Earlier today the New York Mets held their 2011 Anthem Search, inviting New York singers and musicians to sing or play the national anthem for a chance to sing at a Mets game. However, applicants had to sing a "30-60 second excerpt of any song except the National Anthem." How will they know if they can remember the words? more ›

Staten Island native Christina Aguilera is sorry for botching the national anthem, okay everyone. Calm down. She says, “I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through." And Fergie, who totally wet her pants that time and whose band gave an even worse performance at the Super Bowl last night, wants you all to back off, saying she's only "human." She also admits that her own performance last night was not perfect (noting it was "pitchy"). But hey, she's just human! She's just a human getting paid absurd amounts of money to sing well! more ›

Everyone is talking about Christina Aguilera messing up the lyrics to the national anthem at the Super Bowl last night. The video is below, where she belts out: "Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, what so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming." The correct lyrics are: "Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming." more ›

The Yankees aren’t the only team cycling through national anthem singers: Yesterday more than a hundred people waited at Citi Field, all auditioning to be the Mets’s official game opener. Those assembled were young and old, with try-out pieces ranging from operatic to ecclesiastical. Jeremy Eye said he “froze up” while singing “How to Save a Life” by The Fray, but still felt “pretty good.” Auditions to join Mr. Mets’s entourage were also held on Monday. According to the Daily News, the Mets will choose several different singers to perform the anthem before their 81 home games this season. But watch out when reaching for that high C, songbirds—it doesn't take much to knock Citi Field's sign letters loose. more ›

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra’s historic concert in North Korea concluded hours ago, marking the first performance by an American orchestra in the impoverished, totalitarian nation. The event also marked a first for much of the press, who are routinely denied access to North Korea and, once inside, usually find their movements tightly controlled. The Times has a stunning slideshow of photos snapped en route from the airport to the center of Pyongyang, something the photographer says is never permitted. more ›

Former mayor Rudy Giuliani was in New Hampshire, making it known he wants to be a presidential contender. The NY Times says he sounds "nearer than ever to being a presidential candidate" while speaking to Republican delegates, telling them, "when I promise you things, if I do, when I do, as I do, I'll promise them because I've done them before." He was "unusually formal" during the speech, "staying behind a lectern," whereas he "normally walks around the stage...joking and making matter-of-fact arguments." But it gets better than that:

“When I say to you that we should reduce taxes to stimulate the economy, I’ll say it to you because I did it and I saw it work. When I say we have to bring peace and security as sort of the beginning of anything, whether it’s in Baghdad or in other parts of the world or here at home, I’ll say that to you because I saw that happen in New York, and I made it happen. I did it.”

- Rockets 97, Knicks 90: The state of the Knicks is so sad that their former coach has more wins at Madson Square Garden with his new team than the Knicks' current head coach does. Jeff Van Gundy is 7-1 against the Knicks with four consecutive wins at MSG and Isiah Thomas is 1-5 at home. Yao Ming led all scorers with 26 points and Tracy McGrady added 24. Jamal Crawford led the Knicks with 25 points off the bench while Stephon Marbury had a measly three points in less than 20 minutes of play. In unbelievable news, Nate Robinson (5'9") blocked one of Yao's (7'6") shots. Despite pulling out all the stops for the Chinese basketball fans in the area (BD Wong sang the National Anthem), The Garden was not full. more ›

Everyone that is following the 2006 World Cup knows that the United States is in trouble. After losing 3-0 to the Czech Republic in the opening game, the Americans are essentially in a must-win situation. While Ghana's huge 2-0 upset of the Czech Republic in earlier Group E action means that the United States can't be eliminated today, a win would certainly improve their chances of advancing. Bruce Arena has already made two lineup changes for the game with Italy - removing DaMarcus Beasley and Eddie Lewis and placing Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey in the starting lineup. more ›

LAist has so much fun this week! They go to E3, where they overhear the timeless remark "Man, this is where nerdy girls get laid." Is that a promise? They also give us this week's best CDs and make us realize that LA is the best place to use Zillow. more ›

Lima Time didn't go so well, but that's okay for Mets fans because for the 2nd weekend series in a row, they took 2 of 3 from the Braves. Lima wasn't good in his 5 inning appearance, allowing 5 funs over 5 innings, but Bartolome Fortunato was just plain bad. Fortunato allowed a stunning 8 runs (all earned) in 1 1/3 innings. The end result was a 13-3 whooping by the Braves. more ›

Rick Burnley, Poet/Activist more ›

About 49% of the population is still reeling from Senator Kerry's concession. Gothamist's own Doug Gordon (also of Planet Gordon) and his wife are in Boston, and were captured for the world to see on BBC News Front Page. He tells us, "All I can say is that there is nothing quieter than the sound of 10,000 people not saying a word." And we expect the Secret Service and FBI to be investigating many more street crimes of this nature. more ›