2 Super Bowl officials have ties to area
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Builder Brian Alano adjusts a piece in his Lego scaled replica of Lucas Oil Stadium which is on display at the Super Bowl XLVI media center in Indianapolis. Alano spent three years and used over 30,000 pieces to build the model of the site where New England and New York will contest Super Bowl XLVI Sunday.
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INDIANAPOLIS -- Pittsburgh has found its way into playing an important part in the Super Bowl on Sunday even though the Steelers did not make it.
Two of the seven-man crew of game officials, announced Wednesday, hail from the Pittsburgh area -- head linesman Tom Stabile and back judge Tony Steratore.
Stabile and Steratore have each worked nine playoff games in their careers.
Steratore, a Washington County native, has been an NFL official since 2000 following in the footsteps of his father, Gene, and his brother Gene Jr.
Stabile, a Pittsburgh native, has worked games in the NFL since 1995.
John Parry will serve as the referee for the game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.
The other officials are umpire Carl Paganelli, line judge Gary Arthur, field judge Gary Cavaletto and side judge Laird Hayes.
With only three days to go before the Super Bowl, All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski still hasn't worked out with his teammates in Indianapolis because of a high left ankle sprain. The Patriots returned to practice after having meetings and film sessions Tuesday.
Gronkowski, who set an NFL single-season record with 17 touchdown receptions, was hurt late in the third quarter of the 23-20 win against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game Jan. 22.
He said at media day that his ankle was improving daily. But he wouldn't say if he would play Sunday.
The league fined New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora $20,000 a few hours after he missed a mandatory morning media session.
"I misunderstood the schedule," Umenyiora said in a statement released by the team. "It won't happen again. ... I apologize for any inconvenience my absence ... may have caused."
Umenyiora was supposed to be sitting at a riser answering questions after coach Tom Coughlin spoke, but his seat remained empty for the 45-minute session. The league announced its fine less than two hours later.
Umenyiora attended team meetings after the media session and practiced.
The NFL is publishing a commemorative Super Bowl app for Apple and Android tablets that cost $2.99 before the game. The price will increase after the Super Bowl. The pregame version includes player highlight reels, Super Bowl history and photo galleries for each team. After Sunday, the winning team's section will add game highlights and video of on-field interviews and the trophy presentation.
First Published February 2, 2012 12:00 am
