Super Bowl more than just a game

By Gus Bode

The hard-hitting, crowd-drawing excitement of the Super Bowl has some local bar owners scrambling in a fierce and fiery effort to entice people into watching the big game at their establishment.

Bars will offer potential customers more than the regular food and drink specials. The game plans of many bar owners range from no cover charges to half time give-a-ways.

Some bar owners called in the special teams to promote their big game strategy.

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Tres Hombres, 119 N. Washington St., is bringing in WXLT for a live remote while Copper Dragon Brewing Co., 700 E. Grand Ave., has ordered air time on local radio stations to promote their big game strategy.

Gary Robinson, owner of Tres Hombres, casually predicted his turnout.

We’re just expecting the regular Tres crowd, he said.

But the inflatable Lite Beer Terry Bradshaw chair, one of Tres’ free give-a-way items, could be the bar’s secret weapon in drawing the Super Bowl crowd.

The Super Bowl extravaganzas and gathering crowds will not be limited to the bars.

Most people like to stay at home and watch the big game, said John Budslick Jr., owner of Stix Bar and Billards, 517 S. Illinois Ave. We never have a big Super Bowl turnout.

Kevin Skinkis, a senior in social studies from Cicero, is planning to skip the bars and watch the game at home.

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Skinkis, a Saluki football team member, said he parties at home for the Super Bowl because of the comfortable setting.

I love the Super Bowl. It’s a big celebration, he said. It’s my second birthday.

Skinkis and about 10 to 12 other members of the football team have gotten together for an eating contest at a friend’s house each year and watched the Super Bowl .

We order a ton of pizza and Seth, a teammate, brings a ton of chili, Walter Skeate, a senior in education from Normal, said. We stuff our faces and yell during the entire game.

These Super Bowl fanatics make sure they have plenty of drinks on hand to wash down the chili and whatever other food they will be munching on.

We have plenty of drinks for the chili and the fact that we can’t be getting out of our favorite chairs to get drinks during the game, Skinkis added.

After the game is over we’re all full and hoarse. No one can do anything but go home and go to sleep.

Superstition will keep Pat Immel, a graduate student in theater, home for the game.

Immel, donned in a green pull over wind breaker with a huge Green Bay logo on the front, said he was invited but will not attend any Super Bowl parties.

I’m superstitious. I don’t want to upset the delicate balance of the Super Bowl, he said as he pulled the jacket away from his chest and gazed into the emblem.

My wife, my buddy and I are the reason why the Packers are where they are today not Brett Favre. They’re winning because we’ve watched the previous games together at my place, he explained.

We can’t upset the balance now.

The Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers face off in Super Bowl XXXII Sunday at 5 p.m. on NBC.

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