Gronk holding 'ladies night out' football clinic

From time to time, a pro athlete will make a public appearance that puts him in an environment where he's not entirely comfortable with his surroundings, and the circumstances can make things sort of awkward. However, Rob Gronkowski's visit to Harvard Stadium on Nov. 11 is not likely to be one of those events.

Centered around football, women, and adult beverages -- three favorite features of many a single man in his mid-20s -- the Patriots' tight end will host the inaugural Citi Rob Gronkowski Football 101 Women's Clinic on the Monday evening coming out of the team's bye week, joining with area high school and college coaches to direct activities at an event that promises a "focus on football basics with a social twist."

When female Citi Card members who pay $99 arrive at 5 p.m., they'll first partake in a cocktail hour, where they'll have access to Gronk-tinis -- the ingredients will be left to your imagination -- along with beer, wine, and food.

After that they'll move on to the football clinic, where they'll separate into small groups and go station to station working on football fundamentals and competing in skills competitions. They'll do that until 8, and then it's time for coffee and dessert. The consummate post-game snack.

Before they leave, participants -- who must be 21 or older -- will also hear Gronkowski "give talks highlighting the finer points of the game of football and beyond," as well as take a team photo with the tight end, have the opportunity to win prizes, and go home with an authentic autograph and a T-shirt.

Not a bad little "ladies night out," as organizers are calling it, and the capper to a full weekend for Gronkowski and the customers of Citi Card. A day earlier he's holding a football camp at Medfield High School for kids in grades 1-8, then that night, he'll be watching Sunday Night Football with Citi Card holders at Bar Louie in Patriots Place, taking pictures, signing autographs, and interacting with everyone who pays $87 to spend the Pats' idle Sunday with one of the team's stars.

So it'll be a busy bye weekend for Gronkowski. But at least this time his activity during the team's time off isn't likely to leave him feeling like he shouldapologize to ownership.