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Referring to it as “the scariest thing I have ever done,” David Cook sang the national anthem before Game 3 of the NBA Finals next season.

“The nerves are way worse [than on American Idol],” Cook told reporters moments before his Tuesday night rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. “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.”

Cook, of course, succeeded with that goal, performing a rendition of our nation’s song better than the Celtics performed on defense in the game’s final minute. (Seriously, who leaves Ray Allen one-on-one to guard Kobe Bryant?!?)

Despite his trepidation, the American Idol champion – who was joined in the stands by girlfriend Kimberly Caldwell – was able to make a joke prior to the contest:

“No matter what I do, I don’t have Simon Cowell telling me how dreadful it was.”