The only time the Washington Post has sought my opinion was on the subject of Phil Spector's

AP/Cal DoC

hair. Was it real? the Capitol's paper of record wanted to know. What was its effect on the courtroom? Spector, of course, arrived at his post-arrest hearings and subsequent two murder trials in an array of alarming wigs -- disturbing for their eccentric appearance as well as what the wigs implied of the thoughts seething inside their wearer's head.

Perhaps nothing affects a man's self-image more than the state of his hair -- which may explain why, if former wife Ronnie Spector is to be believed, her husband retired to bed at night with a cap on his head. And, during his first trial, there was an unforgettable moment when, during a break, Spector's young wife Rachelle accosted Court TV reporter Beth Karas in the hallway. Rachelle was miffed about Court TV's descriptions of Spector's locks as pure wiggery.

"Just so you know?" Rachelle informed a somewhat startled Karas. "Phil doesn't wear a hairpiece."

That assertion was rudely debunked this week, when Spector's latest mug shot was released, clearly showing the music-producer legend as being mostly bald. At least he can't be prosecuted for false-hair fashion statements.