Wanna get the adrenaline pumping for this week's BCS National Championship Game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Alabama Crimson Tide?
Well, all you've gotta do is follow these three simple steps to achieve superfan status: (1) Shotgun six ice-cold beers and an equal number of sugar-loaded sodas, (2) paint your entire body (including underarms, crotch, and palms) in honor of either the Irish or Bama or a big bag of Florida citrus, and then (3) catch a cab to South Beach (because you are too drunk, sugar-high, and body-painted to drive) for a family-friendly evening of dance-hopping, country-popping, pep-stepping musical entertainment at the Orange Bowl Discover Fan Zone.
Sponsored by Bud Light, Dr. Pepper, and Discover, this free SoBe football bash on the sand is guaranteed to be an all-American rager, starring ripped Top 40 rapper Flo Rida and honky-tonk superstar Dierks Bentley, plus official Miami Heat DJ Irie, both BCS National Championship team bands, and a crew of college cheerleaders getting tossed all over the beach like greased-up pigskins.
Notre Dame and Alabama pep rallies. 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Whether you slathered yourself in blue and gold, red and white, or bright Sunshine State orange, get peppy this Saturday on South Beach. The Fighting Irish marching band will shake a shillelagh and pound out the "Victory March" in defiance of Bama's Million Dollar Band and its "Rammer Jammer Cheer"-ing hordes. For the record, though, New Times staffers will be screaming, "Citrus is delicious!"
DJ Irie. 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. As an NBA-certified hype man and disc jockey whose famous homies include LeBron, D-Wade, Bosh, and Burnie the Miami Heat Mascot, our buddy DJ Irie is better known as a basketball dude than a gridiron guy. But he's also done loads of charity work with former Dolphins defensive star Jason Taylor. And he's returning as Orange Bowl MC for the second straight season. Oh, did we mention Irie does a mean BCS Shuffle?
Dierks Bentley. 5 p.m. Sunday. This Arizona-born, Nashville-based shit-kicker is such a hard-core college football junkie that he wrote an entire album dedicated to touchdowns, sacks, and tailgate parties. "It's all about having a good time and having fun," Bentley told ESPN a few months ago, "especially when it comes to college football." And obviously, he called the record Country & Cold Cans. "Remember BYOB, which I love? Imagine being 17 or 18... Oops, I mean 21 or 22, sneaking... Oops, I mean bringing in a beer or a flask! I'm going to feed off the [college crowd's] energy. Those were great days. Those were the glory days."
Flo Rida. 7 p.m. Sunday. Homie is a self-described "international hustler" with a giant Jesus piece 'round his neck, four Billboard number one hits, and "fans in Okinawa." But just like Dierks Bentley, Flo Rida is also a big-time football buff. This hometown 305 dude is built like a linebacker. He's the sponsor of a Florida Youth Football League team out of Miami Gardens. And he also personally hired design firm Futuristic Woo to create new uniforms for his alma mater's team, the Miami Carol City Senior High Chiefs. Even booty-bass pioneer, civic hero, and New Times columnist Luther "Uncle Luke" Campbell praises Mr. Rida's generosity and dedication to the game. So don't be ashamed if "Whistle" is your personal fight song. Just blow it all the way to the BCS, baby.
