Let's See If Jim Nantz Can Go 2-for-2

In an effort to prove just how much he loves the I-Man, Jim Nantz once again accepted the challenge to insert an Imus-specific statement into the broadcast of an NFL playoff game on CBS.

Back in early 2008, Nantz proudly worked the obscure phrase "just one more cow" into an otherwise dignified, professional broadcast. This time around, the words Imus longed to hear were somewhat more generic.

"It's two words," he told Nantz, who was filled with suspense. "I want you to say 'Imus' and 'fox.'"

Nantz asked if he could say, "I must" in place of "Imus," to which Imus replied, "Why would it be tough to mention my name during your stupid football telecast?" Relenting, he said that "I must" would suffice, but was not thrilled at Nantz's gutlessness.

Along with Phil Simms, Nantz will call the Jets-Colts game in Indianapolis on Sunday, despite complaints from a sportswriter in Florida that Nantz is incapable of being objective after appearing in a Sony commercial with Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

"You just worry about what Lupica thinks," Imus instructed his guest, who also worries about what the I-Man thinks, though probably not worried enough: one of Nantz's five favorite songs is a ditty by the Jonas Brothers called, "Hold On."

To make matters worse, Nantz attended four Jonas Brothers concerts last year (albeit with his daughter), and called the group, "the biggest thing since The Beatles."

"Am I supposed to just run down a list of people that is going to impress you?" asked Nantz, who also included "Annie's Song," by John Denver on his list.

In case anyone was wondering, Nantz and Denver were pretty good friends, and even played golf together a few times before Denver was sadly killed in a plane crash in California in 1997.

"I've actually been to the spot right off the coast there where there's a monument commemorating John Denver's career," Nantz told Imus, who was in a state of disbelief.

"Can you talk about anything without inserting yourself in it?" asked the most self-obsessed man in the world, who loves listening to Nantz and Simms on Sundays. For the record, Imus also enjoys the Fox Sports duo, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.

"I've got to go out in the world after that?" Nantz asked, obviously irritated. "Are they going to say something on the air about the I-Man on Sunday? No, I am."

-Julie Kanfer