DaytonDailyNews.com

Things I'm a sucker for: my hot guy, my nephews, red wine, Cap'n Crunch cereal, "American Idol," college basketball, country music ...

And commercials.

It's true. Especially ones with animals or a catchy tune.

I dig the Bud Clydesdale/dalmation "Rocky"-themed one. And the Jeep Liberty commercial with the singing squirrel and bird-eating wolf? Love it!

But my all-time faves are the "Real Men of Genius" radio ads from Anheuser-Busch. They used to be called "Real American Heroes" when they began in 1999, but that changed after 9/11. A-B felt they couldn't morally continue to use the term "hero" in that context after so many others performed real acts of heroism that had nothing to do with brew.

The ads are read by some sarcastically sincere dude named Pete Stacker "saluting" "Mr. Bowling Shoe Giver Outer" and "Mr. Stinky Breath Breather-Outer" with smaltzy '80s-type ballad music in the background, complete with a rock singer echoing his sentiments. (It's "Eye of the Tiger" Survivor lead singer David Bickler!)

At long last, country music got its own "genius" in Dierks Bentley, "Mr. Sad Country Song Songwriter!"

"Getting a 'real men of genius' spot is pretty much the pinnacle for a dude that likes to drink beer, and I've had to nurse a lot of hangovers over the years to reach this status," says Bentley. "It is pretty funny to be on the same list as 'Mr. Restroom Toilet Paper Refiller' and 'Mr. Push Up Bra Inventor,' not to mention 'Mr. Tiny Thong Bikini Wearer' and 'Mr. Bass Plaque Maker.' "

The ad, which will debut later this month, salutes the 32-year-old for his "bravery" in calling country as he sees it; i.e., "What Was I Thinking?" and "Got a Lot of Leaving Left to Do." Check it out at www.thegreenroompr

.com/dierksbentley.

Bentley's "Throttle Wide Open" tour is sponsored by Bud Light, only the third country artist in history to be sponsored by the adult beverage giant, following in the footsteps of superstars George Strait and Tim McGraw. But neither King George nor Prince Tim have been honored as "Real Men of Genius!"

Now, where's my bottle opener?

Gone Country appears every other Sunday. Contact Nancy Wilson, a morning radio personality at K99.1-FM (WHKO), by e-mail through the Web site at http://k99online.com.

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