In the News

QUITTER: So, Sarah Palin resigned as governor of Alaska.
Woo-hoo!
Actually, in reality, it's probably not happy news for those of us who want her to just go away. It means she's free to roam, go on the airwaves and maybe shudder run for President.
The one thing that has been a constant since the election has been her weighing in on the issues. She didn't go away quietly, like other failed Vice Presidential nominees have.
We had her showing up after her granddaughter was born. Then she was around after David Letterman made the joke. And now, the day before we celebrated our country's Independence, she was out there again, grabbing the spotlight again. And even since she's resigned, people are paying attention to what she's doing.
We have a term for people like that: MEDIA WHORE.
She got a taste of it during the election, and now she's gorging on it. And worse, she's going to continue finding her way in front of the camera.
Here she was, a pretty much someone no one outside of Alaska had ever heard of (seriously, how many governors outside your state can you name?). She shot to stardom thanks, in part, the her resemblance to Tina Fey, which is just as good an excuse to break out this:



And as the constant laughs brought her more attention, the more people thought that maybe they had something there. With her folksiness and her "down-home" attitude, she became the star of the heartland.
Unfortunately for us in the "brainland," having someone who looks good only works when you're selling entertainment -- you know, movies, TV shows and magazine covers.
Which, hopefully, will be the route she chooses. I'd rather see her become the "white Oprah" (as Tina Fey said in another sketch) or the female Rush Limbaugh than see her parade around the country for the next three-to-four years trying to drum up support to send her to the White House.

THIS WAS IT: We've had the memorial service, so hopefully things will die down a bit with the Michael Jackson coverage. Likely not, I'm sure, since ratings probably were through the roof for any kind of news special anyone could drum up.
But Tuesday's event provided a fitting end point for those of us who could care less about the final resting place and legal fights still to ensue.
Let's face it, when you have the young daughter, in front of a worldwide audience, feeling the loss of her daddy, anyone watching had to lose it, even just a little bit.
The event was nice as a whole, to move past the bizarre behavior, weird incidents and court cases and just remember the person who ENTERTAINED us.
Michael Jackson may have turned into this weird and bizarre manchild to many people around the world these past few years. But in the end, who were we to judge? We didn't live his life. We didn't have the advantages that his wealth brought. And we sure as hell didn't have his talent for singing and dancing.
He was sent in front of a jury of his peers (or, the closest substitutes that could be found) and was judged not guilty. People may have their opinion on what happened in that case, and in his bedroom, but in the end, it's just that -- their opinion.
And now, he's faced the ultimate judge. The one entity that will judge us all in the end. One day, we may find out what that judgement was, but until then, let's just shut the hell up about what was or wasn't. Enjoy what the man brought to the world in his 40+ years in showbiz.
Because in the end, it will be the music that will live on, as it does with every artist who left us too soon.

IS IT PUCK SEASON YET?: A few quick thoughts about hockey before I sign off.
First off, it was nice to see the Kings "win" a trade on paper for a change. The addition of Ryan Smyth should provide a good veteran presence on the team's top line, and give support for young center Anze Kopitar as he grows into a stronger player and greater leader.
Yeah, it was tough to have to give up Kyle Quincey to get him, especially after the way he performed after we picked him up off the waiver wire. But, in the terms of assets, general manager Dean Lombardi got a tough, scoring left wing in exchange for a defenseman he got for free in Quincey, a draft pick and a salary draining defenseman who wasn't even on the club's roster at the end of last season.
Second, I've said it before and I'll say it again: We had a lockout and lost a season for this?
The way GM's were throwing their money at players, you'd think the league was swimming in money and was going to be immune to the financial problems plaguing the world.
You know, Mike Cammaleri's a nice player and all, and had a career year playing alongside one of the best players in the game, but $6 million a year? Wow. And 12-year contracts? And ... wow.
These guys are taking us right back to the types of money that caused the league to have a year-long work stoppage. Let's hope they can all figure this out and not have another one when the owners look at their bottom lines after this coming season is all said and done.

That's all I got for now. Have a good day.