Murray's Sentence Both Gratifying and Frustrating

CLEVELAND - Yesterday at 9:53 am Pacific Time, a firm and no-nonsense Los Angeles judge sentenced Conrad Murray to a maximum prison sentence of four years for his role in the death of legendary entertainer Michael Jackson.

Very deceiving.

Murray, who was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Nov. 7 received the maximum sentence possible, which is what MJ's family and global fan base wanted. However, we all gasped at the paltry term of just four years and almost went into a rage at the possibility that the convicted cardiologist will actually serve little to none of the time imposed upon him. Due to a new provision in the L.A. legal system, non violent felons are allowed lighter punishments such as community service and house arrest. Judge Michael Pastor made it a point to emphatically reject Murray's request for leniency while chastising him for his arrogant and unrepentant  behavior regarding this case.

I was very happy with the judge's candor in explaining to Murray his displeasure with the doctor portraying himself as something of a victim. Indeed, in a documentary that he both commissioned and starred in early this month, the disgraced doctor makes several declarations of his innocence and blames Jackson for what he sees as deception by the musician. Murray had been hired to serve as Michael's personal physician from April to June 2009 as the star prepared for a planned series of concert tours. The arrangement came to a tragic end when Jackson died June 25, 2009 of  "Propofol intoxication." The deadly dosage was administered by Murray who also left Jackson's bedside during a critical time at which the entertainer stopped breathing. According to the testimony of experts, Murray's actions during that time were so reckless that they caused MJ's demise.

Many people have opined that Michael was a relentless drug addict who would've gotten his fix from a different source had it not been from Murray. Those people who feel that way are probably correct, but they are also missing the point. Murray, as a doctor had an obligation to his patient to care for him and make sound medical choices for him. Placating an addict or any patient for that matter at the expense of proper medical care completely violates the principles of the Hippocratic Oath. Many people have also said that "no one could turn down" the $150,000 per month Murray was being paid to care for MJ, but the truth is, many doctors did. And if Murray had any integrity as a doctor, he would've turned it down as well. There is no place for selfish greed in the medical field. If that keeps up, we're all in danger.

I also took offense to Murray's defense team; most notably Michael Flannigan, who expressed anger that Judge Pastor didn't allow them to bring up MJ's dire financial status at the time of Murray's hiring. According to Flannigan, the fact that Jackson was, as he put it "$400 million in debt" and living in a rented mansion had relevance to this case. It didn't. No matter how much in debt or how drug addled MJ was, none of that matters when debating Murray's guilt. Even the defense's contention that Murray was an esteemed physician whom his patients adored holds no weight. His sterling reputation prior to the MJ situation has nothing to do with his behavior and incompetence in this case.

Desperate people.

I also enjoyed Judge Pastor bringing up the surreptitious recording that Murray made of a seemingly heavily drugged and slurring MJ a month and a half before his death. Pastor seemed to insinuate that Murray had sinister motives for doing such a thing which just added to his unworthiness of leniency.

Michael's family and estate have asked that Murray be ordered to pay restitution in the astounding amount of $100 million, a figure which represents the projected earnings of Michael had he completed the 50 concert tours he had been planning in the Spring of 2009. While everyone acknowledges that Murray could never afford that amount, it is still more than fair when everything is fairly considered.

After all, Michael was worth a lot more than that to this planet.

20 Years Later, Jackson's 'Dangerous' LP Remains Underrated Masterpiece

CLEVELAND - When it comes to the music of Michael Jackson, many people seem to place his 1982 album Thriller as his single greatest phenomenon, his 1979 album Off the Wall as a true classic and his 1987 LP Bad as a strong but lacking follow-up to the Thriller juggernaut. But there is one huge problem with that thinking.

It totally ignores the immense brilliance of another of his gems.

Saturday (Nov. 26) marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Jackson's change-of-direction album, 1991's Dangerous, which actually sold more and faster than Bad. It baffles me as to why the album didn't receive more acclaim, especially with its cutting-edge music videos and expansive world tour. Jackson had arrived at a place in his artistic life where he was heavily experimenting with unusual styles and concepts in his music and he infused those ideals into this truly classic work.

For those three iconic albums that preceded Dangerous, MJ had been a steady collaborator with the great Quincy Jones. For Dangerous, he sought a hipper style and enlisted then-innovative producer Teddy Riley to handle extensive production on the album. The result is a very eclectic blend of catchy dance tracks and moving ballads that highlight Michael's ethereal vocal presence.

It remains very impressive even today.

Kicking off with a furious marketing push with the lead single, "Black or White," Michael seemed to be on the fast track towards taking the world by storm again. He hadn't released an album in four years and after the "Bad World Tour" ended in January 1989, he had barely been seen publicly in more than two years. When promotion of Dangerous commenced in late autumn '91, his style and appearance had changed but his once-in-a-lifetime talent and imagination were still in top form. "Black or White," a hybrid hard rock/pop song was supported with a controversial music video that premiered simultaneously on several television channels. It was at this time that MJ began being referred to in the media as "The King of Pop" and after viewing his work, the honorific title made perfect sense.

MJ's clout and influence proved to be larger than life with the Dangerous album. The music video for "Jam" featured Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and then-teen sensation Kriss Kross. "In the Closet" co-starred model Naomi Campbell and the infectious R&B tune "Remember the Time" was promoted with a short film featuring comic actor Eddie Murphy, basketball legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson and model Iman. It was clear to me that Michael had stepped up his game in terms of scope and diversity, opting to feature exotic locales in the short films as well as craft universally designed songs which augmented his already enormous global fan base.

The sprawling, anthemic song "Heal the World" is one of Michael's greatest works in spite of the litany of critics that deem the track too "self-indulgent." It is a beautiful tune that showcases MJ's humanitarian side and concern for the welfare of others across the planet. The song "Gone Too Soon" is another such effort, written in tribute to teen AIDS victim Ryan White, whom Jackson befriended prior to his death a year earlier.

Personally, "Give In To Me" and "Who Is It?" are two of my absolute favorite tracks. Michael has always been the master at vacillating between strength and vulnerability on his records, especially when he varies his vocal range several times in one line to convey the powerful dichotomy of those emotions.

The title track is another keeper. When Michael performed that song in the years to come (most notably at the 1995 MTV VMAs), he performed it with the same super cool gangster flair of which he used for his performances of "Smooth Criminal" from 1987's Bad album.

The "Dangerous World Tour" spanned 1992 and 1993 and took the legendary entertainer to packed stadiums on seemingly every corner of the planet, even the most obscure and remote locales around. In between shows, Michael performed the songs in a number of high profile appearances including his explosive appearance at the Halftime Show of the Super Bowl in January '93. It was there that Michael starred in a frenetic medley of his past classics (as well as tracks from Dangerous). He even sang at one of President Clinton's Inaugural Balls and in a nationally televised interview sang for Oprah Winfrey when she visited his Neverland estate.

Looking back with 20 years of perspective, Dangerous remains one of Michael Jackson's overlooked and underrated crowning achievements and, along with its global sales of over 30 million copies sold, should start getting recognized as the true work of art that it is.

Michael, I salute you once again!

Murray's Conviction: Just What The Doctor Ordered

CLEVELAND - Yesterday at 1:17PM PST, a stone faced Conrad Murray sat in a Los Angeles courtroom as his criminal trial reached its conclusion with a guilty verdict in the death of Michael Jackson.

Talk about gratifying.

Murray, a West coast-based cardiologist was hired in the Spring of 2009 to serve as MJ's personal physician at an astounding $150,000 a month. The legendary entertainer hand picked Murray as he prepped for a highly anticipated London concert tour, but that decision proved horrible. It was under Murray's careless care that Jackson died on June 25, 2009 of a lethal mix of prescription drugs. Once his death was ruled a homicide, Murray became the obvious focus of the crime.

Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, which is considered to be a minor felony. Indeed, he faces only a max sentence of four years in prison but experts expect him to serve far less time than that, maybe even without actual jail time. That of course would be monumentally disappointing to Michael's international fan base as well as his family.

The jury deliberated for 10 hours before reaching their verdict in a case that proved to be divisive among Murray's dedicated former patients, medical experts and MJ's millions of fans and supporters. On one side, people have declared Murray to simply be a fall guy for the iconic performer's death in light of Jackson's own relentless pursuit of the dangerous drugs that ultimately killed him. It's that line of thinking that fueled the defense theory that Michael may have self administered the fatal dose of Propofol in a desperate attempt to treat his extreme insomnia. The milky substance is said to be a highly effective anesthetic, but should only be administered in a highly monitored medical setting such as a hospital.

During the critical moments when Jackson stopped breathing, the so-called Dr. Murray made numerous bad choices in handling the dire situation. Experts testified that he made 17 deviations from the standard of care which, in the world of law amounts to "criminal negligence" which is what is known as causation. That is essentially what made Murray's actions criminal since they led to the death of a human being.

It frustrates me to hear people trying to cut Murray some slack. These are the "intelligent" people that say Michael Jackson was too rich and well connected to be turned down on his supposedly frequent requests for these drugs. Their reasoning is that if Murray hadn't given him the drugs, MJ would have ditched him and found someone who would give them to him. Furthermore, many people say that "drug dealers" give their "customers" drugs all the time, but no one is trying to imprison the dealer if the customer dies.

Idiots.

First off, a "street dealer" of drugs is not at all comparable to a medical doctor. A street dealer is simply trying to make a fast buck at the expense of others. That dealer has no recourse, conscience or obligation to act responsibly. A doctor takes an oath to do right by his patients, act in their best interest and treat their life and health with great care. Whether Michael Jackson asked or begged for harmful drugs, it was up to Murray to be "the adult in the room" and flatly tell him 'no.' If MJ went to another doctor, it then becomes that doctor's responsibility to turn him down as well. If MJ in fact did miraculously dose himself with the fatal amount, it still falls to Murray to take blame because he was the "professional" in charge. Patients, even legendary ones should never be counted on to know what's best for themselves. That's the reason the doctors are the doctors  and the patients are not.

But too many people are too dumb to understand this simple thing.

I was overjoyed when Judge Pastor agreed with lead prosecutor David Walgren's suggestion that Murray be remanded and jailed without bail pending sentencing (on Nov. 29). There was a certain poetic justice seeing the "good doctor" handcuffed in his chair as bailiffs moved quickly to take him into custody. And even though I know he has a good chance at successfully getting some relief in the appeals process, this serves a temporary sliver of justice. Because even if Murray could be given a 100 year sentence, it wouldn't bring Michael back to us.

In the end, Murray behaved on that morning as an incompetent doctor preoccupied with taking to his coterie of women on the phone instead of tending to his dying patient. In that respect, he was just asking for trouble.

Now he's got it.

20 Years Ago Today: Johnson's Shocking Moment

CLEVELAND - Going into the 1991-92 NBA season, all I cared about was getting thrilled and wowed by the great Michael Jordan, who entered his 8th pro season set to lead the Chicago Bulls to a repeat of their first ever NBA championship. That title, won just four and a half months earlier, came at the expense of the L.A. Lakers.

As it turned out, it wasn't the Lakers' worst defeat of the year by a long shot.

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson's press conference announcing he was HIV positive and as a result, was retiring from pro basketball. It was a seminal day in the world of sports as well as the epidemic known as AIDS, which results from the contraction of HIV. Needless to say, Johnson's fellow hoopsters were stunned as were his countless fans all over the planet. For a man as skilled, accomplished, charismatic and beloved as he was, the news was almost too much to process. His shocking disclosure, made worse by the fact that Johnson's illness stemmed from unprotected sex with women other than his wife, brought forth national debates and widespread education of this serious disease. It would soon transform him into the most high profile spokesman in its short history as he developed a foundation to help others gain treatment and education.

The several months after Johnson's announcement were filled with ups and downs. There was a pall of unhappiness cast upon the NBA during the early stages of the '91-'92 season and loads of sorrow for Johnson, who many expected to die in just a couple years. Just 32 years old at the time, no one expected him to make it to age 40. Right now, he is 52 years of age. That's a supreme miracle, but it's also evidence of a very wealthy man with unlimited access to the best medical care on the planet.

He was voted to participate in the 1992 NBA All-Star game even though he was no longer a player, then famously dominated the game with 25 points and 9 assists and authored several highlight moments. He also won the game MVP while leading the West to a blowout victory. In the summer of '92, he was a member of the vaunted Dream Team that won the gold medal at the Olympics in Barcelona. In between all of this fun, he was constantly faced with whispers from fellow players who expressed reluctance and resistance to playing on the same court with him out of fear for themselves. It seems odd now, but back then it seemed at least fair to be afraid.

In the 20 long years since that unbelievable day, Magic has re-defined himself and made a nation hopeful and wiser about that deadly illness. Proof that good things come from bad events.

10 Years Ago Today: Michael Jackson's Final Release

CLEVELAND - Truly great innovators have a habit of crafting pioneering masterpieces in their life and career that receive critical acclaim. Those same geniuses also suffer creative slumps and their resulting work gets slammed in the media. But often, those so-called failures gain a reappraisal years later that changes the original thinking.

It is now Michael Jackson's turn.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Invincible, Jackson's first solo album of all new material since 1991's Dangerous. It was met with loads of negative reviews and its sales figures fell far below what his previous albums sold. With MJ's shocking death in 2009, the Invincible LP became his final album (that he totally created), though released nearly 8 years in the past.

In spite of the negative reviews, Invincible is still a great R&B/Pop album. MJ had become a prisoner of his own lofty standards which is part of why his 2001 effort was seen as a disappointment by many. In the 12 years between 1979 and 1991, MJ crafted 4 nearly flawless albums that rank among the greatest in pop history; Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous. In the case of Thriller, he authored the biggest single phenomenon in history in record sales, awards, critical praise and popularity. Anything he did after that album would always be seen as something of a let down.

He was always his own biggest competition.

Also, Michael's public reputation began spiraling downward rapidly following the child molestation charges he faced in 1993. This greatly affected his sales and public sentiment in the U.S. towards him. By '01, he was widely considered a creepy has-been but still possessed an enormous global fanbase of multi millions. I, for one felt that he never lost any of his magic and I considered Invincible to be excellent in spite of its shortcomings. Years of listening to it has caused me to appreciate the man's artistry even more than I already did.

The true greats deliver even when they're not at the top of their game.

Jobs' Legacy Of Incredible Singularity

CLEVELAND - I never owned a Mac computer, nor have I ever owned an iPad or iPhone. I do own an iPod Nano, which someone else purchased for me 5 years ago. But in spite of my limited experience with Apple Inc.'s legendary electronic products, I have long been an admirer and fan of the genius behind the magic.

Steve Jobs.

With his semi-surprising death yesterday at just 56 years of age, the tech and business worlds raced to issue the most gushing of platitudes for the man who co-founded Apple Inc. in 1976, then eventually used it to create groundbreaking gadgets that are now as ubiquitous to consumers as stethoscopes are to doctors.

What I most admire about Jobs is his think-outside-the-box sensibilities and relentless drive to live the life he wanted. During a famous commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005, he eloquently articulated the importance of living life to the fullest and doing things on one's own terms to the graduating class that year. He was always that maverick who didn't conform, but who ultimately made others conform.

That's part of his brilliance.

It speaks to his phenomenal resilience that he was able to rebound from the depths of supposed failure in the mid-1980's (when he was ousted from his own company) to return a decade later as an even more impressive technological mastermind and a peerless innovator. He began his re-ascension as one of the creative forces behind Pixar animation. Then, beginning in 1998, he began redefining the personal computer landscape with a new design philosophy for his Mac computers. The iPod arrived in 2001 and completely dominated the portable music landscape. From there, Jobs helmed one brilliant product or service after another; iTunes, the iPhone and last year, the iPad. Suddenly, owning an Apple product carried a serious status as hip, cool and very stylish.

He made Microsoft and its leader, Bill Gates look antiquated by comparison.

I rank Steve Jobs high on the list of great entrepreneurs who changed the world forever for the better. From Thomas Edison and Henry Ford to John Rockefeller and Sam Walton, the man's legacy of achievement can never be overstated. He was truly one of a kind.

Thanks, Steve.

Sheen's "Character" Killed Twice...On Television

CLEVELAND - As great as it's been watching Charlie Sheen's film and television performances during the past 25 years, it was immeasurably more gratifying watching the man get verbally dismantled by a series of low budget comics, then return the favor in grand fashion during a heavily hyped roast on Comedy Central last night.

Utterly hilarious.

Sheen, 46 spent the weeks leading up to Spring this year as the mastermind of a very disturbing, yet insanely popular media meltdown that both resonated and resulted in his firing from the top rated comedy on television, "Two and a Half Men." And speaking of that show, which starred Sheen as the hedonistic and womanizing Charlie Harper for eight seasons, it premiered its even more heavily hyped ninth season last night an hour before the roast aired. With Sheen's character killed off camera to start the episode, it gave his replacement Ashton Kutcher an opening to implement himself into the cast as well-endowed billionaire Walden Schmidt.

The new dynamic worked brilliantly.

"Two and a Half Men" played well mostly because they didn't allow the tragedy of Charlie Harper's demise to drag the always silly show into seriousness. The actors played the scenes with very little genuine sadness which made it seem as though Sheen was still in the saddle. CBS has issued preliminary figures that suggest that nearly 28 million viewers tuned in last night, by far a record for the series.

During Sheen's roast, the man himself sat in the hot seat as minor celebrities such as Kate Walsh and Anthony Jezelnik and washed up icons such as William Shatner and Mike Tyson hurled brutally scathing remarks in his direction. They often hit far below the belt, riffing on such sensitive topics as Sheen's domestic abuse history, insatiable appetite for heavy narcotics as well as his child custody issues. They even threw wheelchair bound porn publisher Larry Flynt under the bus as well as the Parkinson's stricken Michael J. Fox, both as analogies to Sheen's less than stellar moments.

When Sheen took to the podium to issue his own witty and brutal rebuttal, his rejoinders were calm and smooth while also fierce and cocky. Much more laid back and humble these days, he still let it be known that even though he's made many bad choices, once again, he came out [of a trying situation] "unscathed." All in all, it was a great comedy night and a truly entertaining look at a very accountable star in the wake of his darkest hour.

Impressive.

How I Overcame The Scary Horror of September 11th

CLEVELAND - With today being the 10th anniversary of arguably the most seminal catastrophe in U.S. history, I feel it's the perfect time for me to re-live the great things that diverted my attention from that epic tragedy.

September 11, 2001.

That fateful morning, which began very peacefully but ended in calamity was one of great anticipation for me. I went to sleep the previous night with three major things on my mind; the new Jay-Z album that was set for release that day, the pending return to pro hoops of Michael Jordan and the forthcoming, new Michael Jackson album.

Those things delighted me during an otherwise nerve-wrecking day and beyond.

By noon on 9/11, the U.S. was in full panic mode. The terrorist attacks and the cowardly masterminds behind them had successfully shattered the nation's collective morale and feeling of safety. The 8-month old Bush Administration did its best to assuage any lingering fears us civilians may have had, but it was still a very tension-filled day, mostly because none of us knew what would happen next. Seeing two seemingly unassailable giants like the World Trade Center destroyed by hijacked airliners was enough to frighten anyone into thinking that the terror could soon reach all parts of the country.

But that morning, I had the new LP, The Blueprint, the aforementioned sixth album from Jay-Z. I took the bus to a record store to purchase the highly anticipated opus and couldn't wait to hear a track on the album that I'd heard was on it. "Renegade" featuring Eminem, who was nearing the apex of his colossal popularity and as a meticulous lyricist, he was never better during the three year period from 2000 to 2002. Of course, any fan of that genre of music now knows that The Blueprint went on to attain legendary status. Some even consider it to be Jay-Z's master work.

Also on my mind that day and in the healing months after was Jordan, who just the day before announced that he would be returning to pro basketball as a player (for the lowly Washington Wizards) after being retired for the past 3 years. With me being the biggest of MJ fans, I was totally enthralled and excited, even as questions of his potential effectiveness floated around the media and the general public. With him being 38-years old (ancient in pro sports), there was major questions and doubts that he'd be able to dominate the basketball court the way he had during 13 brilliant seasons for the Chicago Bulls. When news of the terrorist attacks filled television and newspapers the following day, Jordan decided to postpone his official press conference announcing his return for a couple weeks out of respect for the thousands of lives lost that day.

Of course, Jordan's rock star status in basketball gave the country a much needed diversion, even though he struggled often to play up to the glittering heights of his Bulls days. I was a kid in a candy store having him back in the game, and 9/11 felt less depressing (though still quite tragic) to me because of him.

Finally, the other MJ, the man I admired since the age of 5 dominated my September 11th thoughts too. The great Michael Jackson had given two concerts, one on Sept. 7 and the other on Sept. 10. Both were held, ironically in New York City, site of the most destructive attacks. He was celebrating 30 years as a solo artist with those concerts, which were not shown live, but were instead filmed for televised broadcast two months later. Jackson, 43 at the time was also just several weeks away from releasing his first album of all new material in 10 years, and my eagerness was heavy.

Invincible, Jackson's new LP was released on Oct. 30, 2001 while the nation was still shell-shocked with grief and disbelief. As a double delight to me, Jordan made his regular season debut that day as well...a double MJ return that prompted me to label that day "National Michael Day." Unfortunately, both MJ returns fell far below critical and fans' expectations. For me personally, I was just excited to have my heroes back in the saddle. The ethereal nature of both men's historic careers was unprecedented. And it's safe to say that their impact on sports, entertainment and culture will forever influence and inspire.

On an impossible day and during an impossible time, these men gave me and millions of people something rare in a time of evil.

A reason to smile.

Michael Jackson: Respect Deserved

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson, the most successful entertainer in history as well as a record breaking humanitarian would have turned 53 years of age today. That makes August 29th a seminal day in history for the many millions he inspired through his artistry and generosity.

Happy Birthday, Michael.

One thing that has forever troubled me about people's treatment of the man is the high level of disrespect he has received over the past 20 years. For a man that reshaped and transformed the music industry and donated multi millions of dollars of his own money and endless amounts of his time to charitable causes, he has never been as celebrated and respected as he deserves to be.

How rude.

I have said many times that the colossal apex of his career, a.k.a. The Thriller Era of the early 1980's was responsible for the best of what happened to him as well as the worst of what happened. He gained the most immense fame and status that any person could ever have. On the flip side, his life became a cocoon of impossibly high standards and salacious tabloid stories, which clearly led him into a life of extreme stress.

While it is very true that Michael was far from perfect and purposely led an eccentric life, he still never deserved to be repudiated so extensively at the expense of giving him the credit and the acclamation that was due him. He perfected pop music as a child superstar in the late '60s and early '70s, then pioneered and mastered the short film as music video with the cultural touchstone that was the Thriller album in 1983. Everything that resulted from that LP changed the rules of music, entertainment and the business that anchors both fields. As a live performer, his showmanship and innovation raised the bar for every other popular artist of any genre of music, and that continues to this day.

Fashion-wise, MJ's style inspired countless trends and sartorial concepts and cultivated his reputation as the ultimate show business megastar top to bottom. The way he embraced philanthropy and giving to those in need was, unfortunately not something that many of his wealthy peers emulated. However, he tirelessly spoke of making the world a better place and took the actions to do it.

He instilled love in every way.

So, today is something of a holiday. Of course, there will always be legions of haters, naysayers and critics of Michael Jackson who will forever hold up the many accusations against him as unquestioned fact that he did anything criminal, and that is grossly unfair.

For the great man he was, he deserves better than that.

Two Years Later, Loss of Michael Still Stings

CLEVELAND - Horrible memories of that devastatingly dark Thursday two years ago still haunt and harass me. Michael Jackson, the wondrous and eminently gifted genius left this planet and in the process, forced me and his many millions of fans to love him without his physical presence.

Forever.

Naturally, today represents tears, sadness and a hopelessly depressing reminder to his most devoted fans and family of that shocking day when Michael ceased to exist. Yes, his artistry and groundbreaking impact will forever delight and influence the world, but the man himself can no longer bless the world with innovation and relentless generosity. That is a tragedy in and of itself. I see the iconic costumes he wore during milestones in his career being sold, auctioned and exhibited. Those items are indeed historic, but without him continuing to walk this earth, they seem so...empty.

I miss Michael so much.

It's still a treat to watch the legendary "Thriller" short film, or his epochal solo performance on "Motown 25." But having the painful knowledge that MJ himself will no longer create magic in music and dance is a cruel and infuriating burden to bear.

Michael Jackson served as the foundation and inspiration for my own style and creative sensibilities. That part of him, as well as his 40 year career of showstopping excellence will live forever. But that one, heartbreaking fact remains no matter what.

I want him back.