Kobe and Magic: Michael Jackson Memorial
Wed, Jul 8, 2009 by Adam Sedie
Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the memorial for one of the greatest entertainers of all time, Michael Jackson seemed more like a red carpet event than a memorial.
Magic was humble in paying homage to the Ping of Pop. (Credit: E!)
Just like Jackson’s life, there is much controversy surrounding the event that took place in the building the Lakers (and Clippers) call home. The ceremony was paid for by a city in dire need of saving money rather than spending it.
Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant both took the stage to address the crowd, and had some compelling things to say:
If Kobe is thanking Jackson for teaching him how to donate and contribute, it would be nice if he put this knowledge to work in the here-and-now and contributed some cash to pay part of the massive bill for an event he had no business attending. Why not help your fans? Or at least make the token gesture you really care about the people? Give back Kobe, come on! There is no question the King of Pop was a humanitarian and a contributor with his money. What about the Black Mamba?
Magic at least sites real instances as to how he is thankful for Michael Jackson. He thanked him directly for opening doors and creating opportunities. The gesture is understandable and genuine on Magic’s behalf. His relationship with Jackson was real. Magic was actually in one of his videos:
Everyday citizens might not want millions of bucks spent on this memorial. They did not even have the opportunity to vote or decide this democratically. Let proceeds from all the music he’s sold since he died pay for it. Something other than the cash of the people.
One would envision that iconic athletes the caliber of Magic or Kobe would want $2.5-$4 million of tax money allocated to the sports programs of the schools of the young athletes who dream of being the next Magic or Kobe. But there’s Kobe on stage, sucking up the spotlight, giving his “weirdness” thanks on TV and radio broadcasts worldwide, gaining excessive fame and notoriety, talking a big game in remembering the King of Pop. Who associates Kobe with that MJ?
Kobe states his gratitude, but then does not help his city–Los Angeles, the people who pay his salary, the people who will feel this the hardest–with anything more than fake mourning. An Anderson Varajao flop is more convincing than Kobe’s performance on Tuesday. He made A-Rod look genuine.
You want true fame and notoriety? Why not be in the news for donating money to help the city pay for this shindig? Instead of standing their in a nice black suit pretending to be so broken up by the whole thing.
How much of a hero would you be to those of us who were working yesterday and couldn’t attend if you were to contribute financially to the city of L.A.? Not something you’re going to get a fat tax write off for, but to help the city pay for an event they really can’t afford.
Can’t think of a better, more practical and productive way to exemplify Michael Jackson’s legacy of generosity.
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Kobe and Michael were actually friends. Check out this interview he did with MTV discussing their friendship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH6Ne6WLQ6U
This is what Kobe told Ramona Shelburne of the L.A. Daily News:
`It’s an honor to be a part of it. I think Michael was extremely misunderstood. Extremely misunderstood. He was so generous, extremely giving and caring. Aside from us talking about work and how he tried to prepare and train for things, he introduced me to movies that I would never ever watch, like `American in Paris,’ or `Breakfast at Tiffany’s.’ Like I would never watch those. But he introduced those to me and opened up a whole other side of things. Appreciating Fred Astaire’s talent and things like that. Seeing how that relates to basketball. We used to have those conversations all the time. He’s just such a giver, and such a beautiful person.”
How quaint. The accused rapist calling the accused child molester “misunderstood”
I’m sure there were many who new MJ better. Would he have been there if it wasn’t in Staples Center? Or in L.A.? It was the place to be on Tuesday, so there he was.
The only difference between Kobe and A-Rod is that Kobe has won something.
I’m sure there are many that knew him better than Jennifer Hudson and John Mayer too.
Had Kobe not admitted to watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s I’d be more willing to think he exaggerated their friendship.
Would Kobe have traveled to Gary, IN if the funeral was there? No. But neither would most of the people there.
It was a funeral. If a guy wants to pay his respects who cares why.
I am sure a lot of celebrities are friends with MJ. but who are the real ones? who knows…..
You didn’t hear? Now that Kobe has brought the crown back to LA and the Staples Center he is the MC at all of their events. That’s right, he will even be throwing out the ceremonial jump-ball before all Clippers games!
On the other hand great points about city money. It reminds me of the rants Adam Carola used to go on about how stupid Villaraigosa before his radio show got canned.
It’s a joke! Although Mr. Jackson was never convicted of being a pedophile he was also not voted innocent of the crimes he was accused of, there’s a big difference. Also I’m sure I wouldn’t have 2 adulterers (Magic and Kobe)speaking at my funeral as well. L.A., please don’t tell me you’re willing to pay for this freak show of a funeral as long as these morally bankrupt men do a little song and dance for you and throw a ball through a hoop!!!
You want to look at an adulterer look no further than Berry “Love Child” Gordy and Jermaine “On Wife No. 4″ Jackson.
More than 700,000 people came to LA for the funeral. The city will still come out on top—even if they paid for it.
i dont think more than 700,000 went to downtown for the funeral. Thats the number they estimate, but the people who actually showed up was far less than they expected.
i dont think more than 700,000 went to downtown for the funeral. Thats the number they estimated, but the number of people who actually showed up was far less than they expected.
700,000 in the last week have come to L.A. to visit Neverland, MJ’s house, MJ’s star on the walk of fame.
Only 20,000 got tix to the service. There were four checkpoints. Only those with tix showed up.
The other 680,000 got hotel rooms, rented cars, took tours, ate at restaurants.
The whole thing is a spectacle–so why not Kobe, and Brooke Shields, etc.?–I’m impressed by MJ’s ability to choreograph his own funeral though. Thought his daughter’s comments were touching, but the poor child should have never been made to go in front of millions and spill her grief. That’s straight outta Joe Jackson’s “how to destroy children and make them love you for it” playbook.
She wasn’t made to. You can hear Jermaine say “Paris wants to say something” right before she spoke.
Doesn’t mean it wasn’t choreographed. We’ll never know for sure, but it sure seemed like an attempt to portray MJ in a more positive parental light versus a peculiar drug addict.
Didn’t Jackson have his kids wear burkas? I doubt his wishes were being honored in exposing those kids on TV like that.
I get Magic. He was a African American superstar at the same time Michael Jackson exploded. They helped the corporate media in thinking of black America for once.
But Kobe? Man he must eat Shaq’s ass! What a shameless whore. Like the kind who might give oral for under $10. Kobe instead shamelessly promotes his image for showbiz and corporate pitch man on the back of a dead man.
WOW. Shameless self centered jerk.
But all that covered it was shameless media whores, and lazy journalist.
I know I wouldn’t want my fathers funeral on International TV.
Or he was mourning a friend. It wasn’t a funeral. It was a memorial service. 2 million people tried to get tickets. Only 20,000 got in. That’s why it was on TV.
It was On tv because this is the nation of distraction. Celeb gossip before wars, a economy, and healthcare.
Kudos to the Clippers for not sending their big star.They play in that Arena too.
This whole event was more like a concert/red carpet event than a actual memorial. Regardless the intention of the memorial service, why are the tax payers responsible for the bill while all these celebrities can make contributions? California is over 500 millions dollars in debt already!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5775482/Michael-Jackson-memorial-by-numbers.html
This is rather disturbing. It’s both weird and ridiculous. Look, MJ is gone and I hate to pick on him, but he was a freak. He was a child molester and drug addict and now all of a sudden he’s being deified? This is just so hypocritical and wrong.
boo hoo. why does kobe keep getting all the spotlight. why can’t they choose another nba player to speak for michael like someone from the pacers. Michael was born in Indiana right? waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh sob sob. pathetic
who cares if kobe really know MJ or not.
The real issue is we are in the midst of a huge budget crisis. The state and the tax payers should be the last to pay for this 2.5 million expenditure. The profit that they are going to generate from MJ’s estate can easily cover the cost. All these celebrities and big time athletes can help out also. But of course, buying a $4 million 8-carat purple diamond ring to make your wife happy after having a highly publicized affair, oh yeah, and a rape accusation as well, is more important than donating money to help out on the budget crisis.
“I WANT TO ROCK WITH YOU”
IT WAS ALL FINE AND DANDY, JUST LIKE A BIG SOAP OPERA OF WHO’S WHO!
I AM GLAD JACKSON ISN’T FROM CLEVEAND,OHIO WHERE “SHIP B SINKIN” AS WE ARE THE POOREST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS HOVERING AT 10% IN THAT COUNTY COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE 15%. CLEVELAND COULDN’T AFFORD A POST DEATH PARTY LIKE THIS WAS AND WOULD HAVE PUT US 50 ROWS BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL OR SHOULD I SAY STAGE.
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT BIG NAME STAR FROM ANY INDUSTRY TO HAVE ONE OF THESE?
THEY NEVER DID THIS FOR FRANK SINATRA
Hmmm…what Kobe and M. Jackson have/had on common?
Well..weirdness, arrogance, petulance combined with tons of talent and other gifts.
One was involved in some many cases of child molestation (off course dismissed between quotations and amid lots of money)
the second was also involved in some weird case of rape, violence etc (also case dismissed thanks to money)
Common Factor?
Erratic personalities, and people with very fragile memory ahh money erases and smooths everything.