Academic Rants

Michael Jackson: Beyond Genius The first MJ was not Michael Jordan, but Michael Jackson. In my mind he is one of the GOATs of my life. The June 25th anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson, always evokes a range of emotions. Jackson died in 2009, but his aura is still with us. Escape , his last major album was released in 2014, and sometime in 2020 a new music video and book will be released.  A Broadway musical is in the works. Like so many musical geniuses, Jackson has staying power. In celebrating the life of Jackson, I wish to revisit something I wrote years ago.  Grieving for Jackson consisted of two parts, one commercial and another personal. Commercialized mourning of the “King of Pop” focused on his life, death, and legacy. The media gave it a full court press with Jackson dominating the news for weeks. Questions focused on the cause of death, an alleged homicide; the paternity and fate of his children; division of his estate; and his final resting place. While t...

The Next Revolution             One of the unexpected dramas resulting from the COVID pandemic is America’s changing relationship with sports.  There was a daily obsession with watching sporting events, and its current absence has created a significant void in daily routines. Americans and corporate America cannot live without their sports. Professional leagues and NCAA sports have become billion dollar enterprises.  Sports commerce is tied to industries including publishing, television and other media; merchandizing; gameplay; and betting.  Its relationship to the larger world is overwhelming. When the pandemic hit, the Chiefs magical NFL season was over, the MLS was on its season break, MLB was in Spring Training, and the PGA and NASCAR were warming up for new seasons. The NHL and NBA seasons were heading towards the playoffs.  COVID’s full impact had yet to be determined when several NBA players teste...

A Question of Statehood At various times since the middle of the twentieth century, politicians, organizations, and individuals have advocated for statehood for Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Outside of the District of Columbia, American territories have made a strong case for statehood. Similar to Hawaii and Alaska, formerly territories, the current territories are not connected to the American mainland. In fact, the current territories are smaller islands lumped together by language and culture. The islands in the Atlantic Ocean were acquired in the beginning of the twentieth century as a result of the Spanish-American War or purchase from Denmark. These territories are an outgrowth of the Monroe Doctrine philosophies of the 19th century. The islands in the Pacific Ocean are a result of America's efforts during World War II. Calls for statehood are usually contested by movements for independence. However, it is clear that for economic and ...