So, I’m walking down North Scottsdale Road, in Old Town Scottsdale, with one of our team photographers, Keith Nordstrom. We were looking for some shots for the story I just posted on patriots.com about the happenings in and around town during Super Bowl week.

As we’re scoping out the scene, we hear two of the sweetest voices, in unison, ask ”Are you guys lost?”

We turn around to find these two gorgeous women, a blonde in the drivers seat and a brunette on the passengers side, smiling at us through the open window of their car, which was stopped at a traffic light.

Naturally, like sailors drawn to the Sirens, we approached them and started chatting. Apparently, they work for some outfit called the “Arizona Angels” (they have a website for anyone interested in learning more).

They asked us who we worked for, we said the Patriots, and they became even more interested in talking. They said they were headed to the PGA event a few miles down the road.

Just when things appeared to be going great, the damn traffic light turned green and they were on their way.

Should’ve said, “Yes, we’re lost. Can you give us a ride?”

By Dan Pompei
Chicago Tribune
     
Quarterback Tom Brady’s ankle injury continued to look like a non-factor in practice Thursday. Brady moved well, threw well and did not appear to limp. His ankle was not taped over his shoe.

Receiver Jabar Gaffney’s participation in practice was limited because of a shoulder injury.

After an inconsistent showing Wednesday, the Patriots had a crisp practice on a sunny day at Sun Devil Stadium Thursday.

The Patriots don’t always wear pads on Thursdays, but they did in preparation for Super Bowl XLII.

Coach Bill Belichick said his team practiced better. “Another day always helps,” he said. “These guys care. They want to practice well. When we make mistakes we’ve got to correct them. They want to get it right the next time.”

Asked where the team was in terms of overall preparation, Belichick said, “We’re pretty close. We’ll review some stuff tomorrow. There won’t be hardly anything new. Just reviewing situations.  We’re as ready as we’re going to be. We could spend four weeks preparing for the Giants. But we’ll be ready to go.”

Here is a quote on the Patriots and the ’72 Dolphins courtesy of XM Radio:

PGA Tour golfer Chris DiMarco, who hosts the XM Radio sports show “Opinionated with Chris DiMarco,” had no shortage of opinions when it comes to the Super Bowl this Sunday.  Here’s what DiMarco told XM Satellite Radio:

“I’d like to see the Patriots win, just so all those old Miami Dolphins who keep cracking champagne every time an undefeated team loses can just shut up and be done with it.  They had a great season, but it was 1972.   I like the Patriots, and I’m going to say the score will be 31-24 Patriots.  If it happens the other way, I’m still going to be happy. I’m a New Yorker, so I like to see the Giants win, too.  I think it would be great for Eli, obviously, to get out of his brother’s shadow.  He’s always Peyton’s little brother, you know?  The Giants are an amazing road team.  You know the New York fans.  I mean, you lose one game there, you’re hated for life.  So (laughing) they probably feel a lot calmer on the road.  There’s more pressure at home.”

Before heading down to the Giants press conferences, I stopped by our new digs at the Sleep Inn. It’s not a bad hotel but it’s certainly not the upscale joint the Westin is. But it was time for me to leave the Westin anyway because I plugged the toilet in my bathroom this morning before I checked out. It’s not my fault though. They have those low flow toilets that everyone has to have these days. Like if a toilet flushes hard the freaking world is going to end. The bottom line is I may now reside at the Sleep Inn but I gave the good folks over at the Westin something to remember Tom Casale by and trust me, it wasn’t a pretty site.

There are unconfirmed rumors circulating through the offices here at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa that actress and tabloid temptress Lindsay Lohan is in the building. Supposedly Fred Kirsch passed her in the lobby. He didn’t know who she was, but knew she was “somebody.” When told it might be Lohan he said, “Oh yeah, that’s her.”

As I said, the reports that the “Mean Girls” star is here are still in the rumor stages. The entire staff of PFW and Patriots.com ran to the lobby only to be disappointed. One hotel staffer (a fine looking young lady in her own right) stated vehemently that it wasn’t Lohan. Another standing nearby said it was and even pointed in the direction in which Lohan supposedly disappeared.

I will work diligently on this story as it develops. I’ll also be looking into an even more vague rumor that Jessica Simpson is in the area. It’s Thursday and the celebrities are converging on the greater Phoenix area. I love it.