Column for September 23, 2004

Hey there, hi there, ho there, were as happy as can be, M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E. Maybe Mickey had the right idea? Can we all just get along. Do on to others as you would have them do on to you? Try not to cheat, steal or kill anyone in the process.

Will it ever end? Kobe Bryants sex trials, Martha Stewards cheating, teachers, preachers, terrorists, road rage, the guy next door beating his wife with a coat hanger, woman leaves her kids to die in a hot car. Please, count to ten, eat some ice cream, take a cold shower, sing a song, but try to get along. Was it Spike Lee who said "Do the right thing."

I got several e-mail's from last weeks column about a Michigan Music Hall of Fame. This really would be something Governor Grandholn and any "cool cities" would love to have. That Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland will never and maybe was never meant to include some of the important Michigan musicians. Mitch Ryder, Salem Witchcraft, Tim Tam and the Turn-ons, Question Mark and the Mysterians, Sunday Funnies, the Romantics, the Look, Robert Noel, Little Rubin, Alexander Zonjic, Alice Cooper just to name a few.

Maybe we could send the Hall of Fame idea to Tom Wilson or the Andiamo restaurant people, who are planning to open a Pistons themed eatery. This Hard Rock, Hockytown Cafe type establishment is going to be in the 10,000-square-foot space previously occupied by the Volcano Grill in Star Southfield movie theater complex.

Look for the Piston players to be actively involved as well as Bill Laimbeer and the Detroit Shock, the women's WNBA champs and the Tampa Bay Lighting hockey team which is part of the Palace Sports family of teams owned by Bill Davidson. A night club, bar, restaurant, with local and visiting players as well as music acts playing at the Palace, the DTE Energy or Meadow Brook music theaters -- all owned by Palace Sports. If they name it "Pistons Paradise" they could get Eddie Money sing and give away tickets. To tickets to Paradise.

John Travolta was in town, along with Farmington High School Alum Joaquin Phoenix, promoting a new movie called "Ladder 49." The actors met with firefighters from Detroit's Engine 54 station before heading to fire stations in Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Washington, Los Angeles and New York.

To contact Ben E. or for information on his band call (313) 730-1627 via e mail Benejets@aol.com and see the web sites Bennyandthejets.com and reverendguitars.com.

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