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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — John Gordy, a former offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions and University of Tennessee who helped form the NFL Players’ Association, died Friday. He was 73.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — When Air Force jets roared over Arrowhead Stadium in patriotic pregame ceremonies, it used to mean big trouble for visiting quarterbacks.

John Gordy, a former offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions and University of Tennessee who helped form the NFL Players’ Association, died Friday. He was 73. The university said in a statement Saturday that Gordy died Friday in Orange, Calif., after a long battle with cancer. He was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Lions before a knee injury led to his retirement in 1967.

NBC said on the eve of Sunday’s Super Bowl that it has sold the last two of the 69 advertising spots for the game, pushing total ad revenue for the event to a record $206 million. The network said its total of $261 million in ad revenue for all of Super Bowl day also is a record, calling it an especially impressive feat in the middle of the economy’s steep downturn.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals went through a relaxed walk-through in front of about 300 family members and friends Saturday in the team’s final on-field preparation for Sunday’s Super Bowl.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans and Buffalo will play in the 2009 Hall of Fame game, a day after Bills owner Ralph Wilson and former star Bruce Smith are inducted.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers finished their Super Bowl preparations on Saturday with something that’s usually missing from game-week practices: a crowd.

If the Cardinals beat the Steelers, who in the press box will be moved sufficiently to call a team that lost four of its last six regular-season games the class of pro football?

The Arizona Cardinals went through a relaxed walk-through in front of about 300 family members and friends Saturday in the team’s final on-field preparation for Sunday’s Super Bowl. “I think we had a good week of work,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. The onlookers mingled with players on the field after the practice at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ facility, some posing for pictures with Whisenhunt and…

The Pittsburgh Steelers finished their Super Bowl preparations on Saturday with something that’s usually missing from game-week practices: a crowd. With an estimated 250 friends and family members watching, plus the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Steelers held a 38-minute walk-through at the University of South Florida.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — For both the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday’s Super Bowl is about the rush.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Even Rod Blagojevich would have a tough time explaining away what’s going to happen to the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl come Sunday.

Derek Jeter’s picking the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it has nothing to do with how good he thinks the AFC champions are. “I’m not a football expert, but I’ll just take Pittsburgh,” said the New York Yankees captain, who lives in Tampa during the offseason and hosted a celebrity golf tournament during Super Bowl week.

At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Mr. Davis became the first two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 400 hurdles.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2009 will be announced Saturday, and Rod Woodson, a cornerback and safety who played 17 N.F.L. seasons, is one of 17 finalists.

In death, Pat Tillman has become a symbol of sacrifice and an enduring icon for the Arizona Cardinals.