Jackson Rehearsal: "Full of Potential"

(CBS)  Video taken just two days before Michael Jackson's death show what many describe as a fit and sure-footed Jackson.

The CEO of AEG Live, Randy Phillips, whose company was producing Jackson's concert, says, "What I saw was a guy who had turned the corner both in his own belief and self-esteem that he could do this, he could get it back and grab that ring again."

CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy reported on "The Early Show" Friday that the rehearsal footage taken at the Staples Center in L.A. shows Jackson performing alone at times, and with several backup dancers.

"It was extraordinary, and it was artistic, and it was full of potential," said concert director Kenny Ortega. "And we saw him triumph in this very space."

Tracy reported Jackson was preparing for his "This Is It" Tour, a sold-out series of 50 concerts in London -- what might have been one of the biggest comeback tours of all time.

CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton agreed Jackson looked ready to perform.

"Sometimes it's just as important to see what we don't see as well as what we do see," she told "Early Show" news anchor Russ Mitchell, referring to the rehearsal video. "We don't see him stumbling. We don't see him slurring his words. We don't see him starting and stopping. All of those indicate he's able to focus and do what he's supposed to do in these rehearsals."

As for Jackson's weight at death -- reportedly 112 to 120 pounds -- Ashton said he was always on the slimmer side for his height, saying "his baseline is his baseline." However, she added being 112 pounds puts you just as much of a potential health risk, as it does being obese.

Ashton said anyone can undergo sudden cardiac death, and said that appears to be the case with Jackson.

Nothing about Jackson's behavior in the video, she said, looked abnormal.

Ashton compared Hawaii footage of Elvis Presley before his death to Jackson's rehearsal video, saying Presley showed obvious signs of impairment, while Jackson didn't have problems stopping and starting and looks "focused" in the clip.

"Obviously, he was able to rehearse, perform up to a high physical level," she said. "In order to do this kind of tour, you have to be both physically prepared and emotionally and psychologically prepared...He looks pretty good here."

Jackson will soon be celebrated in the same space where he rehearsed for the last time: Tracy says a memorial is planned for next Tuesday at the Staples Center.

[John_Merritt]

Next to the word 'neo-con', this term of 'potential' is one of the most overused words in our vocabulary. Potential denotes there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but in fact there are too many variables that either promote or destroy the dream.

In Mr. Jackson's case, he was surrounded by a cloud of uncertainty. His health was waning, his skills were deteriorating (I saw the tapes), his energy was slowing, and he could not walk around with an IV solution with his favorite narcotic in it.

There were too many negative things happening in his life, with no end in sight. If this were not the case, MJ would not have continued 'deeper' into a bad situation. It will be interesting to see the tox panels when they are published.

The moral of this story is: We cannot resurrect our past, when we allow ourselves to slip deeper into destructive behavior. When we allow ourselves to erode inwardly, the outward appearance only becomes a facade of what we want others to see; not what we really are.

Have a great holiday weekend.

[andie52]

He was not healthy enough to really perform. He was talented but very disturbed and had been going downhill since the molestation trial ended and he left the country dragging 3 innocent children with him.

[albert571]

Was this a joke or what? Michael looked like a fifty year old pedofile trying to impress some seven year old boys!He would have done better with a bag of candy and a puppy.His face scared most little girls so bad they would turn gay!I was born white and can't remember ever being as white as Michael.I'll be glad when they bury this freak and end this circus (I am sad that the clown is dead ,but I wont lose any sleep over it) Good nite Michael

[MJFAN4LIFE]

albert571. Hurry up and die, i'd like to see how many people actually would care. Millions mourn MJ, are you jealous? Your the clown.