Daily News Channel
His death nearly brought the Web to a standstill with several sites buckling under the sheer weight of traffic. And Michael Jackson’s memorial service promises to be no different — with media organizations bracing for a tsunami of traffic. Given the feverish interest in all things Jackson, the Los Angeles memorial could be the most-viewed online event of all time.
Some lucky Michael Jackson fans got the e-mails they were hoping for Sunday, saying they’ve won two free tickets to Tuesday’s memorial service. “OMG OMG OMG OMG i got tickets to the michael jackson memorial service!!!” Deka Motanya wrote Sunday afternoon in a Twitter message. The 8,750 fans chosen were summoned to Dodger Stadium Monday to pick up their tickets and have a wristband placed on their arms to prevent them from reselling them.
Fans continued to register by the thousands early Saturday, hoping to be among the 8,750 people who will be randomly picked to attend the memorial service for singer Michael Jackson next week.
Fans must register online for a lottery to win tickets to the Michael Jackson memorial Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, organizers said Friday. Third seed Murray was hoping to become the first British man to win the tournament since Fred Perry in 1936, but he was eventually out-gunned by an inspired Roddick who went through 6-4 4-6 7-6 7-6. Roddick will now face Roger Federer, who has beaten him in their two previous Wimbledon final meetings — in 2004 and 2005.
Will Michael Jackson stop the world? Thousands are expected to swamp Los Angeles, California, to mourn him Tuesday at the Staples Center, and the accompanying media crush will be enormous. The tribute to the King of Pop at Harlem’s Apollo Theater earlier this week drew coverage from all over the world, along with a public turnout in the thousands.
The Orlando Magic toppled the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night to claim a spot in the NBA finals championship series for the first time in 14 years. The Magic’s 103-90 home win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals earned the team a trip to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. Orlando made it to the title round in 1995, one year before Shaquille O’Neal left for Los Angeles.