FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                            

Release No M-14-08                                            February 8, 2008

PRO BOWL EVENTS CONTINUE   

            The NFL’s 2008 Pro Bowl in Hawaii Week continues this weekend, with a special edition of the City’s Sunset on the Beach.

            Tonight in Waikiki, Mayor Mufi Hannemann will present the “Honolulu Hero” Award to Jim Nicholson.  Nicholson is a 1968 graduate of St. Louis High School who played 8 years in the National Football League as an offensive lineman with Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs after his collegiate career at Michigan State University.  He presently serves as the Chair of the Hawaii Labor Relations Board.

            “We instituted this award to recognize the many athletes with local ties who’ve gone on to careers in the National Football League,” said Mayor Hannemann.  “It is a pleasure to include Jim Nicholson among the recipients of the “Honolulu Hero” award.

            Past winners of the award include former UH head coach June Jones, Punahou Varsity Head Coach Kale Ane, and former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala.\

            Mayor Hannemann also noted that the clock is ticking for the City and County of Honolulu and NFL’s 2^nd Annual “Surfboards in Paradise” charity auction.  Two originally and locally designed custom Pro Bowl surfboards are up for bid on the internet at www.nflauction.nfl.com

            “These surfboards are the ultimate collectibles,” Mayor Hannemann said.  “And the proceeds go to local charities. Last year we were happy to make a contribution to both the Kick Start Karate program and the Central YMCA.”

            The boards will be signed by players representing both the AFC and the NFC.  Bidding began with last Sunday’s Super Bowl kickoff and will concluded this Sunday, February 10^th, as time winds down at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

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