Whatever happened to the Chocolate City Awards?

Four years ago, we presented a virtual bag of Hershey's Kisses to Kimberly-Williamson Butler in recognition of her efforts to bring us the most off-the-wall campaign behavior of the season. Ms. Butler announced her intention to run for mayor whilst avoiding an arrest warrant for contempt of court. Later in the campaign, her staff produced a web graphic of Butler superimposed on a background photo of Disneyland which they mistook for the French Quarter. All the 2006 nominees are here for your review.

Now we're approaching the end of another city-wide election which, while every bit as nutty as the last, has been overshadowed a bit by the improbable occurrences in the sports department. I think this is a bit of a shame. And so, in order to preserve the memory of the Crazy Season, I am opening up the nominations once again. I've got a few that come to mind, but I'll hold back a while so as not to prejudice the nominating process just yet.

Oh okay, here's one just to give you an idea of what I've got in mind. I heard this on the radio the other day and was pleased to see T-P reporters Frank Donze and Cindy Chang make note of it this morning.

CRUNK THE VOTE: The Ying Yang Twins' song "Halftime," better known by its refrain "Stand Up and Get Crunk," has become the anthem of the Super Bowl-bound Saints. It's played at the Superdome whenever the team lines up to kick off after scoring, and the whole crowd gets up to dance.

Now, perhaps not surprisingly, it's being used as a political anthem, too.

In a radio ad that ran on WBOK during Wednesday morning's debate, Henry featured the bass-heavy song while actor Wendell Pierce, his best ring-announcer's voice reverberating, proclaims that his candidate and boyhood friend "is now a front-runner for mayor."

A recent poll taken for WWL-TV showed Henry in a tight race for second place, with Landrieu far ahead of the pack.

What makes the ad really stand out, however, is the ending. As the Ying Yang Twins break into their rhythmic, foreboding chant of "Here we come to get you," Pierce calls it "a message for you, Mitch."

"Troy's coming, Mitch! Bye bye, politicians!" Pierce says as the song winds down.

There are plenty other examples out there. I'd like to see your ideas before we pare the list down to finalists.