Larry Johnican of Hampton arrived at the Sports Café on Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro just before noon Sunday- before the sports bar opened. He wanted to ensure his family and friends got a good seat. Good thing he did. By 2 p.m. the sports bar was packed with more than 250 people and folks were being turned away. Parking spilled over into the nearby CVS parking lot and down into the surrounding neighborhood. Ashley Wood, 27, said she planned to pick up pizza and wings and watch the game at her Jonesboro home.
Meanwhile back inside, Shawn Broughton had caught a heavy bout of Falcon Fever.
“Green Bay’s going to Grady today!” The Jonesboro resident clad in a Falcons jersey shouted over the din of noise.
Nearby at the Johnican table, brothers Frederick and Tony Mathis shouted “Brotherhood! Brotherhood!”
The last time Frederick Mathis watched the Falcons flirt with a chance at the Superbowl. He was in the Army in Egypt.
William “Billy” Jones stopped in the sports bar to pick up a friend and 30 wings to go.
“I’m born and raised here so I’m a diehard fan win, lose or draw,” Jones said while waiting for his order.
“It’s our third time getting this close. The city really needs this.”
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