FANS ENJOY SOCIAL ASPECT OF BIG GAME

It was billed as one of the most lopsided match-ups in Super Bowl history: the powerful San Francisco 49ers against the San Diego Chargers, originally picked to finish last in the AFC West.

And although it was lopsided -- the 49ers beat the Chargers 49-26 -- predictions of a blowout didn't keep anyone away from Cape Girardeau's Super Bowl XXIX parties. Hundreds of fans crowded into homes and bars to see if the oddsmakers were right.

Every year the game isn't so much a sports spectacular as a social event. There's beer and soda to drink, snacks to munch and brand-new, high-tech commercials to watch. Friends and families used slow points in the game to chat and catch up on news, but yet sat riveted during million-dollar-a-half-minute spots for pretzels, beer, athletic shoes and the like.

At the Purple Crackle in East Cape Girardeau, Ill., David Pearce packed customers in by offering free food -- a wild-game buffet with raccoon, deer and goose meat -- and drink specials. The event attracted lots of baby-boomers, a far cry from the bar's usual nighttime crowd of college students.

Sisters Marilyn Morris and Bonnie Eaves took their uncle, Jim Wiley, across the river for the party at the Crackle.

"My sister and I used to watch football all the time, but I haven't kept up with it the last couple of years," Eaves said. "Everyone's a football fan on Super Bowl Sunday."

Wiley said he didn't care much for sports, but good-looking cheerleaders and an interesting half-time show aroused his curiosity.

At a nearby table, Mike Schulte and his friends sat cheering for the underdog Chargers. They began the day with a Super Bowl Sunday breakfast and then headed to the Crackle for the pre-game show.

According to the group, Schulte is the biggest football fan in the world, but he wasn't cheering for anyone.

"I'll cheer for the St. Louis Rams in next year's Super Bowl," Schulte said, barely glancing away from the screen.

Bill and Judy Lynn of Jackson and Roger and Janet Felty of Cape were in Pagoda Garden's bar and restaurant for half-time, but said they would head to another party later. None of the four was worried about the one-sided game -- there was more to watch.

"There's only one Super Bowl a year, and you have to watch who you get," football enthusiast Roger Felty said. "Seems like this year the commercials are more interesting than the game."

Others, like members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, decided to stay away from the bars and go to friends' houses for the big game. Frat brothers Tom Schumacker and Rich Anderson opened their South Benton Street home to other Lambdas and their girlfriends. The living room carpet was barely visible, covered with cheering friends.

"This was supposed to be at someone else's house, but he canceled on us because the Dallas Cowboys didn't win," Schumacker said. "I figured we needed someplace to have it."

Schumaker and his roommate are avid football fans. They predicted the women in attendance were there more for the social aspects.