ITEM ONE:

DETROIT LIONS HOST “CANADA DAY”

The Detroit Lions, working in conjunction with NFL Canada, will welcome thousands of Canadian fans as part of the team’s second annual “Canada Day” celebration when the Lions host the Tennessee Titans this Sunday.  As early as 1995, the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks and Lions have designated one home game per season as “Canada Day” to recognize the thousands of fans who either cross the 49^th parallel to the U.S. on Sundays or watch the team’s games on television.  “The NFL and its fans in South Western Ontario are thrilled that the Lions are hosting another Canada Day event this season,” said DAN QUINN, director of marketing for NFL Canada.  “The Lions were a great addition last year to our roster of border clubs participating in the Canada Day program. We’re excited to be going back to Detroit.”   Several buses will depart from London and Windsor, Ontario on Sunday morning and arrive in time for a pre-game party outside the Silverdome.  Canadian performer TANIA LEPERA of LaSalle, Ontario, will perform both the American and Canadian national anthems as a tribute to Detroit’s Canadian fans.  Canadian fans will also be adorned in Lions jerseys as they cheer on the home team. The Lions' mascot, Roary, will visit the fans.  Other 2001 Canada Day events will be held on Sunday, October 28 in Seattle when the Seahawks host the Miami Dolphins, and Sunday, November 4 in Buffalo when the Bills play the Indianapolis Colts.

ITEM TWO:

NFL EUROPE LEAGUE VETERAN QBs SQUARE OFF IN CINCINNATI

A pair of NFL Europe League veteran quarterbacks will meet this Sunday in Cincinnati when JIM MILLER and the 3-1 Chicago Bears face JON KITNA and the 3-2 Bengals.  Kitna, who guided the 1997 Barcelona Dragons to an NFL Europe League championship, enters the game on the heels of a 201-yard, one touchdown passing performance in a 24-14 win over the Cleveland Browns.  In his first season in Cincinnati, Kitna has led the Bengals to a perfect 3-0 start at home and is looking to continue the momentum on Sunday.  “Jon is a fierce competitor and he’ll do whatever it takes to fire up his teammates and put people in position to make plays,” said Barcelona Dragons head coach JACK BICKNELL.  Miller has made a similarly positive impact on the Bears.  Since becoming a starter in Week 4, the former Frankfurt Galaxy quarterback has directed victories over the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons, as well as come off the bench to engineer a 17-10 win over the division-rival Minnesota Vikings.  “We have to try to build on these wins and keep things going in the right direction,” Miller said.  “I know we have the talent to do that.”  NFL Europe League veteran quarterbacks have a 15-6 record as NFL starters this season.