Whitney Houston is dead at age 48. As I type, her official cause of death has not been determined. She was found dead in a Beverly Hills, Calif., hotel room. It is known that Ms. Houston had severe struggles with drugs and alcohol for several years after she had established herself as a hugely successful singer and recording artist in the 1980s and early 1990s.
I've got to admit, I never was a huge fan, in large part because I didn't care for the songs she sang. But I give her major props for her remarkable vocal range, not to mention her stunning beauty. She had an incredible stage presence, and was at the top of the world in music and movies 20 years ago.
Like many famous African-American singers, including Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick (Houston's cousin), Houston cut her teeth singing in the black church gospel choirs. As a youth, she sang background vocals for 1970s superstars Lou Rawls and Chaka Khan.
Also, unfortunately, like many gifted performers of all races, she struggled with drugs and alcohol. It's a fact that creative and talented people in literature, the arts and entertainment often seem prone to these demons.
That begs the question: Do they have some kind of "right-brain" chemistry that makes them more susceptible to mind-altering substances? Some kind of brain wiring that cannot turn off the craving for a buzz?
SSRI drugs such as Paxil and Prozac have helped millions of people who have suffered black moods and irritablity due to a serotonin deficiency in the brain chemistry. But the human mind and psyche are complex entities; depression can be bipolar in nature, or can manifest itself in a grumpy disposition, blue moods and risky behavior. No one really knows which is the bigger influence on mood and psychological disposition: nature or nurture.
Or, to take "nurture" one step further, environment. Often, the people we surround ourselves with and the situations we put ourselves into have a huge influence on our long-term optimism and healthy outlook, on the one hand, or pessimism/anxiety/anger/depression on the other. Diet and exercise also can greatly affect a person's psychological state. There are variables too numerous to mention when analyzing the goings on inside a person's head.
Too, the temptations of great wealth could turn a once straight-laced person into a raging hedonist. Many people indulge in promiscuous sex, drinking and drugging when they are flush with cash, especially if they do not have faith in a higher authority and the accountability that entails.
I am in no way passing judgment on Ms. Houston; I am unaware of her spiritual beliefs or all of the pain she may have endured during her life, other than what's been reported (abusive relationships and the substance abuse). It is just sad to see someone with so much talent and charisma die so young.
Occasionally I take a look at myself and wonder what would happen if I were not a person of modest means. Would I indulge in unhealthy behaviors that would cause pain to those around me, jeopardize my health and lead to a premature death? I honestly don't know, and hope I never find out.
R.I.P., Whitney Houston.
SPECTACULAR SPARTANS — Moving from the somber to the stellar, last night's Michigan State Spartans victory over the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes was one for the ages. MSU went into the game an 8-point underdog, according to the oddsmakers, and won 58-48, ending the Buckeyes' 39-game home winning streak. MSU and OSU are now tied for first atop the Big Ten conference, both 9-3.
The Spartans played their best defensive game of the season, holding normally prolific-scoring Ohio State to just 26 percent shooting and to 29 points below their season average (77 points per game).
Dayton, Ohio native Adreian Payne, a sophomore forward, displayed great skill defensively and offensively, scoring a career high 15 points in front of his father, siblings and other relatives at Value City Arena in Columbus. He finally showcased the talent that caused many people to think he'd be a "one-and-done" NBA prospect when he joined the Spartans in 2010.
Payne did not live up to expectations as a freshman (reportedly because of a lack of drive and work ethic, not an absence of talent), but the lightbulb might finally have turned on as far as his realization that hard work must complement talent in order for one to achieve success at a high level.
Payne's fellow big man, Derrick Nix, also was solid defensively in the low post and hit a few key baskets. Nix and Payne held All-American forward and sure-fire NBA prospect Jared Sullinger to just 5 of 15 shooting for 17 points.
Last year, the Spartans entered the season ranked No. 2 in the nation, and flopped badly. This year, expectations were low (they were unranked), so this stunning success is all the sweeter. The sophomores like Nix and Payne are finally coming to fruition; freshmen Travis Trice, Branden Dawson and Brandan Kearney are contributing nicely; senior transfer Brandon Wood, who came from Valparaiso, has given some quality minutes; and versatile senior forward Draymond Green continues to contribute with rebounding, points, assists, and a can-do demeanor of leadership and hustle.
I am proud of this team, and take great pleasure in watching the unselfish play and maturity that were so badly lacking last year. GO GREEN! GO WHITE! VICTORY FOR MSU!!!
It's true, poor people don't do drugs!
Posted by: Marcus Aurelius | February 15, 2012 at 03:59 PM