Markeshia Ricks Photo
John McGowan said he wasn’t particularly interested in the outcome of the match-up between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. At least not at first.
“I’m a Giants fan,” said McGowan (pictured). He just wanted to watch some football and drink some brews on Super Bowl Sunday at his favorite watering hole, New West Cafe on Whalley Avenue in the heart of Westville Village, to chase away the blues he was feeling over the recent death of a friend.
He said he was rooting for the Pats because he favored showing an East Coast team “some love” rather than a team from a place he’d never been.
That was all good with bartender Michelle Patterson, who was quickly pouring beers and helping keep tabs on the ongoing pool that the bar was running, while clad in Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s football jersey.
Like many in the crowd at the bar, McGowan found himself sucked into the game just before the first half came to a close. The Pats were leading by seven. But with six seconds left in the first half, the Seahawks had possession of the ball and one last chance to score before heading into the locker room.
“They’ll probably kick the field goal,” McGowan predicted. “If they try to go for the touchdown, that’d be a ballsy move.”
Much to McGowan’s astonishment, the Hawks went for “the ballsy move.” And it worked, with the Hawks tying the score.
“It’s a textbook decision,” the former Wilbur Cross High School football player said with a voice tinged with disbelief. “You go for the field goal. That’s what you do. That’s a ballsy move. I’m impressed.”
So was Rob, a non-traditional Southern Connecticut State University student studying nursing (pictured at right in photo), who overheard McGowan talking. Like McGowan, he wasn’t a big fan of either of the teams playing — he roots for the Baltimore Ravens — but he too was surprised by the Hawks swinging the momentum in their direction heading into the half.
“It might have been a stupid move, but it paid off,” Rob said. “This is a great game.”
McGowan agreed, and a friendship was born.
With Katy Perry giving her all during the half-time show, McGowan and his new friend Rob realized they have a bit in common. Rob is from Kentucky. McGowan’s father is originally from there. Like Rob, McGowan has ties to SCSU. He has credits toward a master’s degree in history at the university. He regaled his end of the bar with tales of Captain Thunderbolt, and other interesting information about Westville.
Like many in New West Cafe Sunday night, Rob was a regular of Delaney’s Tap Room and Restaurant before it was destroyed by fire. He lives in the apartment complex on the other side of the bar, so now he’s a regular.
John Mazaril (pictured at right in photo), who co-owns the bar with Marc Sapienza, said increasingly he’s seeing people who frequented Delaney’s bellying up to the long wooden bar at New West Cafe. Known for its wings, New West attracts many students from Southern, but also a diverse crowd of regulars from the neighborhood. “A lot of people don’t know that we have food here — good food,” he said.
Coming back from the half, the Hawks managed a third-quarter TD and field goal that put them ahead 24 to 14, a triumph that made the Pats fans in the room cringe collectively. With the Pats still down well into the fourth quarter, things didn’t look good.
“If they don’t get a touchdown in the next three minutes, they’re done,” remarked McGowan.
As if on cue, the Pats scored, and the room erupted in cheers.
A few minutes later the Hawks literally threw their chance at being back-to-back Super Bowl champs away in what has been called the worst call in NFL history. The Pats secured their fourth Lombardi trophy and a trip to Disneyland. (We hope they’re all vaccinated.)
The home crowd was pleased.
Including McGowan — with the game, and with the haunt. With Delaney’s gone, he said, New West Cafe is the place to go in Westville to grab a beer and watch a game with other people from the neighborhood. “It’s the only thing left,” he said.
Great game last night.
Maybe change the link to the worst play call ever. The insensitive reference to bipolar disorder, and the ignorant use of the term "retarded" repeatedly, only detract from an otherwise good story. I'm sure there are many other places where people are decrying the play call that led to the interception, in far more eloquent ways.