This is the best thing I’ve read today. A blogger for a TV station in Chicago makes a snarky comment  

 about the singer Richard Marx. Richard Marx sees it and has a sudden and persistent need to confront the blogger — in his neighborhood bar. Interesting ensues.

As I wrote in a review of the song on my blog:

Every one of these musicians has performed outstanding work on their own, but together, they’ve produced a power anthem that would have embarrassed Damn Yankees, The Outfield or White Lion. (But not Richard Marx. Richard Marx is shameless.)

Just like all the other snotty remarks I make about local celebrities, as soon as I posted it I forgot about it. My blog has a readership in the mid-three figures, so naturally I assume no one notices what I write. The next afternoon while at Naval Station Great Lakes for my sister’s stepson’s boot-camp graduation, I received an email with the subject line, “From Richard Marx.”
Edward,
How exactly am I “shameless?”
Do you know me? Have we met?
You print a statement like that in my home town, you better have a reason and I’d like to know what it is.
Richard Marx

I have had the rare experience of having someone famous or quasi-famous question or congratulate something I have written on this blog. It is, I must say, weird, like being an ant scrutinized by a giant.
But just remember that thing about never getting into a fight with somebody who buys ink by the barrel. It’s an outdated phrasing but not necessarily an outdated concept.

Categories: journalizm