INDIANAPOLIS | The NFL's mission to help devastated Haiti recover from a recent earthquake couldn't be missed Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Public-address announcements and video-board messages urging fans to donate to the cause were shown during the Colts' AFC divisional playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. In addition, Fox and CBS aired commercials during Saturday's games to inform NFL viewers about the disaster-relief effort.
On Friday, the NFL and the players' union pledged to contribute $1 million to the American Red Cross and Partners in Health. Seven NFL players with Haitian ties, including Colts rookie receiver Pierre Garcon, are on rosters of divisional playoff teams.
Garcon has several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews in Haiti. Some of them contacted Garcon and his mother earlier this week, but many of them haven't been heard from yet.
"It's terrible," Garcon said. "It's probably the worst thing that could ever happen there. It's a nightmare. It's a poor country, and it's going to take a long time to rebuild."
Perhaps the NFL's postseason stage presents the perfect opportunity to encourage widespread support for Haiti. Garcon certainly hopes so.
"Spreading the word and helping others is really what it's all about," Garcon said. "And this is the best situation to do that now."
As the NFL's messages indicated, fans can make donations by visiting redcross.org or texting the word "HAITI" to 90999. With the latter option, a one-time $10 donation will be added to your cell phone bill.
Colts connections: Ravens coach John Harbaugh couldn't deny his brother, Jim, probably had a difficult time choosing who to root for Saturday.
Jim Harbaugh, the head football coach at Stanford University, was a quarterback for the Colts from 1994-97 and is a member of the team's Ring of Honor.
"I'm sure he'll be torn in some ways," John Harbaugh said of his brother, whom the Bears selected in the first round of the 1987 NFL draft. "Like I said, the Colts are his team. That's the team that kind of made his career and where he feels at home the most for sure. He's proud of his association with the Colts and Indiana."
The Harbaugh brothers' sister, Joani, is also the wife of Indiana University men's basketball coach Tom Crean, another notable Colts supporter.
"Tom has a great relationship with (Colts president) Bill Polian, too, and (Colts coach Jim) Caldwell," John Harbaugh said. "He has been up to practices, so it's kind of a tough one for us in that sense."
Based on a true story: On Saturday night, the Colts faced a movie star -- well, at least the real-life inspiration for a hit film and the book upon which it's based.
Ravens rookie offensive lineman Michael Oher is the subject of the film "The Blind Side." The movie, which is in theaters now, was adapted from Michael Lewis' New York Times bestseller "The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game."
As depicted in the film, Oher was a troubled youngster from a broken home, but his adopted family helped him reach his potential as a student and an athlete. He has started every game for the Ravens this season.
Quinton Aaron played Oher, and Sandra Bullock starred as the wealthy woman from Memphis, Tenn., who mentored the 6-foot-4, 310-pound tackle. At tonight's 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Bullock will be one of five nominees competing for best dramatic actress.
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