Kicking it off

Chicago Bear Devin Hester is really keeping busy these days, both on the field and off.

Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions is just one of Hester's top priorities.

Earlier this year, he walked the Hollywood red carpet with Jim Carrey at the movie premiere of director Joel Schumacher's flick "The Number 23."

And last month, he was once again among the group of sports notables featured in a new round of Campbell's Chunky Soups commercials and ad spots using the popular theme "the mama's boys," a campaign first launched with Donovan McNabb and his mother Wilma a decade ago.

Eight National Football League players are featured together in the new ad campaign for a game of football while their moms watch.

In addition to Hester, the spots feature LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers), Jonathan Vilma (New York Jets), Larry Johnson (Kansas City Chiefs), Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens), Maurice Jones-Drew (Jacksonville Jaguars), Demarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys) and Matt Hasselbeck (Seattle Seahawks), along with their mothers in tow.

According to "Ad Week," in the commercials, "the players gather for a game at fictional Reginald H. White Memorial Park (named after the late NFL star Reggie White) located at the corner of Landry Road and Halas Drive (references to all-time great NFL coaches Tom Landry and George Halas). The moms offer Chunky Soup as relief while their sons play through inclement weather."

The ads are helping launch of the new Chunky Soup Fully Loaded, a line that includes Rigatoni with Meatballs, Stroganoff-Style Beef, Turkey Pot Pie and Beef Stew.

As for Hester, instead of Monday night football, on Nov. 5, he'll be in the fashion spotlight at this year's "Fashion Xplosion" charity event.

The event, sponsored by Fantasy Sports and which raises money for the American Cancer Society, begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5 at Ontourage, 157 W. Ontario St., in Chicago.

The fashion show features sports stars as the models, including Hester, joined by Chicago Bears players Tommie Harris, Bernard Berrian, Israel Idonije, Robbie Gould, Jason McKie, Mark Bradley, Roberto Garza, Brandon McGowan, Leon Joe and Jamar Williams, along with Chicago Rush players Bobby Sippio, DeJuan Alfonzo, Dennison Robinson, Curtis Eason and others.

One of the reason this annual event is such a hit with fans, especially the ladies, is because it's billed as: "a fashion show unrehearsed and unpredictable, so that means fun for everyone!"

Sponsors include: Rocawear, Enyce, Akademiks, Privacy Wear, LRG, Bang & Olufsen, Gibson's Steakhouse, Signature Room, Devon's Seafood Grill, Aveda, Primetime Limo, Garrett Popcorn, Tourneau and more!

For VIP info contact: pmcgee@fantasysportsent.net.

Tickets are $75 for general admission and $200 for VIP seats. (The event was originally scheduled for Monday, Oct. 29, so look for a "special" price to also be announced next week.)

For more information, call (773) 297-7836.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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