Before they come to Minnesota Thursday Night, MercyMe hads some business to take care of.

For the past three years, contemporary Christian band MercyMe has played a concert at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. And every year, the Rangers have sold out the game when the group performed.

MercyMe made its annual appearance on Saturday, Aug. 28. playing a pregame concert at 5 p.m. and then singing the national anthem. MercyMe was part of the Rangers’ Faith Concert Series presented by I am Second and KLTY/94.9 FM.

And, as he has done in the past, Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton joined the action, addressing the crowd at 5:15 p.m.

“MercyMe is from the area, and I’ve gotten to know them over the past few years,” Hamilton said. “It’s been a good time knowing them, because they’re all solid guys. And anytime you get to speak and address the power of Jesus, it is something to get excited for.”

Brad Childress and the Vikings offense weren’t the only ones who got booed yesterday at the Metrodome.

Fresh off my potty break in the Section 205 mens room in the Upper Deck, I was walking back to me seat, when two Miller Light Street team ladies, and large dude introduced to me as the Big Kuz summoned me.

“Hey you wanna go down to the field?”

“For real?”

“Ya, can you rock out to air guitar?”

“Yup”

Next thing I knew, Big Kuz (aka Aaron from Hopkins) and I were walking down to field level as competitors for the Best Buy, Air Guitar contest. We were laughing the whole time.

“This must be the battle of the big boys,” we joked, knowing that between the two of us, we averaged 6’6″ and many, many pounds of cold beer.

“Hey, what song are we supposed to be rocking out to this week?”

“Aerosmith’s Dude Looks Like a Lady”

After a short time, we were walked to our place of battle; the corner of the Vikings entrance endzone. On the way, we were escorted by the Vikes bench, and I took the time to yell “encouragement” to the offensive line

“C’mon guys start blocking somebody!”

We got to meet all the mascots and some of the Vikings cheerleaders. We filled the standard Vikings contest paper work, and I congratulated the Skol drum Line crew for their great “chops” in the tailgate lot.

The next thing you know, we were being led to the field with Viktor the mascot and a line of Vikings Cheerleaders. We were introduced to the crowd.

Big Luz went first, and I was TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY. He laid it all out on the line, totalled went going horizontal Rock Star on the bit. I felt like the Devil who went down to Georgia to get worked by Johnny. I knew It was over, but tried to come up with a plan to equal his air guitar skills.

Before I could think of anything, the my round of music started playing and instinct took over. I went as vanilla as the Vikings offense, and jumped around, flailing at the air stick with my hand. Within seconds, the grumpy Vikings fans started booing.

When the music ended, Big Luz and I did a traditional Big Guy belly bounce, and crashed backward on the turf. We shook hands. He got his $100 gift card, and I got a Best Buy Jersey. I apologized to everyone who I saw on our way, and congratulated the champ as we rode up the elevator.

The best part of that experience, was walking back up to section 205, and getting that mini-standing O from my peeps in the section. They totally had my back (just like the peeps from the lot). It was fun, and I didn’t mind the boos. Hell, fans don’t boo nobodies right?

Or wait, maybe they do? After all Coach Childress got booed on Sunday as well.

A Prince halftime show for the Super Bowl is close to a dream come true for me. The only thing that would be better is if it was his royal badness’ home team playing in the game.

Since the Vikings eliminated themselves a month ago I tried  not to drink myself into oblivion over the holidays. In preparation for the NFL playoffs, sans the horned-helmets,  I asked my two year old to help me pick playoff winners. When it was all said and done he had picked Bears over the Chargers in the Super Bowl. Not to bad considering he got one of the teams correct.

Knowing that a can toddler pick games better than professionals on TV, I saw no reason to NOT to at least try making some projections for the  upcoming game with the Bears and Colts, so here goes…

I don’t know why, but I think Marvin Harrison finally gets his first playoff TD, Dallas Clark scores twice, and Adam the South Dakotan Vinatieri actually does something big in a game, like kick a winning field goal with time running out. Hmm sounds familiar.

Super Bowl Prediction: Colts 27, Bears 24. But wait, there is more.

I see the team from Chicago getting  their butts kicked AGAIN by a Minnesotan wearing purple when Prince dominates the halftime show. As a matter of fact, this won’t be the first time that Prince will single-hand-idly beat the Bears. The Bears vs. Prince will be rematch at Super Bowl XLI. From Kottke.org:

The “Super Bowl Shuffle” earned The Chicago Bears a [1987] Grammy nomination for best Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance – Duo or Group. They lost to Prince and the Revolution’s “Kiss”.

Prince, my all time favorite musician will get to play the half-time show on the World’s biggest stage.

I have been to nine Prince concerts in my lifetime from the Purple Rain tour to last year’s show with Tamar and the sexy Twins. At that show, I had the great privilege of “showing the light” to my best friend Saueey, a hard core AC/DC rocker. Saueey had always ridiculed and mocked my choice of all-time guitar legend, but was impressed beyond words after heararing Prince live.

In is words, upon experiencing just 1/2 hour of the Royal one’s guitar at close range (3rd Row, right in front of his highness), Saueey looked me dead in the eye and said,

“HOLY Sh*t! That Mother Fu*a can play! I had no idea he was this good.”

NFL fans, metal heads, and homophobes, PREPARE yourself…His name is PRINCE, and he will, he will, rock you. My biggest prediction: Prince will be an NFL Legend after Super Bowl Sunday, and the VIKINGS will finally get him to write a team song that kicks ass.

Prince is the only guy in Purple, from Minnesota, who will ever perform at clutch time in a Super Bowl. He is a legitimate Hall of Famer, inducted to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland just two years ago.

The Best Commercial will be Bird vs. Magic. NEXT GENERATION (?). Peyton Manning will cry like a baby, and get the next Campbell’s Soup Commercial, featuring a TEAM DAD and a TEAM BROTHER, but Dallas Clark goes to Disney World.