Blog Posts For Tag: Memorial Service

The Michael Jackson memorial service at the Staples Center was quite an event. I am happy to say with all those people and celebrities the setting seemed just right. It was a somber yet lovely ceremony. It was a day to remember Michael and appreciate all he has given to the world. He has touched us all in some way. You really got to see the more human side of MJ and forget about some of the crazy stuff. Brooke Shields (who looked so beautiful) spoke about their friendship and dispelled any question that it was anything other than two famous kids feeling comfortable around each other and just being kids. Magic Johnson talked about the time he learned that Michael Jackson loved Kentucky Fried Chicken. If that doesn’t help normalize MJ what does?  The service started with Mariah Carey singing “I’ll Be There” which led to many more magical music moments. Usher sang “Gone to Soon” and he barely held it together in the end as he sang to Michael. Stevie Wonder sang “I Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer” which was a song he wrote about the death of his wife and then led into “They Won’t Go When I Go”. An 8 month pregnant Jennifer Hudson sang MJ’s song “Will You Be There” and she did such a heartfelt amazing job. John Meyer contributed an instrumental version of Michael’s “Human Nature”, which was another brilliant performance. Jermaine Jackson even got on stage and sang, “Smile” which was a song from Charlie Chaplin’s “Modern Times”. Jermaine has such a beautiful voice and it was good to hear him sing after so many years. It was hard to watch though because at times he could barely make it through.

Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair was found shot to death on July 4th alongside his 20 year old girlfriend Saleh Kazemi, who was shot once in the head. This is a tragic story, especially considering McNair is married with 4 sons. At this point the police are calling the shooting a homicide but so far have no suspects in custody. It seemed that McNair was serious with the girlfriend according the Kazemi’s sister who said her sister was planning to marry McNair. Neighbors often saw Kazemi getting dropped off at her apartment in a limousine early in the morning and she also has a 2007 Cadillac Escalade that is in her name as well as McNair’s. Although there is no record showing that he was getting a divorce his $3 million home is on the market in Nashville. At this point it is unclear how much his wife knew. As you can imagine she is quite distraught over the whole situation. McNair was a very generous person, personally helping victims from Hurricane Katrina and helping pay for children to go to football camps, plus his amazing 13 year football career makes the thought of homicide unimaginable. McNair played in 4 Pro Bowls as well as he played for the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens.