Local Fans Cheer 'Amazing Super Bowl Game'

From amazed to bored to suspicious, fans at two Niles sports bars had lots of opinions on the Super Bowl Sunday.

At half time, Matthew DeBaz, watching the game at , was not impressed. "It just seems like a pretty boring game," he said.

His cousin Ninos Binyamin had a more favorable view. "It's a new game," he said after the score tipped from the Giants to the Patriots before Madonna took the halftime stage.

Binyamin was rooting for New York. "I'm a Bears fan, and I'm rooting for the Giants because they beat the Packers, and I don't like Green Bay. Plus, they're underdogs," he said.

Wearing a Payton jersey, Mark Zirngibl thought the 10-9 score made for an interesting game going into the second half. He also said the officials were rough on the Patriots.

"Madonna was good," said his companion Amanda Del Dotto. "Nothing spectacular, though; it was pretty safe."

"Really we enjoyed the commercials," Zirngibl added.

At Playbook Sports Bar, Carol Byrne, who had just won a T-shirt and cap, said "We loved the halftime entertainment.

Her sister, Diane Moore, chimed in, "Madonna was great."

Both women said their husbands wanted the Patriots to win, but they themselves didn't really care.

Kevin Walsh was convinced the game was rigged.

"I think the NFL is fixed," he said. "That first play for the Patriots was a safety--Tom Brady's better than that. It's crazy."

He and Mick O'Rourke, who wanted the Giants to win, said they were having a great time watching the football finale.

"It's been a phenomenal game," said O'Rourke.

A few tables away, Alfonso Anguiano was of the same mind.

"It was an amazing game, actually," he said. "I expected New England to score, but they folded at the end. I'm glad it wasn't a blowout and a boring game. It was awesome."

His wife Celina Anguiano observed, "I think the better prepared team won. I think Manning was much stronger and had much more to strive for."

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