Jackson’s concerts sell out

March 14, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

LONDON — Tickets for Michael Jackson’s 50 London concerts sold out within hours of becoming available, organizers said Friday.

The shows are scheduled to kick off in July and stretch into February 2010. The pop singer has said the series, titled “This is It,” will be his last in the British capital.

After 360,000 advance tickets sold out earlier this week, about 500,000 tickets were made available Friday, organizers said. Hundreds of people waited outside the arena for the chance to buy them.

Hogan, lawyer in spat

CLEARWATER, Fla. — An attorney for Hulk Hogan’s wife got into a verbal sparring match with the former professional wrestler outside a courtroom Thursday and asked if Hogan was going to wrestle him.

The spat started when lawyer Ray Rafool was answering questions about the divorce case for television cameras. He spoke after a hearing in which a judge granted the release of $225,000 in frozen assets for Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea. While Rafool spoke to the media, the towering Hogan tried to interject a comment from behind a row of cameras and reporters.

“Are you gonna wrestle with me here?” Rafool said loudly. “Are you gonna come across the cameras? Then be quiet.”

“It’s a free world,” Hogan replied.

“No, it’s not a free world,” Rafool said. “It’s called professionalism.”

The attorney, who had recently accepted an autograph from Hogan for his son, then delivered a stinging blow to any World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler: “You’re an actor. You’re acting now.”

“I hope your son enjoys the autograph,” Hogan said. “Thank you, Hulkamaniac brother.”

Today’s birthdays

Actor Michael Caine is 76. Comedian Billy Crystal is 61. Singer Kristian Bush is 39.