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Allen, you might want to post a link to the Kramer video. It's worth seeing for yourself.

I read about the incident and thought, "This sounds awful." But I also thought, "Well, maybe it wasn't as bad as it sounds; perhaps this was a badly miscalculated attempt at humor or something."

Then I watched the clip. And it wasn't as bad as I'd read - it was worse. The hatred and anger Michael Richards was spewing was shocking and repulsive. The live crowd felt the same way, as you can hear people gasping and you can see many folks getting up and leaving.

What it looks like to me is that Richards forgot who he was for a moment and imagined he could use the N-Word in a lame attempt to be edgy and have a Pryor /Murphy/Rock moment. It obviously went horribly wrong very quickly. Then, in the ever increasing fog-zone between reality and show business (see "Borat") he found himself out on the other side of the line and began using the N-Word in a real-time context, probably before he even knew what hit him.

The black member's of the audience repsonded in kind, perhaps justifiably so, with cracker-a-- motherf-----. so perhaps they should issue apologies also.

I've seen many black comedians, such as Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy, et.al., used terms such as "honkie MF" "cracker ba#$%#" "white MF" and so on in their racially based tirades.
So where's the outrage when they do it?

Jaycee, I'm far from politically correct, but I think there is a big difference.

In the case of Pryor, Murphy, Chris Rock, etc., they were using these terms as part of their comedy act. You may not have found them funny, but it was a joke and they intended it as such.

I saw Chris Rock when he came to Greensboro a few years ago and I laughed my head off, as did the rest of of the sellout audience, which was equally divided between black and white patrons. Sure, he talked about "crackers," but he was joking and we all were in on the joke. No one was offended.

But Richards wasn't using racial terms as part of an act. He was clearly irate and lashing out in anger at people in the audience. If he had used the n-word as part of his act, some folks may have gotten upset, but I don't think it would've been nearly the controversy that this incident has become. I think most folks can tell the difference between humor (even inappropriate humor) and hate.

But don't take my word for it: watch the video yourself.

I agree; I saw the video. There was no punch line, no point to Richards' tirade.
Of course, I still don't like to hear anyone use the n-word, black or white, or other racial epithets.
That's why I was so heartened when Pryor announced he wasn't going to use that word anymore in his routine.

I see where Kyle Doss and Frank McBride have appeared on the Today show with their attorney, Gloria Allred, seeking reparations for their pain and suffering.

What's your take on that, Allen?

I wish they wouldn't have. Gloria Allred strikes me as a profiteer and a headline-chaser.
The comedy club ought to give the two men a year's worth of free passes and an apology.
Richards should apologize personally. What's left of his career is in shambles.
And they all should move on.

Allen, I know that both Doug and your after-hours social lifes are important to you, (Doug Clark reportedly has been seen in leathers and bleeding in the mosh pit of the Flying Anvil) but don't you think in your Thanksgiving "things to be thankful for" editorial, you could have at least mentioned, even if right below mentioning the "increased nightlife choices" as something to be thankful for, something about the hundreds of people in nHigh Point literally dancing in the streets ecstatically shouting prayers of thanksgiving re: the "retirement" of Marti Sykes and Susan Mendenhall from the board of education, your reccomendee-Garth Hebert's election to the board, and at least the beginning of hope for improved education in GC?

We know you guys get busy and on rare occasion, and totally inadvertantly, overlook stuff that really affects your citizens and readers. Have a happy T-Day and a blessed holiday season

Mr. Savage:
I continue to be impressed by your ability to tie nearly every subject to the school board,, Terry Grier and north High Point. Happy holidays!

Allen, surely you can appreciate fighting inept, corrupt government is a Sisyphean task. When the usual societal checks and balances (ie the press) decide to go on holiday, it becomes almost impossible, leading to all kinds of absurdity. It's not easy being a Savage. Do you think doing our daytime jobs plus trying to do yours is easy?

LIke has been said before, politicians can steal our tax money, pitch pork to their districts and cronies etc. We're over it. In order to seek power or satisfy some deep-seated ego need or fill some vacum in their lives, they can gerrymander or otherwise cleverly manipulate themselves into office forever a la Dot Kearns. This is all a given. We're way past caring. But when you use our children over our objection to further your own socio-political agenda or fulfill an election day covenant with an interest group, you're way over the line.
The gloves are off. No statute of limitations.

No rest until it's undone. Or they're gone!

Jaycee you are correct again.
Just Saying I walked out of this show,You may think he was funny, I thought he stunk. This was a hot topic at the golf course yesterday, seems we were not the only one who took a hike.My opinion he should not be allowed to use a building, that uses tax payers money.If he wants to spew on private property,that fine.

Now wait a minute, Jack Russel. I was at the Chris Rock show and the place was sold out. People weren't walking out of the show, either.
Everyone was laughing and having a good time and War Memorial Auditorium was just as full at the end as at the beginning.

Besides, I seriously doubt anyone who would've been offended by Chris Rock's material would've paid $50-$100 for a ticket. It's not like he's some type of unknown comic and you don't know what you are getting.

If you do not like a certain comic, you are entitled to your opinion. But saying that offended people were walking out of this show is simply inventing facts out of whole cloth - it doesn't pass the common sense test.

As for whether or not a comedian like Chris Rock should have the right to perform at a taxpayer-supported venue, I'll refrain from citing the First Amendment. But I will point out that the show's promoters paid to rent the auditorium. Given the size of the crowd and the price of the tickets, I'd say that a sold-out show would be a big money maker for the city.

Heck, as a taxpayer, I'd like to see MORE sold-out shows and more events at the Coliseum complex. That would reduce the Coliseum's annual six-figure deficit - a deficit that we, the taxpayers, have to pay for.

just saying, are you alleging that out of a sold out Coliseum, tens of thousands of people, you know for an absolute fact that NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON left before the performance was completed??
Talk about not passing the smell test....were you at each and every exit all at the same time during the entire show?
Your generalizations and attitude would be humorous if it wasn't apparent that you believe everything you say.

Yes, Jaycee, I was monitoring every single exit at all times.

C'mon, don't get ridiculous here. I never said that not one single person left - and you know that. I'm sure a handful of people leave any concert, ballgame, play, etc. early for a variety of reasons.

What I said was that there was no discernable exodus of people from the War Memorial Auditorium. The building remained full at the end of the show and the crowd was laughing and having a good time. There was no steady stream of people heading for the exits.

And again, I find it hard to believe that anyone would pay big money for a ticket to see a well-known comic, only to storm out in protest when said comedian performs his well-known routine. It's like paying to see George Carlin and saying, walking out when he does the "Seven Words You Can't Say on TV" routine.

Who are we to judge Micheal Richards? Possibly he just found out his kids were redistricted or put in a lottery for racial balance.

You never know. I try to never judge why a person behaves the way they do. some days I feel like screaming the same things to Deena Hayes or Skippy or Bruce Davis.

You can only screw people so much and then they just go off.

Now, I could be totally wrong, Richards could just be a looney tune, but I'm not one to judge. He could have one F**&^^ed up school board. It brings out the worst in folks.

I see where Richard's has made the obligatory phone call/visit with Rev. Jackson regarding his recent racist rant.

I wonder how much money the Reverend will try to extort from "Kramer?"

I think Richards should just stop with the apologies. It all looks insincere and crazy. I might have overlooked the n-word comments (meaning I'd be willing to believe he was trying to make a joke) if they hadn't been prefaced with the hanging from a tree statement. So, he should just fade to the black.

As for Chris Rock, I'm with Jaycee, I can't believe anyone would spend money to go see him not knowing what they would hear once they arrived. What made you buy the ticket? What did you think he was going to say? Also, when, exactly where you "offended" when he said "fi-fo-fo-figga, boy I hate a n____a?" Or when he said cracka-azz cracka? What offended you, exactly?

Well, consider that Michael Richards may have actually revived his career with this tirade. He's had more national air time since the event than he has had in years. As someone once said, bad publicity is better than no publicity at all. Heck, he's back on the air, and people are talking about him more than Madonna and Britney. He's pushed them off page 1. Maybe he was very shrewed. You don't have a career to lose, if you are playing at The Laugh Zone or whatever it's called after years on late night television. Now, he's on Letterman and The Reverend Jackson's Radio Show.

Stormy may be right, even though the only place he will get booked from now on is state fairs in the fly-over states, that may be better than nothing.

After reading the late-night comics quotes in the N&R today and seeing where, I think it was Leno said we should use Ron Howard, we should open the nominations for white people spokesman.
I somehow don't think Ron Howard is appropriate. After all, the person needs street cred. He must be skilled in the flim-flam. He must be a self-parody. He must be polarizing and most importatntly, he must be someone who you would pay to go away. Somehow I don't think Ron Howard qualifies. I'd like to open the nominations and go with David Duke. Any others?

Speakig of images needing repair, Mel Gibson is back in the limelight promoting his new film, "Apocalypto."
It was a difficult film to promote in the first place, before Mel's drunken tirade. Wonder how it will do at the box office.

This movie seems like it was dead in the water before any of this. From what I've read, it's about a serious (and possibly too close to home) subject (the demise of a civilization) and has no name-stars, both in and of themselves kisses of box office death. Nobody would make a movie like this if it didn't have Mel's money or name attached. In short: it is probably a fantastic movie- but box office death. Can't wait to see it.

Just Saying,

$0.02 - Yes, the CVM as a building loses money. However, the owning entity (GSO) garners hundreds of thousands if not multi millions of dollars in taxes (food, hotels)every year due to the existance of the CVM complex. That my friend is not losing money.

$0.04 - If anyone went to Chris Rock and walked out due to content ... well I find it hard to express the depth of my shock as to their apparent ignorance.

$0.06 - Kramer screwed up big time and very publically. He has and continues to pay in many ways. Though I believe his apology I dont for a minute believe he has never before used "those words". The guys in the balcony have no emotional distress or pain and suffering and have no business suing. This truly is a non-story and should have died 2-3 days after it happened. Silliness.

$0.08 - Skeet Club... I'm with Allen. At least make yor NHP stuff topical in some way. Sorry, I just dont like hijackings.

I wasn't trying to make an anti-coliseum point, Mick. Didn't mean to come off that way.

A previous poster had said a taxpayer-supported facility like War Memorial Auditorium shouldn't have booked an act like Chris Rock. I was simply pointing out that the show's promoters paid to rent the auditorium and that a sold-out show brings in revenue, rather than costing the taxpayers. That was the point I was trying to make, anyway.

Frankly, I think Rock was a coup for Greensboro. Unilke Richards' outburst, there is a point to even his raunchiest routines. Plus he's funny.
We'd be lucky to get him back here.

To re-enforce my previous posting, it is now reported that sales are brisk for the newly released Seinfeld episodes. Ta-ta. So, has this whole event been orchestrated to promote the sales of videos? Well, Richards had no worthwhile career to destroy..who knew he was on Laugh Club circuit? He's now gotten a lot of play on television to give his mumbling apology for not being a racist. You know..I'm not about being a racist, I don't where that anger came from, etc.... I know this is a great conspiracy theory, but then, who's to say that it isn't reality? Considering the junk that is being promoted for entertainment in music, television, and movies, does anyone really believe that someone might not pull such a trick on consumers to sell them something?

Hey riggs..lay off The Savage. I enjoy his postings regardless of the subject. It's nice for a change to read someone's posts that are actually intelligent, have some thought behind them, and are cleverly-worded.

To clarify something from my post on yesterday, I was directing my questions about what offended in the Chris Rock performance TO JayCee. I ain't with him, I'm with the folks who bought the tickets and stayed for the duration. Love Chris Rock.

As for Richards, well, he's dead to me. :::spitting on the ground:::

Just saying and Allen ... Understood and agreed.

Stormy... I didnt say the weren't. I just indicated hijackings are icky. Now what were we talking about anyway?

Mick, I agree, hijackings bite. You don't have any idea how much I agree. But if it wasn't for hijackings, where would we all be today? The only thing that changes are the hijackees and the hijackors and the highjacko--s offering commentary on such. And on and on it goes...

Thank you Stormy, for your kindness and support.