After spending our first couple of days scouting out places in Waikiki to watch the Super Bowl, we opted for Round Table Pizza. There is a chain of them across the US, and this one was well equipped for sports, with a bank of TV screens. The bar served all-you-can-eat pizza, as well as drink specials. We met some guys in the bar who had heard of NFL Europe – they had taken special interest in University of Hawaii players that had been to NFLE.

As we were sat around, musing about why the half-time performers are paid so much, we got an eyeful of why! Janet and Justin’s stunt became the talk of the nation – and certainly the talk of the bar.

Tuesday was the first day of practices at the Aloha Stadium, and it was the NFC that were hitting the turf. Although they exercise and run a few plays, it soon became apparent that this was little more than a photo op and a chance for TV crews to get interviews. After a short practice (around 30 minutes), some of the players hit the sidelines to sign things for fans. Lou had bought a mini-football and managed to get Rams’ WR Torry Holt to put pen to plastic. It was great getting to see players up close and personal.

On Tuesday evening, we hit a club called Scruples in Waikiki. It’s famed for its Thursday night bikini contest, and an appearance on E!’s Wild On… show. The club was very casual and players seemed to wander in and out, trying to find a good place to hang out. One such player was Jonathan Ogden of Baltimore. The celings in the club were low, and he had to hunch down when he walked about. It’s hard to miss a guy who’s 6’9", 340lbs. Ian was more aware than anyone. Ask him why next time you see him.

On Wednesday it was back to Aloha Stadium for an AFC practice. It followed the same pattern as the previous day, and the Baltimore boys we’d seen in Scruples seemed to be holding up OK. There were more players hitting the sidelines, and Lou got a few more autographs to fill her ball – C Kevin Mawae (NYJ), RB Priest Holmes (KC) and linebackers Ray Lewis (Bal) – which made Lou very happy - and Zach Thomas (Mia). Zach had already passed Lou without singing her ball, so in true girlie fashion, she called out "Can you sign this for an English girl?". He heard her, and did just that, as well as one of Ian’s photos. Girlie Card well and truly played (see the FTP site for more on Girlie Cards). This completely narked the guy next to Lou who had a Dolphins helmet to be signed (even though Zach had said he wouldn’t sign helmets). "She got two things signed, that’s so selfish", balh, blah, blah. Even though he had a stack more autographs that Lou (including Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis). Ian & Lou felt suitably smug for the rest of the day.