Partaking in grueling athletic activity isn’t the time to have Bob Carlisle’s "Butterfly Kisses" floating through your head, but that’s the song I couldn’t shake from my skull Saturday night during my bike ride home from work.
The Kevin Gorg lookalike’s 1996 hit single about a father’s love for his daughter in no way makes the dark ride home into a headwind any easier.
But still, it’s nowhere near as bad as Friday night, when I had Mariah Carey’s "Touch My Body" stuck in my head the entire 90 minutes of a soccer game I played in.
That was par for the course after being on the losing end of a 1-0 score on May 17 in my Duluth Amateur Soccer League team’s match with this little number tucked inside my gourd.
Why can’t I run around to Linkin Park’s "Given Up" more often?

LeBron James’ mom, Gloria James, took exception to a foul by Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce against her son during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series Monday between the Celtics and Cavaliers in Cleveland.

Gloria James had to be restrained by Celtics forward Kevin Garnett while Brad Pitt’s stunt double held the ball.

The Cavs won the game to tie the series 2-all.

I hope LeBron got her something really cool for Mother’s Day.

Photo by Mark Duncan / Associated Press

In the words of the Spice Girls, "Goodbye, my friend." That’s what John Madden was rumored to be singing on the morning of March 4, the day Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre announced his retirement.
Since then, NFL "experts" and fans have discounted the Green Bay Packers’ playoff chances for next season. The thought of Aaron Rodgers, Brian Brohm, Matt Flynn, Craig Nall or anyone else taking snaps for the green and gold, combined with the offseason moves by the Minnesota Vikings, has people picking the purple to take the NFC North Division title.
Not so fast.
While I’d love to believe that the Vikings’ acquisition of guys like wide receiver Bernard Berrian (Chicago) and defensive end Jared Allen (Kansas City) will lead to a date at Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla., against the New England Patriots and wide receiver Randy "Straight Cash, Homey" Moss, I think the Packers have to remain the favorites in the NFC’s Black & Blue Division.
Rodgers, who isn’t nearly as bad or as fragile as people say, should wind up the starter on a team with great receivers, a decent running back and offensive line and a young and talented defense.
The Vikings, while making significant improvements since last season, need to remember Brad Childress still is their coach. They’ll win less games than they should as long as he’s running the show.
NFC North prediction: 1st place — Green Bay, 2nd — Minnesota, 3rd — Chicago, 4th — Detroit
As for Favre, he’s the coverboy for Madden NFL ’09. I hope for his sake the game’s cover curse won’t be in effect now that his playing days are done.
Associated Press photo

Darrion Scott, a former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman, was charged with assault Tuesday.

An athlete charged with assault? Big deal; happens all the time, right?

Not like this.

Scott, a free agent after spending his first four seasons with Minnesota, is accused of choking his 2-year-old son by putting a plastic dry cleaning bag over his head and holding it on. Scott also was charged with endangerment of a child after leaving a loaded gun in an unlocked drawer where his kid had access.

Good luck finding a job for next season, Darrion.

2007 file photo / Associated Press