Big Wangs

1562 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood (323) 469-2449; bigwangswings.com

I must admit I have a love/hate relationship with Big Wangs. I think that comes from having to wait in line for half-an-hour (!) to get in for a Lakers’ playoff game last year. And that’s the thing – it’s such a great place to see a game, you end up doing the time to get in. It’s not just the many TVs, the wings, the girls. Every good sports bar should have that.

Big Wangs just has that energy that makes a big game that much bigger. It’s like a sports bar on crack and, really, can there be any better compliment than that?

The Draft Sports Bar & Grill

12430 Riverside Drive, Studio City; myspace.com/thedraftsportsbar

Now, I know what you’re thinking. There’s so little to do in Studio City, even the studios left town. Not so fast, my friends!

Open a mere two weeks, the Draft has quickly become a hot spot on the sports bar scene. It’s evident that the owners cut their teeth in Hollywood, based on the attractive clientele and waitstaff.

But beneath the beautiful exterior, it’s a sports bar at heart – four big screen TVs and 12 40-inch plasmas carry all the football action. Drinks specials, hot wings, hot girls; even George W. wouldn’t dodge this draft.

Gordon Biersch?

41 Hugus Alley, Pasadena?(626) 449-0052; gordonbiersch.com

Located in a centralized Old Town Pasadena courtyard, Biersch is friendly and casual but also a great place to get quality food and drinks. Its expansive bar offers fresh brewed German-style lagers, as well as wines and spirits and a “made from scratch menu.”

Jake’s Billiards

38 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena?(626) 568-1602; jakespasadena.com

Jake’s Billiards was voted Pasadena’s best billiard, best karaoke bar and second best place for a burger. Jake’s Billiards is part classic watering hole, but also part modern sports bar, with its new flat screen TVs just in time for game viewing.

McMurphy’s Tavern

72 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena?(626) 666-1445; mcmurphystavern.com

McMurphy’s provides a sports-centric tavern setting oriented for a young, hip crowd. It boasts award-winning chicken wings, Nacho Mamma’s Nachos and most important, their all-day breakfast burrito. Or, if you are feeling thematic, opt for some Irish stew.

Q’s Billiards

11835 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles?(310) 477-7550; qsbilliards.com

As one of the best singles bars in Los Angeles, Q’s Billiards offers two perks for one destination – plenty of members of the opposite sex and plenty of sports. Q’s is a local hangout for (attractive) UCLA and USC students and alumni, so there will be many collegians to make the atmosphere exciting on game day.

Sonny Mclean’s Irish Pub and Restaurant

2615 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica?(310) 449-1811; sonnymcleans.com

Sonny McLean’s is dedicated to all things Boston – the Red Sox, the Celtics, the Patriots and yes, even the Boston Bruins, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be dedicating Jan. 1, 2009 to the Rose Bowl.

Tony P’s

4445 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey?(310) 823-4534; tonyps.com

Walk in to Tony P’s and you’ll think you’ve stepped into a typical dockside grill. Walk a little further in and you’ll enter sports mecca – a room set up strictly so you can immerse yourself in all things athletic. The seating is arranged so that every chair points to the televisions, so there’s never the odd man out with the bum seat. Additional reporting by Scott Bedno.