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Superbowl week - put it on your 'Bucket List'

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American Football fan Nick Shiambouros sets the Superbowl scene...

It certainly feels like it was only a couple of years ago that I went to the greatest show on earth but it was really seven to be correct. There is a film that has just been released in America called The Bucket List. It stars two of my favourite actors of all time in Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two people who try to experience the things they always dreamt of doing before they "Kick The Bucket" but I am not sure that attending the Superbowl was one of them in this movie.

In late January 2001 I took my seat in the end zone when The New York Giants were thrashed by The Baltimore Ravens led by none other than ex-Tampa Bay quarterback Trent Dilfer in a one-sided affair. Ray Lewis was a deserving MVP that day after being acquitted of some very serious charges not long before the game.

None of this really mattered to me because I was part of the most amazing party and celebration of a truly wonderful sport. Even if you were a Giant's fan you were still happy you came.

If you are lucky enough to be going to The Superbowl this Sunday then most of your week will have been spent having the time of your life. If not then there is something seriously wrong with you.

Seven years ago a friend and I had two tickets to the match but that is the last thing on your mind on Monday when the NFL rolls in to town. The first thing we did was rent a limo for the whole week. Trust me it is the only way to go!

After securing this beast of a machine we went on to find the official Superbowl hotel for cocktails and some shoulder-rubbing with the rich and famous to check out where all the really cool parties were. Trust me when I tell you that anyone who is anyone has a party at Superbowl and try not to go to all of them otherwise you won't get the trip and you may even miss out on the big day due to over indulgence.

We attended parties hosted by stars such as Denzel Washington who raised money for important charities and huge companies like IMG and Nike who throw millions of Dollars in "soft money" just to make us think that they are the good guys. IMG rented out the whole of Busch Gardens in Tampa for its annual Superbowl bash . Having attended these - I can go on inform you that athletes don't just drink Gatorade. At the time I thought to myself "these guys are making way too much money" as I fell in to the Limo with my $100 gift pack before heading off to the next event.

As for having a bet on the match this Sunday I will be backing the Giants and the points as I think the Giants will make it interesting and this could be a close one. I will be watching the game on my Sling Box at home with a Bud in one hand because I don't want to miss those great commercials they roll out once a year and it feels like you are part of the occasion with the superb coverage on offer.

If you are in the Phoenix area this week and you want a day away from the parties then go along to Turf Paradise for some good flat racing in the afternoon. That will ensure that you will go home penniless for the week without any doubt. It really is not a cheap but Superbowl week is worth every single penny, take my word on that.

There was one event that I did not get to go to on 2001 but I made a vow that I would do it before I died, whatever it took. It is a harder ticket to get than the actual Superbowl pass by a mile. It is none other than the Playboy party - held at a location near the big game every year. As hard as we tried (and believe me we tried) we had to give in and we finally retreated to a nearby Hooters for a beverage instead.

Well all is not lost because next year the Superbowl is coming back to Tampa and I will get another chance to check off an item on my very own own "Bucket List".

• US Sports
• NFL