I gotta admit: I never listened much to the Howard Stern show. Although I did relish the way he’d prick the most inflated of celebrity egos [and particularly dug how he’d send Stuttering John to movie premieres to ask the stars, “Now, who are you?” — something that truly incensed the likes of Downtown Julie Brown and other C-listers].

But when I heard that David Lee Roth was taking over Stern’s slot — at least on the east coast; Adam Carolla’s got the west — I was flabbergasted. Huh? The guy who got kicked out of/asked out of/up and left Van Halen and was last seen doing a cameo in The Sopranos and working as a NYC EMT? WTF?

It’s one of those things that makes no sense whatsoever, yet makes all the sense in the world. And for reasons I can’t quite put into words, I’ve been listening religiously since his debut earlier this week [in Boston, it’s on WBCN from 6-10am; you can also listen online at DLR’s website]. His stories have been maddeningly entertaining, his goofy hipster persona oddly appealing, and his notorious ego somewhat restrained, which isn’t a bad thing. While I’m not sure how the guy’s gonna keep up his shtick beyond, oh, three months, I’ve found Diamond Dave’s new gig pretty entertaining thus far.

Meanwhile, back in the world of Red Sox baseball…

Dudes! Check it! According to ESPN and today’s Herald, now Manny wants to stay in Boston!

“There will be no trade, I’m staying in Boston, where I’m familiar with the system and where I have a lot of friends, especially David Ortiz. I’m going to take things easy and focus on my career. I know the American League system. That’s one reason I don’t want to go to the National League. I also want to play for a contender, and I think with Boston I’m assured of that.”

All of which, of course, means he’ll be shipped to Baltimore any day now.

Oh well. At least Papi’s truly jazzed about sticking around.

*Anyone have any idea about the line that kicks off the second verse of “Everybody Wants Some!”? Sounds like “Blah, blah, blah, lookin’ for moopee,” which can’t possibly be correct. Or can it?