NFLFANS UNITE

NFLSocial Club member Mike Ford celebrates a Panthers touchdown Sunday while watching the game at Starmax. With good times and a wealth of hardhitting football action, Starmax is the place to be on Sundays as the NFLSocial Club takes over the venue's sports bar area.

During the football season, very few fans have control over whether they will be able to root their team to victory as television networks determine which parts of the country will see what games.

This being the case, fans of teams must often wait for highlights on ESPN SportsCenter or other sports shows.

"Being a Chicago Bears fan, it is not easy getting to see any of their games down here," Starmax manager Brian Kowert said. "It was not enough just being able to see the highlights, so this club helps me as well as other football fans not have to go through the hassle of having to wait to see how our team does."

By being part of the NFLclub, members are able to enjoy football, food specials and the company of people with a similar passion for football of the professional variety. There is a membership fee of $25 to join the club, which goes toward the club's purchase of the DirecTV NFLSunday Ticket package that broadcasts each NFLgame during the season.

"To the best of my knowledge, there was not a place for people to gather and watch games," Kowert said. "Fortunately, we were able to rent out the bar and create an atmosphere that I believe all football fans can enjoy."

The social club came about as a result of Kowert and several of other friends and co-workers at Starmax wanting a place to sit back, relax and watch football during the weekends. With very few options, the decision was made to create a club that was not specific to their inner circle but involved the whole community.

"This is a means for us to give back to our community by giving them something they love," NFLSocial Club member Mike Ford said. "It gives us a chance to unwind and watch our teams before another work week begins."

Starmax's bar has nine different high definition television screens that give members ample opportunities to check how their favorite team is doing. In addition to football, the social club also allows members to play pool free and its arcade version of the popular Madden football game.

However, one thing that cannot be supplied by the club or the venue is alcohol, whose sale is prohibited under state law on Sundays. But members can bring their own drinks if they so choose.

For more information about the club, call Kowert at 489- 1515, ext. 113.