Is 670 Niners country or are the Chiefs kings of Saipan?

I’m a New England Patriots fan and since Tom Terrific with his six Super Bowl rings and the rest of the Brady Bunch got knocked out on the wild card game, I’ve completely lost interest on the rest of the playoffs much less this year’s NFL championship game.

However, Saipan Tribune still needs to come out with the obligatory Super Bowl story asking local pigskin fans who they are rooting for in Super Bowl LIV. So here goes…by the way, who’s playing in today’s Super Bowl again?

Rep. Luis John Castro (R-Saipan) said he’s been a fan of the San Francisco 49ers forever, which in local parlance translates to “since ever since.”

“I’ve been a fan since ‘ever since’ the days of [Joe] Montana and [Jerry] Rice. Even when they were having terrible seasons we still rooted for them. I’m hoping [coach Kyle] Shanahan, Jimmy G (former Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garapolo) and the boys bring another trophy to the Bay. It’s been way too long,” he said.

For former CNMI national swimmer Xenavee Pangelinan Torwal, Saipan might as well be Niners country.

“Niners all the way! I’ve been a Niner fan since I was about 6 years old,” she said adding that her dad introduced her to football.

“It was our bonding time, waking up early Monday morning to watch the games. He was patient and taught me the rules and how it was played. On Mondays when he couldn’t miss work or I couldn’t miss anymore school, we would set the VCR to record the games and watch it later. We didn’t just watch the Niners games, we watched all the games that would show. I just love football because it’s my time with my dad.

The mother of two was so enthralled with the 49ers at age 8 that she told her father she wanted to work in the Niners locker room and marry then 49ers quarterback Steve Young.

PHI Pharmacy general manager Joshua Wise said he was born and raised a Niners fan. But his deep feelings with the 49ers aside, he really believes the 49ers have all it takes to win Super Bowl LIV.

“The 49ers have incredible momentum with their solid run game. Jimmy G has a bunch of weapons at his disposal. And the biggest factor, the D with [DeForest] Buckner, [Nick] Bosa, Kwon [Alexcander], [Dre] Greenlaw, [Richard] Sherman…they’ll get it done. KC has some offensive track stars but the D will win the game,” he said.

Carl Hocog is so confident that Niners will beat the Kansas City Chiefs today that he even predicted the spread—27-23.

“Been rooting for the Niners since the late ’80s. This year might be our year. The defense is pretty tight and the running game. Niners all day every day!” he said.

For Sen. Jude Hofschneider (R-Saipan), since the Patriots are not playing in the Super Bowl this year he’s placing his bet on the 49ers.

“Strong defense outlasts good offense. Strong defense against a great offense? This may prove otherwise. However, 49ers will work to keep [Chiefs quarterback Patrick] Mahomes on the sidelines,” he said.

Kansas City Chiefs fans would beg to disagree, however.

Tony Satur, who went to school in Missouri and lived there for 7 years, said his beloved Chiefs will edge San Francisco, 35-31.

“It’s going to be a great Super Bowl, enjoy!” said Satur, adding that Susan, his beautiful wife of 38 years, is also from the Show-me State.

U.S. Marine Joel Subang said he’s picking the Chiefs because he “just doesn’t like California teams.” On the score, he said Kansas City will prevail 24-17. “Patrick Mahones can rise to the occasion like he did in the playoffs.”

Marianas High School teacher James Glenn has been a “huge” Chiefs fan since he was 5 years old and divines that Kansas City will be holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of Super Bowl LIV, 34-31.

“Ironically Joe Montana, a 49ers legend, was our QB at that time. To be honest, the team hasn’t done much since I became a fan nearly 30 years ago. But now with Patrick Mahomes (who I consider the Michael Jordan of football) and company, it seems the sky is the limit to what this team could accomplish over the next 10-20 years.

Glenn also thinks this is only the beginning of the Chiefs and 49ers clashing in the Super Bowl for years to come.

“I feel like it’s the Chiefs time, but simply hoping for a fairly officiated contest and a great game. GO CHIEFS!!!”

Physician assistant Keith Longuski is also rooting for the Chiefs, having lived in Kansas City for 10 years, during a time he could only describe as some of the worst and trying years as a fan.

“This appearance means so much to the diehard Chiefs fans who waited 50 years. I think it is going to be an offensive battle. Don’t be surprised if the Chiefs score over 50. My take 42-31, Chiefs,” he said, adding that Mahones will prove to everyone he’s the NFL new GOAT (greatest of all time).

For Navy Hill’s Matt Triebel, being born and raised in downtown Kansas City automatically makes him root for the Chiefs in this year’s Super Bowl.

“As most know we have had our many highs and lows as a franchise through the years. But through it all—the Chiefs is the only NFL team I have ever associated with. Furthermore, I am a huge Andy Reid fan and he deserves this Super Bowl. Now is our time!”

As for the final score, Triebel feels it’s also going to be a close game. “It’s been an exciting and high-scoring postseason for KC, and I see that continuing through to the end of the big game. I call a Chiefs win at 41-35.”

Denise Meyers, of Capital Hill, said anyone asking why she’s a Chiefs fan is almost like asking why people on Saipan are called islanders.

“I grew up in Missouri about 4 hours away from Kansas City and have been lucky enough to be going to games for over 10 years now. I am an avid sports fan and in Missouri that means Blues hockey, Cardinals baseball, and CHIEFS FOOTBALL! There’s something magical about being at Arrowhead Stadium; tailgating for hours before the game, going into the loudest stadium in the NFL, and cheering with 70,000 other football fans for a stop on 3rd and 2 or watching an unbelievable one-handed catch. I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember, but this is the first time in my lifetime we have ever made it to the Super Bowl.”

Meyers predicts a more comfortable 35-23 win by her hometown Chiefs. “To all the Niners fans: Good luck and may the best homie win, and by that I mean Mahomie,” she said. (With reports from Bea Cabrera)