Randy sans fish graphic

SMELLS LIKE FISH: The wake of Randy Phillips' ouster as CEO at AEG Live is smelling fishier all the time. The company’s press release simply stated that he was out, with a tone of “don’t let the doorknob hit you on the way out,” followed by Randy speaking to anyone who’d listen about what a blessing to the music business he was. Now Dan Beckerman has come out all but calling him St. Randy—just two days after sacking him. This is leading even passive observers to strongly question the spin from Randy and AEG. Does Philips possess a smoking gun in the Michael Jackson litigation? What are the settlement details in his supposed contract, when inside sources say he was indeed fired for cause? Clearly neither side wants to go quietly into that good night, but why? Beckerman has compared Phillips’ departure to that of Phil Jackson from the L.A. Lakers, only Phil wasn’t shitcanned and Randy was. Is AEG getting Randied? If it walks, quacks and looks like a duck, it probably is. (11/27p)