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Fox NFL pregame show to be aired from Afghanistan

Nov 7, 2009

NEW YORK — The Fox NFL pregame show will be broadcast from a military installation in Afghanistan on Sunday.

The six-man announcing team traveled to an undisclosed location in the country this week to honor servicemen and women three days before Veterans Day. The two-hour special begins at 11 a.m. EST.

"It's been so surreal, it's hard to describe," Fox analyst Michael Strahan said of the trip. "To witness so many young, smart, committed and capable men and women is inspiring. We're here to show our appreciation for their service and sacrifice, and all they want to do is show their appreciation to us for coming here."

The idea for the show came about when Fox Sports chairman David Hill was passing through the airport in Dallas last spring. He noticed military personnel walking through the terminal were going mostly unnoticed, and he wanted to do something about it.

The commentators participated in a humanitarian aid drop as part of the trip.

"We're flying over the mountains of Afghanistan in a C17 loaded with pallets of essential supplies, and to see that cargo roll out the back of the plane and the parachutes deploy was quite an experience," analyst Jimmy Johnson said. "I'll never forget it."