Here are the first couple of paragraphs:
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.
Doesn't it seem to you that this is all getting a little out of hand?
I mean, I'm sorry the man died, but Twittering about winning tickets to his memorial service, like this is the first show in his "This Is Really It" tour, is kinda disturbing. Don't you agree?
In fact, I'm sure some savvy marketers have been thinking about an opportunity they squandered, probably (and perhaps without realizing it) in the name of good taste — a whistlestop funeral procession from California to Gary, Ind. They could have had memorial services in as many towns as they liked — only they would charge for the tickets.
And they could probably get their asking price — and raise some money for Jackson's estate in the bargain. Minus their commission, of course.
Well, it's too late now.
