Michael Jackson: Did Eugene/Springfield watch?
EUGENE and SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - Fans and cynics can't help being bombarded by the media attention surrounding Michael Jackson's death and memorial -- but who's paying attention to the coverage?
While thousands of fans gathered at Staples Center in Los Angeles Tuesday morning, Springfield's International House of Pancakes also served as a venue for the King of Pop's service. Dozens spent the morning dining under the glow of a giant TV.
"The lyrics and rhythm - beautiful," said Jose Gonzalez, Springfield resident.
A few watched and reminisced, but some hardly noticed - or even cared.
"I really think it is overdone, and I just wonder if his mother doesn't feel the same way," said Martha Hahn, a Springfield resident.
"I just think there have been so many important things that have taken place in the world that have been on the back page or barely mentioned by the networks at all," said Kathy Chase, a Springfield resident.
As one generation looked away, another mourned.
"A lot of those people have been, frankly, very emotional," said William Kennedy, a sales associate at CD World. "It's brought back a lot of memories for people who grew up in the 70s and 80s."
According to Kennedy, demand for Jackson's music has been extraordinary since his death. Tuesday afternoon, there was a waiting list of about 60 people for several albums in CD format, and titles in vinyl were out of stock.
" 'Thriller' has done really well for us, actually online, so we've sold out of that a couple of times -- to people not even in Eugene," said Kennedy.
Outside the west Eugene music store were pictures of Jackson and messages written in chalk.
Some may question all the attention, but most will never forget the end of a musical era.
