What do you get when you put ESPN and Metallica together? Judging by a new "This Is SportsCenter" commercial, the answer is pitch-perfect hilarity.
The 30-second ad -- which will reportedly air Monday night during the Home Run Derby -- begins with "SportsCenter" anchor Jay Harris, with a perfectly deadpan expression, explaining how the heavy metal rockers don't have a lot to do around ESPN headquarters since New York Yankees' relief pitcher Mariano Rivera retired last year.
For more than a decade, Rivera used Metallica's "Enter Sandman" as his entrance song; and it became such a part of his celebrity that Metallica themselves performed the classic anthem during a farewell tribute for the baseball star.
In the new ad, the Metallica lads are seen hanging around the ESPN office, looking for odd jobs and other athletes in need of entrance music. Luck, however, isn't on their side.
"Sometimes it can be quite freeing to put yourself at the mercy of others," drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone about making the funny spot. "ESPN's commercials have a tendency to be hilarious. We were like, 'That sounds like a good time.' The whole thing had an overriding impulsivity to it."
The ad, of course, is a total work of fiction so no need to go feeling sorry for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. As AgencySpy points out, Metallica still provides entrance music for several baseball players including Tampa Bay Rays reliever Grant Balfour and Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Watch Metallica's "This Is SportsCenter" ad in the video above.
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