Peter King's Overreaction to America's Mourning for Michael Jackson

By bringing the ubiquitous coverage of Michael Jackson into the discussion, he touched off a firestorm of controversy. It didn't help that he called Jackson a "pervert," either.

Whether or not you like Jackson or his music, it is undeniable that he was a major influence on pop culture at a level that only a handful of other figures (such as Elvis and the Beatles) have attained. For millions of Americans, his music was a big part of the soundtrack of their lives.

And while we should all wish that our society paid more attention to the unsung heroes, failing to appreciate Jackson's popularity and contribution to the entertainment world strikes me as a bit tone-deaf -- especially when the criticisms come at the time of his death.

It's fun to beat up on the entertainment industry. But it's also important to note its significance. Music and movies allow Americans a brief respite from the real world. During the Great Depression, FDR believed baseball was necessary to, as he said, "keep up the spirits of people" -- presumably even if it made a skirt-chasing drunkard like Babe Ruth one of the most popular men in America.

To be sure, Jackson was weird beyond belief, and the crimes he was accused of were heinous. But if Americans refused to enjoy the talents of entertainers based on problems in their personal lives, we'd all be listening to Pat Boone albums. Elvis, after all, was a drug abuser -- and it's been pretty much downhill from there. Sports heroes are certainly not immune; from Pete Rose's gambling to the steroid controversy to Steve McNair's shooting death, apparently at the hand of a girlfriend his wife didn't know about, we have all been let down by the personal lives of our childhood heroes.

So should we decry the fact that Americans watch football on Sundays instead of engaging in volunteer activities?

If you're at all political, it gets even harder. Conservatives who care about the personal lives of entertainers can't enjoy George Clooney movies -- or most movies, for that matter. Oh yeah, and don't even think about listening to Bruce Springsteen. Liberals, I suppose, have it easier in that regard.

King had a good point to make. But he missed the mark by not realizing that this last celebration of Jackson's music isn't just about Jackson. Those of us who grew up listening to "Thriller" own a piece of that memory, too.