Adm. Patrick Walsh, left, then head of Pacific Fleet, chats with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick before the 2011 Pro Bowl. Walsh turned over command of Pacific Fleet to Adm. Cecil Haney on Friday. Belichick will miss this year's Pro Bowl as he preps his team for Super Bowl XLVI. (Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Cohen Young)
NFL stars are doing more in Hawaii this week than catching rays and suiting up for a defense-optional exhibition game at Aloha Stadium.
The Pro Bowlers have a full slate of community outreach activities, including a practice on Thursday at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The event — open only to military families with base access, according to the base newspaper — will include both the AFC and the NFC squads working out at Earhart Field, which has been undergoing improvements since early December. USAA, which has chipped in for some of the field work, also is providing 1,000 tickets to the game for military families on Oahu, according to a company news release.
After the workout, players will take part in community outreach activities, including outdoor activities tied to the “NFL Play 60 Community Blitz” fitness effort; visits to wounded warriors; and other events at Army, Navy and Air Force installations. Everything from tree-planting to cheerleading clinics, according to an NFL.com announcement.
The game itself kicks off at 2 p.m. Hawaii time (7 p.m. Eastern) and will feature an “NFL Salute to Service” halftime show, according to the Aloha Stadium website. Those who aren’t in Honolulu can catch the action on NBC. Unsure if your favorite player made the squad? Check here.
