The first time I ever heard of the name Kardashian was in June of 1994 after the famous O.J. car chase. Robert Kardashian publicly read a letter written by O.J., which sparked off the beginning of one of the biggest media circus’ in American history. Kardashian became part of the “dream team” that allowed O.J. to walk free, although in Al Capone style, eventually end up in jail for a crime completely unrelated to the murders he committed. What I distinctly remember was that Kardashian was the man seen carrying Simpson’s garment bag the day Simpson flew back from Chicago. It was speculated that the bag may have contained Simpson’s bloody clothes and/or the murder weapon; however, by the time the bag was returned to the prosecutors, mysteriously, there was nothing incriminating.

A few years ago the Kardashian name cropped up again (Robert had passed in 2003). However, this time, the spotlight was on one of his four children, Kim, an attractive, petite, Armenian looking woman, who was part of the Hilton sisters’ crowd. The next thing I know there is a show on E! about the whole clan which includes Kim, her sisters Khloe and Kourtney, her brother Robert Jr. and her half-sisters who are in their early teens, Kylie and Kendall. The parents, and I use the term loosely, are Kris Jenner, who divorced Robert Sr. in 1989, and Bruce Jenner, a gold medal Olympic winner and an integral part of American sports history. Does this sound even remotely interesting? Well, if you said “no,” you are probably in the majority. However, if you said “yes,” you are in luck because they are on their fourth show in two years. (more…)

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I normally hate revealing “overheard” conversations, but something tells me Bruce Jenner might not mind. Waiting at Reagan National for our bags a few months ago, I was struck by how discerning Mr. Jenner was about politics.

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Jenner was recognized by someone at the baggage claim. Conversation ensued. It was just a few months into the Obama presidency and Jenner started talking about how he wanted to give the president the benefit of the doubt but seemed especially struck by the stimulus at the time as a bad idea. There was criticism of Bush, too, on the bailout, but Obama was clearly trying his patience as he tried to wait and see. (more…)

When you watch “Gran Torino” and Clint Eastwood gives that look with one eyebrow raised as he sticks a gun in someone’s face, you know some shit’s about to go down and that this is a man who can handle himself. When you look at Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler,” you know his face is mush because he’s taken some punches in life.

Brody Jenner

I long for the days when being a man had to do with things like, my word is good, insult my wife and you get a busted nose, and my silence says more than any nonsense I could ever scream at you. But this is not the image of the masculine male Tinseltown now propagates.

The other day while surfing channels like a Troglodyte on speed waiting for the meat on the grill to ooze a little blood, I came across a show I’m convinced will be the downfall of the American male. (more…)