Best Sports Pub to watch the Lakers Game.

iam · Starting Rotation Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 816

I live in South County but grew up in IE. Until this day whenever I get a chance, I would make the drive just to go and catch games at this sports bar in Rancho Cucamonga called "The Beer Hunter". It's right off the 15 & Foothill, next to Wal-Mart.

Environment is great. Guys go there to watch the games, not to socialize or pretend like they care about the game. Food is relatively cheap but the serving is great. I work here in Irvine, right across the street from Fox Sports Grill. I tell you, sometimes when I work late and don't feel like going home to catch the game, I would walk across the street and catch the game there. I'm telling you, it would piss me off when I look around and see just about everyone there chatting away and could care less about the game. Then you get the occasional cheer when Kobe scores. Sometimes sitting in the bar, I overhear questions like, "Who's that white kid playing for the Lakers?" (referring to sasha)

Anyways, would like to hear from the rest of you especially guys in OC if you know any REAL SPORTS BAR, where serious fans go to watch the games.

unggoy · Star Player Joined: 03 Mar 2002 Posts: 5690

LkrsOvrMia

sodapoppenski

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53788

dublins in sunny santa barbara california.
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14-5-3-12

msb212 · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:55 pm Post subject:

Staples Center!

Cut La Rock · Rookie Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 2

Vlade · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject:

Here's a coincidence... I grew up in Rancho Cucamonga and now live in Santa Barbara... I never heard of The Beer Hunter, but I'll have to check it out next time I'm in the area. As for Dublin's... are you talking about the podunk bar in IV? I prefer going either to Woodstock's or Woody's... though staying home is always the best way to watch.
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"All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie."

iam · Starting Rotation Joined: 12 Jun 2003 Posts: 816

I agree... I watch 90% of the games at home, but sometimes you just need to among the Laker's brotherhood and slap some five's and hear other people yell & scream.

Vlade · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject:

Oh yes, but I have to say that there once was a place to watch games that rivaled even the Forum (yes this was back in the day).

A restaurant called Barboni's in Alta Loma (Rancho Cucamonga).

And I have to say that the best thing about that place was not the food nor the large screen TV, though both were just fine... but instead this one fan named Ken (my friends and I took to calling him the Barboni Guy before we learned his name). Anyway, the Barboni Guy was so intense and excited about the game, that he turned the whole place into a virtual stadium.

Game nights the place was packed and everybody was watching the game. The restaurant kept the sound turned low, so the Barboni Guy would bring in his own radio, tune it to Chick & Stew, and place it on a center table surrounded by a shrine of Laker memorabilia. The Barboni Guy was so intense that he stood the entire game, only taking a seat for time-outs and half-time (when he would make the rounds, going table to table to drink various customers' beer). Indeed, the Barboni Guy is the greatest Laker fan I have ever known. He taped every game and would "review" game tape before important matches. When Nick the Quick dropped a 3, the Barboni Guy would simulate the upper-cuts along with him. And in playoff games, he would have the whole restaurant chanting "De-Fense!!! De-Fense!!!"

Ah, the good ole days... I don't know where the Barboni Guy is now, but wherever a Laker game is shown, you know his spirit can't be far.
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"All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie."

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53788

vlade-

we're talking about the podunk bar in IV. sure it's never fully stocked, the owner is neglegent, and they're always out of food. but they do have nba league pass, and heineken/newcastle on tap.
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Vlade · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject:

PayasoLoco · Franchise Player Joined: 07 Jul 2001 Posts: 16663

msb212 · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:42 pm Post subject:

raffi · LG Contributor Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 9987

KobeFTW · Starting Rotation Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Posts: 193

my 55" plasma and my protein drink
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Tracy McGrady, the player closest to matching Kobe in pure individual ability, was 'no picnic to deal with either. I heard that every time someone says 'get back on defense,' his back hurts. "the last season'-Phil Jackson

Dylandogg · Starting Rotation Joined: 13 Apr 2001 Posts: 680

Podunk bar? Where is that. What happened to "The Graduate"(old BofA)? Pizza Bobs? Please tell me "Sam's to go" is still there? I watched Magic beat the celtics at San Nic dorms. Ah, memories.

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53788

Dylandogg · Starting Rotation Joined: 13 Apr 2001 Posts: 680

[quote=

sams to go still there. dont' know about the other two. what year you graduate?[/quote]

I started in 82. But I was a ski bum for a year, went to Europe for a year, and spent to many nites hitting the keggers on DP that I graduated in 90.

I can't remember the street names but pizza bobs was diagonal to free birds(if that is still there).Embarco del mar and ?(started w/ a "P", street Sam's is on)

Vlade · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:06 pm Post subject:

Freebirds still here... and yum!

Pizza Bob's is Dublin's now, I guess...
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"All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie."

ocho · Retired Number Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 53788

yeah diagonal to freebirds would make it dublins now. it's a cool bar...good atmosphere. was the study hall there when you guys lived here?

you'll have to tell me some halloween stories sometime from the 80s. nowadays its like martial law and the city gets locked down.
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lakersdynasty999 · Star Player Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 1893

Dylandogg · Starting Rotation Joined: 13 Apr 2001 Posts: 680

Achilles · Starting Rotation Joined: 29 Jul 2005 Posts: 430

Ko8e8ryant · Star Player Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 5562

Off the 91 and Glassel in Orange is a place called The Press Box, its a junky place and there can be an interesting crowd, but its always full of real fans for all the big Lakers games.

I still remember watching the Fisher shot there:

Im with my friend (HUGE Laker hater) and the place is packed, there are people without any seats and as the game gets tense towards the end we stop talking to each other, then Duncan hits his miracle shot and I get so upset I go outside to the patio, certain that we lost.

A guy outside asks me, "is .4 seconds enough time to shoot?" , I say "ya, I think legally you can catch and shoot"...thinking in my head, Whats the point? we lost.

Then all hell (heaven) breaks loose, Fisher's shot falls and I leap straight up in the air and hug that guy outside and then run inside for more hugs from strangers and see my empty chair thrown on the ground (Laker hating friend).

A girl that was randomly wearing a Fisher jersey got mobbed by the whole bar and my friend left in his own car without speaking to me (its cool now of course).

The Press Box isnt for everybody but it now holds a special place in my heart thanks to D Fish.