Streets that were barren last weekend have sprouted souvenir stands and sound systems and beer taps. The hotel lobbies are becoming uncomfortably crowded. The clubs and restaurants in the Gaslamp District are jammed. The prices for super tickets, for some reason, seem to be going down.

It must be nearly 24 hours to kickoff for Super Bowl XXXVII.

	I'm starting to get a little tired of Jon Gruden. I really don't care what Warren Sapp has to say anymore. With all due respect to Jerry Rice, turning 40 isn't exactly a big deal -- now, 45 is another matter.

The cabbies, who have gone begging all week long, are finally seeing some business, which brings us to …

Random miracle of the day: The very same cabbie with the snappy green van who picked up my family at the downtown hotel and took them to the (world-famous) San Diego Zoo … was the same one who collected them, quite by accident, three hours later. What are the odds of that?

Random brush with greatness: Walking up Fifth Avenue around midnight, who should I spot but Giants rookie tight end Jeremy Shockey and someone who looked like (but could not officially be confirmed) as Brittney Gastineau, the daughter of the former Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau.

The two blondes were walking across the street, when a car nearly took them out. The car stopped and Shockey took exception. Words were exchanged and, eventually, Shockey's cell phone went flying, clattering to the asphalt. If Eagles safety Brian Dawkins had been covering him, he would have hung on.

Random brush II: Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and a bunch of his friends are staying at our hotel. The bellhops and car valet guys had no idea who he was when he walked in the front door.

I'll admit it, I'm starting to get a little tired of Jon Gruden. I really don't care what Warren Sapp has to say anymore. With all due respect to Jerry Rice, turning 40 isn't exactly a big deal -- now, 45 is another matter. The annoying Raiders fans, I cannot deny, are starting to get to me.

Let's go. Let's play the (expletive deleted) game.

Greg Garber is a senior writer for ESPN.com.