Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Don Sportsman and Dave Richardson, both of Gardnerville, react to a play during the first half of Superbowl XL on Sunday at Bully's Sports Bar.
Frosty adult beverages? Check.
Abundance of snack foods and munchies? Check.
Official team jersey or faded T-shirt from favorite team? Check.
Now, what time does the game start?
Once a year in February, diets are put on hold, chores are shunned, and gluttony becomes commonplace. Once a year, the commercials are as important as the main event, and everyone has an opinion on the outcome. Oh, and there's a football game, too.
Sunday marked Superbowl XL, pitting the Seattle Seahawks against the Pittsburgh Steelers for the title of world champions. Yet, for the local bars and restaurants, it meant large crowds and big giveaways.
Bully's Sports Bar
"It's a special event. We are giving away all kinds of different things, and we decorated because it is a special event," Mary Meyers, manager of Bully's Sports Bar, said. "It's a big day; we do a lot of business. We've sold over 1,000 wings already, and the game just started."
Ron Caruso and Don Caruso (no relation) were among those who partook of the wings. But both admitted that they were just happy to not be traveling. The pair was part of a group that left New Jersey at 8 a.m. and flew to Los Angeles before hopping another plane to Reno. They stopped for dinner and to catch the game before continuing their drive to Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
"It's been a very long day. We've been traveling for 14 hours," Ron Caruso said.
Despite the majority of the group screaming for Seattle, Don Caruso said he wasn't nervous being the only Pittsburgh fan at the table.
"I'm not worried. I'll just yell out help, and there are plenty of Pittsburgh fans around to help," Don Caruso said.
Across the bar, Don Sportsman and Dave Richardson, both of Gardnerville, sat surrounded by empty plates of chicken wings, nachos and quesadillas. They came with a party of 12, most of whom were occupied with the arcade games.
"We were torn about which team to root for so we flipped a coin, and it came up Seattle," Sportsman said.
As for the other major TV event on Super Sunday - the game commercials - the pair agreed that the best one was the Budweiser commercials, especially the one with the bear.
Mo & Sluggo's
Down at Mo & Sluggo's, owner Morey Tresnit was manning the grill, cooking up hot dogs and chicken.
"It's a tradition that we feed our customers on Superbowl Sunday. We have fun; we enjoy it," Tresnit said.
Inside, Michael Barry of Carson City sat at the bar adorned in Steeler black and gold.
"I've been a Pittsburgh and Green Bay fan for a long time. A lot of my family is from out East," Barry said. "I moved out here when I was young, but I guess you fall back on what you know."
Barry said he was disappointed with the crop of commercials, and that it wasn't the best effort.
"I haven't seen one yet that has even impressed me. They just haven't been very good this year," Barry said.
Stew's Sportatorium
Down the street at Stew's Sportatorium, the most popular items were the nacho bar, the hot wings and Stew's own brewed beer.
"We have about 200 people in here, and it's split about 50-50 with Seahawks and Steelers fans," bar manager Diane Forsythe said.
Harry Cagley had a front-row seat at the table he shared with friends. He wore a Seahawks hat and a blue-and-gray mask, turned backward, he said, "to protect himself."
"We came out to have some food and some drinks and especially enjoy the good company. That's what it's really about," Cagley said.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.