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Armada announces Michael Jackson Night on July 7

July 4, 2009 - Golden Baseball League (GBL) - Long Beach Armada News Release


LONG BEACH, Calif. - The Long Beach Armada Professional Baseball Team has announced the organization "Wanna Be Startin' Something" to honor the late Michael Jackson. The team will host Michael Jackson Remembrance Night on Tuesday, July 7 at 7:05pm. Gates open at 6:05pm. Many of Jackson's loyal fans will not have an opportunity to attend Tuesday's official Jackson memorial at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles unless they win the ticket lottery, however tickets to Tuesday's Armada game to remember Jackson are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

"We wanted to take this opportunity to give Jackson's fans an outlet to gather and remember a man who changed the landscape of music over the last 40 years," said Golden Baseball League CEO Dave Kaval. "When you look at how many people want to attend the memorial at Staples Center, we felt the need to give people who don't win these lottery tickets a chance to come out and honor Jackson along with other fans."

Fans who dress up like Michael Jackson in any fashion will receive free admission to Tuesday's game. It doesn't matter if you're "Black or White" just as long as the "Man in the Mirror" looks like Michael Jackson, you get in for free. If not, the Armada won't tell you to "Beat It" as tickets are available starting at only $8 at the box office or by calling (562) 427-HITS (4487).

The game will feature Jackson's music all-night long, and several appropriate-themed between-inning contests such as a moon-walking contest, a Michael Jackson dance off, as well as great prizes for the winner of a Michael Jackson look-alike contest. And considering the Armada won its last home game in walk-off fashion in the 11th inning in front of more than 2100 fans, you can bet the baseball game itself will be a "Thriller."

Japanese sensation and two-time World Series Champion with the New York Yankees Hideki Irabu will be the starting pitcher for the Armada on Tuesday. Irabu, as well as former Major League All-Star Jose Lima - who spent the 2004 season with the LA Dodgers - headline a talented 2009 Armada roster.

Jackson, the King of Pop, will be remembered by the baseball team quickly becoming the King of Pop-Cultural Promotions. The Long Beach Armada has found the national spotlight several times before through such promotions as Michael Vick Animal Awareness Day and Wedding Day with Judge Lance Ito as well as last season's Plumber Appreciate Night. The team's centerfielder Josh Womack was recently the star of the latest viral video on the Internet when a clip of him performing a bat-spinning trick he calls Tray Flip headlined Yahoo.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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