Sports Illustrated has named its list of the best sports bars in America. Lo and behold, the number one position belongs to a bar in the number one sports town in America, Boston. I'm sure people across the country will argue that latter point, but having lived in Philadelphia, New York, Tennessee, and with a brother who lives in L.A. and friends who have lived in Chicago I can safely say that any other city will have to go some to beat Boston. And with the Patriots and RedSox as champions the other aspirants have even more work to do.
The Fours Bar and Grille sits down on Causeway Street just across from the old Boston Garden, and a short walk to the current Fleet Center. It'll be packed this afternoon and tonight with Harvard Crimsonites, Northeastern Huskies, Boston College Eagles and my own Boston University Terriers, as the annual Beanpot Tournament will be taking place on the ice at the Fleet Center. It's a great place to go before and after games, and even during if you weren't willing to pony up what the scalpers wanted.
Here's what SI has to say about The Fours (registration required):
1. The Fours
Boston
Though some swear by the Cask 'n Flagon, this is the choice of Boston insiders, from sportswriters to assistant coaches all the way up to team owners. By virtue of the Red Sox' miracle season in 2004 and the Patriots' second straight Super Bowl appearance, The Fours finds itself at the white-hot center of the sports universe. Tim Colton purchased the place in 1980, when it was little more than a 30-foot bar with stools, and it soon became a hockey hangout favored by Bruins legend Ray Bourque, who would come by with his teammates after games. (Back then members of the Canadiens and the Penguins would often come in for lunch since the bar was right across the street from the old Garden.) Today the bar has evolved into a two-story sports mecca, with more than 200 pieces of Boston sports paraphernalia on its walls. Center stage is a tribute to the holy trinity of the last great Celtics teams: game-worn jerseys of Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale. Parish's white singlet strikes a discordant note, though, with Bird's and McHale's green jerseys. "His original one got stolen," says Peter Colton, who joined his brother in the business in '89. "One night Parish's agent came in, and when we told him what happened, he had Robert sign a jersey and send it over, but he sent a white one."
There are 16 televisions, which is a slight deficiency, but they carry all the major sports, have 22 beers on tap, and 30 different bottled beer. Take my advice and get Harp draft when you're there. Other great Boston sports bars include the T's Pub, Boston BeerWorks, The Rack, Who's On First, Boston Billiard Club, and the "legendary" Dugout.
Go B.U.!!!
UPDATE: Beanpot results: Northeastern 2, Harvard 1 in 2OT, and in a stunner, Boston University 2, Boston College 1. Despite the fact that BC is #1 in the nation, as I often explain to a couple of family members who attended BC, the Beanpot is BU's tournament. Way to go Terriers!
