W hen I think of Detroit, I think of an area of a world that has been defined by its music. I think of one of the most majestic forms of music that has ever hit the airwaves, and I yearn for the day when that same style of music reemerges itself to mainstream culture under the guise of retro music.

I think of Motown.

I think of the Temptations and other groups that used just one microphone and where each member of the group was vital to the group’s success. I think of the passion of the national black community and their constant cries for justice, love and respect.

On a seemingly unrelated tangent, when I think of the Super Bowl, I think of a glitz and pomp show that has little to do with the sport of football and more to do with how much money the game can bring in for the NFL, for ABC and for other constituencies.

The people who are watching the Super Bowl aren’t football fans any more; everyone knows that there’s more intensity in the BCS championship game than there is in the Super Bowl.

It’s the Super Bowl’s glamour (that appeals to easily-entertained teenagers and statistic-rambling college students) that makes it what it is.

With that said, there are two words that should never be spoken in the same breath as the Super Bowl, and those words are Rolling Stones.

Yes, the Rolling Stones are one of the greatest bands of all time. Yes, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” is one of the greatest rock songs of all time. And yes, Mick Jagger can move well for a man in his early sixties.

But let’s face facts. ABC and the NFL don’t want a wardrobe malfunction on their watch, and keeping with classic rock performances is the best way to avoid controversy.

You can’t blame them, either. In September 2004, the Federal Communication Commission fined the television syndication division of CBS a total of $550,000.

Jenna Jamison herself isn’t worth that much.

But in running a multi-million dollar company in a constant struggle to outdo your competitor, taking risks is a must. Getting slapped with half a million dollars worth of fines is a tough pill to swallow, but ABC can’t avoid having halfway entertaining acts because they’re afraid to be halfway risque during the entertainment portions of the Super Bowl.

The Rolling Stones, in fact, were so boring that most people didn’t realize that Jagger was swearing during his performance and ABC had to bleep it out. People didn’t realize that their stage setup was almost identical to U2’s current tour.

And I would bet my bottom dollar that most people you talk to today couldn’t name two of the three songs that they performed last night.

In Detroit, I’d expect so much more.

The Motor City is the Motown capital of the world and has been the home of many Harlem-like surges in the past century.

Even though he’s relatively old, too, Stevie Wonder would have been an awesome choice for the halftime show, not the pre-game show that no one watches.

Even having current artists (like Wonder’s pre-game accompaniments Joss Stone, India.aire and John Legend) covering famous Motown songs would have been worlds better than what the Rolling Stones put together on Sunday.

At least hearing people like Stone and Legend would be entertaining due to the fact that the demographic watching the Super Bowl would actually recognize them.

I don’t want to take anything away from the Rolling Stones.

The band has paved the way for today’s modern rock and has music that even today can’t be replicated.

What I don’t understand, however, is why ABC would pick a classic rock band that if they were to split, no one notice.

Or care.

Send comments to D.J. at [email protected]