10-YEAR TRADITION IN WEST HILLS PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

WEST HILLS - The Berman family cooked up a truckload of finger foods, turned on eight televisions, hired a magician and set up a 30-foot-tall slide for the ultimate tailgate football party Sunday.

Some 120 people, including 45 children, converged for Super Bowl XXXVI at the Bermans' West Hills home, where in the back yard kids jumped in the bounce house or splashed in the pool, while the adults watched the game from one of two outdoor televisions. A television even was set up in a bathroom.

``This is the most amazing party,'' said Jenny Aarons, 29. ``It beats New Year's.

``It allows you to be a little kid again,'' the West Hills resident and New England Patriots fan said, ticking off details of last year's entertainment, which included rock climbing.

Mark and Sharon Berman have hosted a Super Bowl party for the past decade, except for 1997 when Mark actually got to go see New England go head to head with Green Bay in New Orleans.

``We actually begin preparing in November what to do, working with the menu and what entertainment we are getting and looking into the past history, what we've done and what happened and what we have to do,'' said Mark Berman, a finance manager. ``We keep saying it's the last year we are doing it.''

The first gathering 10 years ago of 20 to 30 die-hard football fans camped in front of the television has turned into a family get-together, featuring a face painter, a balloon artist and a caterer brewing gourmet coffee drinks for grown-ups during half-time.

``My husband is a football fanatic,'' said Sharon Berman, mother to two daughters. ``He loves his football. He really likes to celebrate this one big game.''

It also was a celebration of sorts for Sharon Berman, who says she gets her husband back.

``On Sunday and Monday nights, he's gone,'' she said pointing to the wall unit in the living room holding three televisions, including a giant screen that allows her husband to watch three games simultaneously. ``Everything is planned around football.''

While the Bermans tended to preparation of the food, which included a mountain of shrimp cocktail, chicken wings, potato skins, egg rolls, hot dogs, sausages, a seven-layer guacamole dip, four different pastries and of course a Super Bowl punch, visitors came from as far away as Orange County.

The Bermans began cooking two weeks in advance and now have it down to a science.

``This is the fourth or fifth party I've come to,'' said Massachusetts native and Oxnard resident Matt Kelleher, who painted his face red, white and blue and wore a Patriots jersey and baseball cap. ``It's getting better and better each year.

``It's good family entertainment, lot of fun and good food,'' said Kelleher, 37, who also brought his four kids.

Mark Berman, a Raiders fan, rooted for New England.

However, 65-year-old Fely Nanas pushed for the Rams because they had been a Los Angeles team.

``I've been coming here every year,'' the Tarzana woman said. ``The whole family comes. I love football.''

Every year, the Bermans add something new to the mix, whether it's a new dip or entertainment.

Mark Berman, who said he spends thousands of dollars to throw his gathering, even considered trucking in snow for Sunday's party.

For next year's Super Bowl, Berman has an idea he's kicking around - a masseuse to massage their necks while they watch the game.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Multiple televisions tuned into the Super Bowl entertain guests at Mark and Sharon Berman's house in West Hills.

(2) Mark Berman, right, hosts a hundred friends for his traditional Super Bowl extravaganza.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer