Michael Jackson Dies Of Cardiac Arrest

Numerous television reports and gossip sites are reporting that Michael Jackson suffered "severe" cardiac arrest this afternoon and is critical condition in a Los Angeles hospital. He was administered CPR in the ambulance and is said to be in "really rough shape." His family is en route to the hospital.

UPDATE: TMZ is reporting that Jackson has died.

We've just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50. Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon at his Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back. A source tells us Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived. LaToya ran in the hospital sobbing, after Jackson was pronounced dead. Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II. Jackson had 13 number one hits during his solo career.

One of my earliest childhood memories is my parents exchanging looks as the Jackson 5's ABC played on the car radio and my dad saying, "Do you think he knows what he's singing about?" And me, in the backseat, the same age as Michael, wondering, "Well, what IS he singing about?"

All of my favorite MJ songs are pre-Thriller. Indulge me.