PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release, including on bubbatunes.blogspot.com)

According to NFL DDC Chicago Host Committee chair Matt Nolan, the date of the 2008 NFL Draft Day Classic has officially been set. Despite the fact that the actual NFL Draft occurs the weekend of April 25th-27th, due to scheduling conflicts spurred by one participant's law school term and another's wedding events, the 2008 NFL Draft Day Classic will be played at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club #1 the weekend of May 16th-18th, 2008.

This is the first time that Chicago has played host to the prestigious NFL DDC, and the shortcomings during last year's Chicago Marathon have many wondering if the city will be up for the challenge. Additional pressure is being applied by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), many members of which will be in attendance at this year's NFL DDC as part of their evaluations of Chicago as a potential host city for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Nolan says that none should be worried.

"The 2008 Chicago NFL DDC at Cog Hill is going to be Legen...wait for it...DARY!" Nolan said. "Each year's host city has risen to new heights, and 2008 Cog Hill will be no different. DDC members, as well as their significant others, should prepare for a weekend of pure awesomeness."

Cog Hill, nestled in Chicago's near south-west suburbs, is the annual site of the BMW Championship, or at it was formerly known, the Western Open. Tiger Woods shattered Cog Hill's scoring record with a final-round 63 in 2007, which most NFL DCC participants hope to come in somewhere around on the front nine. Course #1 is described as having "...enough sand, woods and water to test the accomplished player, but not to punish the beginner." Other previous winners of the Western Open include Jim Furyk, Nick Price, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan and Walter Hagen. Woods took home $1,260,000 for his 2007 victory -- but even he never captured "The Birdie" at Cog Hill, as either Roush/Stachowiak or Nolan/Ostrander will.

While a full itinerary is pending until spring, Nolan advises NFL DDC members, fans and media to plan on arriving in Chicago by noon on Friday and remaining in town until early evening on Sunday, as there will be an NFL DDC event on Sunday for the first time.

Accommodations for the 2008 NFL DDC at Cog Hill will be provided at [redacted], although additional air mattresses and pillows are encouraged and welcome. Some, but not all, additional details are also available:

The 2008 NFL DDC Pro-Am will be played on Friday at the Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course, a Chicago municipal course that is walking distance from the guests' accommodations.

After the pro-am and an informal dinner (location TBD) on Friday, participants and their spouses will be invited to Sluggers, a Wrigleyville mainstay that will be providing dueling piano music and 16 oz beer cans well into the evening.

The 2008 NFL DDC Banquet, which follows the tournament on Saturday, will be held at Mike Ditka's, a downtown Chicago steakhouse that both glorifies Da Coach and provides excellent steaks, wine and cigars. Gentlemen are requested to SUIT UP!! for the occasion, while ladies should be inclined toward dresses. Dinner reservations are set for 8:30pm.

"Chicago is ready to show the world that it is ready to host a world-class sporting event," continued Nolan. "The Planning Committee is putting in long hours to make sure that no detail is forgotten, and that the 2008 Chicago NFL DDC at Cog Hill is the best yet."

Additional Information about Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course: http://cpdgolf.com/layout10.asp?id=167&page=2941
Additional information about Sluggers: http://www.sluggersbar.com/piano2.asp?page=piano
News article proclaiming Sluggers the 3rd best baseball bar in America: http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=2974648
Additional Information about Cog Hill: http://www.coghillgolf.com/
Additional Information about Mike Ditka's: http://www.mikeditkaschicago.com/