Who Scorecard

Well, after gloating about last year's minor victory, it's only fair that I concede to Charlie T for his Halftime Music Guess win this year. The medleys killed me; I had suspected they might give snippets of some songs, but not to the degree they did. I should've read this. No Springsteenian crotch slide, no wardrobe malfunctions (if you don't count the shots of Pete Townshend's midriff), some windmills, and a lot of Pete Townshend Not Trying To Pretend He's Ever Been Capable of Glossy Which Spike Totally Dug. The actual results:

Pinball Wizard (a verse and a chorus, at most)
Baba O'Riley (yes, they shortened the intro and outro, but they still gave this one a whole chunk of their time)
Who Are You? (totally blindsided TBC)
See Me, Feel Me (what?????)
Won't Get Fooled Again

Charlie T.'s Picks
(3/5, but WRONG about order and WRONG about only song from Tommy. I just wanted to write wrong in all-caps twice. See my pick results for the reason why.)
(I've decided that 5 songs is the magic number)
1. Baba O'Riley
2. Pinball Wizard
3. We Won't Get Fooled Again
4. My Generation
5. I Can See For Miles


Spike's Picks
(2/5 and a big fat slap on the wrist for not trusting my Baba O'Riley instincts.)
1. My Generation
2. Pinball Wizard
3. The Seeker
4. Magic Bus
5. Won't Get Fooled Again

Oh, and the Saints won. Can we just place a moratorium on Who Dat? Please?

I Don't Need To Fight, To Prove I'm Right

The easiest marriage between sports and music is the Halftime Show at the Super Bowl. Thanks to some great artists getting picked to perform in the last few years, Spike and I have remained interested in the TV during the World's Largest Bathroom Break.

Last year we limited all our wagering to Springsteen's Set List. This resulted in varying degrees of success, or me getting lit up by Spike like a receiver trying to make a catch over the middle. With any luck, my guessing of this year's set list will yield better results.

Charlie T.'s Picks
(I've decided that 5 songs is the magic number)
1. Baba O'Riley (how can they not open with this great intro?)
2. Pinball Wizard (sadly the only song I think they'll play off of Tommy)
3. We Won't Get Fooled Again
4. My Generation
5. I Can See For Miles

I think it happens in that order. The only way it could deviate is if they swap Baba O'Riley and I Can See For Miles.

As a side prop bet, I am taking the over on Townshend Windmill Strums (+/- 25)

Spike's Picks
OK, Charlie, I'll fall in line and follow you down the 5-song path. As a lifelong Who fan (my band covered "The Seeker", "Substitute", "Behind Blue Eyes" [better than Durst, don't worry], and "Baba O'Riley"), one who has owned at least four of the 675 different "Greatest Hits" albums.* The Who are harder to pick than Springsteen because their catalog is bursting with more upbeat anthemic rockers than The Boss has. Here are my picks:

1. My Generation- a classic, a rocker, and it's short.
2. Pinball Wizard- Charlie T. & I agree: this is a perfect second song. People will go ape when that intro starts up.
3. The Seeker- My dark horse. As long as he doesn't pull a Springsteen and change up the words like, "I asked Bobby Dylan, I asked The Shwami, I asked Bill Belichick and he couldn't help me either...", we'll be just fine. A solid rocker. And it's short.
4. Magic Bus- I'm inclined to agree with Charlie T. on "Baba O'Riley" (maybe my favorite Who song), but I'm feeling like a gambling man today. I was gonna go with "Join Together," but it's more obscure. My only worry is that it has a lot in common with "The Seeker."
5. Won't Get Fooled Again- Another song that will require some creative condensing, there's no following this song up. Like I said last year about "Born To Run," if you're smart (Bruce wasn't. Sorry, he wasn't.), you don't try to follow up epic. Especially if it involves a contrived gospel choir behind you. Also, if Daltrey does it right, the all-time epic scream should leave him appropriately voiceless.

I'll miss The Ox and Keith for sure. But so will everybody.












*Honestly, how many are there? I really owned at least four different tapes- Who's Greatest Hits, Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy, The Ultimate Who, and one other- all different track listings, probably different record companies. It's insane.)

Spike Woolridge Already On Offseason Favre Watch

The AP reported late Sunday night that Spike Woolridge, a writer for sports/music blog The Black Converse, is already looking forward to a long and fruitful offseason of Favre-ian Will He/Won't He speculation.

Unlike Favre, Woolridge Sticking To His Guns

"Still fresh out of damns," Woolridge tersely offered when asked for a comment on this pile of recycled fecal matter. "Perhaps you can get more out of Charlie T."

The Real Story of LeBron James This Summer

We have all seen The Skulls and wondered if they really do all the weird initiations that the movie portrays. The nation was obsessed with The DaVinci Code and its tales of secret societies. And lets not forget about NBA referees and all the "coincidences" around Playoff games. Bottom line is, we all believe in conspiracies and secret societies, we're just not sure to what extent they exist. The Black Converse has been granted this exclusive tell-all about the biggest conspiracy you never knew.

One the King Of Pop (and the King of Media) passed away, it was time for the Media Moguls (this is the name for the secret society that these rich people belong to) to pick an heir. They didn't want to build someone from scratch and have to turn him into an anime character like last time. Plus, it was becoming harder and harder to make the front page meaning the antics had to get more and more ridiculous So they needed a fresh start, but they also needed someone who was already on his way. It was the perfect storm.

So they invited LeBron James to their secret meeting in Idaho. He had just come off an MVP season. He was making every reporter stand at attention anytime he put on a Yankees hat or even opened his mouth. He was on his way to finishing up in a mid-major media market on his way to the biggest one in the world. It was almost too perfect.

Some were still skeptical. He was too young. He was a child phenom. Would he have the same problems as his predecessor? Would he try and take matters into his own hands? But this wasn't a one horse race. There was another down in Mississippi with all the right moves. They would need to put them to the test.

So it was on. A battle for media buzz. The King Of Akron versus the King Of The Unretirement.

One continued to set deadlines for an announcement while the other turned a piece of seaweed into Loch Ness Monster. While the debating went on for weeks as to who was more ready to be the Heir, there was no debate as to how easy it was for them to grab the headlines with something so meaningless.

As of our print deadline, the decision had not been made. The Media Moguls were still locked inside their all-inclusive resort with no smoke rising out of the chimney yet. I suspect they will make an announcement soon, but not before they've ridden both these horses to the death, and then beat them with a stick.

BREAKING NEWS! It's official: Spike Woolridge is all out of damns.

Just minutes ago, Spike Woolridge shocked the blog/sports/useless news community when he came out of nowhere to announce what he called his "total apathy and inability to give even the smallest damn about Brett Favre's decision."

"I'm just tired. Spent. I don't have anymore to give to this decision," he mourned. TMZ and ESPN soothsayers had been teeter-tottering for days about which way Woolridge would finally lean. But the news is now official and Woolridge is over it.

One media source criticized Woolridge's timing, "Mr. Woolridge clearly made a play to one-up Chris Brown's announcement yesterday, Brett Favre's continuing saga, and the death of a true newsmaker, Walter Cronkite. For such things, Woolridge can only be labeled a LaToya Level Opportunist, a coward, and King of the F-List." Brutal.

Other sources have sensed the public's relief that the drawn-out process is over. "I'm just glad he finally took a side," posted Oklahoma City resident and sports blogger ThunderStruck405, "Now I can really focus on the exciting developments with the actual Brett Favre story."

Woolridge has been put on bedrest after an understandably strenuous, exhausting few days.

Charlie T. Sees Draft Of Announcement

This morning, Charlie T. Hustle- while posting his latest album box score on The Black Converse- reported to an unnamed source that he "thinks (he) saw a draft of Woolridge's announcement" in the New Post section of the blog Mr. Hustle and Mr. Woolridge co-write.

"It was a work in progress. We don't really step on each other's toes too much," said Mr. Hustle, "When Spike's ready, you'll know. I mean, come on, this is just Spike being Spike."

Woolridge: No comment about Jerry Rice's comment about Brett Favre

Please make it stop. This is not news.

Woolridge camp: no response to rumors about purported caring/not caring about Favre's decision

It's been eerily quiet today when it comes to Team Spike Woolridge. While rumors and sources have been swirling, no one has heard anything from the Woolridge camp, either confirming or denying the leaks and even Woolridge's purported off-the-record statement. What can this mean? Only time will tell.

Woolridge, off the record, says, well, he might care; not out of the question

But it was off the record. The announcement will really tell all.

Source Says: Other Source Indicates Woolridge Leaning Towards NOT Caring About Favre's Decision

Calling from last night's free Black Keys show in Salt Lake City, a source- who spoke on condition of anonymity- reported that another source who also spoke on condition of anonymity (as well as on condition of a hot dog and beer bribe) has heard that Spike Woolridge will likely not care about Brett Favre's impending decision. The source emphasized, "anything can happen with Spike," but was pretty sure that Woolridge would choose apathy. Stay tuned here for the actual announcement.

BREAKING NEWS: Spike Woolridge Delays Announcement of Whether Or Not He Cares About Favre's Decision

This Just In: Spike Woolridge To Announce At Noon Whether He Cares About Favre's Decision

Today, Spike Woolridge is expected to weigh in on his interest/apathy/sympathy for Brett Favre's decision about whether to stay retired/re-retire/unretire. Sources anticipate that Woolridge will announce his stance today, as previously announced, at noon MST.

Spike Woolridge To Decide By July 16 Whether He Cares About Favre's Decision

Gone are the days of breaking stories. Now, we're just breaking the breaking of stories. Or breaking when the story will break. This is ridiculous and, more importantly, not news.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Drop Brooks & Dunn

A rare football post. But the news is both shocking and irresistible. I can't wait until we see the headline: Local Union Loses Hall, Oates.



Why would the Buccaneers drop BOTH of their kickers?

All He Kept Talking About Was...Glory Days

Just for the sake of argument, here are my Super Boss Halftime picks. I figure the E-Street Band wants to kick out the jams a bit, so...3 songs? With 2 alternates. I would love it if he had the cajones to play all new tracks, but I'm guessing they hired him for his back catalog.

1. Glory Days Upbeat, singalong, well known, NOT on Born To Run, and he played it on Letterman's last NBC show. I think it's jocky enough.

2. Born In The USA Unlike Charlie T, I think Springsteen jumps at the chance to play this song. It's the official, national TV chance for him to have his "This is a song Charles Manson/Ronald Reagan stole from The Beatles/me, we're stealing it back." I suppose he could do No Surrender, but that would just make John Kerry sad.

3. Born To Run His live album from the early 2000s ends with this and, in the brief window of time he has, what's gonna top it?

ALTERNATES:
Thunder Road, if he dares to double up on Born To Run's album cuts.
Hungry Heart, could be a good, more midtempo breather as they gear up to bring down the house with their 3rd song.
Rosalie, a darkhorse, which is cheating a bit since Charlie T already liked it.

Put Your Make Up On, Fix Your Hair Up Pretty

Meet me tonight in Tampa

Some people know, but not many care that Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen will be playing during the worlds largest bathroom break this Sunday. I for one will save my bathroom break for after the opening kickoff in the second half. That is when they start replaying the commercials or at least playing the ones that weren't good enough for the first half.

But what will The Boss be playing?

Reflexes say he will play Born In The USA. I am going to go out on a limb and say we don't get that one.

Here are my top five most likely songs. (if anyone cares, I completely picked Tom Petty's set list last year)

1. Blinded By The Light - Greetings From Ashbury Park, NJ

2. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) - The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle

3. Born To Run - Born To Run

4. If he plays a newer song it will most likely be Girls In Their Summer Clothes

5. I can see him playing a cover also. This Land Is Your Land (Woody Guthrie) or We Shall Overcome (Pete Seeger) since this is fresh on the heels of the Inauguration.

He will probably get three songs and they might even be shorter versions, but it will probably be the best show on the field that day.