I guess it's all relative, but at least Richard Scrushy believes Wednesday, September 29 was a "great day." According to this article in the Birmingham Business Journal, Scrushy learned on Wednesday that 27 of the 85 counts against him had been dropped, although three counts including accusations of perjury and obstruction of justice, were added. As a result, instead of a reported maximum 650-year prison sentence and $36 million in fines, Scrushy now faces a maximum 450 years in prison, and $30 million in fines. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.

The article details a press conference that sounds like it was quite a scene. Scrushy was flanked by his attorneys, including Donald Watkins and Jim Parkman (whatever happened to these other guys?).

The article states that:

Parkman, wearing a dark suit and bright pink tie, peppered his brief speech with sports analogies.

Parkman says he is ready "to go the big dance in January," referring to Scrushy's federal trial that begins Jan. 5. ("The Big Dance" is common vernacular for college basketball and football tournaments.) Parkman, of Dothan, Ala., will serve as head trial counsel.

The press conference remained colorful. Parkman added that the new charges are a "couple pieces of potato" added to a stew that has no beef. Asked to describe his professional career, Parkman told a ring of reporters that he "puts his pants on one leg at a time."

Scrushy himself added that he was "absolutely not guilty."