Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were great Super Bowl half-time entertainment in my book. At work I heard some of the black people commenting, "Who was that guy? BORING!" Sorry, Tom doesn't have 20 background dancers, roll out in a Bentley wearing a fur coat and sunglasses, and grab his crotch at the end of each verse. It seems like that's what you have to do to be considered "interesting" in today's musical climate. I say, "No thanks!"

I will agree that for a half-time show at such a kinetic and visually-exciting sport as football, Tom's tendency to just stand there and play doesn't provide the greatest eye candy. If Tom Petty's onstage style was a sport, it would be baseball. However I'll take that over the Aerosmith/Britney Spears collaboration of a few years ago, or Ashlee Simpson at the Orange Bowl, or Sir Paul McCartney blatantly lip-synching a couple of years ago (and failing to be raked over the coals for it, as anyone else would be). Prince in the rain was incredible, the Rolling Stones sounded like a train wreck but their energy was appreciable, and Tom Petty was a good, clean, listenable performance. All in all I think the Super Bowl halftime committee is going the right way with their picks.

By the way, Tom Petty's Greatest Hits is one of the best CD's you can own. I grew tired of those songs when they were on the old 96 Rock every 15 minutes, but now I'm glad to have a copy of them.

You say Tom Petty was boring at the Super Bowl? I say he was great, and "I Won't Back Down!"