Aren't you from Jersey? I thought it was hard-coded into you guys to love the Boss...
Kidding aside, I mostly agree with you. I think he's way overrated, even if I've liked a song or two of his. I just don't get all the hype. Although I've heard he does put on a helluva live show, which can make even a fairly mediocre artist seem great.
Pavlik seemed pretty exciting for a while there, but he also seems to not be worth as much hype as he got. I think people were really excited to see a white boxer doing so well, and from the various HBO/ESPN fluff pieces I've seen on the dude, they portray Youngstown exactly as you described it. Kinda sad when a pretty-good-but-not-THAT-amazing boxer is the only thing that keeps a whole town full of people going.