Bruno Mars reportedly has been asked to perform at halftime of Super Bowl 50, but he could be part of something larger. ESPN's Mike Greenberg said, "The impression I got from reading the stories was that they're going to do some sort of big 50th Super Bowl spectacular, and Bruno Mars is just sort of going to be the ringleader of all of it." Mars headlined the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show, and Greenberg said he thought Mars put on "as good a Super Bowl halftime as we’ve seen in a long time." But he said the NFL bringing out "people who have done it over all the many years” would be "great." ESPN's Mike Golic said he was a "little surprised to hear a guy who had already done it before" was being asked to come back. But he added Mars "was fantastic" two years ago. Golic: "This is Super Bowl 50, this is going to be a monster halftime show and performance" ("Mike & Mike, ESPN Radio, 9/10). ESPN’s J.A. Adande supported bringing Mars back and said, "He can always bring out somebody like Busta Rhymes.” The N.Y. Daily News’ Frank Isola noted Katy Perry last year "didn’t embarrass the NFL," and that is "what the NFL is thinking here." Isola: "Bruno Mars is talented, he’s kind of the safe choice. I think it makes sense” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 9/9). ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said, “I like Bruno Mars a lot, but he was on the halftime a couple of years ago. How about Taylor Swift? Isn’t she like the hottest-selling ticket act in the business? Shouldn’t they give it to Taylor Swift?” (“PTI,” ESPN, 9/9). Swift has an endorsement deal with Coca-Cola, while the halftime show is sponsored by Pepsi (THE DAILY).
50 SHADES: NFL and Bay Area Super Bowl Host Committee officials yesterday gathered in downtown S.F. "for a kickoff event." Pro Football HOFer Steve Young and former NFLer Jim Plunkett were in attendance to "help launch two days of fan activities at Justin Herman Plaza," including a free concert today by the band Train and "several former 49ers and Raiders players signing autographs" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/10).
