Four Reasons To Watch the Pro Bowl

A game traditionally paid no attention has certainly been Miamified, and not just geographically: thanks to a record 31 players dropping out, controversy over its old Hawaii home, and one round mound of party hound, the Pro Bowl's been on everyone's lips -- even more so than the big game it precedes.

But does that mean should you care? Attend? Tune in tonight at 7? 

Here's four more reasons for the "Yes" column.

* This one matters to people. The Miami game is set to be the highest-attended Pro Bowl in 51 years. And as David Hyde wrote, you only have to look as far as dismissed former UM and current Vikings tackle Bryant McKinnie's case -- in which observers actually noticed and cared that a player had got lost in the nightlife -- to confirm that this one matters.

McKinnie missed four of the five practices, a team meeting, and team photo; best of all, he left a trail of tweets that led from club Mansion to the North Miami strip club King of Diamonds. "We don't know where he is,'' an NFL spokesman said Saturday. "All we know is he's not playing the game. He's dismissed from the team."

Fact: earlier Pro Bowls were played without tackles altogether; you have to have watched one to disprove this. So good luck, and one point to David Hyde.

* Grumbly players might get what's coming to them. "Waaah, Miami!" "Waaah, I like Hawaii better!" Look, playing football really is tough. Players are crunched daily, sweat a lot, can barely walk by the time they're 40, and can only hope the NFL is up-to-date with head injury protection (they aren't). So a relaxing end-of-season trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl would indeed be nice. But all the whining isn't cutting it: Miami's not exactly a horrible trip (see: McKinnie, Bryant), and guess what, dear Pro Bowler? You make enough money to take your own trip to the islands.

For the rest of us, we might get to see that petulance wiped right off your face, because Ray Lewis is suiting up. It's win-win!

* South Florida benefits -- and not just in parking fees and hotel taxes. On Wednesday, Greg Camarillo and Sinorice Moss visited Carol City elementary and donated $5,000 for its vegetable garden. Donovan McNabb, DeMarcus Ware and D'Brickashaw Ferguson helped build a playground at RISE Academy in Lauderhill. In Palm Beach County, players built an adaptive play space for physically challenged youth. Still others partnered with Habitat for Humanity to help build 10 homes in two weeks.

Perhaps having bookended weekends with the NFL in town isn't so bad after all. 

* It's a family reunion. Still smarting from that Champs Sports Bowl loss to Wisconsin? Miami's still got it: there are a record-setting 11 former Hurricanes selected to the Pro Bowl (including the dishonorably discharged McKinnie, Ray Lewis, Brandon Meriweather, Antrel Rolle, Vince Wilfork, Ed Reed, Frank Gore, Jon Beason, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, and Jonathan Vilma). Wayne and Vilma won't play until next weekend, but as Johnson says, "To have this many guys here speaks volumes. It shows what we represent."

Excuse us while we swell with pride.