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'Today' Show Begins Super Bowl Coverage From Tampa

NBC

Al Roker of the 'Today' show gave his weather report from Ybor City on Thursday morning.

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TBO.com

Published: January 29, 2009

TAMPA - "I love Florida weather!" shouted Al Roker to more than 200 cheering spectators gathered in Centro Ybor this morning for a chance to meet him and get a few seconds of face time the "Today" show.

Roker, in town as part of NBC's Super Bowl XLIII coverage, got a taste of Ybor City during several live reports from in front of a cigar store on Seventh Avenue.

"This is so exciting to see him in person," said Miriam Ehert, of Land O'Lakes. "I have been watching the show for 20 years." Miriam and her husband Tom got up at 4:30 a.m. to get a good spot to watch.

Miriam even got Roker to pose with her for a snapshot.

During Roker's weather segments, he showed off flamenco dancers and food from the Columbia restaurant; beer from the Tampa Bay Brewing Company; and hand-rolled cigars from Stogie Castillo's Cigar Lounge.

He didn't smoke a cigar but he sampled some of the Brewing Company's root beer.
Roker, who broadcast live from the University of Tampa in September, joked that this visit was a lot like the college party atmosphere but with adults and without the redeeming value of college.

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio dropped by to present Roker with a painted City of Tampa commemorative plate. She said the city couldn't buy the kind of publicity that is coming from this kind of Super Bowl coverage.

"It's all been wonderful and Tampa has looked good on national television," she said, adding that her son, who is a student at the University of South Florida, was impressed that she had been a guest Wednesday on Fox Sports' "Best Damn Sports Show Period."

Roker donned a Tampa Bay Rays hat for his reports. He said he might keep it. He often gives away gifts that are presented from the fans. "I've got a busy schedule and I hope to get some Super Bowl tickets by Sunday," he said. Roker and Meredith Vieira will be live Friday from the NFL Experience. On
Saturday, he's reporting live from NBC-owned Universal Studios in Orlando. On Sunday, "Today" is live from Raymond James Stadium.

"Super Bowl coverage just keeps getting bigger each time," he said. "And this is the perfect city for a Super Bowl. I wish they all would be here."

Among the people trying to get on camera were Tristin Becker and Katie Kearney, of the Florida Aquarium, who brought a baby alligator and someone dressed as a shark. Representatives from the Museum of Science and Industry were in the crowd, too, along with a guy dressed as leprechaun from the James Joyce Pub.

There was a smattering of Pittsburgh Steelers fans and people such as Tampa resident Ivy Clinton who was carrying a sign saying "Hello" to her sister, Tina, in Kentucky.

Another "Today" fan Tom Hammond of St. Petersburg came dressed in his high school referee uniform to call attention to himself so he could meet Roker.

Reporter Walt Belcher can be reached at (813 259-7654 or wbelcher@tampatrib.com.

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