Written by DAVID KEYES

January 31 , 2005

A new week, a new public crucifixion gets in gear. For the next several weeks, we as readers of the entertainment industry will no doubt be bombarded with an endless array of details and insight into this Michael Jackson molestation trial, which goes into jury selection phase this week. No doubt we will hear about gag orders, leaked evidence, conspiracies, crazed fans and boycotts, district attorneys with hidden agendas, kiddy porn and such. The question is -- do you care?

This entire lynch mob has dominated public exposure for so damn long in the recent months that it's almost impossible to side with any of the parties involved. California law enforcement and Jacko himself only seem to agree on one prospect: "keep an open mind." Yeah, sure. When you have a 40+-year-old faded pop star acting more like a child than any of those he invites to Neverland and legal officials who seem to be getting off at the prospect of sticking it to a celebrity rather than going after some of the thousands of at-large criminals there, you must forgive some of us if we smell a few piles of poo.

I'm tired of the whole sorted mess. Did Jacko touch those kids or didn't he? Are his accusers just after money? Those are not so much the points as is who can look like the bigger dumb-ass in front of the cameras: he, his sister Latoya or that creepy D.A. with a slight speech impediment?

Still, if we are to indeed remain objective, then the best way to do that is to completely remove ourselves from the subject until actual facts come out instead of incessant rambling and speculation. The defense and the prosecution are batting zero so far -- if they expect to break this no-hitter, then they better stop thinking with their egos and start playing ball correctly. You don't gain yourself any favors by mocking your victim at a press conference or doing the Moonwalk on top of a family van.