re: which MJ is more famous/influential, Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson?

I remember after we overthrew the Taliban in Afghanistan there was some news special spotlighting the women in Afghanistan. Think along 60 minutes. They talked about how people were able to breathe and women didn't have to shut themselves off from the modern world anymore... they interviewed a couple of women living high in the mountains and they talked specifically about being able to listen to Michael Jackson tapes.

I know that's anecdotal, but I really think it speaks volumes about how universal his appeal was. To many people, he was modern/American culture packaged, branded and shipped across the world. He was actually bigger than that.

I was studying abroad the summer of 09 when he died and I found out because I noticed my hotel in Paris was playing nothing but MJ music when I woke up in the hallways/lobby. I asked someone at the desk and that's how I found out.

I just don't think people around the world would care as much if the situations were reversed. People found a way to isolate good MJack from the later MJack, which was part of the tragedy of his last years and demise.

In fact I think here in America Jackson's a bigger deal too. That's not to take anything away from Jordan, but music is more universal.