NFL: Violence followed by committee meetings

Miami turning up the hoopla: This is no week for a funeral, Fidel
Dave Perkins

Fidel Castro had better not go and die this week. That would just be the height of selfishness because this is Super Bowl Week and there's too much going on without dropping a great big pep rally celebrating the Cuban leader's expiration into the middle of a jammed-full schedule.
Officially, the city of Miami, dominated by the culture and presence of its vast Cuban-American population, has a secret committee to plan an "Event at the Orange Bowl."
The city's website says it will follow "in case expected events occur in Cuba.'' With poor old Fidel trying to die, you know what they're talking about.
The city says it still is deciding on the official wording for the officially licenced T-shirts and which musicians and speakers will take part.
It promises a hip-shaking good time and there you are: Some municipalities use tax dollars to subsidize billion-dollar professional sports organizations and some spend them to encourage dancing for the demise of dictators.
Anyway, Fidel was kind enough to not disrupt yesterday's official activities.
There was, for instance, VISA USA's "Financial Football," in which "NFL players help South Florida high school students take control of their financial futures" by introducing them to a computer game to teach sound money-management skills.
Wait a minute. Pro athletes are going to do this? Without their agents around? These guys know less about money management than a 15-year-old crack dealer.
These kids should run for their lives.
Next came the Host Committee jabbering about the alleged $400 million (U.S.) in economic activity a Super Bowl brings, then the NFL brought in a few Chicago Bears for the usual bumpf and guess what? The Bears don't get any respect.
That was plenty for a Monday, particularly with both Flagler and Hollywood dog tracks open.
Today is the annual "media day" at the stadium. It's ridiculous and it'd be fine to ditch it for a Castro farewell, but timing is everything, right?
Hundreds of reporters of varying degrees of levity descend on the Bears and Colts and ask them questions. Some are serious, but the hour for each team is dominated by clowns wearing costumes who ask things – as a guy did a few years ago to one of the Patriots' lineman – such as, "Did you ever fart and blame the dog?"
It's a waste of time, but it fills the day until the first Media Party and last time we convened in Miami, they had a decent horn band, great food and little old Cuban guys hand-rolling cigars.
Outstanding, but, alas, one to a customer. So your servant drafted TV guys and total strangers to the cause and departed with many Churchills and a couple of robustos.
Those were the days.
Tomorrow, it's more sessions with the players – Prediction: The Colts will pretend they're not favourites and also play the no-respect card – and then it's the NFL Experience Built By Home Depot Kids' Day. We can't miss this, whatever it is. Next up is FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year introduction, followed by Motorola Coach of the Year unveiling. Then it's the Quarterback Challenge "with representatives from the Cayman Islands" and shouldn't these Cayman Islands people be the ones giving out the financial advice to high schoolers?
The night is capped by a Broward County Media Party at Gulfstream Park and let's hope they fix a race for us to bet on. Yes, Wednesday could be a good one.
Thursday we get more players and then the Diet Pepsi Rookie of The Year announcement. Next is a Cirque du Soleil press conference. Aren't they mimes? And then it's the national anthem press conference with Billy Joel and the halftime palaver with Prince.
At night, we have the NFL Charities Celebrity Bowling Classic at Strike Miami in Dolphin Mall. It costs $750 to bowl with former players.
No, that damn Fidel had better not mess this up.