Stick a fork in me Jerry...I'm done

November 17, 2006. A night that will live in infamy. Michael Richards, A.K.A. 'Kramer', was out on stage going through his schtick, when someone in the audience spoke up. A heckler. I've seen the video, and I couldn't quite make out what the man said to Richards, but what was said isn't really important.

Let me rephrase that. What the heckler said was of little importance. However, Richards' response was over the top.

He launched into a venomous tirade of racist comments and insults. If Richards considered this display of ignorance as humor, he was operating under a serious misconception. His angry and abusive diatribe escalated. It was disturbing to watch this grown man obliterate a lengthy career in a few short minutes. Granted, "Seinfeld" is the only work worthy of mention, but that represents 9 years out of a career which stretched from 1980 to... November 17, 2006.

His tearful apology seemed feeble, oozing vapidity. It was too little, too late. Thousands of comedians have handled hecklers over the years without degrading them with racist insults. Hecklers go with the territory. A quick wit, professionalism and maturity usually results in entertainment for the audience and a lesson to the nudnick who opened his/her mouth. I saw no quick wit, professionalism or maturity in Richards' outburst. I saw bitterness and anger.

If we are honest with ourselves, we would all admit to allowing a racist thought to cross our minds or a comment to slip from our lips, regardless of our ethnic background. There's no excuse for it. It happens nonetheless and most of us would be ashamed when it happens. Mr. Richards appeared to revel in it. He continued to revel in it until he saw that the audience was dwindling as disgusted patrons left the building. Good for them.

Kramer dropped the microphone and walked off the stage, out of the glare of the spotlights. Perhaps for ever.

"Stick a fork in me Jerry...I'm done"

Never a truer word was spoken.