Date: 32nd anniversary of the pardoning of Richard Nixon.  It’s also the birthday of former ECW champion Raven, and last night’s entertainer, Pink.  If I had to rank all three of these in order of who should sing at the 2006 NFL Kickoff Opener, I’d rank like this: Nixon, Raven, Pink (and yes, I realize Nixon is dead).

Re: Cross promotion, thy name is the major sports network

Memo to NBC: You aren’t fooling us
The new theme song for NBC Sunday Night Football (which debuts this Sunday, FYI) is definitely unique in that whole “This is dramatic, metallic and robotic” kind of way.  While I haven’t come to a final conclusion on liking or disliking it, it’s definitely different from the other networks’ football scores.  And that would figure, because the theme song was written/produced by John Williams, the man responsible for film scores such as Star Wars, Superman, Shawshank Redemption and NBC’s Meet the Press and Nightly News, among others. 

So, what’s my point in all of this? 

Nothing really, other than I found it to be quite funny that the ad for Star Wars individual DVDs going on sale ran several times during various commercial breaks with the mother in the commercial saying “I love the music!”  Ahh, yes; the famous composer-writes-the-football-theme-song-so-long-as-the-network-endorses-said composer’s-previous-work… the oldest marketing trick in the book!

Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course.  In fact, it's not like NBC is alone in this field as it reminded me of last year’s NFC Championship game on FOX, when a former American Idol winner sang the national anthem.  Another similar instance I recall was Dywane Wade sitting next to a gigantic EA Sports NBA Live poster while being interrogated on the Budweiser Hot Seat during SportsCenter last Fall (ESPN and EA locked a 7 year agreement prior to the episode).

So fans, next time you watch a main-event level sporting event, be prepared to identify even the slightest bit of cross promotion.  It’ll impress friends and loved ones at your next football or cocktail party.

Thoughts on the NBC theme song?  Post a comment or seven.