The next best thing to being inside the ballpark is being on the outside looking in.  Some may argue, however, that the seats at Bleacher Bar are even better than inside the ballpark.  How can you beat field level viewing of the game alongside waitress service? Get here crazy early on game days if you want that up close and personal feel.  Though we thinking spending the day at Bleacher Bar makes for a pretty good day anyway.

The Four's is the spot sports players, writers and others in the business have been known to frequent.  Even if there isn't a game on, you can walk through the storied history of sports in Boston gazing at their collection of memorabilia along the walls. The place packs them in pre- and post-games at the Garden and with good reason.  Though they may not have the grandeur of other sports spots in Boston, they do have the cozy historic Boston appeal and a killer menu to go along with it.

When the voice of the Red Sox and the President of Red Sox Nation opens a sports bar in the shadows of Fenway Park, it is destined for greatness.  Everything a sports fan, particularly a Sox fan, could want in a sports bar: big screens, a clean open atmosphere, side by side with good brews and hearty fan favorite foods. It's certainly a place where everyone is sure to feel welcome... that is, everyone except a Yankees fan.

If you are looking to run into a Patriots player past or present and clubbing is not your scene, this is your next best bet.  Home to the Sports Hub radio which broadcasts the Pats games, players pass through in this spot a heartbeat away from Gillette Stadium. And even if you don't find yourself side by side with the offensive line, the grandeur of the big screens showing you all of the action on the field will give you the sense of almost being there.

If you're looking to entrench yourself in the Boston sports fan experience, but prefer to stay away from the crowds by the places where the games are actually held, Stadium Sports in Southie is a perfect spot.  Rabid fans pack the place whether there is a game on or not.  Whether your a true fan, a fair weather fan, or want to play along for the day just to get swept up in the excitement, you will always be welcome here in Boston sports gear, just remember to check your r's at the door (doo-ah).