A discussion with a colleague the other day introduced to her my general disdain for Brooks & Dunn. Long story short, she referred to their work as "amazing," and I literally cringed.

However, I think I inadvertently gave the impression that I hated country music. Nothing is further from the truth, but I can only take it in doses.

Heck, I actually do like a couple of Brooks & Dunn tunes, including "Building Bridges," off their 2005 CD "Hillbilly Deluxe," but it's not exactly country. It's more folk-soul. Nevertheless, our conversation got me back on a country kick.

It'll last only for a few days, but to give you an idea of what I do like in the genre, I should explain what I hate about country music:

1. If your tune refers to Jesus, I'll hate it. Case in point: Brooks & Dunn's "Believe."

2. If your country song refers to your kids, I will hate it, hate it, hate it.

3. If your country song refers to a made-up word, such as Trace Adkins' "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," I will despise it.

Basically, any tune that makes me feel as if the actual smarts are being sucked from my head will cause me to cringe, and -- therefore -- I will hate it. On the other hand, country music has always employed THE best songwriters.

When they're on, they're on, and -- frankly -- the genre can hardly be beaten.

Take Charlie Robison's "New Year's Day:"

Well, I woke up early Sunday morning

Had myself a piece of toast

Had $50 in my pocket

Gonna chase myself a ghost

Went down Camino Espinoza

Gonna get me a divorce

I'm gonna split with all my money

See that girl who loves a horse

That is dark and humorous.

I've always loved Jerry Jeff Walker and even the politically-WAY-incorrect David Allen Coe. There is more soul in their music that 50 percent of R&B and 90 percent of today's rock music.

So, I can't say I hate country music. I like it in general, but what I appreciate is great, great songwriting, and that can take the flavor of all sorts of styles.

Quick, quick notes:

Emmitt Smith will win "Dancing With The Stars," Season III, in a cakewalk. He is enormously popular nationally, but I think this season has been a giant dud. A bore with nobody to root for, and I suspect that -- honestly -- watching season after season of B-list celebs dancing will get really old, really fast.

Muskogee's Roughers come to Norman next week to play the Norman North Timberwolves at Harve Collins Stadium, which is one block from my house. You can bet I will be there Saturday night, rooting on my Muskogee peeps. Go Roughers!

Henryetta's Knights are headed to Tulsa for a Saturday night date with Cascia Hall, in what I think is a perfect matchup for the Okmulgee County underdogs (10-1). Given the bracket they're in, I think li'l ol' Henryetta could go as far as the semifinals, and I'm being dead serious.

I will be dead truthful though -- there's no way the Knights beat Vian (semis) or Chandler/Millwood (finals). In fact, I think it's Vian-Millwood for the state title in 2A. In 6A, although I love my Roughers, I gotta think Jenks and Mustang are headed for a title date. Reason I pick Mustang over Westmoore is heart. The Broncos are all about it, and Westmoore has struggled at some very inopportune times.