Jackson brought trouble upon himself

Jason Waguespack
Driftwood, Voice of the UNO Privateers (U. New Orleans)

NEW ORLEANS (U-WIRE) ˜ Hello, Michael Jackson. Once again, you're the talk of the town, though I doubt this is what you had in mind. It seems trouble cannot seem to leave you alone, unless you found it on purpose. Of course, you are innocent until proven guilty. We may have our suspicions, but whether a person is a celebrity or an average Joe, he deserves his day in court. Still, even if you are acquitted and walk out a free man, there are many who will still wonder about you. How did one of America's most popular celebrities fall from some lofty heights into such bizarre depths?

It wasn't always this way. Once upon a time, you had talent and creativity to spare. You changed music videos forever when you released "Thriller." You teamed the creative talents of Vincent Price and John Landis, and you made a smoking video that is better than some feature-length movies. Whenever people think of the '80s, they usually think of "Beat It," which has popped up in the movies "Back to the Future Part II" and "Undercover Brother." And "Bad" is dynamite. After facing down the gang in "Beat It," you were able to join the other side in "Bad." Your roster was stellar, with "Somebody's Watching Me," "Billie Jean," "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough," "Do you Remember the Time" and with the band Rockwell, to name a few. If it were not for you, there probably would be no Weird Al Yankovic, to whom you gave such great material. You had to "Beat It" so he could "Eat It," and you had to be "Bad," so he could be "Fat." Hey, when you're being parodied, you know you've arrived.

But what happened along the way, Michael? When did everything go downhill? Your last album, "Invincible," sold 2 million copies, a mere shadow compared to the 45 million copies "Thriller" sold. So when things didn't go well, what did you do? You blamed Sony music for not marketing your album properly, and you claimed the chairman of Sony music was racist. I remember you in that press conference, with Al Sharpton at your side. Sorry Jacko, but I don't even think Reverend Al was buying it. If someone were to look at your picture and he did not know your race, what race would he think you were? Let's face it; you resemble Sigourney Weaver more than Will Smith.

Judging from your behavior, I'd say you are retreating from your problems. You're spending too much money on surgery and your Neverland Ranch theme park. The experts say you're going broke in a few years and you should limit your spending to just $1 million per month. I think most of us would be thrilled to have $1 million at all. The bottom line that most of us just don't get your dangling of your baby son out of a window in Germany, or your insatiable need to re-sculpt your face like a modern day Michelangelo, or your alleged love of inviting boys into your bed. It's a free country and there is no law against being weird, but if you're harming boys, Michael, you can't play this act anymore. You might think you're Peter Pan, but you're no longer sprinkling fairy dust on the world. You need to take your own advice, make that change and start with the "Man in the Mirror."

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