While Springsteen and the band played the final show at Giants Stadium, it's Bon Jovi that gets the honor of opening up the new arena next spring. Naturally, Bruce fans are ticket. But let's break this one down scientifically: who most deserves the highest honor the Garden State can bestow?

Geography
Bon Jovi formed in Sayreville, just 35 miles from the Meadowlands. Springsteen grew up in Freehold, a cool 45 miles from East Rutherford. Close, but no cigar.
Advantage: Bon Jovi

Perceived Geography
I've lived in both Philadelphia and New York, and I can say that there's a clear divide between the two. South Jersey is Bon Jovi territory, while North Jersey is Springsteen country. I'd put the dividing line somewhere around Metuchen, putting the Meadowlands firmly in Bruce's fiefdom.
Advantage: Springsteen

Albums
Bruce named his debut album Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., a nostalgic nod to a fading shore town. Bon Jovi's 1988 release New Jersey, giving a shout-out to the entire state.
Advantage: Bon Jovi

Singles
In addition to "Atlantic City," Springsteen's "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" is thought to refer to a street in Belmar, N.J. — not incidentally, at the intersection with E Street. Bon Jovi have yet to refer to their home state in any of their hits, not even a wholly-appropriate ballad to the Cherry Hill Mall.
Advantage: Springsteen

NJ Attachment
Many of Bruce's songs are about escaping home to find a better life. In addition, Nebraska, The Rising and "Streets of Philadelphia" show a worrying proclivity to pay attention to things happening outside the state. Bon Jovi, on the other hand, show no inclination that they have any idea there's a world beyond the Hudson or Delaware rivers. Much like most of the state.
Advantage: Bon Jovi

Carl From Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Carl Brutananadilewski lists "Wanted Dead Or Alive" as one of his favorite songs. No Bruce to be seen.
Advantage: Bon Jovi

There you have it. Bruce put up a valiant fight, but the new Giants' and Jets' stadium will be rung in by Bon Jovi, as the lords and aldermen of Jersey have ordained. Springsteen will have to settle for playing the final shows at the Philly Spectrum, and for being an actual respectable musician.

Bon Jovi - Not The Boss - To Open New Stadium? [Philadelphia Inquirer]

It turns out that Parker wasn't that enthusiastic about Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's performance this year. It probably had something to do with the fact that he had no idea who the man was. In an interview with BDSSP's Jason Cahill, he confesses.

BDSSP: Are you a big Springsteen fan?

Willie: Um…I never heard of him. But after I heard he was doing the halftime show I kind of asked around and got more knowledge of him and what his group is about.

BDSSP: Hang on a second. You had never heard of Bruce Springsteen up until the game?

Willie: I haven't man. It's probably sad, but I haven't.

BDSSP: How about "Born In The USA"? Have you ever heard that song?

Willie: I heard that song, but I didn't know until recently he sang that. See, I had to do a little research.

Well we all have our blind spots. And to be fair, up until about a year ago I thought various songs by Warren Zevon, Todd Rundgren, and Nick Cave were actually sung by Bruce Springsteen.

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TOMORROW: It's the last Jamboroo of the year. And other stuff, too.

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To be fair, it's not really Peyton's fault. The only thing more awkward than watching someone rock out at a concert is watching a guy's face while he masturbates to Internet porn — the spastic motions, the furrowed brow while trying to find the "perfect" piece, the constant mouse clicking, the nipple tweaking (don't judge!), etc. — so it's no wonder that Peyton doesn't exactly seem to be in his element in the above video. He starts off alright - the girl-in-arm light rock motion looks somewhat natural - but when he ultimately introduces the Bobblehead Bounce towards the end, things take a turn for the worse.

(This video's from March, but since there's only 2,000 or so views, the guess here is that you haven't seen it yet. Also of note, "Dancing in the Dark" includes neither "dancing" nor "darkness".)

Know Your Colts History [Stampede Blue via Sporting Blog]

And, as you can tell, Notre Dame hasn't had a truly huge home game in a while. Whole campus turns into a sewing circle. Same thing happens at our mom's Catholic church, too.

Hype Begins For USC-Notre Dame [Philly.com]
New USC Rumors Abound [Kitty Can Scratch]