The Police were in town last night. Gale and I took in the show at Quicken Loans Arena. Full Disclosure: When it comes to The Police, I am a total fanboy.

The Venue: For this show, The Q was sold out. This was their first appearance in town in what, 23 years or so? Had to go the eBay route for tickets, because the lowers were just too rich for my blood at $200 a pop.

Things I Noticed: Gordon Sumner is still way too good-looking for his age. It was Stewart Copeland's 55th birthday and he had a helluva good time. Front-row folks had some birthday balloons and signs for him. The crew also had birthday balloons for a time on stage for him. I can't imagine anyone having more fun playing in a band than him. Andy Summers had an "Oh My God, They Killed Kenny" script on his guitar strap. With associated drawings of a live and dead Kenny McCormick. But on the video screens, he looked like his hands could use a visit from Madge and her Palmolive. Yikes.

The Tickets: We were in the first row of Section 220 in the uppers. Lots of room, with empty seats on either side. This was located more behind the stage than at a corner of it, with a video screen helping out. The beauty of this location was when the inevitable bathroom break song, "Wrapped Around Your Finger", started, you could literally zip back out and in before it was over. Of course, it allowed me to sing "Wrapped Around My Fingers", as well.

The Sound: Hey, it's the Q, right? I heard the lyrics and music OK, but some of Sting's stage banter got lost in the mix.

The Stage: The setup consisted of an oval stage with a riser about five stairs high running across the back. Video screens up front, on the sides, and in in the back. The riser wasn't used much. Sting took a stroll back there on "Walking on the Moon". And once in a while, some acknowledgement to the back, but not much. Sting was positioned on the left, Summers on the right, with Copeland's drums in the center and accompanying percussion behind his kit. Once more, I had trouble seeing Copeland's head, because of the associated lighting, speakers, etc. Another favorite drummer blocked!

The Music: The initial reviews for this tour scared me. The reworking of some tunes, I thought, was a major concern. At some early shows, they were so far from playing together, it was like "three guys, three cabs" and they were nowhere near being a cohesive band. But lately, they seemed to be hitting some sort of musical stride. This show is not all about Sting. Copeland attacks his drums with the same ferocity he had in the old days. As I listened to Andy Summers play last night, man, he does not get enough credit for his craft.

Setlist:

Message in a Bottle
Synchronicity II
Walking On The Moon
Voices Inside My Head
When The World Is Running Down
Don't Stand So Close To Me
Driven To Tears
Truth Hits Everybody
Bed's Too Big Without You
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
De Do Do Do De Da Da Da
Invisible Sun
Walking In Your Footsteps
Can't Stand Losing You
Roxanne

Encore I:
King Of Pain
So Lonely

Encore II:
Every Breath You Take

Encore III:
Next To You

Hard to be disappointed, even if you were a diehard fan, with last night's show. Most, if not all, of the hits were sung. I think "Spirits in the Material World" was the only omission, but I believe this was dropped early in the tour.

Meal of Links

Remember those cable channels you used to watch. Here is why they suck. I understand tastes change, time is a factor and you have more choices, but some of these channels are really bad. Check the comments section, as well.

"The Fifth Element" is really good. Watch it next time you see it in the guide.

This year's version of the "Next Food Network Star" was a mess. On a brighter note for the network, Ruhlman will judge the next Iron Chef, with Michael Symon getting a shot.

Exercise Yard

I see nothing wrong with an all-inclusive ticket to the ballpark that includes food AND beer. Stay classy, Atlanta, and "Hooray, Beer!"

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12 Down: Slugger who rivaled McGwire (4 letters) Answer: Sosa

Let me tell you a story about trying to cop some Police tickets. You see, I'm a Best Buy Reward Zone member (a "Reward Zoner" in their lingo) and kinda remembered that when The Police were announced for a July 16 concert, sponsored by the aforementioned Best Buy. This allowed me the right, with no guarantees, to purchase tickets on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. by obtaining a code on Tuesday, which I did. My estimate is that they may have secured 100 tickets, 150 tops. The problem was there was a limit of two, and not one time when I tried for two was I successful. Oh, when I wanted just one, I got in with no trouble. That is, for about 20 minutes. Then it appeared there were no more to be had. My point is, tell me how many you have set aside and if you sell those out quickly, I won't mind. But don't trumpet that this is some great thing you're doing when you have shit available.

Meal of Links

While you took a white orchid and turned it blue, The White Stripes will have an album, "Icky Thump", out this year. Meg was quoted as saying the album was "finished", "musical in nature" and "good".

Stephen Hawking will take a zero-gravity flight. I know you want to, but don't laugh.

I finally saw "The Departed" on the big screen this evening. At the Parma Theatre. Jeezy creezy, I kept my coat on, because I didn't want to stick to anything. Love the musty smell, too. The movie was very good. Maybe it's the time lapse or massive publicity, but I honestly expected more. Not a great movie and probably not Scorsese's best, but at least he got one Oscar. As I said, it was very good, great cast and all. Not as violent as I thought it would be, the rebreaking of Leo's hand was the worst for me. Hey, you become immune to the head shots after a while.

Exercise Yard

The Tribe had their first spring training game today. Of course, we were tuned into 1100 to listen. It took Tom Hamilton only 37 minutes to bash the White Sox. Now, keep in mind I'm a fan. I think I heard the following on today's broadcast, but I'm not sure:

Tom Hamilton: "Mark Shapiro? We're so far up your ass, I can hear you, but I can't see you. Are you in the booth?"
Mark Shapiro: "I'm right here, Tom."
Hammy: "I've been impressed with our workouts so far and have, in fact, kept late October open for this year. I mean the national media doesn't think much of us, especially Peter Gammons, who I don't read and am totally misinformed about. I hate the White Sox, but I like our position, lying in the weeds. How does it look to you?"
Shapiro: "We felt with our rotation, the best in the business, that we needed to shore up the bullpen. So, I got a couple of geezers cheap."
Hammy: "I hate the White Sox. How's our ace doing?'
Shapiro: "Who's that, Captain Cheeseburger?"
Hammy: "Wow...I hate the White Sox. Hahahahahahahahaha!"
Shapiro: "C.C.'s a size 56, but he's not fat and we look for 12 wins from him this year. Don't forget he always faces the opponent's #1 starter, so we don't expect too much from him. Neither should you."
Hammy: "Boy, that Casey Blake's a fine player. I hate the White Sox."
Shapiro: "Many joke that Casey is a jack of all trades and a master of none. But he is."
Hammy: "I hate the White Sox. Hafner, Sizemore, Martinez...Wow, are they good."
Shapiro: "Sure they are, but I think the fans should pay their hard-earned money to see our other stars, such as J-Mike, David Dellucci, and Trot Nixon. They may be the future of our ballclub after we're gutted by free agency, and we need to cultivate an attachment to older players. BTW, we're scheduled to sign Manny in 2014. That's when he'll be Old Manny just being Old Manny, if you will."
Hammy: "Hahahahahahahahaha! Wow, I hate the White Sox."
Shapiro: "Jhonny Peralta's not fat and can see this year. It's amazing what you can do when you can see."
Hammy: "Trust me, Mark, it's dark right now, I hate the White Sox, but I can still speak in an unbiased fashion when it comes to the Tribe. What do you think of our inexperience at the infield corners. Have I mentioned I hate the White Sox?"
Shapiro: "Marte and Garko might be shaky, but we have Casey Blake available to back up at both positions. At least he tells me that, when I drive him to the ballpark every day."
Hammy: "I've noticed that new wrinkle this year."
Shapiro: "Casey at first?"
Hammy: "No, you chauffeuring Casey."
Shapiro: "Hey, anything to keep those pictures private, you know."
Hammy: "Wow. Hahahahahahahahaha! I hate the White Sox."
Shapiro: "Hey, I gotta go. I hear David Wells is available. He's old AND fat."
Hammy: "I hate the White Sox. Thanks to Mark Shapiro for swallowing my head anally. Where's Bobby D.? I can't stand the glare and we gotta sell some tickets."

Ah, but it's spring.

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34 Across: Country singer Lovett (4 letters) Answer: Lyle