Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa is going to be a Super Show in many ways.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at halftime and it really will be some kind of Jersey Show if the Giants and Jets, two teams that practice and play in Bruce’s home state, make it to the big dance.
“That would be special,”
Nils Lofgren, legendary Springsteen guitarist, tells The Post’s Kevin Kernan. Lofgren, who grew up in Washington, D.C. and lives in Scottsdale, Ariz. is a huge football fan. He cheers on the Redskins, but his wife Amy, who grew up in West Orange, N.J., is a true-blue Giants fan. Amy and Nils, who first met at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, are good friends with John Madden, who will broadcast the game on NBC.
“They’ve been asking Bruce since 1975 to play the Super Bowl,” Lofgren says. “I’m just so glad that he finally said yes. This game is a beautiful confluence of different areas of my life.”
Lofgren’s “Tuff Stuff” CD is music he composed for the “All-Madden Team.” During “The Rising” tour, Nils and Amy talked Madden into going to see Bruce and the band. Madden went backstage to meet Springsteen and was so impressed he later told Nils, “I felt like I was talking to a quarterback on the eve of the Super Bowl.”
Six weeks ago, Lofgren underwent bilateral hip surgery in New York at the Hospital for Special Surgery. The surgery was performed by Dr.
Paul Pellicci. “Dr. Pellicci is known as the Bruce Springsteen of hip surgery,” Lofgren explains. While in the hospital one of the first calls came from Springsteen. He jokingly told Lofgren that he would have to pick up his rehab in order to be ready for the Super Bowl.
Lofgren says he will be ready, thanks in great part to the dedication of Amy, who has helped him along every step of the way. Amy also helped write the tribute song “Yankee Stadium” that can be downloaded free at nilslofgren.com.
Cashman on the money
Yankees GM
Brian Cashman made a cameo appearance in the online comedy series “Back on Topps,” from Michael Eisner’s new media studio Vuguru. In the upcoming episode, when asked by the show’s stars, comedic twins Randy and Jason Sklar, for some advice on running Topps, the sports-card company, Cashman quips: “Usually, when I have a problem, the best thing to do is to throw money at it.” The episode will also include appearances by Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Damon and David Wright.
Jacobs’ movie night
Brandon Jacobs
Athletes flex muscles
Tomorrow evening at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Giants
Justin Tuck, Jeff Feagles and Chris Snee will join forces with Jets Jay Feely and Reggie Hodges at a media reception to kick off the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s 12th Annual Gala & Benefit Auction scheduled for Jan. 6. Jets Darrelle Revis and Chansi Stuckey, Giant Terrell Thomas, Knick Jamal Crawford and Barbaro’s jockey Edgar Prado are expected to be added to the MDA’s 2009 Muscle Team. They have chosen to put their muscle behind the search to find a cure for neuromuscular disease, and are expected to help raise more than $1 million. For tickets to the 2009 Muscle Team Gala and Benefit auction, or for information about MDA’s services, call Emily Newberry at (212) 689-6040, or visit http://www.nymuscleteam.org
AIM hits the mark
With the help of Academics in Motion (AIM), a non-profit youth development organization, high school student-athletes in metropolitan area inner city schools are getting the academic support and social support they need to graduate and continue their careers on the college level.
“It’s a great program,” Hofstra coach
Tom Pecora told The Post. “They don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. They get involved with kids early in high school and they stick with them.” Pecora knows. One of his emerging stars is sophomore Nathaniel Lester of Canarsie. He averaged 6.3 points and 2.5 rebounds as a freshman. In less than three years, AIM has established programs in 10 public high schools in the metro area with plans to double that number in the 2008-09 academic year.
Nets to feed the hungry
Vince Carter
, Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian and their Nets teammates will dish out early Thanksgiving meals for more than 100 people in need at the Montclair (N.J.) Citadel Salvation Army tomorrow from 2:30-3:30 p.m. In addition to hot meals, the Nets also will distribute food care packages and frozen turkeys. . . . Len Elmore, Albert King, Hollis Copeland and Kenny Charles, on behalf of the National Basketball Retired Players Association, visited the Denny Moe’s Superstar Barbershop in Harlem yesterday to spread the word on the importance of testing for diabetes and hypertension in the black community. The NBRPA is working with the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program on this project.
Blueshirts for Superman’s kids
Brian Leetch
and Mike Richter gave personalized Rangers jerseys to Christopher Reeve’s sons Will (16) and Matthew (28) (below) at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation’s annual “A Magical Evening” charity event last Monday at the Marriott Marquis. Will Reeve, the only child of Christopher and Dana, presented the Rangers alums with the Dana Reeve HOPE Award in honor of their continued commitment to help raise money and support the foundation’s efforts to cure spinal-cord injury. . . . HBO Sports prez Ross Greenburg will be honored by the Michael S. Modell Memorial Awards Dinner for the benefit of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation on Dec. 11 at the Sheraton New York. The 20-time Sports Emmy Award winner will receive the Dick Schaap Lifetime Achievement Award with long-time friend and colleague Bob Costas on hand to emcee the event. For tickets and information, call (212) 679-1570. will guest-host a movie night with his wife Kim Tuesday at the home of one lucky New York City family to celebrate the Xbox 360/Netflix partnership that will be launching the following day. Movie lovers now will have the ability to instantly see (no downloads necessary) more than 12,000 movies on their television through their Xbox 360 gaming and entertainment console. The Jacobses are launching the first of 1,000 New Xbox Experience House Parties that Xbox 360 will be throwing simultaneously in 10 cities across the country next Saturday.