We understand that it’s not unusual for passionate people to argue. However, a recent fight between Dan Gulley Jr. and David James Brooks Jr. reminds us of Henry Kissenger’s oft-quoted dictum “University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.”
The men, who were friends, were at another friend’s house recently when they began to discuss the height of the recently late Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Their discussion became an argument, and Gulley, unwilling to concede his point, drew his gun and shot Brooks twice in the abdomen. Brooks fled to his car, got his own gun and returned fire, missing Gulley. They then both separately went to the police station where Brooks was taken to the hospital and Gulley was arrested.
To us, the question of Mr. Brown’s height is trivial, but perhaps we misjudge its importance. A recent poster(perhaps Mr. Brooks) recently asked the question on Yahoo Answers, saying “Does Anyone Know How Tall The Late R&B Legend Was? I Have Been Dying To Know.” The answer, as that questioner discovered, is 5 foot 6 inches tall. Though we suppose it would be more accurate to describe Mr. Brown’s current height as six feet under.