ITEM ONE:

FANS READY FOR SEASON?  PRESEASON TV RATINGS SAY…YES!

The games don’t count in the standings, but count up their numbers and it adds up to only one thing – across America, sports fans can’t wait for NFL Kickoff 2002.  Across America, “Football Is King, Now More Than Ever,” as USA Today wrote in a front-page feature story (8/30).  The proof includes preseason ratings.  For the most recent TV week measured (August 19-25), the preseason game telecasts of 16 NFL teams ranked No. 1 of all programming in that team’s market.  In five markets, nearly 50 percent of sets tuned in at the time the games were televised (the “share”) were watching the home team (Pittsburgh, 49; Denver, 48; Detroit, 42; New Orleans, 41; and Tampa, 41).  The telecasts of another six teams ranked in the top 10 programs for the week locally.  For NFL fans, Kickoff 2002 (September 5, 8-9) can’t come soon enough.     

ITEM TWO:

FORD FIELD FUELS DOWNTOWN DETROIT DEVELOPMENT

It’s one piece – but city officials think it may be the major piece – in the rebuilding and resurgence of downtown Detroit.  It’s FORD FIELD, the Detroit Lions’ new 69,000-seat stadium that opened last week and is the centerpiece of a $500 million development project aimed at revitalizing downtown Detroit.  Officials of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau say that the stadium, with its capabilities as a multiuse facility, will enable Detroit to promote itself as a “destination” city.  “It’s a godsend,” says the bureau’s CEO LARRY ALEXANDER.  “Having this facility opening up in the heart of downtown really opens the door for us.  It allows us to go after other large-scale events that previously we were simply not able to bring to the city.”  For instance, on October 12, the Rolling Stones will stage Ford Field’s first big music show, with more concerts, sporting and charity events, and business functions planned.                

ITEM THREE:

BON JOVI IN TIMES SQUARE – ONE MORE STAR WHO LOVES NFL

He will be one of the headliners when the NFL and New York City present “NFL Kickoff Live From Times Square” next Thursday (9/5) to kick off the NFL season.  JON BON JOVI, a longtime New York Giants fan, says only one thing could top his performing at the football and music festival in Times Square and at halftime of that night’s 49ers-Giants game.  “This is one of the greatest things I could imagine,” says Bon Jovi, “short of actually getting to be quarterback for the Giants.”  He is only one of numerous personalities who on Sunday do what the rest of the nation does – pull up an easy chair, sit back and enjoy NFL football.  Some of the famous who are fans, and their favorite teams: DENNIS FRANZ (Bears), FAITH HILL (Titans),  SPIKE LEE (Buccaneers), GWYNETH PALTROW (Steelers), REGIS PHILBIN (Chiefs), BRAD PITT (Steelers), WILL SMITH (Eagles), and KRISTI YAMAGUCHI (49ers).