CHECKING IN WITH ... RUDY’S PUB & GRILL:

Super Bowl Sunday. Three little words that make even girlie girls want to block out some time on a Sunday to watch grown men in body armor barrel into each other like animals. But you can’t watch it at home if you want to really get your blood up with the crowd. Besides, we know most of you weren’t invited to Leigh Steinberg’s shindig in Tampa. Well, fortunately, in Newport Beach there’s Rudy’s Pub & Grill where you can wave your Terrible Towel or, uh, I don’t know, tweet like a Cardinal or something. This week we check in with owner Rudy Kaminski.

What do you have planned for this Super Bowl Sunday? Any new wrinkles you haven’t offered before?

We will be having many give-a-ways throughout the afternoon. Drink specials and promo girls from various liquor and beer companies will be in the house. For the first time this year we are having a “Best Touchdown Dance” contest at halftime.

Exactly how many TVs do you have there?

We have 31 TVs and not a bad seat in the house.

How many people do you expect? What’s a typical crowd on Super Bowl Sunday?

We are expecting a full house. A typical crowd on Super Bowl Sunday is generally all across the board. Avid sports fans who can’t wait for the game to begin, casual fans who come for the commercials and food, the guys come for the girls and the girls come because the guys are here. We will have something for everyone. It’s a great day.

We’re pretty sure the Terrible Towels will be out en force, but don’t you think most folks will be rooting for the underdog Cardinals? There still have to be some Matt Leinart fans out there, right? What about you? Who do you want to win?

I have to believe that most of America will be rooting for the Cardinals. If you don’t live in Pittsburgh or have a relative in Pittsburgh, why wouldn’t you be rooting for the underdog Cardinals? I’ll be wearing red on Sunday!

Admit it: You had no idea the Cardinals would make it to the Super Bowl when the season began.

Not a chance in hell. Even when the playoffs began nobody thought the Cardinals would make it out of the first round.

What’s your favorite Super Bowl of all time and why?

Super Bowl XXXI when the Packers beat the Patriots 35-21 and all my friends from Boston cried like little babies.

It was awesome.

Be honest. Do my Vikings have a prayer of ever making it back to the Super Bowl in my lifetime?

I’ll tell you this. The Vikings have a better chance of making it back to the Super Bowl than the Dallas Cowboys ever do.

You talk about a franchise that’s in a serious tail-spin. Wow.

PAUL ANDERSON is the city editor for the Daily Pilot. He may be reached at (714) 966-4633 or at [email protected].