AS: I am very pleased that you like it. We ought to come to Baltimore and play it live.

ND: That would be marvelous. And now that you're touring all over creation, selling out larger and larger venues, the word is out. There are scads of people who would love to see you do the new songs live.

AS: Just make sure you come see me. You haven't gotten to the west coast yet.

ND: No, where was the last place we saw each other?

AS: Was it the Point near Philadelphia?

ND: That's right, the Point.

AS: You know, I also distinctly remember being pleased with myself when I had picked the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl.

ND: I remember! In 2000. You wrote me a letter and you teased me about the Ravens and predicted they would end up on top, and you were right. So, I have to ask you — because I know the Ravens will be completely in the toilet for 2005-06 [and they were] — any predictions from my favorite Scottish pigskin prognosticator?

AS: I can't do it again. It was just one of those miracles. I actually predicted they'd go 12-4, which they did.

ND: Indeed they did. It was an amazing year.

AS: My one moment of sporting glory, where I was actually right about something.

ND: Well, who do you think will do well?

AS: We're already two games into the season, so you're going to have to trust me on this, but my pick to surprise everybody was going to be the Cincinnati Bengals. They're 2-0 now, but they haven't played any tough teams yet. But they're my underdog pick. Bear in mind that the Cincinnati Bengals have not had a winning season in the last 14. This pick is really out there. But they've already surprised a couple of teams and we will see what happens. I pick the Bengals — not to win the Super Bowl, but to do much better this year [ultimately, Cincy ended up at 11-5].

ND: That's not putting yourself out there very much, but okay. I'll take it.

AS: If you're going to nail me down to a Super Bowl pick, I'd have to go with the Indianapolis Colts. [He was close.]

ND: Not my favorite team, but you're probably right. I like the Bengals better.

AS: The last two seasons they went 8-8 and before that they were much more dismal.

ND: Yeah, but just like you like Oriole Records, I have always loved underdog sports teams.

AS: If the Bengals were a rock and roll act, they'd sign to Oriole. (More raucous laughter.) No doubt in my mind. Perhaps this is the year when Oriole will get its once-in-a-blue-moon hit. Perhaps this will be the Bengals' Red Sox year. Oh, don't get me started... if the Orioles [Baltimore's beleaguered pro baseball team] were signed to a record deal, they'd be signed to Oriole...