Mike Jeffries, at least in the photo, looks like a cross between the Eric Stoltz character in the movie "Mask" and Marv in "Sin City". I was suprised to see Mr. Denizet-Lewis described as "handsome." Freakish is more like it. Mr. Jeffries is not aging gracefully, to state the obvious.

There's an ugliness underneath that comes across as well.

At least initially, I responded to TWW as though it were a form of church. Since I'm a secular humanist, I found it comforting to visit a world where people tended to do the right thing, and everyone (even the Republicans) seemed to generally respect one another, although confrontation was not discouraged. There was humour under duress; integrity was ultimately prized more than personal gain. I especially recall the episode where President Bartlett, hosting a formal White House dinner, was on the radio to a young wounded sailor, the last left manning the bridge of a naval destroyer in the eye of a hurricane. It was profoundly moving, even devastating, as it eloquently dramatized the pact between a nation and its citizens. It ended with Bartlet saying that he was going to stay on the radio with the young ensign until the worst was over.

No happy ending there, but reassuring nonetheless.

This may sound trite or simplistic, but simple aging may have a lot to do with this phenomenon. Very few artists are able to sustain a high level of output, no matter what their particular medium. I could name several contemporaries of these men (not comedians) whose star has decidely faded over the last 15 years. Scorsese, Coppola, DePalma -- none have produced work that approaches their very best when they were at their peak. Same thing in music: Springsteen, Elvis Costello, U2, etc. And, as Stephanie points out, comedy may be the most difficult form of all.

(I do not include Adam Sandler because he is relatively young and egregiously not funny.)

Why does King care either way whether the Mavericks play up to their potential or not? King is just another slave to conventional wisdom, the Chris Matthews of Salon, protecting his own little corner of the establishment press, or worse, hoping he'll someday get invited in. We read Salon for a different view and all we get is the same recycled claptrap, dressed up with a Fu Manchu. Baron Davis is not seven feet tall but still looms over Dirk Nowitzki as far as I'm concerned. There's something to be said for heart. The Warriors have upset King's little bracket orgy and basketball is better for it.

King - I was right there with you until I read the part about taking the 10 month old daughter, who had just had eye surgery that morning, on a cross country flight just so Dad could play in his basketball game. I admire Derek Fisher but I would not have put a 10 month old, fresh from surgery, through that unnecessary hardship.

"I'm in no position to compare a tennis match to its antecedents..."

Groan. Your position is a SPORTS COLUMNIST. And there are other sports besides baseball, basketball and football.

So weak. Between Joan Walsh and KK, Salon loses another subscription. What's the opposite sound of cha-ching?