posted 01-08-2004 11:44 AM               

NEW YORK, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- International star Josh Groban will honor the NASA Columbia crew with a performance of his new hit "You Raise Me Up" from his multi-platinum CD "CLOSER" at Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 1 it was announced today by the NFL. Groban, who will be accompanied by an 80 person local choir will perform as part of the pre-game show prior to Houston's own Beyonce Knowles, who will be singing the National Anthem before the start of Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Sunday, February 1st, 2004 marks the first anniversary of the Columbia. Family members of the Columbia Crew are expected to attend the game as guests of Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Crew members from the next Space Shuttle STS-114 will join Groban on the field as part of the NFL's salute to NASA.

Super Bowl XXXVIII will be televised by CBS to an expected 130 million viewers in the United States and a potential worldwide audience of 800 million viewers. The Super Bowl is annually the nation's highest-rated TV program and the most-watched single-day sporting event. Game time is 6 p.m. EST/5 p.m. CST/3 p.m. PST.

Executive Producer Bob Best of Best Productions in Tampa, Fla. will work his 20th pre-game show for the NFL. Michael T. Fiur will produce the show.

Groban, the 22-year-old vocal phenomenon, is scheduled to begin his first ever national concert tour which sold out within minutes. His self-titled debut album sold over five million copies and his hit single "To Where You Are" was a source of comfort for the entire country following September 11th. His current CD "Closer" which includes three original songs penned by Groban, has already sold well over two million albums and has remained in the Top 10 since it's release this past November. Recorded over seven months in 2003, the CD reveals brilliant new facets of a young man The New York Times crowned "The New Boy Wonder of The Voice."

With scores of televised appearances, most notably his wildly popular 2003 PBS Great Performances special, which itself became a number one selling DVD, the legion of Groban fans has continued to grow in record numbers. His appearance at the closing ceremonies of the Salt Lake City Olympics was seen by over a billion people, many of whom were instantly converted into rabid "Grobanites" as the artist's global fan following has affectionately dubbed themselves. Recently Groban appeared on Broadway as part of an Actor's Fund benefit of Chess.

posted 01-08-2004 12:27 PM               

However, I'd like to know what is the "NASA Columbia crew?" That is an awkward way of referring to the crew of 107.

posted 01-08-2004 02:30 PM               

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Originally posted by John K. Rochester:
To a space "Buff" as it were, 107 is the way we remember.. to a generic press release "Columbia " makes more sense.. like it or not, the public quickly forgets more details than it remembers ( ie: 107) but will be quick to remember "Columbia"

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True. I would not expect the lamestream, err--mainstream press to use the mission numbers. ;-) But "NASA Columbia crew" sounds odd. I think "astronauts of Columbia" would have been correct.

I know I may be too much of a stickler for good grammar. But I just incorrect for anyone, in the media or not, to use an expression such as "when Columbia happened."

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even NBC on the day Alan Shepard passed away had his name spelled "Shepherd" on the screen...

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Doesn't surprise me. Look at the number of times the nation of Colombia has been spelled Columbia.

posted 01-11-2004 04:19 PM               

Looks like we're going to wait another year before the Chiefs can make it all the way. When? When will the defense get better???? And as for the other teams (and fans) good luck. It will be a memorable Super Bowl.