July 7, 2009

Fans Say Goodbye to Jackson

Two Fans from San Francisco Discuss Their Decision to Make the Memorial to the King of Pop

  • Michael Jackson fans enter the area around Staples Center before a scheduled memorial service for the pop star Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

    Michael Jackson fans enter the area around Staples Center before a scheduled memorial service for the pop star Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)  (AP)

(CBS)  They dropped about $1,000 on the trip, but say they think it was worth it to pay homage to the King of Pop.

Deka Motanya and her boyfriend, Nick Manousos, traveled to Los Angeles from San Francisco Monday, after Motanya learned they'd won two covted free tickets to Michael Jackson's memorial at Staples Center.

Motanya told "Early Show" weather anchor and features reporter Dave Price Tuesday she's a huge fan of Jackson. The 27-year-old said she's followed the singer her whole life.

"His music has changed our society and pop culture," Motanya said "Michael Jackson is one of the great entertainers that the world will ever see. I'm honored and happy to be here for the celebration of his life."



Complete coverage of Jackson's life and death




Price remarked Jackson had two different worlds as an artist and as a person. Did this have any effect on the couple's willingness to attend the event?

Manousos said he wasn't conflicted.

"This will be a celebration of his music," he said, "specifically because of the performers that will be here today, and I think we're just going to sing and dance and have a good time inside (the Staples Center)."

As for the memorial at Staples Center, Manousos said he expects the event to be "pretty quiet," citing the small crowds at Dodger Stadium where the lottery winners picked up their tickets.

Manousos said, "Maybe people had a difficult time getting tickets and flights over here so quickly."

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Add a Comment
by arbzzz July 7, 2009 1:30 PM EDT
Enough is enough with Michael Jackson - let's face it, all he was was a singer - that's it - he didn't discover anything, he didn't invent something to cure cancer, all he did was sing and that's it.
And let's be realistic - this guy was weird - just look what he did to himself - just look at his lifestyle
I feel sorry for him - he died to young, but so do plenty of other people that did a lot more for society than he did.
How about celebrating the lives of our troops that lost their lives in the Middle East? The gave a lot more than he ever could.
Tell all these knuckle heads to go home already and get over it
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