Entertainment Briefs March 19, 2010
Pacquiao's Waikiki concert canceled, World Cup concert lineup set, British poet pens ode to Beckham
Pacquiao's Waikiki concert canceled
HONOLULU - A promoter says poor ticket sales have forced the cancellation of Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao's upcoming concert Sunday in Waikiki.
Ryan Chang of Island Fire Productions said Tuesday he stood to lose about $50,000 on the concert, even with late sales and walk-ups.
Only 603 tickets had been sold for the show at the Waikiki Shell just days after more than 45,000 people - the largest crowd to see a fight in the U.S. in 17 years - watched Pacquiao retain his welterweight title against Joshua Clottey in Texas.
Pacquiao was going to earn $100,000 at the "Manny Pacquiao Live In Hawaii Concert Celebration." He made at least $12 million for last Saturday's fight.
World Cup concert lineup set
JOHANNESBURG - Alicia Keys, Shakira, Black Eyed Peas and John Legend will perform at the World Cup kickoff concert in Johannesburg.
FIFA announced the lineup of musical stars Wednesday for the concert on June 10, the day before the opening match.
The concert also will feature a strong African presence with South African folk singer Vusi Mahlasela and Malian artists Amadou and Mariam. South African rock bands BLK JKS and The Parlotones also will perform as the country prepares to be the first African host in the 80-year history of the tournament.
FIFA selected Emmy Award-winning producer Kevin Wall to produce the concert at Soweto's Orlando Stadium.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said the concert would celebrate the unifying power of soccer and music.
British poet pens ode to Beckham
LONDON - O Beckham, where art thou?
David Beckham has become an unlikely muse to Britain's poet laureate, who has written a verse about the soccer star's career-threatening injury.
The former England captain tore his Achilles tendon in a game on Sunday and will miss the World Cup in June as he recovers from surgery.
Carol Ann Duffy's poem imagines Beckham as the ancient Greek hero Achilles, who according to myth was dipped as a baby in the River Styx, making him invulnerable - except for his exposed heel, the origin of the modern terms Achilles tendon, and Achilles heel.
The poem weaves the mythical story together with references to Beckham's life, including his marriage to former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and his experimental fashion sense. It speaks of the hero concealed "in girls' sarongs; days of sweetmeats, spices, silver songs."
It describes him on the field, "his charmed foot on the ball."
"But then his heel, his heel, his heel..."
Duffy told the BBC Tuesday she was inspired because Beckham "is almost a mythical figure himself, in popular culture."
Beckham's injury shattered his hopes of becoming the first English player to appear in four World Cups and put the 34-year-old player's future on the national team in doubt.
Duffy, a soccer fan, said she had been moved by the image of Beckham in tears at the side of the pitch after his injury.
"You just thought how all the money in the world and private planes can't sort this. It was a very moving moment."
But she said she doubted she would be hearing from Beckham.
"I'm a lot more likely to watch football than he is to read poetry," Duffy said.
Duffy, 54, is one of Britain's most widely read poets.