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TAMPA'S READY TO ROCK

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2009

If you want to get an early start on your Super Bowl fix, check out NBC, Channel 8, beginning at 9 a.m. today as the "Today" show commandeers the pirate ship at Raymond James Stadium. Pregame coverage begins at noon, with coverage of the game at 6 p.m. Kickoff is about a half-hour later.

Sounds Of A Legend And A Boss

Pregame musical acts include Journey, John Legend and Faith Hill. Jennifer Hudson will sing the national anthem. Halftime entertainment will be provided by The Boss - also known as Bruce Springsteen - and the E Street Band during a 12-minute extravaganza assisted by about 2,000 extras. Don't look for any wardrobe malfunctions here.

A 60-Shot Dose Of Pop Culture

Don't leave your seat for too long or you might miss some of the nearly 60 commercials, including the first one ever in 3-D. The price tag for 30 seconds this year is $3 million. For the first time in a decade, you won't see a commercial from a U.S. automaker.

A Vast Audience

Last year, a record 97 million people tuned in to watch the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots. The 1990 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos was the least watched, with only 74 million viewers. This year, 98 million to 100 million pairs of eyeballs are expected. The game will be seen in 232 countries.

A Fistful Of Calories

You can't have the big game without big amounts of food. The top snack is the ever-popular potato chip. Hungry Americans dished out $146.9 million for chips during last year's Super Bowl - way more than the paltry $31.6 million spent on cheese puffs or the $5.5 million plunked down for pork rinds. About a billion chicken wings are downed during Super Bowl weekend.

A Dash Of Sunshine

The weather for the game should be picture-perfect. Today will start with lows in the 30s, but temperatures will warm into the middle and upper 60s.

Rob Shaw

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