In a very good column about steroids, Bill Simmons points out what a joke that whole Janet Jackson brouhaha was:
"Part of our country's problem is the shortsighted way we "protect" our kids from life's harsh realities. Janet Jackson's nipple slip was such a traumatic moment for Americans that some live sporting events now run on tape-delay, and Howard Stern fled to SIRIUS to escape the clutches of the increasingly fascistic FCC. Meanwhile, any kid can glimpse Britney's crotch if he or she is even remotely familiar with Google."Seriously. The Janet nipple slip was for a fraction of a second, was not in close-up, and it was obscured by that bizarre ring thing she was wearing. Now, if Britney were to go panties-free at the Super Bowl... Posted by Stephen Silver at January 4, 2007 01:34 PM
What drove me crazy about the Janet Jackson bruhaha was that it overshadowed one of the greatest super bowls ever played.
Posted by: matt at January 4, 2007 09:25 PMI think most people misinterpret why so many had a problem with Janet Jackson's halftime "display." The average Mother and Father in this country have a reasonable expectation of being able to watch the Super Bowl with their children without having some talentless nitwit flash her tit in a calculated effort to cling to her dying notoriety. I like women's breasts as much, and probably more, than anyone, but I would like to think I could watch the Super Bowl halftime festivities(which I don't, BTW)without my then 6-year-old son being subjected to JJ's tit-baring publicity stunt. Yes, it seems unsophisticated that some people are bothered by bare breasts, but many people, especially those with strong religious/moral convictions, are bothered by public nudity, and they shouldn't have to worry about it during a national event like the Super Bowl. Hell, I have great affection for vaginas, but I don't want some idiot flashing her cooter at my Grandmother's funeral.
Posted by: DBrooks at January 5, 2007 10:44 AM