It’s been a week of public outbursts across the board - politics, sports, entertainment - and in this age of recriminations, apologies, and angry Twitter feeds, it’s hard to decide which one should make us most upset. Spin through our handicapping chart and take your best guess at who deserves the longest time out for his or her uncivil action.
RAPPER KANYE WEST
What he did: Interrupted Taylor Swift’s “Best Female Video’’ acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards to say that Beyoncé should have won, instead.
Why he’s most egregious: She’s only 19! And she came to the awards show with her mom!
Mitigating factor: Apologized profusely on his blog ALL CAPS.
What he should have done: Cooled his Louis Vuitton heels and graciously applauded when Beyoncé beat him out for “Video of the Year.’’
US REPRESENTATIVE JOE WILSON (R-S.C.)
What he did: Shouted “You lie!’’ during President Obama’s health care speech to a joint session of Congress.
Why he’s most egregious: Whatever happened to “Hail to the Chief’’?
Mitigating factor: Showed restraint compared with another South Carolina congressman, Preston Brooks, who beat US Senator Charles Sumner with a cane in the Senate chamber in 1856.
What he should have done: Saved it for Glenn Beck’s show.
TENNIS STAR SERENA WILLIAMS
What she did: Unleashed a profanity-laced tirade against a US Open line judge who made a questionable call.
Why she’s most egregious: That’s no way to teach the kiddies about sportsmanship.
Mitigating factor: In our opinion, she was right - it was a bad call.
What she should have done: Asked famous hothead John McEnroe how to lose her cool with a touch more grace.
A pair of Perrys
Billie Perry, wife of the Aerosmith ax man
Joe Perry, apologized for not tweeting ahead of time about her hubby’s performance with
Katy Perry at the MTV Video Music Awards. “Could not tweet it. Joe was a surprise guest. It rocked,’’ wrote Billie, who normally tweets even the most mundane details of her life. “[Katy] Perry was so sweet and pretty. She could belt it out too.’’ With Aerosmith on indefinite hiatus, Perry is set to release a solo CD, “Have Guitar, Will Travel.’’
Kennedy memoir a hit
If first-day sales mean anything,
Ted Kennedy’s posthumous memoir, “True Compass,’’ could be one of the year’s more popular reads. Local bookstores tell us that as soon as the hardcover was released yesterday, copies were flying off shelves. “We’ve sold a lot and we’ve ordered a heaping ton,’’ said
Kate Robinson, an assistant manager at Brookline Booksmith. “We don’t have lines out the door, but everyone who comes in is certainly circling the book.’’ Over at Borders in Downtown Crossing, an employee said that 230 copies of the book had been sold by 3 p.m. And at the New England Mobile Book Fair in Newton, sales of Ted’s tome were worthy of
J.K. Rowling. Well, almost. “We’ve sold 77 since 9:30 this morning,’’ said manager
Andy Leibler. “It’s incredibly strong. A best-selling book is usually, like, 100 in week.’’ (For the record, the last “Harry Potter’’ book sold 1,200 copies at New England Mobile Book Fair between midnight and 2 a.m. the day it went on sale.) Kennedy’s book is sure to get a
little competition today with the release of “The Lost Symbol,’’ the sequel to “The Da Vinci Code,’’ by New Hampshire author
Dan Brown.
Gisele selling homes
Normally, the nesting instinct is characterized by a strong urge to clean. In
Gisele Bundchen’s case, it’s a strong urge to sell. The New York Post reported yesterday that
Tom Brady’s supermodel spouse has put two of her Manhattan residences up for sale. The Pats QB’s pregnant wife wants $4.5 million for her penthouse triplex at 374 West 11th St., and $13.95 million for the townhouse at 42 Barrow St. We’re told Bundchen, who’s expecting the couple’s first child in December, is also redecorating the Beacon Street abode she shares with Brady. Last week, the pair were snapped rearranging the patio furniture on their rooftop deck.
Con man’s tale to TV
It was only a matter of time before the crazy story of con artist
Clark Rockefeller was turned into a TV movie. “Will & Grace’’ actor
Eric McCormack has inked a deal with Lifetime to play Rockefeller - a.k.a.
Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter - the imposter who kidnapped his daughter during a supervised visit in July 2008 and was later arrested.
Errol Morris is also interested in the story. The Oscar-winning filmmaker was in the courtroom for every day of Gerhartsreiter’s trial.
Catching the scene
Sox first baseman
Kevin Youkilis dropped by Precinct in Union Square the other night with his buddy, singer
Will Dailey.
Tony time in Toronto
After showing his dark comedy “The Informant!’’ at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend,
Matt Damon attended a private dinner for OneXOne, his international organization for children’s health. Other guests at the benefit included
Bill Clinton and
Elvis Costello, who performed.
High Holiday fare
Blue Ginger chef
Ming Tsai and a number of Boston’s renowned cooks gathered at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter in Southie over the weekend to prove that Rosh Hashana dinner doesn’t have to be basic brisket. At “Beyond Bubbie’s Kitchen,’’ sponsored by the New Center for Arts and Culture, Tsai cooked up brisket pot stickers, Eastern Standard chef
Jeremy Sewall made foie gras, and recent “Hell’s Kitchen’’ castoff and Tremont 647 chef
Andy Husbands prepared brisket tamales and sweet potato latkes. Other chefs who cooked up High Holiday treats at the event included
Michael Schlow of Radius,
Julio de Haro of Estragon, and
Jim Solomon of the Fireplace.
Joanna Weiss and Sarah Rodman of the Globe staff contributed. Read the Names Blog at www.boston.com/namesblog. Names can be reached at names@globe.com or at 617-929-8253. 
© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.
(Gary Hershorn/Reuters)
Kanye West takes the microphone from best female video winner Taylor Swift as he praises the video entry from Beyonce at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, September 13, 2009.
