Posted on: Friday, February 11, 2005

TV blackout deadline extended for Pro Bowl

Advertiser Staff

The NFL extended its television blackout deadline for the Pro Bowl by 24 hours, and officials were optimistic Aloha Stadium will be sold out in time to keep the game on TV on O'ahu.

"A couple of thousand" seats still haven't been sold for Sunday's game, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

All NFL games, including the Pro Bowl, must be sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff for the game to be televised within 75 miles of its stadium, but the league stretched the deadline to this afternoon.

Each of the first 25 Pro Bowls in Hawai'i was played in front of a sellout crowd. Many tickets have been returned this season by Hawai'i-based military members who are deployed overseas or unable to leave their bases, but ticket sales were proceeding briskly.

ESPN is scheduled to televise the game at 2:30 p.m.

Niu Valley student chosen to retrieve tee

Thanks to Gale Flynn, 12-year-old Shawn Cambra, of Niu Valley Middle School, will be the Pro Bowl's Tee-Kid, retrieving the kicking tee after the opening kickoff.

Flynn, whose husband is the principal at Niu Valley, was the grand prize winner of a contest and was allowed to designate a youth, 9 to 14 years old.

Kraft Foods, Times Super Markets and the NFL sponsored the contest. Adult shoppers at Times who used their Royal Cards between Jan. 17 and Feb. 4 were automatically entered.

Flynn received two Pro Bowl Club Seat tickets, an official 2005 Pro Bowl jersey, and an autographed football. One winner per Times store received five tickets to the game.

Food, fun and football players at tailgate

Food, autograph sessions and fun will be offered Sunday at the Aloha Zone Tailgate Party.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the Aloha Stadium Parking Lot near Gate 4.

Side Street Inn will provide food stations. Music includes live entertainment from Infusion.

NFL players Isa'ako Sopoaga (49ers) and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala (Jaguars) will sign autographs from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Kynan Forney (Falcons) will be available from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Sopoaga, defensive tackle, and Forney, an offensive lineman, are former University of Hawai'i players. Fuamatu-Ma'afala is a former Saint Louis and Utah running back.

NFL cheerleaders also will make an appearance.

Admission is $5. Reservations are not required, and the first 500 Aloha Zone guests will receive a Pro Bowl Aloha Zone pin.