Colts' Manning warbles along with any band on 'Rocky Top'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Saying malicious words about the country anthem "Rocky Top" is one way for the Bears to get under the skin of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning is a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. When Manning is in Nashville, he has been known to sit in with bands and sing "Rocky Top," a 1967 hit for the Osborne Brothers.

"Rocky Top" is the official state song of Tennessee, and it's huge on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Can't they do any better than that?

Manning, 30, sings Boudleaux and Felice Bryant lyrics like this:

Half bear, other half cat.

Wild as a mink, but sweet as soda pop

See? She is "half bear," as in Chicago. Manning is open game.

"If I had a record label, I wouldn't exactly give him a deal," laughed Jason Sheer, owner of the popular Tin Roof music club just off of Music Row. Manning has sat in at the Tin Roof several times. He's also appeared with country singers on Nashville's legendary Lower Broadway. "He sounds more like the new guys, and from what I hear and see he is pals with [country star] Kenny Chesney," said Sheer, 35. "Maybe Kenny can give him some pointers."

The Tin Roof is a colorful honky-tonk loaded with old neon gas-station signage and concert posters. Country artists Big & Rich and Trent Tomlinson were regular acts there before getting record deals.

"People are used to seeing stars here," Sheer said. "We get a lot of Titans [NFL], Predators [NHL]. We've had Russell Crowe, and Jon Bon Jovi was just in a few weeks ago singing. But it doesn't matter how big a star it is -- in Tennessee, Peyton Manning is it. So when he comes in, people go nuts. And he's a great guy about it, he's right in the crowd having fun. He becomes part of the show and does 'Rocky Top' with our house band Henry and the Seahawks."

The first Tin Roof was in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, and Manning sang "Rocky Top" there, says Sheer. And on the Web site "Your Peyton Encounters," a fan recalls visiting the Slippery Noodle in downtown Indianapolis. She writes, "Later on in the evening I heard this awful singing ['Rocky Top'] and look up and it is Peyton Manning singing with this guy."

And the Slippery Noodle is a blues bar.

Manning isn't the first professional athlete to fall in love with "Rocky Top." Cubs relief pitcher Paul Assenmacher also sang along, especially when visiting the Lodge on Division Street. He pitched for the '84 Cubs. Look what happened to them.

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