There's nothing like watching a great game in a great bar.
One of the coolest experiences of my life was two years ago when Arizona beat Gonzaga in double-overtime in a second-round March Madness game. I was watching it at Saggio's, and the place was packed. The entire last half hour of that game was full of crazy plays and clutch buzzer beaters, and in each case, the entire bar gave a collective "OOOOOOOOH!!!!!" that must have echoed up and down Central Avenue. Strangers were high-fiving, and every single person in the restaurant wore the same Cheshire cat smile.
Now that football's back, it's time to make our way back into the bars looking for the same type of experience.
There are countless bars all around Albuquerque and, really, I have to say that if a bar has a television, it can be considered a sports bar. I've watched football all over - and drank the same beer from a dozen different taps. However, a few bars stand out over others in terms of atmosphere and amenities.
The Fox & Hound hasn't been around that long, but it's starting to make a name for itself.
First of all, there are televisions in all different sizes everywhere. On a Tuesday night, it's possible to find 10 or 11 different baseball games played live on separate televisions. If there's a sporting event you're dying to see, you know you'll catch it there. Those rare times I've wanted to watch an Indians baseball game or some obscure NBA matchup that wasn't shown, I only had to ask, and the game would suddenly pop up on the closest television.
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Fox & Hound also gets bonus points for class. With the lighting, finished wood and everything else inside, the bar gives off a tasteful vibe that college schlubs can appreciate and 30-something yuppies can feel comfortable in.
One knock against them I have is their new smarmy menu. It used to look like an Applebee's menu. Now it's been classed up with no pictures, just higher prices. And what the hell happened to the club? My favorite food item was taken away for no apparent reason, and for that I am deeply resentful.
Also - and I can't emphasize this enough - the music is terrible, just horrible. And we're not just forced to listen to the latest TRL crapola over and over, we also have to watch the music videos on some of the televisions. There's no way I could spend an entire day there.
Nearby is Boston's, which is also fairly new. It has great pizza and unlike Fox & Hound, this place feels like a sports bar. There are jerseys on the wall, and the sounds of baseball fill the whole bar. That's what I like from my sports bars. The crowd is more college aged, which creates a nice atmosphere.
One knock against them is their overall size. The actual bar just doesn't feel big enough, and I've never gone there and not had to wait for a table.
If I were to pick one sports bar to spend the day watching football - and I think Riley will agree with me on this one - I would have to go with Saggio's. Younger crowd -which can get to you a bit - but the televisions are placed perfectly, the food is good, and the pitchers are affordable.
Plus, I've got some pretty good memories from there.
