Jackson Tells His Side Of The Story

Michael Jackson, maskless, gloveless and missing a shoe, continued testifying Wednesday in a $21 million lawsuit alleging the pop icon didn't follow through with two millennium concerts.

Under questioning from concert promoter Marcel Avram's attorney, Jackson said Avram told him the millennium concerts were scrubbed because the promoter could not obtain airspace clearance to fly from one location to the next the night of the concerts.

The attorney, Louis Miller, asked which countries forbid his travel, but Jackson said he could not recall.

Avram sued Jackson for allegedly backing out of performances in Sydney, Australia, and Honolulu on Dec. 31, 1999. The singer maintains it was Avram who canceled the shows over concerns they would not be profitable.

Jackson also answered questions Wednesday from his attorney, Zia Modabber, who asked him about two former business managers, Myung-Ho Lee and Wayne Nagin.

Jackson said he did not allow his two former business managers to deduct expenses for two other charity concerts organized by Avram from his planned millennium concert pay.

Jackson also said he rarely read business contracts and delegated administrative duties.

Wednesday was Jackson's fifth day on the witness stand, and he was to continue testifying Thursday.

He arrived Wednesday at the Santa Barbara County courthouse in a van and emerged wearing a blue blazer and a gold-striped blue tie featuring a coat of arms.

He also wore a silky blue armband. Asked what his armband represented, Jackson shouted, "Power!" while two security guards sheltered him from the sun with two black umbrellas. Asked if he meant power for him, he replied, "The world. Not for me. Not for me."

Reporters peppered the 44-year-old entertainer - who balanced on a crutch because he says his foot is swollen due to a spider bite - with questions but he only answered with a faint "Merry Christmas."

By Anthony Breznican