It's no secret that the Jonas Brothers are immensely popular, but it's usually 13 year-old girl who scream their heads of for them, not a 50 year-old NFL announcer set to call the Super Bowl in two weeks. That's exactly the case though as Jim Nantz admitted to Don Imus last Friday, even stating that he saw the J Bros. four times in concert last year....

The fact that Don Imus said that the Jonas Brothers suck, actual made me laugh out loud. And the biggest thing since the Beatles, Nantzy? Come on now! I'll give him a pass on attending the concerts because he has a daughter, but that's just poppycock.

Nantz: “Jonas Bros. Biggest Thing Since Beatles” (Sports by Brooks)

After Brett Favre's "Pants on the Ground" rendition last weekend, I figured there wasn't anything else that could make me root for the Saints more. Well that was until this morning, and the release of Prince's new Viking Fight Song "Purple and Gold". Via FOX 9 in Minnesota....

Purple and Gold Lyrics

the veil of the sky draws open
the roar of the chariots touch down
we r the ones who have now come again
and walk upon water like solid ground
as we approach the throne we won't bow down
this time we won't b denied

raise every voice and let it b known
in the name of the purple and gold

we come in the name of the purple and gold
all of the odds r in r favor
no prediction 2 bold
we r the truth if the truth can b told
long reign the purple and gold

the eyes say ready 4 battle
no need 4 sword in hand
we r all amped up like a rock n roll band
ready 2 celebrate every score
ready 2 fight the elegant war
ready 2 hear the crowd roar

that's what we came 4
and so much more
in the name of the purple and gold

r spirits may b tired
r bodies may b worn
but since this day is r destiny
r history – that's y we must b
4ever strong as the wind that blows the Vikings' horn
in the name of the purple and gold

I have no words. I mean, it sounds like the Uzbekistan National Anthem more than a fight song. Good lord that was terrible. Geaux Saints!

Prince Releases 'Purple and Gold' Vikings Song (FOX 9)

In the ever growing practice of bringing in random singers and guests for games, ESPN has decided to bring in two more great stars to add to their Basketball coverage this holiday. Yes, Mariah Carey and Kermit The Frog will add their talent to two separate Basketball games this Holiday. Kermit will be talking to the audience about conservation during ESPN's "Green Game" (UM at Kansas, Dec. 19th), while Mariah will be your host for ESPN/ABC's set of Christmas Day games....

Mariah Carey, a five-time Grammy winner who has amassed 18 No. 1 singles during her career, has recorded a music video which will accompany ESPN’s NBA Christmas Day coverage. The music video features the holiday-themed “All I Want for Christmas is You,” which will air throughout the day on ESPN and ABC during NBA game and studio content.

As part of the “Green Game,” ESPN will utilize on-air graphics to provide information on environmental conservation, what it means to be eco-friendly and raise awareness of environmental responsibility within the sports community. Dave O’Brien will call the game with analyst Jay Bilas and reporter Holly Rowe. Special production elements that will be used during the telecast, and Kermit the Frog will introduce the “Green Game” telecast with an environmental message.

Aww that's cute. "All I Want For Christmas" is one of the Xmas songs that I don't absolutely hate, but after a day of it, I might have to add it to the list. Here are your announcers for the games if you want to check them out.

Green Game (December 19th):

Michigan at Kansas (ESPN, Noon)- Dave O’Brien, Jay Bilas, Holly Rowe

Christmas Day:

Miami at New York (ESPN, Noon)- Dan Shulman, Doris Burke
Boston at Orlando (ABC, 2:30pm)- Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Heather Cox
Cleveland at L.A. Lakers (ABC, 5pm)- Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Lisa Salters
L.A. Clippers at Phoenix (ABC, 8pm)- Dave Pasch, Jon Barry
Denver at Portland (ESPN, 10:30pm)- Kevin Calabro, Tim Legler

If you were watching FOX Baseball over the weekend, you may have been one of the precious few to get a preview of Tim McCarver's new album! MLB on FOX, played some of the songs for the viewing audience, and what was a surprise to everyone, it really wasn't that bad. Via The Sporting Blog....

McCarver has a new album coming out called Tim McCarver Sings Selections from the Great American Songbook. My assumption is that there is no actual printed songbook he reads from (if there is, I want video), but rather the concept of great American classics that people have chronicled together. And classics they are. McCarver's dulcet tones serenade us with the likes of "One for My Baby (And One More For The Road)" and "Gone With The Wind."

But here's the thing – by the sound of it, McCarver can really sing. When the Fox telecast cut back from a break they showed the Phillie Phanatic dancing to one of the old classics and play-by-play man Howie Rose made the joke that we weren't listening to Frank Sinatra play over the PA, but McCarver instead. And after hearing his 'talk-as-singing' style that Sinatra made so famous, it was quite a pleasant sound. If you're a sports fan and a fan of old crooners, this album will be right up your alley as nobody in sports is as old and 'croony' as McCarver.

Who would have thunk it? Maybe McCarver should consider a career move. In fact, I think everyone should buy it from Amazon now, so we can plant that seed.

Press Coverage (The Sporting Blog)
Tim McCarver Sings Selections from the Great American Songbook (Amazon)

It's no secret that Peyton Manning owns the television game, and anyone who's in a spot with him is assured that it will be gold. Well in his latest Sony commercial, Peyton has so company with him. Not only is he playing ping-pong with Justin Timberlake, but Erin Andrews even makes an appearance!

Good use of the Mandarin language there boys, and I have to agree with Justin, having an HDTV makes you better at Sports.

TBS is really in love with Bon Jovi, and once again, they're set to feature the Grammy award winning group for their September and October commercials. The song is called "We Weren't Born To Follow", and will debut on 15,167 movie screens nationwide on Friday, September 4. This will be the third consecutive season TBS has worked with Bon Jovi for its MLB Postseason theme song. Here is your first look at the longer version of the ad....

Not bad, and you can expect to hear it a lot because TBS has all four Division Series and the National League Championship, this postseason.

Now I'm really confused. I thought ESPN had signed on Kenny Chesney to sing their College Football song this season, but today the "Leader" announced that Dave Matthews Band is the "Official Band of ESPN’s 2009 College Football Coverage". What does that mean you ask? Well....

The Grammy Award-winning Dave Matthews Band will serve as the official band of ESPN’s college football coverage from the kickoff of the season to the conclusion of the BCS National Championship Game on ABC on Jan. 7, providing 10 songs – seven from their new album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King -- for game and studio telecasts across multiple platforms. The other three songs will come from the albums Crash and Under the Table and Dreaming.

The music will be featured in various ways during game and studio telecasts, including as the networks go to and return from commercial breaks, in highlight montages and for promotions of upcoming programs and show segments across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN360.com, ESPN Mobile TV and ESPN International.

On occasion, the song will be accompanied by a video montage of Dave Matthews Band concert performance footage and college football highlights. Every Saturday Night Football Presented by Southwest Airlines telecast on ABC will feature a 45-second montage of first-half highlights at the beginning of the second half.

Hmmm. And I thought I was confused before that blockquote. So let's try to get this straight using ESPN's actually quotes. DMB will be the "Official Band of ESPN’s 2009 College Football Coverage", while Kenny Chesney has "has written a song exclusively for ESPN’s college football game and studio telecasts". I now see how that's totallllllly different.

Every year, NBC airs a mini concert as a part of their Kickoff coverage. In the past there have been such acts as Britney Spears, Bon Jovi, P Diddy, Kelly Clarkson and Elton John, and this year's concert will be just as mind-blowing as those. Your two acts this year will be the dynamic duo of Tim McGraw and The Black Eyed Peas! Via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette....

The Black Eyed Peas and Tim McGraw will jump-start the Steelers' season with a free concert at Point State Park on opening night, Sept. 10.

Details are being worked out about other acts and when the big names will go onstage, although the headliners will certainly be part of the live pre-game simulcast from 8 to 8:30 p.m. on NBC and NFL Network. Kickoff for the Steelers-Titans game at Heinz Field is scheduled for 8:30.

I'm sure there will be more acts announced, but you usually only get to see the main two acts on NBC anyway. This is the second concert that Pittsburgh will be hosting. In 2006, before the Steelers took on the Dolphins, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride kicked off the game from Heinz Field, with Diddy and Cassie in Miami.

Free concert by Black Eyed Peas, McGraw to kick off Steelers' season (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Every year, Major League Baseball brings together a wide range of performers for the All Star Game Concert, and this year is no different. MLB will be taking you on a trip back into the mid 90s with such acts like Sheryl Crow and Ginuwine (who knew he was still alive?) throughout the week, and you'll also be getting a rockin' show by American Idol winner, David Cook, before the HR Derby! Via MLB PR....

Major League Baseball today announced the All-Star lineup of musicians that will perform during the MLB All-Star Game, the State Farm® Home Run Derby and other events during All-Star Week in St. Louis next week.

Nine-time Grammy award-winner and Missouri native Sheryl Crow, who will be fresh off headlining the free MLB All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi under the Gateway Arch, will perform the U.S. National Anthem as part of the special pre-game ceremony prior to the 2009 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14 at Busch Stadium, which will be broadcast on FOX beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET. United States President Barack Obama along with former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter will appear in an unprecedented video address as part of the special pre-game ceremony honoring the 30 “All-Stars Among Us,” men and women who are being recognized by Major League Baseball and PEOPLE magazine for their selfless acts of giving and service to their communities. Following the video, President Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Later in the game, country music sensation Sara Evans -- also a Missouri native -- will perform “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch. The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, with pre-game ceremonies beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and televised in more than 200 countries and territories by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage.

On Monday, July 13, rock singer/songwriter and 2008 America Idol season winner David Cook will perform two songs with his band prior to the start of the State Farm® Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium. Prior to Cook’s performance, Nikko Smith -- singer/songwriter and 2005 American Idol finalist, and son of St. Louis Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith -- will perform the U.S. National Anthem. Smith performed the U.S. National Anthem prior to Game 4 of the 2006 World Series at Busch Stadium. The State Farm® Home Run Derby will be televised live on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. ET.

On Sunday, July 11, multi-Platinum selling R&B Artist Ginuwine will perform the U.S. National Anthem prior to the 11th annual XM All-Star Futures Game. The game will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.TV. XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game on XM 175 in addition to its other comprehensive live coverage from St. Louis.

I guess Sheryl Crow is as good as anyone else they could get, but Ginuwine?! The last time I saw him was on TRL back in 1996 singing that "Pony" song. Was Jodeci or Snow not available?

The entire World is watching the Michael Jackson Memorial Service today, and rightfully so. While the songs have been giving me goosebumps all afternoon, the story that has made me laugh the most, is the one Magic Johnson told about MJ and a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Here are Magic and Kobe sharing their memories of the "King of Pop"....

There are a ton of ridiculous polls on ESPN daily, but this one might actually take the cake. ESPN The Mag, has something called the "All-World Power Rankings", in which they rank random things like "The Best Green Jersey In Sports" and "Least Loyal Sports Figure Ever". Well today they decided to rank the "Most Intriguing Athlete Turned Musician", and somehow, Deion Sanders came out on top....


I'm not exactly sure how the voting works, but either way you look at it, there are thousands of holes in this. If it's a joke, they missed Kobe Bryant, Oscar de la Hoya and Tony Parker. And if it's real, they forgot Bernie Williams, Bronson Arroyo, Wayman Tisadle and of course the legendary....Peter Gammons. Either way though, Deion Sanders should not be on the top of any list with songs like this....

Who is the most intriguing athlete-turned-musician? (ESPN The Mag)

If you haven't been watching ESPN LA, you've missed some very interesting cameos during the 1am version of Sports Center. While Snoop Dogg was highly entertaining, nothing says knowing your demographic like having Justin Timberlake grace the airwaves for a night. The pop singer even tried his hand at answering a few questions from anchors, Stan Verrett and Neil Everett. Here's the clip....

Not a bad Top Ten, if you ask me. I could have done without the Lakers' homerism, mainly because you absolutely have to pick Lebron or Dwight Howard if you're starting an NBA team, but the rest of the answers were pretty good. Again, I'm not exactly sure he's in the demographic of folks that watch Sports Center, but he knows his Sports.

Oh, and lose the Michael Douglas glasses from "Falling Down"....they're creeping me out.

NESW Sports came across a hilarious video of Dick Vitale yesterday, that I just had to share. Not only does Dick Vitale actually try to play The Temptations' "My Girl" while on the air, but he dances to it, and actually brings out Digger Phelps' ego....

No way! 66,000 hits, Digger!? That's unheard of on Youtube....that has to be some kind of record or something. Oh and Dick, you might want to try and test the levels next time. Pretty sure no one could hear the song on that one.

Dick Vitale Dancing, and Digger Phelps is a Narcissist, Video (NESW Sports)

It's round two of the Randy Moller Experiment over at the Dan Le Batard Show, and I couldn't be more pleased. We need something like this to get us going on a blah Tuesday, right? Right! So get your popcorn ready, sit back, and enjoy....RME 2.0!

(Oh and please make sure you listen around the :30 mark for what could be the best call in the history of Sports)

Bonerama!? Are you kidding me??? And Meatloaf too? This is just too much. I have to go lay down.

The exchanges between Billy Gillispie and Jeannine Edwards continue to entertain, in fact so much so that a song was made about the coach and sideline reporter. Via Ryan Parker Songs....

Too good. Two creative announcer Youtubes, in two days. Huzzah!

Billy and Jeannine (Ryan Parker Songs)

If you were watching the end of the Ravens-Steelers game, you saw a scary moment as Willis McGahee lay on the turf motionless following a hit from the Steelers' Ryan Clark. The hit itself was questionable, because Clark's hit was helmet on helmet, but certainly not intentional. Both teams came out on the field in a moment that showed mutual respect for each other, and McGahee, as the running back waited for the cart to take him off the field.

Both teams were very classy and humble in the minutes following the hit, and Steelers' fans were even picked up on CBS' mics wishing him well as he left the stadium. Everyone handled the situation respectfully, except the person who was operating the sound system within the stadium. While most stadiums would have ceased all music during a scary injury, the Heinz Field operator decided to keep the music going. Via PFT....

Specifically, the selections were “Down On The Corner” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, and then “Smooth” by Santana featuring Rob Thomas.

Said the source: “There is a player on the field who may have suffered a life changing injury and the Steelers are playing party music. There are about five teams in the league that would engage in such horrific behavior. All others would cease all entertainment.

“‘Down on the corner’ . . . uh, there’s a man down on the field. About twenty-five to twenty-seven teams would cease all entertainment. Oh, now it’s a Santana song. This is beyond offensive. . . . Most teams would fire them on the spot. It’s disgusting.”

Just disgraceful if you ask me. You can watch the hit on Youtube if you missed it, but I recorded part of the injury where you can clearly hear CCR playing in the background....



I don't think it was mocking the injury in any way, but you really have to have more couth/tact than that. When both teams are on the field looking on, you have to realize the seriousness of the situation and just hit mute. I'm sure the Steelers will address it.

Heinz Field Sound Crew Badly Mishandled McGahee Injury (Pro Football Talk)
Rob Thomas Has The Voice Of An Angel (HG Halftime Report)

The Sports Hernia came across this hilarious typo in the NY Post today (both in print and online [3rd to last paragraph]), and it might explain why Oklahoma just couldn't get their wide receivers going last night. Their goto guy was 65-year old, Latin singer Julio Iglesias....


It was obviously late when they posted the article, but good lord, it's been almost 10 hours! You can fix it by now, can't you? Guess not because it still reads "Julio".

Lenn Robbins with soothing sounds of Spanish music on his mind (The Sports Hernia)
Gators Hold Off Sooners For 2nd BCS Title In 3 Years (NY Post)

There aren't a whole lot of Bowl Games worth watching this season, so anything they can do to get viewers is a positive. While the Humanitarian Bowl struggles to sell tickets, the Las Vegas Bowl has instantly become more popular with the hire of an Anthem singer. The one, the only, David Hasselhoff! From the Las Vegas Sun via SbB....

Davis Hasselhoff will perform the National Anthem at Saturday's Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl.

Yes, you read that correctly.

David "The Hoff" Hasselhoff, best known for his roles as Michael Knight in the original "Knight Rider" and Mitch Buchannon in "Baywatch," will serenade the sold-out Sam Boyd Stadium crowd this weekend with his rendition of the National Anthem.

BYU and Arizona fans can hope it is as catchy as Hasselhoff's most recent single, "Jump in My Car," which topped European charts with more than 6 million downloads.

Organizers of the 17th Las Vegas Bowl announced their selection Monday morning.

To the Bowl Committee's credit, the Guinness Book of World Records does list "The Hoff" as the "most watched TV star in the world."

Wait, it's Davis Hasselhoff??? I take it back....that was a bad hire.

Hasselhoff to rock the Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas Sun)
The Hoff to Meet The Mormons At Las Vegas Bowl (Sports by Brooks)

I have no idea why (or where for that matter) Jerry Remy is singing Christmas carols, but according to Red Sox Monster (via Sawx Heads) he really loves Christmas music and was also not under the influence of alcohol when recording this clip of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer". Take it away Jerr!

I would love to provide you with more context and background, or perhaps even more wonderful clips like the one above, but apparently it's nowhere to be found as of today. If anyone knows where to pick up the whole album, or has more info to share, please do so in the comments. If not....we'll just continue to enjoy it on its own.

Jerry Remy enjoys Christmas carols, officially out of his tree (Red Sox Monster)
Remy Sings (Sawx Heads)

I'm not entirely positive, but I think that's the "lead singer" of the Pussycat Dolls, in this new over 3-minute long commercial for Lebron's new kicks. Here the pop star and the basketball star go Cinemax for the shoes....

Apparently the premise is that the new Lebrons are some sort of aphrodisiac, but I got extremely bored about twenty seconds in. If you made it through that whole thing....bravo.

New Lebron James After Six Commercial (Dock Squad Sports)