If you were to look through the pages of my 1985 high school year book, you would come across a big photo of me and a friend hanging out in our journalism class. And of course, we're both wearing KISS shirts.

Looking back on those days, I think there may have been times when I wore a different KISS shirt to school five days a week. In fact, it was a tradition at our school that myself and a pretty large group of friends all wore our KISS shirts to school every Friday. I guess it was our own little version of the KISS Army, though most of the shirts we wore were from the non-make-up "Lick It Up" and "Animalize" era of the group. But our passion for that wonderful rock 'n roll band was undeniable.

For the past few days - and all of these years later - I've realized that nothing much has changed. Oh, we've all grown up quite a bit. There are jobs and families now and all of the responsibilities that come when you're no longer 17, but in the days leading up to KISS' show in Scranton last night, I know some of us felt as if we were 17 once again. And once we got there, we most certainly did.

KISS crushed the Toyota Pavilion on Sunday. It was my 30th time seeing them, and as a good friend with a beaming smile said to me as we headed back to our car after the show, "It ranks."

Indeed. It ranked right up there with some of the best KISS shows, ever. And though I watched the concert with the same enthusiasm as I did some 25 years ago, I'm clearly not a teen anymore. After spending the past 18 years working in part as a music journalist, I now have the ability to compare KISS to hundreds of other bands I've seen play live, and I can now watch them with a much more seasoned eye.

And you know what?

I'm still pretty much in awe.

Last night, I sang along to the music so loudly and proudly that my voice on this August morning sounds a bit like Demi Moore. I guess it would be sexy if I was a girl, but for me, it just kind of hurts. My wife's ears are still ringing, and as I pumped my fists throughout the show and totally enjoyed seeing one of my all-time favorite bands rock my hometown, I was again reminded as to why I fell in love with KISS in the first place.

The songs.

KISS' set at Montage was one of the finest the band has ever strung together. From the punch of "Deuce," to the grandness of "God Gave Rock and Roll To You II," to the new material from "Sonic Boom," the show sometimes felt like an audio assault of the senses. The group was extremely tight, musically, and while Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley had told fans that such would be the case - particularly after the reunited original lineup of the band dissolved once again a few years back - it's clear that was not lip service. Guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer have helped energize KISS, and for that, even the most loyal fans of the original lineup should be grateful.

I not only watched KISS play great songs amid all of their usual explosions and stage-flying on Sunday night, but I also watched a bit more closely as to how they sang, and as for as harmonies are concerned, they may have never been better. KISS is a band that is a product of its generation, heavily influenced by British Invasion acts such as The Who and Led Zeppelin, and especially The Beatles, and though they come with a much harder sound, that influence on their vocal style remains evident. Simmons once said KISS first set out to be a "heavy metal Beatles," and when you listen to a song like "Firehouse," that's exactly what it is.

KISS, in fact, has always done this with its music. The band has always been able to find something it likes in a musical style or trend, and often quite brilliantly, make it its own. In the late '70s, when even The Rolling Stones were doing albums like "Some Girls" and disco was king, KISS gave us "Dynasty." In the early '80s, when guitar shredders like Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads were all the buzz, KISS gave us "Animalize." Later in the '80s, when hard-rock got a little more slick with bands like Bon Jovi, KISS gave us "Crazy Nights," and when hard-rock later got a little more "street" with Guns 'N Roses, KISS gave us "Hot In The Shade." And even with the arrival of grunge, we got "Carnival of Souls."

It is an impressive and an incredibly versatile catalog of music, yet it all remains distinctly KISS.

On Friday, WILK-AM and WILK-FM talk-radio here in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had me come on the air and talk about KISS' music and the band's ongoing staying power. I guess when you've written so many stories about the group over the years, you get to be known as "the KISS guy" in the area, and that's fine with me. (You can now read many of my past KISS stories archived at www.kiss-aks.blogspot.com.) When I was asked to name some of my favorite KISS concerts out of the many that I'd seen, it was their two shows in 1988 at The Ritz in New York City that first came to mind. Why? Because it was just the them in a smaller club. No costumes. No make-up. No stage show. Just a great rock band tearing through some great songs.

Sunday night at Montage, however - show #30 for me - is now also on that short list of all-time favorites. Yeah, I love KISS for its songs the most, but it sure is fun to see those songs draped amid "The Hottest Show on Earth." And though I've been fortunate enough to have interviewed and even met KISS quite a few times, it was great to feel like I was 17 again for a few hours and be there just as a fan. My wife and I were in about the third row, and while it'd be nice to think it happened because Paul recognized me from our past meetings, or because he spotted the rose tattoo on my arm, I actually think it was her pretty face and all of her singing and dancing that caught his eye.

Regardless of the reason, the result was the same: two Paul Stanley guitar picks for us.

What a night.

Clearly, it ranks.
 

If Elvis Presley were alive today, he would be 75 years old. And though he would certainly be in his golden years, there is a chance that he still might be giving concerts, and that his golden voice - the best rock music has ever heard - would still be booming through arenas. Perhaps he would still even be recording new music, which people like Sinatra did well into their seventies. In fact, Sinatra celebrated his 75th year with a national tour.

It was 33 years ago this week, however, that the undisputed King of Rock 'n' Roll left the building at the tender age of 42. And he is, without a doubt, missed just as much today as he was on the hot August afternoon when we first learned of his passing.

A lot of rock-music writers like to use the word "derivative"' when they talk about music. Sometimes they use it as a compliment, sometimes as an insult. All it really means is that an artist has been influenced by another.
  
Everything in pop music - everything - is a Presley derivative.

I've written columns in the past on the anniversary of Elvis' death, where I've shared my thoughts on Presley's importance to the history of rock music and his unparalleled significance in pop culture.
 
Today, I'm sharing some of those same thoughts once again.

 And that's because everything you read about pop music in our paper or magazine is reflective of Presley. The club listings. The concert listings. The album reviews and the interviews with the local bands and the big stars.

It all goes back to Presley.

It all goes back to the poor kid from Mississippi who came out of nowhere and, in 1956, helped kick open the door to a new and exciting sound. It all goes back to the man whose early recordings such as "That's All Right,'' "Mystery Train'' and "Lawdy Miss Clawdy'' remain classics, and whose big '50s hits such as "Heartbreak Hotel,'' "Don't Be Cruel'' and "Jailhouse Rock'' set the table for the musical explosion known as rock 'n' roll.

It all goes back to the guy whose early '60s songs such as "His Latest Flame,'' "Little Sister'' and  "Are You Lonesome Tonight'' sound just as great today as they ever did, and the man whose voice was better than it ever was on his later recordings such as "Kentucky Rain'' and "Always On My Mind.''

It all goes back to the man whose remarkable covers of "Bridge Over Troubled Water'' and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling'' seem to surpass the quality of the originals, and the man who, just weeks before his death, was still nailing challenging songs such as "Unchained Melody'' and "My Way'' in concert.

Elvis' health, due to his own vices, failed him.

His voice never did.

This week, on the anniversary of his death, remember the good things about Elvis. Forget about the tacky wall murals, lamps and porcelain plates and rumors of "sightings.'' Forget about the unwarranted mockery sometimes aimed at him by people without half his talent or character.
 
Remember the man who, even after his burst of fame, still referred to people as "ma'am'' and "sir,'' and who even won over an initially hesitant and skeptical Ed Sullivan with his kindness and humility. Remember the man who, at the height of career, went off to Germany to serve his country in the Army. Remember the man who, while there, asked for no special treatment and quickly befriended the men in his unit.
 
 Remember the man who loved to share his wealth - a man who would buy friends and even strangers automobiles, and who, if you admired a piece of jewelry he was wearing, would often take it off and give it to you. Remember the man who was always quick to give credit to the unheard-of black artists from whom he borrowed much of his early sound. Remember the man who, with his remarkable "'68 Comeback Special,'' actually laid the groundwork for MTV's popular "Unplugged'' series.
 
If you're out on the town this week, ask your favorite band to play a little Presley. The good ones - the ones that know a little about the linkage of rock 'n' roll - will be happy to.

Artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Robert Plant and Billy Joel have all covered Presley's songs. Plant, according to one story, was actually able to meet Elvis and sing a few bars of "Love Me'' with The King.

 In 1975, Bruce Springsteen, a star himself at the time, tried to scale the gates of Graceland hoping to meet his idol. KISS, on Aug. 16, 1977 - the day Elvis died - dedicated "Rock and Roll All Nite" to The King. The members of U2, in the rock documentary "Rattle and Hum,'' are shown visiting Presley's grave at Graceland. It is one of the most poignant scenes in the film. And in 1997, on the 20th anniversary of Elvis' death, The Badlees, playing right here in Wilkes-Barre, offered a soulful cover of "Suspicious Minds.''

If you're a fan of rock 'n' roll, take just a minute or two today to show him some of the same respect. Call your favorite radio station and request one of his songs, play one on the jukebox at your favorite hangout or just hum one of his tunes in your head.

Elvis Presley should still be here at age 75.

And though he left us long ago, he is still with us in many ways. He is with us in pop radio, rock concerts and magazines, MTV and VH1 and so many things we encounter in everyday life.
  
He is with us, now and forever, in music.

Nearly 38 years ago – on June 23, 1972 – torrential rains from Tropical Storm Agnes led to the flooding of the Wyoming Valley.

Many of us are quite familiar with the events: The Susquehanna River spilled over its banks and into our neighborhoods, causing such damage that President Richard Nixon, who would later visit the wreckage, called it the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

Some people reading this might have been adults and homeowners at the time, and experienced great loss. Some were teenagers, old enough to realize what was happening, though not yet wise enough to understand its magnitude. Some, such as me, were young children, aware that something was wrong, yet unable to comprehend the devastation. And some readers, born after Agnes, have little knowledge of what actually happened that summer in their hometown and in other parts of Pennsylvania.

Some facts: Agnes, which previously had earned hurricane status, dumped an estimated 28 trillion, 100 billion gallons of rain on the upper Susquehanna watershed from June 21 to 23. In Pennsylvania, an estimated $2.8 billion in damage was incurred – translating to about $14 billion today. More than 68,000 homes and 3,000 businesses were destroyed, leaving more than 220,000 people homeless. In Luzerne County, more than 25,000 homes and businesses were either destroyed or damaged. Five bridges were washed away. About 80,000 Wyoming Valley residents were evacuated.

I was only 5 at the time. And I was one of those 80,000. I can remember June 23, 1972. Living in South Wilkes-Barre, I recall my mother telling me that we had to leave. If I recall, the sound of sirens filled the streets. It seemed surreal. But looking back, I know it was not. It was very real. My mother lost much of what she had that day. For my grandparents, who lived only about a mile away in Lee Park, the story was the same.

We spent that summer at my aunt and uncle’s house on Strand Street in Hanover Township. It wasn’t very far from our apartment – just a few minutes by car – and it was even closer to my grandparents’ home. Yet it was just far enough up the hill that it was untouched by the water. For a child, the whole experience was actually kind of fun. My two older cousins became my big brothers for those few weeks, and what little boy wouldn’t be excited by the sights of huge double-blade helicopters flying overhead and cool-looking army trucks roaming the streets? In the weeks after the flood, enormous bulldozers, dump trucks and street sprinklers seemed to storm down the roads at a constant pace, much to the delight of us wide-eyed kids.

But again, time – and maturity – have changed that perspective. Now, I wonder what it must have felt like to have been evacuated from your own home, leaving it behind and not knowing what you might find when you returned. Some people actually found their homes knocked right off their foundations. Some were completely gone.

There was nothing fun about any of it.

I remember the smell of wet plaster. And the smell of “flood mud.” And friends living in trailers in their own backyards. I remember standing on my grandparents’ front porch and watching my grandfather’s favorite recliner being lifted by one of those huge bulldozers and dumped into the back of one of those giant dump trucks. What I can’t remember, however, are many tears. Nor do I remember my mother or grandparents whining or complaining. Though people were shocked and saddened by what they saw, they rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

Immediately after the waters subsided, recovery began.

Across America in 1972, people were flocking to the box office to see the year’s top film, “The Godfather.” They were laughing along with the top show on television, “All In The Family,” and a new show called “M*A*S*H.” Songs such as “American Pie” by Don McLean and "A Horse with No Name” by America filled the airwaves. And here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, people worked to rebuild. And they worked harder than most of us probably ever have.

On Wednesday’s anniversary of the flood, and always, we need to remember that.

I recently purchased some of the old books that document Agnes. I looked through hundreds of photos, and even though I actually lived through it as a child, it’s still hard to believe it happened. When I showed the pictures to some of my younger co-workers, who weren’t yet born at the time of the flood, they were awestruck.

One thing I’ve realized in thinking about all of this is that people my age, about 42, will be the last generation to remember Agnes. Though we were only children, we did experience it. And perhaps with that comes some responsibility.

Some people are disappointed that there is no real remembrance of the flood here in the Wyoming Valley, such as an Agnes museum. The old flood books are hard to find and video clips remain sequestered in the vaults of our local TV stations, shown only every few years on milestone anniversaries. Old radio broadcasts, some of which have been archived, typically can’t be heard by the public. Newspapers from that time can be seen only on microfilm. Wonderful human interest stories exist, but they show up in different books, different news stories and different mini-documentaries that have been done in the past.

I’d like to see it all come together. I’d like to see one definitive, all-encompassing documentary film made on Agnes that combines those materials – and from which future generations can learn. Ideally, it would be completed by the 40th anniversary: June 2012. And then, once all the material is properly collected and the film is completed, perhaps an Agnes museum could be developed – a place where area school groups could go on field trips, where students could learn even more about what happened in their city and how their families fought through it.

Despite its strength and destructiveness, Agnes did not defeat Northeastern Pennsylvania. People lost valuables, homes and businesses, and a few even lost their lives. But the spirit of this community was not lost in the flood. It rose to the challenge. It got the job done.

On this anniversary, it is our job to ensure that the great flood of ’72 – and the even greater effort to overcome it – is never forgotten.
 

A great rock concert can stand out in your mind for various reasons. I've been to quite a few of them, and though some were utterly forgettable, some are still burned deep in the heart. Seeing Paul McCartney live can actually leave you awestruck, and artists like U2 and Bruce Springsteen seem to take you to another place during their live shows. In some ways, it's almost spiritual.

I love those artists. Always have. And it's no secret to some of our readers that I'm also a pretty big KISS fan. I've seen them about 30 times in concert and can honestly say that when it comes to live bands, they remain among the best. Ace Frehley, the group's original guitarist, is also still an all-time favorite. And it was exactly 25 years ago this week that Frehley gave one of the most memorable shows I've ever seen. And it was right here in Northeast Pennsylvania - in Scranton - at the old West Side Theater.

I was 17 years old and it was the spring of my senior year in high school. Myself and a group of good friends all loved Ace, but since he had left KISS a few years prior - right around the time we were finally old enough to start going to their shows - we'd never seen him play live. I can still remember the day the show was announced, and how we were all calling one another and were absolutely over-the-top excited. Within minutes, we were all running off to our little part-time high school jobs, making sure we put in for the night off from work. I called one friend who lived quite a few miles away and said I was on my way over to pick him up. He still jokes to this day that right after I called, he threw on Frehley's 1978 solo album, and before he'd heard even one song, I was already out in front of his house laying on the horn.

Did I mention we were excited?

A few weeks later, it was time for the big show. March 3, 1985. The concert venue was about a 30 minute ride from my house. We left about 12 hours early. There were so many of us that we had to take two cars.  Even though Ace wasn't going to come on until around 9 p.m., we were there by late morning. Of course, we spent most of the day on a zany quest trying to meet him. After learning that he was still nowhere near the venue, we decided to scope out a few nearby hotels, and though we did eventually find the right one and had a pretty close encounter with the great guitarist, we had no luck in our attempt to hang out with the Spaceman.

And that, in retrospect, is OK. The hunt to find Ace was a lot of fun in itself, and since that time, I've been fortunate enough to have met him and interviewed him several times. But that first attempt back in '85, when we were still just kids, was something we all still laugh about. In fact some of us, 25 years later, still meet for lunch every year on March 3 to reminiscence and celebrate our love for Ace. At one point, we walked into a hotel lobby with Frehley's solo album and asked a woman at the desk, "Have you seen this man?"  She smiled at the album cover - a painting of Frehley in his full KISS makeup - and said, "No, but I wish I had."

And THAT was another thing that made this particular concert so memorable. That type of picture - Ace in his KISS makeup- was all we had to go by. What some younger KISS fans might not even realize is that for a full decade, from 1973-1983, no one knew what the band members looked like. It was a huge part of their persona that offered a unique element to their mystique. Finally, in '83, when they felt that aspect of their career had run its course, they unmasked for the album "Lick It Up" and continued to enjoy great commercial success. Frehley, however, had left the band in '82. And though he was on tour in the spring of '85, he had not yet released a post-KISS solo album.

Ace had not yet "unmasked."

We were all going to see a show by one of our all-time favorite musicians, yet we had NO IDEA WHAT HE LOOKED LIKE.

Thinking back on it, it's pretty wild, and I can honestly say that Ace Frehley's 1985 mini-tour of the East Coast was one of the most unusual rock tours of all-time. I can't think of any other tour, ever, where you knew that when the artist walked on the stage, you were literally going to see what they looked like for the first time. It was incredibly cool, and since he was already a superstar, and since we had already loved his music so much for so many years, it only added to the fun.

Of course, Ace came out and totally rocked.  For us, it was pretty much the same as it was with KISS a few years earlier, when we saw them sans makeup for the first time. We were never fans because of the makeup and costumes. Sure, maybe it helped get our attention when we were kids, but we stayed fans because we liked the songs. We loved the music. Again though, most KISS fans had seen the band unmask live on MTV in '83. Or they'd seen their photo on the "Lick It Up" album cover, or they'd seen them in music videos. By the time their tours for "Lick It Up" and later "Animalize" came around, you at least knew how they appeared in person.

Not so with Ace.

Frehley played lots of great songs that night, some old and some new. And he continued to come back to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area from time to time. He played the old Autographs nightclub in Old Forge in '87, and both The Woodlands and Tink's in '95. They're all part of KISSTORY here in NEPA. A history that includes KISS shows at The Paramount Theater (now The Kirby) in 1974 and King's College in 1975, Paul Stanley's solo show at Market Street Square in '89, Peter Criss' show at Market Street in '92 and The Woodlands in '94, and KISS' more recent stops at Montage in 2000 (with Ace back in the band) and 2004.

Except for those first two shows in '74 and '75, I was at all of them. And though I loved them all, there will always be something very special about March 3, 1985 - the day my friends and I saw Ace Frehley for the first time, both figuratively, and literally. It was a day that, when you really think about it, helped reinforce what what KISS had first proved in 1983. Despite their larger-than-life persona, lavish stage shows and now iconic makeup and costumes, it's really the music and nothing but the music that matters most.

Ace proved it, once again, in Scranton.

And his fans proved it simply by being there.

Fortunately, because I write for a newspaper, I'm allowed to use the term "Super Bowl" in print. Perhaps you've heard some of the recent fuss about "trademark" issues and the term "Super Bowl," and how places such as supermarkets and bars aren't allowed to use the term "Super Bowl" in their advertisements.

Having a special sale on snacks for the Super Bowl? Showing the Super Bowl on a big screen at your club? If so, you've got to refer to it as "The Big Game," or whatever else you can come up with to let people know that you are, of course, simply referring to the Super Bowl.

It's silly. And for a league that always does everything smart and markets itself so well, it's one of the dumbest things the NFL has ever done. The Super Bowl is pretty much a national holiday. Everybody should be allowed to refer to it by its proper name, and the league should be grateful for the added exposure and that there is always so much interest in its championship contest.

(I admit, I briefly thought about how I might be able to cash in on this idiocy. Perhaps I could trademark the word "Christmas?" Imagine how much money I could make each year if everyone that wanted to use the word "Christmas" would have to send me a check? Department store fliers, greeting cards, churches ...  it could be a very lucrative investment.  But then I realized that if this were possible, Gene Simmons of KISS probably would have already done it.)

My point is, I love the Super Bowl. Always have. My favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, has played in eight of them and won five. And as has become my tradition every few years, I'll share some of the reasons why I will always love Super Sunday, and why even though I'm on the sidelines as a fan this year, I still can't wait for Super Bowl XLIV.

1) For men, it is generally accepted that we are completely sovereign on Super Sunday. If the women in our lives would like to watch the game, great. They are more than welcome. We enjoy their company. But if not, who cares? Go to the mall. Shop. Do whatever it is that you do. We men appreciate the fact that on this day, you understand that we will be fairly consumed by this event. If we want to start watching the pre-game show 10 hours before kickoff, you will understand. We will eat. We will drink. And if it's just the guys and not a family-style gathering, we will swear. And, we may gamble. You will simply accept it.

2) During the Super Bowl, if our own favorite team is not playing, we may torment people whose teams are playing. My rule is this: If you are my friend, and you are not a Dallas Cowboys fan, but you once rooted for them in the Super Bowl anyway, simply because you wanted me to be happy, then I will return the favor and root for your team. But, if you taunted me all week before the game about how my Boys were going to get dusted, I will hope that your team is completely humiliated and loses by a margin of at least 45 points.

3) The Super Bowl allows us the chance to revel in past glories. Almost always, on the day of the game, one of the ESPN networks will show a marathon of the official "NFL Films" Super Bowl highlights. These 30-minute gems have always been shot on real film, not the cheap stuff, so even if you're watching highlights from the very first Super Bowl, the picture is always perfect. In just 24 hours, you can get yourself one hell of a Super Sunday history lesson, and since they're always run in order, you can usually figure out what time your own team's triumphs will be shown, and when you'll need to tune out and switch  channels to avoid the retelling of painful defeats.

4) The Super Bowl allows you to succumb to superstition. You must wear your "lucky" jersey. You must sit in "your spot." You must stick with the same snacks and beverages, especially if your team won when you had them last. During one Super Bowl, I decided to do a shot of Jack Daniels every time Dallas scored, and every time they kicked off. They won 52-17. Not good. That same year, I did not shave on the morning of the first round of the playoffs. Dallas won that day, so I didn't shave all week, until the NFC Championship Game. They won that game, too, so I didn't shave for two more weeks, until the Super Bowl. By the time the game came around, I had a beard. My friends actually took a picture of me shaving it off about an hour after the game, as we continued to party in victory. Laugh as you may, but I know the beard was a big part of the win.

5) The Super Bowl allows us the chance to use Roman numerals. Roman numerals are cool.

6) The Super Bowl sometimes allows us the chance to not fully recognize the current Super Bowl. A few years ago, I was invited to a Super Bowl party, so I took a cake with the a big blue star on it and the Roman numerals VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII and XXX. These were the Super Bowls the Cowboys had won. The fact that Dallas was not playing in the Super Bowl that year was completely irrelevant.

7) The same concept applies to what we wear to Super Bowl parties. Many of us will wear our team's jersey to any such gathering, even if they are not playing in the game. Frankly, I believe this is how it should be. Yes, it's the day we crown a new champion, but it's also a day for us all to celebrate the greatness of the (insert Howard Cosell voice here) National Football League.

8) Those that are perceived as "bandwagon fans" during the Super Bowl will be unmercifully ridiculed and vilified. If you went out this week and bought a Colts or Saints jersey, and you nave never mentioned any allegiance to these teams before, you will no longer be respected by any of your friends.

9) The Super Bowl allows us the chance to gain perspective on greatness and to appreciate people that we once disliked. Example: When I was a kid, I hated Terry Bradshaw because he thumped Dallas in the Super Bowl, twice. But, thinking back, the guy was simply excellent. Same goes for Joe Montana. Two guys. Eight rings. Respect.

10) The Super Bowl allows us the opportunity to strike revenge and purge ourselves of old demons. For example, I always hated the old disco song "The Hustle" because it reminded me of when, in 1976 , Dallas lost Super Bowl  X to Pittsburgh. It was a huge hit at the time, and I think they actually used the song during the broadcast of the game. Though I was just a kid, the tune always bothered me, and every time I heard it over the years, it put a little twinge of pain in my heart. Flash ahead to 1996. Super Bowl XXX. Twenty years later, Dallas gets its rematch with Pittsburgh. A few days before the game, I go out and buy one of those disco compilation CDs that contains "The Hustle," and when Dallas wins the game - which I knew they would - I blast that baby all though my apartment, dancing in joyous victory. Closure.

11) The Super Bowl is the time to observe proper Super Sunday etiquette. Some may need to be reminded that this is not a social event for everyone. This is World Championship football. Some people's hearts are on the line. Here are some tips:

a) If anyone at the party you're attending this year is a fan of the Colts or Saints, you must show them courtesy and respect. This is their day, not yours. They get the best seats in proximity to the TV. Period. This is not debatable.

b) Do not ever - ever - stand in front of the television. If you do, you risk being sworn at and pelted with flying objects, which you fully deserve.

c) Do not try to chitchat with those focused on the game. If you're just at the party to hangout and socialize, go into another room. Or, even better, take it upon yourself to serve food and drinks to those watching the game.

d) If you don't know a damn thing about football, Super Sunday is not the day to learn. Don't ask a bunch of folks glued to their seats how many home runs Payton Manning hit this year or what a first down is. You will be ignored.

e) Don't ask anyone who cares about the game to run and pick up the pizza. They will not. And if you have it delivered, tip the guy big time. Remember, this poor dude is missing the game.

f) Appreciate the well-intended contributions of the non-football people. If someone who doesn't care about the game shows up with a big bucket of wings and a case of beer, gladly accept it. This is their way of trying to get involved. Always thank these people accordingly and encourage them to run back out and return with more food and drinks if they'd like.

12) The Super Bowl allows us the opportunity to buy cool stuff during the weeks after the game. If your team wins, it's going to cost you some money. You'll need the obligatory boisterous championship t-shirts and pennants, which are usually in stores just a few days after the game, and later, you'll of course need the required commemorative championship steins and plaques.

13) The Super Bowl allows us the chance to show off to our friends all of the cool stats that we know about the Super Bowl. For example, Dallas lost three Super Bowls by a total of only 11 points. Even in defeat, they have never embarrassed themselves, and with a little luck, they could have won eight championships, not just five. Other stuff I know: The '85 Bears, at the time, put the worst beating on somebody in the Super Bowl, walloping the Patriots 46-10. The greatest whipping ever was San Fran's 55-10 lambasting of the Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV. Pennsylvania teams? The Steelers have won the most Super Bowls with six. The Eagles are 0-2. I could go on, but that would probably get annoying. It's cool to throw out a few of these during the game, but don't overdo it.

And finally ...

14) The Super Bowl allows us the chance to put down the remote control. For four hours, the station stays set. Sometimes it's a great game, sometimes it's a blow out. But for fans of the winner, it's a day
they will always savor. Even the commercials are fun, and in recent years, everyone from Paul McCartney to Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones and Prince have performed at halftime. This year, it's The Who. And as for the game, this year's heroes will come from names such as Payton Manning, Drew Brees and Reggie Bush. New memories will be created. They are all great players.

Again, I give you my big-five: VI, XII, XXVII. XXVIII and XXX. Tom Landry, Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith ... these are the men that, on those days, made some and my Super Sundays most super, and for that I am still very grateful.

It is why I will always love the Super Bowl.

Now, who's running for the pizza? ...

About the Author

Alan K. Stout is the music columnist at The Weekender and has been covering rock and pop music in NEPA for more than 15 years. His column, "Music on The Menu" appears every week in The Weekender.

Alan has won a Keystone Press Award for Excellence in Journalism for his music coverage and has been voted Northeast Pennsylvania's "Favorite Newspaper Columnist" seven times.

Alan's interviews include conversations with Billy Joel, Steven Tyler, Eddie Van Halen, David Bowie and Ray Charles. He also wrote the liner-notes to the entire Motley Crue catalog, he is the host of the monthly "Weekender/Mountaingrown Original Music Series" and is the founder of NEPA's annual "Concert For A Cause." He also hosts a weekly radio show, "Music On The Menu Live," which can be heard every Sunday night at 8 p.m. on 102.3-FM, The Mountain.

In addition to his work with The Weekender, Alan also serves as the Newspapers In Education Manager at The Times Leader.

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