By Jim CaplePage 2

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Stop me personally if you have heard that one before: A sportswriter, a chick from MTV’s “Real World” and an Amish chain-smoker get into a bar to look at the Super Bowl.

The folks who make $300 throwback jerseys, the Arena Football players who sacrifice their bodies for $30,000 a year and a 99-pound woman who holds the world record for eating chicken wings in my week-long quest to find the heart of Philadelphia and Eagles fans, I talked with the Santa Claus who got pelted with snowballs. We toured Independence Hall, consumed Philly cheesesteak and got hopelessly frustrated attempting to drive around town hallway. We ran up the steps to your Art Museum while humming the theme from “Rocky. “

And also to round down my experience, we drove off to Pennsylvania Dutch nation on Sunday to view the Super Bowl on the list of Amish.

Go ahead. Make up your punch lines. My pal, Rod, did. Just him i was going to Amish country to watch the Super Bowl, he came up with a list of the Top 10 Questions the Amish Would Ask While Watching the Super Bowl as I told:

10. “Hey, exactly what took place into the Bud Bowl? “

9. “Wouldn’t that Jillian Barberie look hot in a cut that is modestly of a great color textile, black colored cape and a prayer bonnet? “

8. “can it be simply me personally, or would be the commercials more entertaining compared to the game? “

7. “Paul McCartney. Was not he for the reason that musical organization, Wings? “

6. “The Eagles call that a two-minute offense? My buggy goes quicker than that! “

5. ” Do you observe that? Doug Mientkiewicz simply went down because of the soccer! “

4. “It’s halftime. That reminds me personally. Do you believe Janet Jackson’s bro is responsible? “

3. “Bradshaw — do you want to simply SHUT THE $#%& UP. “

2. “Why are the Patriots in a 4-3 protection whenever they generally stay static in a 3-4 protection against a moving group? “

1. “What Is Disney World? “

Therefore, no, I becamen’t precisely yes just what I would find, that was kind of the purpose. Like most of us, my familiarity with the Amish — a strict christian faith that bans cars, TVs and electricity — ended up being virtually limited by duplicated viewings of “Witness” and “Kingpin. ” Quite simply, stereotypes.

The stereotypes, however, start to peel away right when I reach the city of Intercourse (no jokes, please — they will have heard them currently) and drive through the neighborhood school. Here on the play ground are nine Amish children tossing around a green soccer with an Eagles logo printed onto it. They have simply finished their Sunday services; even though their parents see next door, they are playing just a little two-hand touch. Were it perhaps not for the old-fashioned Amish garb, it can be a scene any place in the nation.

Well, that and also the known reality the youngsters are courteous, helpful and respectful whenever we stop to talk.

Dave Esh Jr., 15, assures me personally that the Amish, certainly, have an interest within the Super Bowl; and like everyone that is most else in this area of the state, they have been rooting when it comes to Eagles. They will not view the overall game on television, needless to say, many might slip off to tune in to it regarding the radio or get updates from friends.

He appears inside my automobile and notices the Sunday paper regarding the passenger chair. “Is that the Philadelphia Inquirer? ” he asks. “Am I Able To consider the activities part? “

Sure, no issue. There is a unique super dish part, too, if you’d like to consider that.

The kids huddle together by the screen as Dave excitedly leafs through the pages and centers around the beginning lineups. “Hey, Terrell Owens will probably begin! “

I simply tell him to make the area like I just bought a beer for a minor with him, which makes me feel. I am talking about, you will find advertisements for strip bones and intercourse lines for the reason that sports area. And therefore are these children permitted to read newspapers, anyhow?

Yes, they have been. Amish can browse the paper and record their most favorite groups, precisely the in an identical way we did as a youngster during those long-ago pre-ESPN times. Dave many thanks me for my offer, but politely turns straight down the paper and claims goodbye. As enjoyable he and his friends really would much rather get back to their football game as it must be to answer a strange reporter’s prying and uninformed questions about his faith.

Seeking to find a shop available on a Sunday, we drive later on, moving the casual Amish horse and buggy, and pull into a parking area. More stereotypes fall. Here in the rear of the great deal, where these are typically hidden through the road, a dozen or more teenagers that are amish in Eagles jerseys are going out by their vehicles, many of them puffing madly away on cigarettes.