enlarge 2002 Press Herald file

As one of five fans who have been to every Super Bowl, Don Crisman gets a chance to purchase a ticket each year.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Super Bowl never gets tired to Don Crisman.

He's the 71-year-old man from Kennebunk who is one of five fans who have been to every Super Bowl. Sunday, he and his group -- Stan Whitaker of Denver, Bob Cook of Milwaukee, Larry Jacobson of San Francisco and Tom Henschel of Tampa, Fla., being the others -- sat in the end zone as the New England Patriots played the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Crisman is a Patriots fan -- big surprise there -- but the Patriots don't have to be at the big game for him to have a good time.

"I think the best part, for me, is seeing all the people we see every year, meeting the friends you've made for 35 years or so," he said. "Of course the Patriots being here is the other half. But even if the Patriots weren't here, a big reason to come is to see all these friends. We've made a lot of friends in 42 years."

One of them is Walter Lippman of Connecticut. Lippman's been to 23 Super Bowls. "I'm in training," he said Sunday during a pregame brunch.

Lippman can even ignore the fact that the men have opposite rooting interests.

"Even though he's for the Patriots and I'm for the Giants," said Lippman, "we're still friends forever."

Crisman almost stopped coming to the Super Bowl 11 years ago. Then the Patriots made it there, and even though they lost 35-21 to Green Bay, Crisman figured he'd keep going.

"I have this crazy thing about even numbers so I said to my wife (Beverley) maybe I'll shoot for 35," he said. "Then the Patriots started to look good again and here we are. And they're still looking awful good. These are unprecedented times.

"The people in New England better appreciate it."

Crisman certainly appreciates his good fortune. After Super Bowl XXXII, when the story of Crisman and his friends became news, the NFL stepped in and began allotting each of them a ticket at face value.

"And we've been sitting together since," said Crisman. "I think we would have quit by now (because of ticket prices) if not for that."

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at: