ITEM ONE:

BOUMAN LATEST NFL EUROPE LEAGUE SUCCESS STORY

When former Barcelona Dragons quarterback TODD BOUMAN stepped in for an injured DAUNTE CULPEPPER and led the Minnesota Vikings to a 42-24 win over the Tennessee Titans last week, he became the latest NFL Europe League success story.  Bouman, who quarterbacked the 1999 Barcelona Dragons to a berth in the World Bowl, earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in his first NFL start, completing 21 of 31 attempts for 348 yards and four touchdowns.  “BRAD JOHNSON (London, 1995) told me to just be patient, that I would never know when my opportunity would come,” Bouman said.  “I’m glad that when it did come, I took advantage of it.”  Bouman, who might make his second start this Sunday against the Detroit Lions, is one of nine Europe League veteran quarterbacks to start in the NFL this season.  The combined record of the nine is an impressive 39-23.  “There’s no substitute for playing,” said another famous NFL Europe alum, KURT WARNER (Amsterdam, 1998).  “I was fortunate to play over in Europe and have a lot of football behind me when I made my first start.  It was the same way with Todd.  I’m sure his experience and success in Europe was a big factor in why he was successful last week.” 

ITEM TWO:

SIX JAPANESE PLAYERSTOCOMPETEFOR SPOT IN NFLEUROPELEAGUE

Three new faces and three veterans will represent Japan at NFL Europe League training camp in Tampa, Florida next February, aiming to secure a roster spot for the 2002 NFL Europe League season.   League Director of Player Personnel RAY WILLSEY and Director of Game Development TONY ALLEN have selected six Japanese nationals from tryouts in Yokohama, Japan to join other national players in competing for eight spots on each of the six Europe League clubs.  Returning for a sixth season will be Amsterdam Admirals linebacker MASAFUMI KAWAGUCHI, Rhein Fire wide receiver AKAHITO AMAYA and Scottish Claymores linebacker SHINGO HIRUMA.  Joining them in Tampa on February 25 will be wide receivers SUMITAKA ANDO and TAKAO MIZUGUCHI and running back SHINSUKE KASHINO.  “Every year, the standard of Japanese athletes improves at the tryouts and again we have some exciting prospects going into training camp,” said Allen.  Ando, who plays his Japanese league football for Recruit Club Seagulls, is a 24-year-old wideout, who like fellow receiver Mizaguchi of the Fujitsu Frontiers, will look to emulate Amaya.  Running back Kashino, 26, is a product of Japan’s Ritsumeikan University and plays for the Matsushita Impulse. 

ITEM THREE:

WORLD-RENOWNED TALENT TO PERFORM AT SUPER BOWL

Internationally-acclaimed rock band U2 will perform during the E*TRADE SUPER BOWL XXXVI HALFTIME SHOW at the Louisiana Superdome.  U2’s multi-platinum CD ALL THAT YOU CAN’T LEAVE BEHIND debuted at #1 in 32 countries and has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.  MARIAH CAREY, the top-selling female pop artist of the 1990s, will sing the national anthem.