So there I was at Radio City Music Hall last April, part of NFL.com’s outstanding, all-encompassing coverage of the NFL draft. Halfway through the first round, the fans behind us were still loud and boisterous. The talking heads broadcasting live on site were chatting away. Team reps were at their tables on the phone with their clubs’ war rooms.

You get the idea — it was loud.

Yet through the noise, while waiting for the Lions to make the 17th overall pick, I suddenly heard a familiar sound coming over the Radio City speakers: It was the J. Geils Band doing “Detroit Breakdown.”

Awesome, I thought. Who was cool enough to come up with “Detroit Breakdown” — not exactly music for the masses, but a great tune — while Detroit was on the clock? Turns out it was the NFL’s own Sammy Choi.

Among his many tasks as the NFL’s director of events, Choi programs the music that is pumped into Radio City on draft weekend (not to mention all the video production of vignettes on the big-screen TVs, stage design and countless other minor details that few think of but add to the overall presentation.)

Choi has three or four songs banked for each team, so you know you’ll hear “Carolina on My Mind” when the Panthers are on the clock, or “Sweet Home Chicago” before the Bears make their picks.

Choi’s personal favorite: “NY Groove” for the Giants, “because that is also their touchdown song,” he said.

So here’s your chance to play DJ: Got an obscure city-oriented song for your favorite team? Let us know in the comments below, and we’ll pass them along to Choi for his consideration.

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