hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, and five malignant tumors. Please, man! I've been around this all my life. So it's hard for somebody to pull the wool over my eyes. But when somebody's hell-bent on it, you can't stop 'em.

Q: But it must've been so disturbing to see Michael's face turn into what it turned into.
A: It's ridiculous, man! Chemical peels and all of it. And I don't understand it. But he obviously didn't want to be black.Q: Is that what it was?A: Well, what do you think? You see his kids?Q: Did you ever discuss it? Did you ever ask, "Michael, don't you want to be a black man?"A: No, no, no, please. That's not the way you do it.

Q: But he was beautiful before?A: Man, he was the most gorgeous guy.

Q: But he seemed to have some deep-seated issue with how he looked?A: Well, that comes about a certain way. I'm not sure how it happens. I'm just a musician and a record producer. I'm not a psychiatrist. I don't understand all that stuff. We all got problems. But there's a great book out called Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart. Did you see that? That book says the statute of limitations has expired on all childhood traumas. Get your stuff together and get on with your life, man. Stop whinin' about what's wrong, because everybody's had a rough time, in one way or another.

Q: At root, what do you think killed Michael Jackson?
A: I don't know, man. I'm a musician. I'm not a psychiatrist. I would think that the pressure of the concerts and the debt and everything else . . . look, I've been in the hands of Nobel doctors for the last five years, in Stockholm, at the Karolinska hospital, which you can't even pay to get in. I've learned so much about the human mind and the body, and the doctors talk all the time about how you become your thoughts. It's true. With one thought it starts, you know, and if you sit there and just stay hung up on one negative thought, you will become that thought. I know that Lisa Marie Presley said that she always thought he was going to die like Elvis. You sit and think about that stuff, it'll happen to you. If you start thinking about darkness instead of light, or fear instead of love, you'll get in trouble. I really believe that.

An interesting read and thought provoking views by Q. Quincy Jones is now 76 years-old and hails from the hood of Chicago. He's seen everything, and experienced everything in his life. It's funny that no one wants to discuss the issues that Michael has obviously had through the years. If anyone is capable and qualified to speak about Michael Jackson it's Quincy Jones. Everything he said is probably true at the end of the day. Michael Jackson was our greatest performer, but also one of the most eccentric entertainers that we've ever seen as well.

Jackson Memorial Service Set For Tuesday At Staples Center

Roger Friedman, who now writes for the Hollywood Reporter, is reporting that Michael Jackson's funeral will be held on Tuesday, July 7th at the Los Angeles Staples Center at 10 a.m. Friedman has written about Jackson for years, and has usually always been accurate about anything related to Michael Jackson. If true, the funeral for our greatest performer should be a sight to behold. Once again, despite the circus that is taking place since his death, I hope Michael is resting peacefully.

Regarding Jackson's will which was filed yesterday, he named Diana Ross as a backup guardian to his mother. Hopefully everyone will respect his wishes, but with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, I'm sure the Jacksons will find a way to embarrass their "golden child."

Nothing Like A Mother's Love!

If reports are true, Michael Jackson left the bulk of his estate to his 3 children and his mother Katherine. The Los Angeles Times profiles the relationship between the late singer and his 79 year-old mother. After the display that we've seen from Michael's father Joe over the past few days, it's easy to see why father and son may had a fractured relationship. The truth of the matter is that while Joe and Katherine have been married for 60 years, Joe really resides in Las Vegas, and according to Stacy Brown, a onetime family friend who co-wrote the 2005 biography "Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask," Mrs. Jackson ""Puts up with Joe when she has to, which is not too often."

Katherine Jackson will surely get the family through this tragedy, and despite his leaving her too soon, Michael Jackson did his mother proud.

Impatient Joe Dumars!

Detroit Pistons President Joe Dumars fired his 4th coach in 8 years when he canned Michael Curry as coach with the team owing him $5 million. Surely the money will ease Curry's pain, but Joe Dumars' impatience may eventually get the best of him. He's fired Rick Carlisle, Larry Brown, Flip Saunders and now Curry during his tenure. Carlisle, Brown and Saunders have all since found employment since being fired by the Pistons. Perhaps Dumars needs to think about putting together a competitive roster before firing his next coach. The Pistons have won a championship under Dumars, so he knows what he's doing, but his impatience may ultimately be his undoing.

Monica Conyers Resigns!

Monica Conyers, wife of U.S. Rep. John Conyers resigned from her Detroit City Council seat yesterday after pleading guilty Friday on a felony charge to commit bribery. Conyers had refused to resign until her fellow council members threatened to have her ousted. I wonder if any of this will rub off on Mr. Conyers, the influential Congressman from Michigan.

The Bizarre Joe Jackson!

Joe Jackson showed up at the BET Awards last night and was interviewed by CNN while on the Red Carpet. I never like to make assumptions regarding how individuals mourn, but looking at Joe on the Red Carpet, it appeared that he had just lost a commodity instead of a son. Joe even plugged some new business venture during the interview. Very bizarre, and the fact that his own daughter didn't acknowledge him while making remarks lends credence to all the stories that we've heard over the years that Joe is just a different type of guy.

Janet Speaks On Behalf Of Jackson Family!

Janet Jackson on behalf of the Jackson family at the BET Awards last night. She was obviously overcome with emotion, but made it through her brief statement. It was a little strange that she didn't acknowledge her father Joe Jackson who was sitting in the audience.