craigdailypress.com

Bartender Shannon Ketchum said the crowd at Kokopelli's Sports Lounge was on par for a football Sunday as fans settled in for Super Bowl XL.

She said the crowd is about the same size as they have for a Denver Broncos game. Plus, she had a table for 30 people who were "running a little late."

She attributed some of the attendance to the lounge's three plasma TVs, though "the filet special and all the free spaghetti you can eat didn't hurt."

That rings true for Shafter Cosper and his friend Richard Lynch, drill-rig workers from Texas who went to the new sports bar south of Craig for the big game.

While Cosper cheered for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won, 21-10, Lynch looked for a Seattle Seahawks victory, though he would rather talk about former Bronco Keith Bishop, also a native of Midland, Texas.

"He was a tough player," Lynch said. "You would always see him on those (John) Elway highlight films."

City Market checker Jake Earls said there were some last-minute shoppers at the grocery store just before kick-off.

"Not as many as I thought we would have, but a lot of people buying chips and guacamole dip ingredients," Earls said. "Ribs have also been a big seller today."

City Market shopper Karen Snavley knows the feeling of running late. She was hurrying to her car just minutes before game time.

"I'm going to a party at a friend's house," she said. "I have ingredients for a fruit tray and a veggie tray in the bags."

At Pizza Hut, it was business as usual, with no extra workers or drivers scheduled for Sunday's game.

"It's pretty busy," employee Adam Allan said. "We have lots of orders, but there would be more for a Broncos game."

At Mathers' Bar, Jessica Pierce was serving libations to about 20 fans as they enjoyed a buffet that included ribs from J.W. Snacks and Tom Mathers' "special" chili. Pierce has been working there two years and said, "It's pretty normal for a Sunday."

Dan Olsen can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 208, or dolsen@craigdailypress.com.