Fans Rally, and Officials Brace to Honor Jackson

Visitors lined up at the Staples Center on Friday to sign a poster for Michael Jackson. A memorial will be held there on Tuesday.

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By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD

LOS ANGELES — Fans made a mad dash on the Internet on Friday for tickets to a Tuesday memorial service here for Michael Jackson, stirring worries among city officials over the expected throng and the city’s resources to police it.

After days of talks with the authorities, Mr. Jackson’s family and business representatives announced a memorial at the downtown Staples Center arena but imposed what they promoted as a stringent lottery for fans to get the 17,500 free tickets reserved for them in the arena and an adjacent theater.

As fans raced to sign up, the Web site the Staples Center set up for the lottery failed several times in the first hours after the announcement. By late afternoon, some 500,000 people had registered for tickets, the only way to get them, with winners to be notified on Sunday.

“You might want to consider watching this from the comfort of your own home,” said Jan Perry, a city councilwoman who is serving as acting mayor while Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa is away on vacation through next week.

But despite the pleadings of the organizers and city officials, some fans without tickets seemed intent on going.

“I’m going to come anyway,” said George Badilla, 28, who flew in from Guadalajara, Mexico, this week to visit sites associated with Mr. Jackson, 50, who died June 25 of undetermined causes.

Mr. Badilla, like several dozens fans, had rushed to the Staples Center on Friday believing tickets would be available there and now, uncertain if he would get a ticket online, thought about how close he could get to the arena.

Los Angeles police officials, bracing for tens if not hundreds of thousands of people, have not given an estimate of what it may cost to control the event, whose lineup and other details have not been announced. Plans for Mr. Jackson’s burial, expected to be private, have not been disclosed, and it was unclear if the police would help secure it as well.

The city is struggling to close a recession-fueled $530 million deficit in its operating budget. Ms. Perry said the city considered the memorial an “extraordinary event” and would tap into a fund set aside for such occurrences.

But Ms. Perry promptly went on local and national television to urge private donors to help; private donors, the Los Angeles Lakers and AEG Live, the company that owns the arena, covered the nearly $1 million in city costs for a parade honoring the team’s championship last month.

“Any company, entity, individual who would have such great love, the city would welcome the support,” she said in an interview, adding that so far no one had come forward.

Councilman Dennis P. Zine said that next week the City Council would discuss asking AEG, which had promoted a series of concerts Mr. Jackson planned to give this summer, to reimburse the city’s costs.

The police and organizers have taken steps to limit the crowds, aside from the lottery. The memorial will not be shown on the giant video screens in the Staples Center plaza, and arrangements have been made for a worldwide TV broadcast and live feed on the Internet.

The Staples Center has a capacity of nearly 20,000 for sporting events. The organizers said 11,000 fans would be admitted to the arena, with the remainder reserved for Mr. Jackson’s family, friends, guests and the news media. At the Nokia theater next door, 6,500 fans will be let in.

AEG restricted the lottery to United States residents, out of unspecified legal concerns.

Although tickets are free, AEG officials have not said whether there are plans to distribute recordings of the event.

AEG had invested $25 million to $30 million in Mr. Jackson’s planned concerts and could be responsible for $85 million in ticket refunds. Company officials have said they expected many fans would keep their tickets as souvenirs and suggested films or recordings of Mr. Jackson’s rehearsals might also soften the financial blow.

It may recoup losses through insurance if Mr. Jackson’s death is ruled accidental. Investigators have said he was taking prescription medicine, and Mr. Jackson had admitted to addiction to painkillers and other drugs in the past, but it was unclear whether drugs played a role in his death.

The California attorney general, Jerry Brown, said Friday that his office, which maintains a database of prescriptions filled in the state, was assisting the Los Angeles police in tracking down Mr. Jackson’s medicines and the doctors who might have prescribed them.

Citing an unnamed law enforcement source, The Associated Press reported that propofol, a powerful anesthetic used most often in surgery, was found in Mr. Jackson’s rented home in Los Angeles. A police spokesman declined to comment on the case.

A spokeswoman for Dr. Conrad Murray, Mr. Jackson’s physician, said she would not comment on “rumor or innuendo,” though his representatives have denied the doctor gave Mr. Jackson painkillers or other medicine that might explain his death.

Rebecca Cathcart and Ana Facio Contreras contributed reporting.

Salman speaks highly about Shahrukh

After the ugly spat, Salman Khan many a times spoke highly about Shahrukh Khan and the recent being on his show ‘Dus Ka Dum’, where he played with Govinda and Riteish Deshmukh. The host and the guests gelled quite well with each other and as usual Sallu Miya was in upbeat mood while hosting. In the middle of the game, when Salman asked Riteish Deshmukh who is his favorite actor, Riteish was quick to reply, Shahrukh Khan. The name did not annoy Salman to the slightest; on the contrary he praised the actor and said that he too agree that Shahrukh is a brilliant actor.

"I didn't get any negative vibes about Shah Rukh from Salman on the show. He was very cool and dignified and didn't pass any snide remarks about him. In fact, Salman spoke highly about SRK and his work", Riteish said.

Riteish who is good in mimicry copied Katrina Kaif’s dance step from Race. Salman took it sportingly and even complimented the actor. Riteish quit the game after winning 10 lakhs rupees and he donated the money to Salman's Being Human foundation.

He was on the show with his co-star Govinda to promote their upcoming film, ‘Do Knot Disturb’.

Sanjay Dutt's death-defying stunt in Luck

Sanjay Dutt has performed a stunning action sequence for the forthcoming Luck. He jumped from a speeding train, blindfolded and with his hands tied behind his back without any cables or dummies.

Director Soham Shah says, "This is one of the biggest and most expensive highlights of the film. It's his introduction in the film. The characters are testing their luck."

During the shot the production, as a precaution, set up cables and kept harnesses ready so if anything were to go wrong there would be no injury to Sanju but the latter refused. The death-defying scene was executed in Goa with five running trains by ace action master, Allan Amin.

Luck releases worldwide on 24th July by Studio 18.

Katrina feels unsafe

Katrina Kaif is feeling unsecured and threatened over poor security. She is desperately looking for a new house following increasing number of intruders barging into her house.

Confirming the news, Kat said, “I don’t feel safe any more. I’m a free-spirited working girl and pretty confident about making my way through the concrete jungle. But when strangers reach your door, it’s time to worry because there’s just me and my faithful maid in the house.”

But Katrina is paying the price of being a celebrity. “I’ve looked at a number of places. But the minute they know it’s someone famous, they hike the price. I need to move into a place where I feel safer living alone. No matter what it costs,” said the actress.

Katrina’s effort to secure her place ended in a smoke after her new maid had a difference with the old one. “The new maid couldn’t get along with the first maid, so I had to ask her to leave,” added Katrina.

Katrina’s sister Isabel is learning acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute and the actress said the she will feel secure after her sister joins her in Mumbai but there is some more time as she is still in the learning process.

Exclusive pictures from star studded Kambakkht Ishq press meet

Kambakkht Ishq that is expected to do big as assured by its makers, however, had a star studded press meet attended by celebrities like Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor and no doubt big and tall Akshay Kumar was also at the meet to promote the movie. According to Kareena Kapoor, ‘Kambakkht Ishq’ is a “power-packed film which is going to rock today and tomorrow”. However in meantime, watch some pictures from the press conference.

All-sister finale

Afp, London

Venus and Serena Williams clash in a fourth all-sister Wimbledon final on Saturday determined to prove that their domination of the event is not a backward step for the sport's future welfare.

Despite 128 players starting out in the first round last week, the two Americans are once again left to contest the final for the second successive year and for the eighth time in a Grand Slam final.

Venus won last year to clinch her fifth Wimbledon title and a seventh major; Serena was the champion in 2002 and 2003 and has captured 10 Grand Slam trophies in all.

Despite the success, Russia's Dinara Safina, still without a major, and who was humiliated 6-1, 6-0 by Venus in the most one-sided Wimbledon semifinal in 40 years on Thursday, remains a contentious world number one.

The sisters, who are level 10-10 in career meetings, are desperate to put the controversy over rankings to one side and put on a competitive Centre Court showpiece.

"I think women's tennis is fantastic. I would never be down on it. I happen to have enormous respect for Dinara," said Venus after her 51-minute demolition of the Russian.

"I'm not the number one seed so I shouldn't be expected to win but I have more experience playing on grass courts."

Venus, bidding to win a hattrick of Wimbledon singles titles, is more concerned about quelling the competitive instincts of her sister who saved a match point in her three-set semifinal win over Elena Dementieva.

At 2hr 49min, it was the longest women's semifinal in history.

Venus recalled the first time she witnessed Serena's battling qualities when she was still a rookie on the tour back in 1998.

"We were playing in Sydney at White City and she was playing Lindsay Davenport. She was down 1-6, 2-5 and I'll never forget that she came back and won," said Venus.

"It was so intense. I just learned so much from that, her fight. I think that actually had a huge impression on my career, that one incident."

As always the final will be closely scrutinised for its competitive edge.

Twelve months ago, Dementieva, who had been defeated by Venus in the semi-final, appeared to suggest that the winner would be a "family decision" although she quickly corrected herself, claiming her remarks had been misinterpreted.

The sisters are sensitive to such accusations.

They haven't played the Indian Wells tournament since 2001 when fans reacted furiously to Venus's decision to withdraw from the semi-finals with an injury.

Venus won a closely-fought final here in 2008 and the sisters have served up two three-setters since, in Dubai and Miami.

"I'm happy for Serena to be in the final, but I have to face her and defeat her. I don't necessarily want her to lose, but for sure I want me to win," said the defending champion.

"Maybe that doesn't make sense. But when I'm playing someone else, I want them to lose. I don't like to ever see her disappointed in any way. But at the same time, I don't want to see myself disappointed. I need to get my titles, too."

Serena says the final is another step on their journey to fame and fortune which began in the tough Los Angeles neighbourhood of Compton.

"The more we play, the better it gets. When we play our match on Saturday it's for everything," said the world number two.

"This is what we dreamed of when we were growing up in Compton 20 something years ago. This is what we worked for, and this is what we want."

Murali blow for SL

Afp, Galle

Muttiah Muralidaran was on Friday ruled out of the first Test against Pakistan with a knee injury, dealing a huge blow to Sri Lanka's bid to win the emotionally-charged series.

The spin wizard hurt his patella tendon during training on Thursday and will sit out of the opening game of the three-Test series starting at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday.

The series opener will be the first Test match between the two nations since gunmen fired on the Sri Lankan team bus during a visit to Pakistan on March 3.

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said he was hopeful that Muralidaran, who boasts world records for his 770 Test and 505 one-day wickets, will be available for the second match from July 12.

"He was doing his warm-ups and he suddenly felt a bit of discomfort in his right knee," said Sangakkara. "The scan report showed a slight tear.

"The risk of him tearing his tendon in the first Test is very high. I don't think we want to risk him getting injured for a long time just for the sake of one Test. Hopefully he will be fit by the second Test."

Seven Sri Lankan cricketers were injured and eight local securitymen were killed in the March attack in the city of Lahore that forced the cricket world to abandon Pakistan as a venue for international cricket.

The series starts just 13 days after Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the final of the World Twenty20 at Lord's in London on June 21.

The Sri Lankan selectors have summoned left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and rookie off-spinner Suraj Mohamed to join the squad in Muralidaran's absence.

Herath last played a Test for Sri Lanka in December against Bangladesh, while Mohamed claimed four Pakistani wickets in the three-day tour opener in Colombo which ended in a draw on Wednesday.

One of the two is expected to partner prolific wicket-taker Ajantha Mendis for the first Test on a wicket that has traditionally favoured spin.

Muralidaran's absence will hurt Sri Lanka, who have never beaten Pakistan in a home Test series and are hoping to avenge their defeat in last month's World Twenty20 final.

Of their five series in Sri Lanka so far, Pakistan have won three -- including the last two in 2000 and 2006 -- and drawn the other two.

Its an extraordinary achievement considering that Sri Lanka, led by Muralidaran's amazing bowling feats, have proved almost unbeatable at home in recent times.

Of the 19 home Tests Sri Lanka have played in the last five years, they have won 13, drawn four and lost just two -- one of them to Pakistan by eight wickets in Kandy in April 2006.

However, Younus Khan's Pakistan have not experienced the rigours of a Test match on foreign soil since a two-match series in India in December 2007.

Even at home, Pakistan have played just one series over the last two years due to security concerns in the volatile nation, and that too had to be abandoned after the attack on the Sri Lankan team.

After the Galle Test, the teams move to Colombo where the second Test will be played at the P. Sara stadium from July 12-16 and the third at the Sinhalese Sports Club from July 20-24.

The rivals are also scheduled to play five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match after the Tests.

SQUADS
PAKISTAN (from): Younus Khan (captain), Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbahul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Danish Kaneria, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rauf, Fawad Alam, Faisal Iqbal.

SRI LANKA (from): Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Malinda Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, Suraj Mohamed, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dhammika Prasad, Kaushal Silva, Suranga Lakmal.

Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG)

Real unveil Albiol

Afp, Madrid

Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano has defended his side's spending spree on new players like Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the cash-rich club can afford it.

"Real Madrid is the richest club in the world. It generates a lot of money and this is why it recruits first rate players," he said after unveiling new defender Raul Albiol, who joined Real from Valencia for a reported fee of 15 million euros late Thursday.

Valdano made the comment when asked by reporters about the criticism by UEFA president Michel Platini over the more then 200 million euros which Real has shelled out for new talent.

Real paid 93 million euros to recruit Ronaldo, the 2008 FIFA World Footballer of the Year, from Manchester United and 65 million euros to secure Kaka, the FIFA World Footballer of the Year, from AC Milan.

In an interview published Thursday in French sports daily L'Equipe, Platini said the huge sums of money spent by clubs like Real in the transfer market was "not normal".

Last month he said UEFA was planning action to put an end to football's excesses.

"These transfers are a serious challenge to the idea of fairplay and the concept of financial balance in our competitions," he said, adding the new set of rules being developed was UEFA's "top priority today".

Real is the world's largest revenue-generating club in the world, ahead of Manchester United and Barcelona, according to an annual ranking compiled by business advisory firm Deloitte.

The club boosted revenues from t-shirts and other souvenirs after it began signing top players like France's Zinedine Zidane and England's David Beckham in 2000.

Real Madrid's capture of Brazilian star Kaka could be worth 100 million dollars a season in additional revenues to the Spanish club, according to sports business consultancy Weber Shandwick Sport.