Despite weekly American Idol performances - and a revealing Guitar Hero commercial - nothing could apparently prepare David Cook for the challenge he tackled last night.

Idol‘s Season 7 champion said singing the national anthem before yesterday’s NBA game made him far more uneasy than any of his competition numbers.

“It’s the one song you don’t want to mess up. I’m going to try not to notice Jack Nicholson sitting in the front row and think about the lyrics.”

Fortunately for Cook, his new girlfriend, Kimberly Caldwell, was also there to offer a bit of support.

So how do you think he did? Was his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner worth voting for?