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]

Yes, it's "Tim McCarver Sings Selections from the Great American Songbook," hitting stores on September 22nd. Rest assured that I've already ordered three copies of this soon-to-be collector's item.

•Thrill to Tim struggling through "This Will Be My Shining Hour!"
•Shed a tear as Tim laments "There Used To Be A Ballpark!"
•Cry like a baby as you listen to "Day By Day," and realize you just listened to 14 songs by Tim McCarver!

Amazon.com currently has no copies in stock, meaning either this album's selling like hotcakes, or more likely, they're not even bothering.

There are currently two reviews on Amazon. The first: "I mute my TV when Tim McCarver is broadcasting a game. Why would I pay to listen to him sing?"

But the second is gold. It's written by either someone so skilled at sarcasm I'm not sure if they're using it, or by Tim McCarver:

I thought Mr. McCarver had reached his apex with his brilliant baseball analysis but I was pleasantly shocked to discover that it pales in comparison to his musical talents. His version of "This Will Be My Shining Hour" is destined to be a classic and would bring even Zeuss himself to tears. My only regret was to discover that this is his only album and since he is getting up there in years it's not likely there will be many more. Bravo Tim!!!

Tim McCarver Sings Selections From The Great American Songbook [Amazon]

I'm not exactly sure what the Pirates organization was expecting to happen, but Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are a punk rock cover band. In Pittsburgh. At a baseball game. You see where this is going? People booed, and shortly after they realized what they were hearing, left. They were booked for three consecutive nights, and fired after the first one.

Sensing an uncanny ability to pick wildly inappropriate musical act for the venue, ABC immediately contacted the Pirates organization and expressed an interest in hiring the guy to pick the music that will accompany the NBA Finals next year.

As a helpful public service, I've compiled a list of bands that might have worked better in Pittsburgh:

• Donnie Iris
• Journey
• Whoever did the Steelers Polka in the 1970s
• Kid Rock
• Molly Hatchet
• Dokken
• George Thorogood
• Scrantonicity
• Foghat
• Bob Seger

Band strikes out with Pirates fans [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

"Well 10 years 'been a long time for ya, Tubby
Now you'd better get it done this year, buddy
Oh You'd better win... you'd better win
'Cause my woman's gettin' tarred and my dog's gettin' hungry
And my gun's all gone and I'm gettin' lonely... YEAH.
YEAH!"

Enjoy the song, and say a prayer for Tubby Smith.

Officially the low point for UK fandom [Kentucky Sports Radio]
Tubby - Final Four OR Hit The Door, by OH Napier [SoundClick]

Not only did I enjoy the video, but there's no way I'd even consider treading on him. I don't know what to say. I'm experiencing some major cognitive dissonance.

And on a sad note, the guy who spits the second verse, Big Hawk, is no longer with us. He was shot and killed back in early May.

Rapper Big Hawk Killed [HipHopDX.com]
Clint Dempsey aka Deuce [clintdempsey.com]

Two Petty songs will be featured, the titles of which are "Saving Grace" and "Big Weekend." I haven't heard either song, mainly because they've not been releaed yet. They're on an album entitled "Highway Companion" that's not hitting shelves until this summer.

Tom Petty's obvious connection to the NBA is... actually, I can't think of a single one. In the above picture, it looks like he's in compliance with the NBA's dress code, so that might count. He also might be able to show Zach Randolph and Darius Miles where to score some good leaf.

The man is 56 years old. If there's more than three players in the NBA that own a Tom Petty CD, I'd be shocked. Greg Ostertag might've been a good bet, but he just retired. Brad Miller, maybe. Fewer than half of the teams in the NBA even have coaches as old as Tom Petty. Makes perfect sense.

Tom Petty Readies Summer Tour [RollingStone.com]

• John Rocker was such a popular guy that Twisted Sister (Twisted Sister!) felt like he was impugning their integrity by using one of their songs as his entrance music.
• "The Mad Hungarian" Al Hrabosky used to enter to "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" played on the organ.
• Mike Stanton of the Nationals uses a Toby Keith song that refers to "putting a boot in your ass" as "the American way."
• Todd Jones, while in Detroit , used the Counting Crows' "Mr. Jones." Then, in Florida, he uses a Christian rock song.
• The best music, as selected by the article's author, Nas' "Hate Me Now," used by A's releiver Huston Street.

A Christian rock song... come on, Todd Jones. Why not just go with "Wind Beneath My Wings"? Couldn't find a suitable Celine Dion song? The theme from Titanic, perhaps?

Myself, I'd go with a techno remix of "YMCA." I think that would intimidate.

Hear My Song, Fear My Fastball [Slate.com]

Number one on the list is the RBI Baseball Theme Remix, from the old Nintendo game. Excellent call. Other highlights for me include the music from The Natural, and, though it isn't a song, James Earl Jones' speech from Field of Dreams.

The first official game of the season is tonight at 8:05, with the Indians visiting the White Sox. There are also some preseason games today, which seems odd to me. In fact, I'm watching the Red Sox and Phillies right now, and they're both wearing red jerseys. I think they should go shirts/skins.

Baseball Season Will Be Starting Soon [San Diego Serenade]