The Pro Bowl is like that ESPN show "The Life." As the promo for the program goes, "It's about players. ... Workin', playin'."
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By Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comOf course, the NFL's all-star game -- and the week that leads up to it -- features more play than work, and even the work is actually play itself. But today at Aloha Stadium, that play gets serious.
The NFL's best shelve the golf clubs and the dancing shoes and the snorkel gear and the Sharpies (we assume, although Terrell Owens is in the mix) for a few hours this afternoon. They play for pride today at sold-out Aloha Stadium -- and money: $30,000 for each winner, $15,000 for players on the losing team.
Dan Fouts knows all about it. He is the ABC color commentator today, but the Hall of Famer was in six Pro Bowls. And he took them seriously.
"The thing is, the guy lined up opposite of you, you don't know what his mindset is," the former San Diego Chargers quarterback said. "He might think it's a real game. So you better be thinking it's a real game."
Fouts certainly played like it was real. He holds most Pro Bowl passing records and was named most valuable player of the 1983 game. "Yeah, my name's up there," Fouts said, pointing to the MVP banners at Aloha Stadium.
While Pro Bowl practices are short and loose, by yesterday morning's final walk-throughs there was a little less joking around, a little more attention to the schemes.
"About this time (a day before the game) you start to get a little nervous, a little anxious," Fouts said. "You start to be concerned about how you're going to play. You don't want to embarrass yourself, you want to play well. It's starting to weigh on their minds a little bit."
Professional pride is a big motivating factor for the players here. Nobody wants to look bad among the elite.
"You want to perform well, no matter how many times you've been here," said New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, here for his fifth Pro Bowl. "It never gets old. I've yet to see anyone who doesn't enjoy it. It's always important to win, regardless of what happened the year before. We'll do our best to win. That's why everybody's here."
But not everybody is here. A dozen players have pulled out claiming injury, some more legit than others.
The good thing is that a spot opens up for a player who really wants to be at the game.
"I'm looking forward to it. I haven't played football in a month, so I'm ready to get out there and run around," said Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver, an injury replacement player in his first Pro Bowl.
Tennessee defensive end Kevin Carter is here as the coach's choice player of Titans head man Jeff Fisher. And there's no place he would rather be -- especially considering he is the only representative of the AFC runners-up, other than the coaching staff.
"You can look at it one of two ways. It's the last game of this year or the first game of next year. Either way, it's exciting," Carter said. "I'm glad to be here and honored to be here. I hope to show that appreciation through my performance tomorrow. I take the pressure of being the only Titan here with great pride. I'm proud to be representing the Titans and want to do it the right way."
Pro Bowl week might be the most fan-friendly sports event in the world, especially for youngsters. There are clinics, autograph sessions and other opportunities to meet superstars most only get to see on TV, and the players are generally relaxed and accommodating.
Of course, there's a grump or two. Dealing with hordes of media and autograph seekers at the end of a long season isn't always a blast, even in paradise.
Pro Bowl player guide.
There will be one less thing to complain about next year, though. The players are getting the carpet of their choice. A contract was finally signed earlier this week to install Fieldturf at Aloha Stadium, which almost ensures an extension of the 24-year arrangement between the NFL and the State of Hawaii.
The new surface costs the state $800,000, but is expected to decrease injuries in college and high school games.
Some say that's a big price to pay to uproot an existing surface that cost $2.4 million and has five years left on its warranty.
But Pro Bowl supporters say the game stimulates Hawaii's economy, drawing thousands of visitors willing to spend money each year.
The NFL also donated $100,000 to Hawaii nonprofit organizations and 1,000 children's books to the state library system last week, and NFL senior vice president Jim Steeg announced the league will hold its annual meetings on Maui in 2005.
University of Hawaii assistant coach Rich Miano had an 11-year NFL career. He might be a bit biased, but he thinks the Pro Bowl is a boon for the state, especially its youth.
"To me it's like the Super Bowl of Hawaii. sometimes the game is great, sometimes it's not," Miano said. "But it's really about the events that lead up to the game that week, especially all the stuff they have for the kids.
"Their heroes are here."
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