‘Boss’ joins Super Bowl betting fray

Super Bowl week is rapidly approaching, which means fans are focusing on what they're going to bet.

Las Vegas offers an array of options when it comes to proposition bets. But for really exotic ones, you'll have to go online.

The halftime show featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band has been highly anticipated, particularly what songs the Boss will play. BetUs.com has posted odds on not only the number of songs Springsteen will perform but the set list itself.

For instance, the favorite set list, at 5-2, includes "Glory Days," "My Lucky Day," "Badlands" and "Born to Run." Three of the songs are Springsteen staples, while "My Lucky Day" is from his new album, "Working on a Dream," which will be officially released Tuesday.

The long-shot set list (15-1) includes "The Rising," "Darkness on the Edge of Town," "Working on a Dream" and "Hungry Heart."

As for the number of songs Springsteen plays, BetUs.com puts the under/over at 31/2 with the under at 1-2 and the over 3-2.

• GOLDEN GOAL -- First-year Chicago Blackhawks season-ticket holder Cary Stolarczyk won't have to worry about paying for his seats anytime soon, after he was the improbable winner of a promotion Monday.

The Blackhawks have teamed with the Illinois Lottery to award $1 million to one lucky fan chosen at random if Chicago scores a goal at exactly the 10-minute mark of the second period. The promotion was in only its third game when the Blackhawks' Martin Havlat scored at the 10-minute mark of the second period in their 4-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild.

"Someone stopped by before the game and told me I'd win if they score at the 10-minute mark," Stolarczyk said Wednesday. "I was like, 'OK, thanks.'

"I was watching the scoreboard for other reasons. I saw the puck come out to Havlat, and the goal just opened up. I couldn't believe it."

Stolarczyk, who is in his early 30s, single and works at a bank in the Chicago suburbs, realized what had happened and went crazy.

"I think there was a lot of cursing," he said. "I'm glad my mother wasn't there."

• PUTTING CHAMP -- He didn't win a million dollars, but Andrew Hardin still is a winner -- with a new car -- after beating 39 other finalists in a putting shootout Jan. 10 at Angel Park Golf Club.

Hardin, like all the other competitors, has an OB Sports Golf Card, which gives golfers a chance to play several Las Vegas golf courses at discounted rates. The contest was part of a promotion for the discount card.

"It's a bit shocking because I've never won something like this before," Hardin said. "I got a little lucky at times, but I was able to hang on just long enough."

• AND THE REF IS HISTORY -- NFL officiating chief Mike Pereira will call it quits after the 2009 season, the league announced.

No word on whether his retirement party will be subject to penalty flags for excessive celebration.

COMPILED BY STEVE CARP LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL