Q+A John Mellencamp
SI: You have a workout area on your property in Bloomington, Ind., called "the sports barn," which houses a basketball half-court. Anybody famous ever play there?
Mellencamp: Oh, yeah. I once outshot Reggie Miller there. We had a best-of-10 free throw shooting contest, and I beat him. I don't remember the score, but I remember he wasn't happy.
SI: Reggie says one of his favorite songs is Jack & Diane. We know Reggie can talk, but can he sing?
Mellencamp: I had him sing on stage with me one night. He sounded pretty good. Kind of like Froggy from the Little Rascals.
SI: The John Mellencamp Pavilion is a training facility for nearly every varsity sport at Indiana. Since you donated a lot of the money for it, can you use it whenever you want?
Mellencamp: Yes. I still do periodically. My friends and I play flag football on Sundays.
SI: What's your proudest athletic achievement?
Mellencamp: This is really Al Bundy time now. When I was a freshman running back in high school, I scored five touchdowns in one game for my freshman team.
SI: Your sons, Hud and Speck, play peewee football. How bad a sideline dad are you?
Mellencamp: I think I'm pretty good. I don't scream at the kids. And I try not to criticize them when the game is over, even if they get beat or play lousy.
SI: Janet Jackson raised the bar for memorable halftime performances. Anything special planned when you perform at the Thanksgiving Day game between the Lions and Colts?
Mellencamp: I think that's probably exactly why they asked me. Because I won't be doing anything like that. [Laughs.] --Richard Deitsch
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RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE.COM (MELLENCAMP)
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MICHAEL HICKEY/WIREIMAGE.COM (MELLENCAMP WITH GUITAR)