The Michael Jackson funeral got me thinking...

[Oggiedoggie]

In my opinion, Jagger and McCartney are too narrow scope to cause a massive stir. They're older and so are most of their fans. It's hard to get 50- and 60-year-olds to take to the streets.

If Obama suddenly died, I think that a lot of folks would be worried what was to happen next (especially if the Secret Service failed to carry out the directive to quickly shoot Biden). It would be too troubling to take time to memorialize. And Obama just doesn't have the history.

The Queen would be big, but she's old.

If Oprah were to suddenly cash in her chips I think that it would be very big. Her base crosses cultures and age groups. And, she's not so important that folks might be heading for their basements.

 

[Jake_Taylor]

The Jacko lovefest cost the City of LA $1.4 million. This is disgusting.

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/la-mayor-city-will-pay-costs-from-jackson-event/25168?nc

I read something estimating that his death has brought in an influx of $4 to $5 million of economic activity for Los Angeles. So one way to look at it is that there was most certainly a net economic benefit to the people of the city from they guy's death.

L.A. killed Michael Jackson.

Getting off topic here, BYH's post reminded me of something I saw once.

Christopher Reeve's riding accident happened at Commonwealth Park, in Culpeper County, Va. A year or two ago I was driving down Main Street in Culpeper and the car in front of me had a bumper sticker that read: "Culpeper killed Superman."

I'm a little ashamed to admit I chuckled.

 

[kleeda]

Not to crossthread or anything, but Neil Armstrong's funeral could be big.

 

[Care Bear]

So we're talking about anyone, regardless of whether they're likely to die or not? Seems that way. If so, I'd think Pitt and Jolie would be a hell of a long way down that list, though I could underestimate their impact. I'd bring up (in no specific order) ...

Barack Obama (especially if by assassination)
Michelle Obama
Oprah
Bill Gates
Hillary Clinton
Ted Turner
And yes, I'd agree on Ali, the Dalai Lama and Bill Clinton. Maybe also the Queen, Pope and Madonna.

Ted Turner. Really.

 

[Starman]

Not to crossthread or anything, but Neil Armstrong's funeral could be big.

Not nearly as big as it should be, because Armstrong has been pretty successful in staying out of the public eye.

John Glenn's funeral will probably be bigger, even though his feat was far less significant.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

I made this point in the previous version of this thread and I'll repeat it here: Michael Jordan would get close to this kind of treatment. No music videos, but lots of replays of dunks, game-winning shots and commercials. Lots of reminicing about favorite memories. And good luck snagging a pair of Jordans anywhere, from the Nike Store to Foot Locker to Plato's Closet to eBay.

 

[playthrough]

Nothing short of a presidential assassination would get the full-network 24/7 treatment, the hysteria on the Interwebs and a stadium funeral in this country. Like someone said, the shock factor is huge.

I shudder to think of how many young people will look at the death of Ali and Armstrong with a "harumph" and quick return to their iPods.

 

[spnited]

Nothing short of a presidential assassination would get the full-network 24/7 treatment, the hysteria on the Interwebs and a stadium funeral in this country. Like someone said, the shock factor is huge.

I shudder to think of how many young people will look at the death of Ali and Armstrong with a "harumph" and quick return to their iPods.

I agree 100%.

And that is a very sad commentary on our celebrity stupid society.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Nothing short of a presidential assassination would get the full-network 24/7 treatment, the hysteria on the Interwebs and a stadium funeral in this country. Like someone said, the shock factor is huge.

I shudder to think of how many young people will look at the death of Ali and Armstrong with a "harumph" and quick return to their iPods.

I agree 100%.

And that is a very sad commentary on our celebrity stupid society.

That's it, if you get old enough to outlive all the people who were there, you will get nothing.

Ali will still get big treatment, not not nearly as much as if he had left us 20 years ago.

And, as stated, Armstrong and Cronkite will barely rate when their times come.

 

[Drip]

Nothing short of a presidential assassination would get the full-network 24/7 treatment, the hysteria on the Interwebs and a stadium funeral in this country. Like someone said, the shock factor is huge.

I shudder to think of how many young people will look at the death of Ali and Armstrong with a "harumph" and quick return to their iPods.

I agree 100%.

And that is a very sad commentary on our celebrity stupid society.

That's it, if you get old enough to outlive all the people who were there, you will get nothing.

Ali will still get big treatment, not not nearly as much as if he had left us 20 years ago.

And, as stated, Armstrong and Cronkite will barely rate when their times come.

To an extent Simon is correct. However, Michael Jackson touched many lives young and old. I guess he truly was Peter Pan.

 

[JC]

Nothing short of a presidential assassination would get the full-network 24/7 treatment, the hysteria on the Interwebs and a stadium funeral in this country. Like someone said, the shock factor is huge.

I shudder to think of how many young people will look at the death of Ali and Armstrong with a "harumph" and quick return to their iPods.

I agree 100%.

And that is a very sad commentary on our celebrity stupid society.

That's it, if you get old enough to outlive all the people who were there, you will get nothing.

Ali will still get big treatment, not not nearly as much as if he had left us 20 years ago.

And, as stated, Armstrong and Cronkite will barely rate when their times come.

Michael Jackson touched many lives young and old.

literally.