Beijing Boyce

Yes, those pompoms are real.

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I heard many people wonder this past week whether Luga’s Villa would — as advertised — have NFL cheerleaders at its Super Bowl party. Not just cheerleaders, mind you, but 100-percent real live genuine authentic NFL ones issued with ISO-9000 approved pompoms. It did.

The interesting thing is the cheerleaders wore little and were attractive but — contrary to a week’s worth of wink-wink comments — they and their routine came off less as sexy and more as wholesome. Good fun. As one person said, “This feels so apple pie.” As another added, “Forget the beer, give me a glass of milk.” Then again, looking at those abs, I best pass on the pie and milk for crunchies. Perhaps while watching “Bring It On“…

Give me an L-U-G-A!

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From NFL cheerleaders to padlocks, from buffet breakfasts to lost signals, this year’s Super Bowl party lineup had no shortage of ups and down. Even better, it drew a much larger turnout than last year. A quick look at spots visited…

Touchdowns

The Den: Good crowds upstairs and downstairs, a solid RMB50 breakfast buffet, and efficient drink delivery made it a winner again. RMB25 for Aussie beers like James Boag’s is one of the better regular prices in town.

Goose and Duck: A good, if lighter, turnout than last year, with a breakfast buffet early on and a BBQ outside. This place gets grungier by the month, but still delivers for sports fans, though there were complaints about the coffee (solution: drink beer).

Paddy O’Shea’s: Almost every table full for the biggest event on Ireland’s annual sports schedule.

Surprise plays

Luga’s Villa: Who dat in Luga’s? Four New England Patriots cheerleaders. This might seem like a somewhat grungy spot for the American Chamber of Commerce to do its Super Bowl party but the combination of NFL China, the cheerleaders, and more than 150 attendees made it work.

Union: Despite having the priciest breakfast, at RMB120, Union drew about 70 people and showed off the new TV system. Another stride toward it becoming a good high-end spot to catch sports.

Field goals

Hooters: A modest crowd, with about 30 people at 7:40 AM. With waitresses that double as cheerleaders, this was a decent choice for those who wanted Chinese commentary.

Fumbles

Blue Frog: Problems with its signal in the second quarter. Been there, done that; you just have to move on and get it right next time.

Pavillion: This place is a comfy spot to watch a game, but a turnout of less than a dozen patrons suggests more marketing is needed.

Missed the team bus

Danger Doyle’s: Just like last year, when it went by the name Stadium, the doors were locked. Despite a year that saw it gain credibility, the departure of Glenn Phelan seems to have the place back to square one or, to use football terminology, stuck deep in its own end.

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Some notes from people who watched the game at other bars:

All-Star: “Small crowd and limited food” said EP in an SMS.

Tim’s: The first floor was packed, said D. Lish.

Irish Volunteer: About 15 people, said KL, which means “half full.”

The Super What?