MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- The 2003 National Football League season is in full swing, and the Infinities Enlisted Club has just the ticket for Marines on station wanting to get in on all the action.
The club's management hopes to lure football fanatics away from their barracks and living rooms by offering access to every NFL game played on any given Sunday, said Anibal Aguirre, club operations manager.
"The NFL Ticket provides us with (Direct TV satellite feeds of) every NFL game played on Sundays," said Jay White, the club's general manager. "You'll have all those games being played on all our monitors, so you'll be able to see your favorite team."
According to White, there will be no door charge for Marines to view the games.
"As in everything around here, it's free," added White. "It's provided free of charge to all armed service clubs, but next year, we'll have to pay for the service."
Whether the club carries the NFL Ticket next year will depend on Marine interest and participation during the season, said White.
"We've been getting more and more Marines to come out every Sunday," he said. "We're really trying to keep it going and get a full house in here."
Last year, about 100 to 200 Marines attended the club every Sunday to watch NFL games. Based upon the initial turnout to view the first gridiron match-up of the season, the club's management expects the same turn-out to continue.
According to Aguirre, dozens of Marines crammed into the club to watch the grudge match between the New York Jets and Washington Redskins.
Apparently, the lure of watching an NFL game on a giant-sized screen proved too irresistible for some.
"I came to see the Jets on the big screen," said Pvt. Guy Massey, Marine Air Control Squadron-1. "I found out about (the NFL Ticket) from the ladies of Semper Fit and saw the fliers."
Massey, who sat at the bar wearing a Jets jersey and hardhat, appeared to be the club's lone Jets fan. The sole cheer heard in the building as the Jets scored a touchdown and successfully kicked two field goals belonged to Massey.
He was also the only person disappointed and surprised by the Jets defeat at the hands of the Redskins.
However, he said he will not let the prospect of another floundering season by the Jets prevent him from coming out to the club and enjoying the club's expansive NFL offerings.
"I'd like to come out on Sundays (to watch the games)," he said.