Canstance Autry, left, claps to a Tampa Bay Buccaneer touchdown as her son, Jonathan Balleweg, raises his arms at Bully's Sports Bar Sunday in what was to become a high scoring Super Bowl XXXVII. Photo by Brian Corley
The black-clad fans at Joe Bob's Roadhouse erupted into cheers before the Dixie Chicks could launch the national anthem at the start of Super Bowl XXXVII.
Four hours later, some of those same fans were leaving before the game had ended.
While Santana and Beyonce Knowles came together on Oye Como Va in the pregame show, the Oakland Raiders Booster Club at Joe Bob's was cheering for anything that moved: Jerry Rice's face on the big screen, a funny commercial or a waitress coming with drinks. When game ref Bill Corollo was introduced on screen, fans yelled "Be fair!" at the television.
"I'm as passionate a fan as you can be," explained Tyler Kimball, 22, of Reno. "I turned 3 years old when they last won it all. History will show that we can dominate in the Super Bowl as we always have."
Unfortunately for the Raiders fans at Joe Bob's and elsewhere, it didn't turn out that way.
"Complete humiliation," said Kimball after the game.
"I'm pissed off" was all another fan could say.
Carson City Raiders Booster Club Vice President Steve Lamoreaux, shaking his head, maintained a positive attitude.
"We'll be back next year," he said. "We'll be back next year."
Not everyone in Carson City was backing Oakland Sunday. Across Hot Springs Road at Decades, bouncers Kyle Thomas, 21, and Kevin Knigge, 24, supported the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers, respectively. Even surrounded by a crowd of Raiders fans, they were having fun.
"It's always a good show," said Thomas.
Decades offered ribs and tri-tip from Suzie and Norman Westgate at Suzie's BBQ. The couple won first place for their chicken at the Florida State BBQ Championship.
Also at Decades was a rare $100-a-square football pool. "That's $10,000 worth of squares," said Decades owner Rod Fox.
Over at Bully's Sports Bar near Kmart, Rachel Fletcher won a "gift table" in the raffle. She got a bucket each of chicken wings and of beers, free shots at half time and some T-shirts. She invited new friends to the table, one of whom was Dave Noethens, who was visiting from Lancaster, Calif.
According to Bully's assistant manager, free soda pop was offered to all designated drivers.
The place was packed with both Bucs and Raiders fans. "There's not a seat in the house," said bouncer Brian Dickensen.
The Old Globe Saloon had a spread of homemade food.
Jess Edwards who works at Weaver Aircraft, brought in some of the 6-foot, 65-pound wahoo he caught 80 miles off Cabo San Lucas to barbecue.
Gini Ramirez, who brought asparagus wrapped in ham, said she was waiting for the trivia game to come on after the Super Bowl.
Back at Joe Bob's, owner Brad Herndon said he was a bit disappointed as the game wound down.
"Some of the Raiders fans shaved their heads last week, and if they won tonight, I was gonna let them jump in the pool" of the bar's hot springs.
As the clock ticked down to zero and the Raiders were down by more than 20 points, Raiders fans were already thinking about next year.
"We've got two draft picks in the first round," said Kimball. "I think we're going to have a pretty good draft next year."
The Raiders booster club will meet for its next board meeting on Feb. 4 at Appleby's.
On the Net
Carson City Raiders Booster Club: http://c.c.r.b.c.tripod.com/
