By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

NFL fans on Saipan put other things on the back burner and kept their eyes glued to TV screens yesterday watching the much-awaited Indianapolis Colts-Chicago Bears showdown in Super Bowl XLI.
For about four hours, it’s football or nothing, as they joined American football fans across the world in watching the epic game.
They witnessed the opening kickoff and were thrilled when sensational Bears rookie Devin Hester raced downfield for 92 yards and scored a touchdown.
They, especially Bears fans, grimaced when Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman committed costly errors.
Indiana fans waved their arms and exchanged high fives when the Colts’ Payton Manning threw good passes and Kelvin Hayden made an interception and a touchdown.
They made all these reactions in the luxury of halls/restaurants enjoying sumptuous lunches, endless drinks, nice gifts and the good company of friends, family and co-workers, while fans who trooped to Dolphin Stadium in Miami watched in rain.
“Super Bowl is Super Bowl. It’s one of the greatest shows on earth. If you are a football fan, you have to come here, watch the game live on a big screen, cheer for your team and enjoy,” said Nick Castro, who watched the game at World Resort along with the more than 150 spectators in the resort’s Royal Taga Hall A.
Castro rooted for the favored Colts, who lived up to their lofty billing beating the Bears, 29-17.
Mike Bondoc of Garapan and Carl Hocog of As Lito also cheered for the Colts, as they wanted the famous Payton Manning to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
“I’ve been a Payton Manning fan since I got interested in football,” said Bondoc, who watched the game with his friends.
“This is a game for the quarterbacks. The quarterback who plays better than his counterpart usually wins,” Hocog said.
Kathryn Barry cheered neither for the Colts nor the Bears when she went to AJ’s Restaurant to watch the championship.
“I wanted to be fair to my kids. One is rooting for the Colts and the other is for the Bears. I just enjoyed watching the game with them,”
AJ’s allowed adult fans to watch the game inside the bar, while they placed another television set outside for the kids.
Super Bowl XLI was also a family affair for the Pascuas, as Annie June, her son Rodwealth and husband Ray watched at World Resort.
“There’s no school and my husband took off from work, so we could spend our time together watching this game,” said Annie June, who cheered for the Bears.
Division of Sports and Recreation staff Joe Mettao, who plays volleyball, but developed an interest in American football when he saw a teacher play the sport a couple of years ago, rooted for the Bears.
“I always go for the underdogs,” Mettao said.
Donovan Castro of Saipan Southern High School was alone defending his Bears against his five other schoolmates, who cheered for the Colts.
“It’s all against one. But I love the Bears, no matter what. For me, they are the better team,” Castro said.
“The Colts are the best. I go for the AFC champion team,” said Edward Dela Cruz, Castro’s friend.
Friends who watched the game together, but supported different teams, made the experience of witnessing the talk of the town in sports exciting and challenging.
“It’s fun to be with friends and watch the game. And it feels great that you are rooting for the Bears, and they are for the Colts. There’s sort of a competition,” Shane Jones, who with friend Zoe Jewell went for the Bears, while their other friends were Colts fans.
Since schools were closed yesterday, friends Russell Buenaventura of GCA and Ray Reyes and Ji Hoon Heo of MHS had time to watch the title match. The trio all rooted for the Colts and enjoyed watching their team.
“It’s a great experience. You get to watch a good show and enjoy the good food,” Heo said.
Spectators also had a chance to win cash prizes and gifts. Pacific Trading gave $500 each for first place raffle winners at World Resort and Pacific Islands Club and $300 at Saipan Grand Hotel
I was here last year and won $500,” Reyes said. “I’ll be very lucky if I win again.”