I've just read that Johnnie Cochran has died at age 67, succumbing to a brain tumor. Though his legacy is playing the race card to let a murderer go free, I still think it's sad. He was one of those characters you expected to be around forever, like Jesse Jackson. Though I could stomach Johnnie far more than the latter, who puts Britney Spears to shame in his grasping for limelight. In the style of Kevin Nealon, "I'd call him a media whore, but that would be an offense to whores." :) I hate that word, but I couldn't help myself. I'll probably end up deleting it later...so as to stay off the radar of the "too spiritual."
Back to Johnnie. I was on the same flight as he was on my way to Atlanta for the 1996 Olympic Games. We stood next to each other at baggage claim. He seemed tired but said "hi" all the same. That's about as far a personal attachment as I have to the man. It will be interesting to see how the media and Hollywood handle his departure.
Posted by Portia at March 29, 2005 04:37 PM"than the latter" what?
Posted by: ziggy at March 29, 2005 04:42 PMAnd if you didn't know him personally why are you calling him "Johnnie"?
Posted by: ziggy at March 29, 2005 04:43 PM"Latter" meaning as oppose to Jesse Jackson. Cochran can be tolerated a bit more than Jackson.
Johnnie is his name, otherwise we could call him John Cochran, but that's not what the media, or he for that matter, called him during the OJ Simpson trial.
Posted by: Jon at March 29, 2005 04:47 PMMy apologies, I'll call him "Jack" instead. What else am I supposed to call him other than his name?
And yes, "the latter" is referring to the one and only Rev. Jesse Jackson. Or should I call him something else, too. ;p
Posted by: Emily at March 29, 2005 06:07 PMHow about Cochrane? Don't you usually refer to people by their last name?
I know you were referring to Jackson, but you referred to him as "the latter," as if there were a missing word. Do you mean the latter black person?
Posted by: ziggy at March 29, 2005 09:09 PMI'm not sure why you're stuck on this issue...seems extremely trite. Johnnie Cochran was a very public, familiar figure. I don't refer to Justin Timberlake as "Timberlake." I'd probably call him Justin. Now, if I were writing for a newspaper that would all be different, but let's be real here...this is a blog. :)
You're trying to pick a fight over something that doesn't matter. I'd just advise you to give it up. Not worth talking about.
Posted by: Emily at March 29, 2005 10:28 PMYou're a funny guy Ziggy.
Posted by: Nick at March 29, 2005 10:29 PMHe wasn't an actor. You don't refer to Bush as "George." It's condescending to use his first name.
I don't know why you are comparing him to Jackson other than as a representative black person whom you can't "stomach" as much. And your mixed feelings about his death are repulsive.
Posted by: ziggy at March 30, 2005 05:44 AMI find it highly ironic that I am being lectured on etiquette by someone who used profanity when they first posted on my site.
Let me clarify, I am sorry that Johnnie Cochran died. He did much for the black community, inspired Jerry Seinfeld, and I'm sure other great things as well. But his reputation will always be getting OJ Simpson off the hook, which is an awful thing to be remembered for. Hence, my mixed feelings. His death is sad...no mixed feelings there.
Let's end this ridiculous thread here. Thank you.
Posted by: Emily at March 30, 2005 09:31 AM
