First, a recap of this summer; the 2007 whirlwind tour of west coast weddings. From wine country to LA to multiple trips to Seattle and throw in a family reunion in Idaho for good measure, this was a busy one. The sad fact is that I live in Pasadena, and not once made it to the beach this summer, between all my trips and moving into the new studio, I was just tired when I wasn’t busy, I just veg’d out. I won’t complain, this was an excellent summer–I am just glad that it’s over because I am ready to begin the next chapter.

The Warriors were just an ugly reminder of what it used to be.

I hate the NBA, David Stern has destroyed what he built.

I hate the NBA.

I hope Bruce Bowen’s headstone says, “My lack of ability and dirty play helped destroy a sport.”

I hate the NBA.

I hope Mangina Ginobili’s headstone says, “I brought all of the bad aspects of soccer and none of the good ones to the NBA and helped destroy a sport. Flopped like a bigger vagina than Divaks could ever hope for.”

I hate the NBA.

I hope Tim Duncan’s headstone says, “I could have been remembered as one of the greatest players ever, but my mump cheeks and whining ruined my legacy and helped destroy a sport.”

I hate the NBA.

I hope Tony Parker’s headstone says, “I am only known for marrying Eva Longoria and was divorced once I retired and I helped ruin a sport.”

I hate the NBA.

Gregg Popovich will be remembered as the crater faced douchebag who helped pilot the biggest group of whiners and the most boring and hateable dynasty in sports history. Gregg, thank you for ruining the league I once loved.

The NBA is not basketball.

Naismith should kick Popovich and Stern’s ass. I long for time travel.

I hate the NBA.

I bring this up because I have been on a Lionel Richie kick as of late. Some kids liked Kids Incorporated, others liked the Mickey Mouse club, I loved Lionel Richie. I remember sitting in the front seat of my aunt and uncle’s new Buick Regal begging for the tape (my dad refused to listen to Lionel), I remember the feeling of the hair standing up on my deck during the intro of “All Night Long” when the delay hits the line “Let the music playo” and it still does. I never said I was normal.

The rub here lies in that I actually think Lionel Richie’s solo stuff is good. There is solid songwriting, great production, and his voice is excellent. When compared to today’s pop, it’s very good. I have to admit that it spits cheese at you, and his music videos are downright embarrassing, all culminating with the worst bust of a head ever put to celluloid, but I don’t understand the violent reaction I get when I listen to it.

People have literally thrown Advil capsules at my head when listening to Lionel, those hurt. My love of 80′s pop goes far beyond Lionel and I attribute that to a happy childhood. One of the nice things about being large and mean looking is that you don’t really have to explain yourself when your iPod playlist is populated by Nena, Lionel, Wang Chung, A Flock of Seagulls and others. However, for some reason A Flock of Seagulls is considered kind of cool and Lionel is not when Lionel bests them at nearly every aspect of the music.

I have just realized that I dedicated a few hundred words to broadcast my love for Lionel Richie, but I have nothing to be ashamed of. Yes, I love Lionel, and you have to admit there is something worthy in there somewhere. I guess my point is that maybe Lionel does suck and I just loved it as a kid because kids are stupid and the previous paragraphs were nothing but rationalizations to defend my love for Lionel. However, as I mentioned before, I am large, I like Lionel, if you want to talk about it, too bad, because I will be too busy dancing on the ceiling. I think I am going to watch Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome now. Maybe I need to go on a Tina Turner kick.

I will say the media backlash on this whole affair has been astounding. It’s been everywhere, and while what he said was most definitely wrong, it did not deserve this much media scrutiny when we are fighting two wars, paying buttloads for gas, and are being governed by the most inept administration since the 19th century. Bush makes Hoover seem capable competent, but I digress. The real truth about all of this is that it highlights that in a free society in the market of speech, there are rules that must be followed and certain people don’t seem to understand that.

Furthermore, the market is much more unforgiving than it used to be because things simply won’t go away if the market is still able to feed. 10 years ago, the Imus gaffe would not have snowballed like it does today. However, the market is forgiving of hip hop saying the same because it’s expected of them, and frankly, rappers aren’t old white dudes. They get a free pass because the market understands that moaning about a hip hop song won’t silence anything, it will help sales. This most likely will happen with Imus as well, as he moves to satellite with little oversight.

So the market did its job. Whenever anyone brings up the FCC regarding this affair, that causes me to cringe. The federal government should not being dictating thought. Profanity and obvious obscenities should not be broadcasted over the air for anyone to hear. But bad jokes and bigotry do not and should not need to be regulated, especially when the market is apt to regulate itself in this manner.

Freedom of speech simply means you won’t be arrested for saying stupid stuff, it doesn’t shield you from a self regulating market of thought, a market that occasionally works very well.