U2 have been confirmed as the half-time entertainment at Superbowl XXXVI, which is happening in Louisiana on February 3rd.

This year's American Football showpiece is being broadcast live on Fox TV, with an expected worldwide audience of 800 million viewers.

"U2 are absolutely one of the coolest and most creative contemporary bands in the world," enthuses Fox Sports' David Hill. "It's a privilege to broadcast our third Super Bowl, and I'm sure that U2 will provide our global audience with a championship caliber performance."

Meanwhile, December 4th saw the band's Elevation World Tour drawing to a close in the Miami American Airlines Arena. Highlights included a rousing rendition of 'My Sweet Lord' in honour of George Harrison, and Bono dancing with a fan who had every U2 gig he'd attended tattooed onto his back.

The following week found them being named 'Band of the Year' by Spin, 'Best Rock Act' by Top Of The Pops and one of USA Today's 'Four Of The Best'.

There were also words of praise from American trade bible Billboard, who reckon that U2's 2001 earnings were in excess of $100 million.

Finally, if you want to hear the band's rather fab version of 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)', log on to www.veryspecial.org