Super Bowl notebook

It seemed that Bears fans outnumbered Colts fans by at least a 3-1 margin.

When Lovie Smith, Brian Urlacher and Rex Grossman took the field, there was nothing but applause.

When Peyton Manning and other Colts ran out, there was some applause but also some booing.

Adam Johnston and Jack Tackett watched the Bears in the Super Bowl on Sunday as fans did all over the world, but they had a unique perspective. The two Marines are stationed in Al Asad, Iraq, where sports is a temporary diversion.

Johnston, a corporal from Evanston, was born Sept. 1, 1986 -- about seven months after the Bears beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX.

''I missed it the last time around, so I was going to make sure I watched it this time'' he said. ''We've got Internet connections here and TVs in the chow hall and rec center.

''The games usually come on real late at night or real early in the morning. The tempo never stops over here, so it's always nice to sit down, relax and watch the game when you can.''

Tackett is a staff sergeant from the North Side.

''I've been out here since the beginning of January,'' he said. ''So fortunately, I caught all the games this season, except the last [regular-season] one against the Packers. I guess it was good I didn't see that one.

''But it's been great, something to look forward to every week besides the daily routine.''

Tackett said games usually draw decent crowds.

''But there aren't a lot of Bears fans where we're at," he said. ''Everybody seems to be rooting against the Bears. I have no idea why.''

The Playboy party filled American Airlines Arena on Saturday night as Playmates, actors and musicians mingled with fans willing to plunk down $2,000 for food, drinks and star gazing.

The biggest star -- popularity-wise -- was Chicago's Jeremy Piven. The biggest star -- girth-wise -- was Joe Gannascoli, who played Vito Spatafore on "The Sopranos." Other party-goers included David Spade and members of Phish.

Closer to South Beach, Paris and Nicky Hilton attended the Penthouse bash, where Heather Vandeven was crowned Pet of the Year. Warren Moon and Julius Jones reportedly were among the athletes there, joining entertainers Ludacris and Kevin Federline.

Ludacris also made Leigh Steinberg's yacht party earlier Saturday, as did Moon. One of the stranger story lines there came from a publicist who said a former NBA player will come out of the closet on Valentine's Day. He said the player retired about three years ago and did not play for the Bulls.

Andy Rooney of "60 Minutes" fame had to sit in the auxiliary press box, but he wasn't complaining.

"I've been to about 25 Super Bowls," he said. "I'm a football fan, especially of the Giants. My father would take me to games when I was a kid. It's more fun when you care who wins."

Rooney said he didn't have a rooting interest Sunday, but he did have an opinion.

''I was surprised the Bears were such a big underdog," he said. "I predicted them to win."

As several reporters, including the Sun-Times' Mike Mulligan, did a spot for Ch. 32 on Saturday, a police boat or security boat cruised past the set on Watson Island, shining a spotlight. One officer apparently pointed a gun.

Mike Ditka wore his Bears sweater during pregame work with ESPN.

Hot dogs at Dolphin Stadium were $5 and beers were $10.