THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 27, 1996 TAG: 9601270244
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TAMARA STANLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
The Cowboys may be America's Team, but Lynnhaven Mall is Steel City.
The Steelers are sacking the Cowboys in sales at two side-by-side kiosks selling each Super Bowl opponents' gear.
Die-hard enthusiasts can get anything they want at the America's Team and the Steel City minivending carts: hats, T-shirts, sweat suits, key chains, earrings, photos. . . .
What they can't buy is a guaranteed win Sunday.
``If by some very small possibility the Steelers lose, a flood of tears will flow in Virginia Beach,'' said Arlene Keener of Virginia Beach, eyeing a record-size Steelers logo magnet as she browsed Thursday night.
Terry Surney, in a Steelers hat, had just bought a bright orange Terrible Towel when he remembered the year he became a fan - 1978. Pittsburgh beat Dallas. It was the first football game this native of London saw.
What if the Steelers lose? ``I take it personal,'' he said. ``I'm mad for weeks.''
No matter what happens Sunday, Scott Chapman, who owns and runs both kiosks, is seeing Astroturf green. By chance, his season picks are both going to the bowl. And he's enjoying the pregame cash.
``I lucked out like a champ. Like I say, `Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money.' ''
For most of this week, kiosk managers have found fans waiting for them to open for business.
The back and preorder lists for championship souvenirs is four pages long.
Chapman's luck is paying off. ``I tell people that for $100 I'll tell them the final score,'' said Chapman, sporting a No. 8 Troy Aikman jersey.
And that, he confidently predicts, will be 37-23, Dallas.
He has specialized in Cowboys paraphenalia for years, but started selling Steelers items last September.
At the time, he couldn't decide whether to carry Carolina Panthers or Steelers merchandise. So, he flipped a quarter. It came up a glossy steel.
``I still have that quarter,'' he said.
Chapman is also cashing in with the help of Redskins and 49ers fans, and everyone else who hates ``America's favorite team.'' Cowboy haters are among his best Steel City customers.
A bumper sticker with a mean, spike-haired kid relieving himself on the Cowboys logo is a big seller. You can also get a T-shirt of the kid decorating the Steelers logo.
But buying from the kiosks is not all the fans do.
More trash talking has gone on at the kiosks the past week than probably has gone on in Tempe, Ariz., as shoppers continue to heckle each other.
``If this is America's Team, then this is God's Team,'' said a chubby man in plastic camouflage pants after pointing at Chapman in his blue and white jersey and then pointing at the Steel City kiosk.
Some fans of the Cowboys jokingly refuse to write a check out to Steel City, and vice versa. Or don't want to be helped unless the attendant is wearing their team's jersey.
Even the managers get into it.
To manager Gretchen Robbins the Super Bowl is ``The Boys vs. The Men of Steel.''
``I think whoever loses should have to shave their head,'' said Chapman, already with a closely shaven scalp, to Robbins.
After Sunday, one kiosk will have to close.
``It'll be all Cowboys on Monday,'' Chapman said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT\The Virginian-Pilot
Scott Chapman plays both sides, swingin a Pittsburgh Terrible Towel
and wears a Cowboys' Troy Aikman No. 8 jersey.
by CNB