"We've never had so many celebrities at the Super Bowl," said Tracy Perlman, senior manager of programming for the NFL. "I've never seen so much interest in one team. Even other NFL players called, saying they had to be here. "It's all the same. They're all saying, 'We're such Giants fans.' Or 'My dad has had Giants season tickets for 45 years.' Or 'I'm a friend of (Giants defensive end) Michael Strahan.'"
Keep in mind, the somebodies all had to pay for tickets ($400 and $325) just like the regular folks. And most of the rich and famous had one simple request: don't put me in a luxury suite.
"They all want to sit in the stands because it's more fun," said Jim Steeg, the NFL's senior vice president of special events.
The Super Bowl XXXV Who's Who reads like an endless roster of pop culture icons that you'd expect to see at events such as the ESPYs, the Grammys, the Oscars, the Emmys, MTV's video music awards, VH1's Divas Live and, yes, even the current session of Congress.
Jenna Elfman, star of ABC's hit TV show Dharma & Greg, co-hosted one of the most ridiculous publicity stunts of the week -- the unveiling of two 30-foot high Super Bowl sand sculptures (a Giants and a Ravens helmet) on Clearwater Beach. She danced around in the jersey of Tampa Bay Bucs safety John Lynch and said: "John Lynch, can I meet you someday?" Tickets, which were free to the fortunate, were being scalped outside the Tampa Convention Center for $1,000.
"I don't know if it's true, but I heard Britney was here," a security guard dressed as a philosopher said, referring to pop sensation Britney Spears.
Across town, at the chic $250-a-ticket Maxim magazine party at an oxygen bar called A La Carte Pavilion, it was -- take a deep breath, girls -- Boy Band Heaven. (Squeal!) There, in the same room were 'N Sync, the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees. And, oh yes, actresses Kirstie Alley ("I've never been to a football game," she said. "Isn't that sick?") and Daisy Fuentes, Survivor's Colleen Haskell and Magic Johnson.
"The Super Bowl is the epicenter of entertainment," proclaimed Carson Daly, the host of MTV's Total Request Live, which broadcast Saturday and Sunday from the NFL Experience, complete with thousands of shrieking teenagers. Jennifer Lopez and 98 Degrees performed live. Rapper Eve dropped by.
"We brought our four daughters, plus Phil Simms' two girls, and they're all atwitter over 98 Degrees?" Cross said. "But do I know which over-testosterone-laden foursome they are? No."
Suddenly, a photographer asked Cross, who's played in a couple of Super Bowls, if he wanted to be photographed with Lopez. You've never seen an elderly offensive lineman move so quickly.
Who else was at the Super Bowl's ultimate star-studded event? For starters, Britney, Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, George Clooney, Al Pacino and Alicia Silverstone.
The Backstreet Boys, who've sold 55 million albums in less than three years, always had one wish -- to perform at a Super Bowl in their hometown of Tampa. Their first professional gigs were singing the anthem at Bucs games. Initially, they were asked to perform at halftime, but they said absolutely not.
"We wanted to go in, sing the anthem, then kick back with a beer and watch the game," band member Kevin Richardson said. "Who needs the stress of waiting to sing? You'd miss half the game."
*NSYNC and Aerosmith said they wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else on Super Bowl Sunday than on the 50-yard line at Raymond James Stadium, guitars blaring, hips gyrating and pyrotechnics blazing.
First and foremost, sharing the halftime bill was a valuable learning experience. For both bands.
"It's incredible, truly incredible," said Justin Timberlake, one of *NSYNC's 20-something band members.
"I can't tell you how much we've learned. That comes from mileage."
Steven Tyler, Aerosmith's legendary lead singer, shot up out of his chair.
"What are you saying?" the 50-something Tyler asked. "Hey, Lance (Bass). What about those naked surfers you showed us on the Internet? Hey, these guys aren't what they look like on the outside. And that's a good thing."
So, what did Tyler's 20-something actress daughter, Liv, think of about her dear old dad playing at the Super Bowl?
"Well, if I didn't take this gig, she threatened to run the family cat through a blender," Tyler said.