THE WEEK has finally arrived. You know, that FOOTBALL week. Of course, I didn't realize it was a week-long extravaganza until my current hometown hosted IT. IT - the Super Bowl. I find it interesting that Detroit - one of the fattest cities in the U.S., according to some magazine - is hosting "XL." Those funny Romans.

It is hard NOT to get excited. I wasn't going to. Yeah, I think it's great that Detroit is hosting the Bowl, but when all is said and done, the confetti is blown and somebody wins, everyone's going to go home and Detroit will be the same ol' same ol'. But this morning, driving Roman to work, the SuperBug hit. In my "ring city" (where many of the second-tier reporters and press are said to be staying) there are "XL" banners posted on the street lights of the two main roads to daycare. And to tell you the truth, I got a little grin and a lilt in my heart.

In the paper today they had a profile of the volunteers who are stationed throughout the Metro area, and specifically the ones who are going to place themselves on duty at the airport. They began greeting people on Sunday, when the first "official fan" arrived wearing a Steelers jacket. That was kind of neat, and a lot of the passengers seemed touched.

Then at school, a colleague started passing the "squares" betting game. I bought 2, then thought better of it later and bought 2 more. Another coworker is in the halftime show, playing a "crazed Rolling Stones fan" and went to rehearsal over the weekend. Yes, they rehearse all that spontaneity. All the celebrity parties are being listed, and "Radio Row" has been set up in front of the RenCen downtown where all the national / international stations are broadcasting from.

So, I guess I'm excited. Detroit rarely gets in the spotlight for something good, so I hope this goes off with only a few minor hitches.